For Both Parties, 1998 Midterms Offer a Lesson for '18

realclearpolitics ^ | 08/30/2018 | Adele Malpass

[ChicagoConservative27]

There are many similarities between the 1998 midterm election and this one 20 years later. As philosopher George Santayana said, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” For both parties, the parallel situations -- and pitfalls to possibly avoid – are worth studying.

Two decades ago, as is the case today, the president was being dogged by a special prosecutor and talk of impeachment was in the air, even as Americans enjoyed the benefits of a growing economy.

Republican House Speaker Newt Gingrich built up expectations of a red wave in which the GOP would pick up between 10 to 40 seats, based heavily on Bill Clinton’s burgeoning scandals. In the end, however, Republicans lost five seats, narrowing their already slim majority to a 223-211 advantage. This was the first midterm since 1932 when the party controlling the White House added seats in the House. For several reasons, including the poor election results, Gingrich resigned from Congress less than a week after the election. By December 1998, the House Republicans went forward with the impeachment of Clinton and the Senate tried him on obstruction of justice and perjury charges.

[marktwain]

The big difference is in 1998, the media were all for Bill Clinton.

There was only a relatively small conservative media.

[cuban leaf]

Also, in the 90’s the R’s were implementing solid legislation, not putting all their efforts towards annulling Clinton.

And also, this is not normal times. The D response to Trump has been reprehensible even to a lot of democrats. We didn’t have a #walkaway movement or anything like it in ‘98.

[marktwain]

Hard to see a really close analogy to this mid-term. Maybe the 1934 mid-term would be closer.

You have a revolutionary president implementing popular policies.

You have the new president making use of new communications medium (radio).

You have a lot of old media against the new president.

[bert]

The author lacks the ability to see the present and must attempt to make the past relevaant to today

[Dan in Wichita]

Another difference is Bill Clinton committed crimes while president. There is no evidence Donald Trump committed crimes before or during his presidency.

[wastoute]

You seriously underestimate the Brown Shirt Media’s ability to manufacture “news” from thin air.

[Luke21]

“You seriously underestimate the Brown Shirt Media’s ability to manufacture “news” from thin air.”

So true.

[Wallace T.]

One difference between 1998 and 2018 is the lower level of belief in the enemedia narrative. A good example would be the public indifference to the near pagan and prolonged funeral rites around McCain, despite over the top coverage.

[Dan in Wichita]

You seriously underestimate the Brown Shirt Media’s ability to manufacture “news” from thin air.

Yes, unfortunately, you are correct about that.