Target- Obama

There is no doubt the economy- jobs and lack of them and outsourcing and the belief that the government is spending too much money that propelled the outrage from voters against the Democrats. However, no matter what excused Democrats provide or Republicans crow about, the real reason is that not enough of Obama's young supporters voted and the elderly, mostly conservatives don't like a black President.

Nevertheless, liberals do concede that the economy caused the Republicans' windfall. As Democrat Chairman Tim Keane stated in The New Republic: "America emerged from the Civil War, the depression of the 1890s, World War I, and the Great Depression and World War II stronger than ever-with a more buoyant economy and greater international standing. A large part of the reason was the political system's ability to provide the leadership the country needed. But what this election suggests to me is that this may no longer be the case" (Judis para 2.).

There are many pundits, in retrospect, who see President Obama as too cerebral, too "Harvard Law School" and not enoogh "Arkansas-twang", folksy, Bill Clinton, who survived a simialr midterm dsaster in 1994. Many blame Obama and the Party for not speaking out more forcefully and vehem,ently about the advances and successes of the past two years- health care (more people are in favor than against, nastionwide), education, success of the bailout includeing repayment of billions, and assistance for middle-class and small businesses.

President Obama shares the mistrust and anger with Majority Leader Harry Reid and )now outgoing) House Speaker, Nancy Pelosi. Still, many conservatives are concerned what mnight happen before Republicans take over the houose majority: "Among conservatives, Tuesday night's victory for the GOP is indeed a cause for excitement, but Congressional Republicans still in office must not lose focus between now and 2011; they must remain vigilant as Reid and outgoing House Speaker Nancy Pelosi attempt to make one final push for the radical liberal agenda in the final lame-duck session this year" (Quinn para. 5).

Midterm elections generally provide far lower percentages of voters. This year, the GOP and the Tea Party energized conservatives far more strongly, using their distrust of government in the hands of "liberals" and minorities (i.e., not older Caucasians). Again, Obama failed to energize the younger generation who either didn't care, or didn't bother to vote. And yet, those who believe in the old Reaganesque idea that less government is better government will find that discretionary spending is barely 6% or so of the annual budget. Defense, Medicare, Social Security, the Veterans Administration are untouchable. Until the Iraq and Afghanistan wars totally end and unemployment returns to approximately 5%, there will be little change possible in reducing government spending or the deficit. By 2012 Conservatives will need to find someone other than President OPbama to blame for the continuing spending and failure to pass Conservative-sponsored legislation.

References:

Judis, John B. "A Lost Gweneration" The New Repoublic (online)

Retrieved Nov. 8, 2010 on

www.tnr.com/article/politics/78890/a-lost-generation

Quinn, Justin: "2010 midterm election postmortem" retrieved

Nov 8, 2010 on

usconservatives.about.com/.../2010-midterm-election-postmortem.htm