by William C. Walker Jr.
Success is the result of perfection, hard work, learning from failure, loyalty, and persistence.
I chose that quote from Colin Powell because it seemed like something that Democrats should learn from after being smacked down in the midterms. Losing more ground in the House of Representatives as well as control of the US Senate. Low voter turnout is not something new, it's a constant issue especially during midterm elections. The voter turnout this year was a paltry 37% just for comparison during the 2012 election voter turnout was 58% . Again this isn't anything new the name of the game during midterms is voter turnout. Whoever can get out their base has a better chance of winning, this is something that Republicans have had little issue doing. The lower the turnout the more of the benefit to the GOP. So why am I bringing all this up and who are the Runaways? Simple the Democratic party, more specifically candidates that were up for election this past Tuesday.
Leading into this election you constantly heard how Democrats running for office in the battleground/red states were trying to distance themselves from President Obama. That's where I feel the mistake was made. I get it the President's approval rating was low sitting at 41% if trying to sway undecided, or independents an unpopular President is not your best campaign partner. However I go back to Colin Powell's quote especially the part that says "learning from failure". During the 2010 midterms the voter turnout was extremely low, and the President did very little campaigning. I understand he was busy running the country at the time, but his advocacy for candidates could've been huge. That lesson wasn't learned, instead Democrats ran away from the President like a white chick in a horror movie. If the important task during a midterm election is getting out your base. Can someone please explain to me why you wouldn't have the President rallying fellow democrats to get out and vote? The constituency that helped elect President Obama were made up of a wide array of the electorate. Namely young people, African American, Latino, & women all of which have a track record of not turning out for midterm elections. It's not that they don't care to vote seeing how those same groups came out in record numbers during the Presidential election of 2008 and 2012. The issue is that people never seem to grasps the full importance of a midterm election. When you ask your family or friends did they vote during a midterm? Do you receive an answer such as "No I voted for the President already"? The reality that the President isn't the one that actually passes laws, but it's the ones in congress and the senate is completely lost on them. How much easier would it be to convey the importance of the midterms say I don't know if the President actually tells them this!?
I'll give the GOP credit in regards to their effort. They try their tried and true tactics of give the President credit for nothing, and blame him for everything. Isis taking over parts of Iraq as the country descends into chaos, an outcome many predicted once Saddam Hussein was taken out during the Bush Administration; but that's Obama's fault. A total number of 6 people in America caught Ebola, 3 of the 6 were health workers that went to West Africa to help fight the disease, 2 were nurses that treated; 1 victim that came from West Africa and didn't properly disclose his exposure. Yet according to the GOP it's the President's fault they got sick. The Economy seems to be everyone's biggest concern and the Economy is doing well especially in comparison to where it was in 2008. Unemployment at one point was 10% before the President came into office now it's at 6%. Gas prices continue to go down. None of this is acknowledged or mentioned by the GOP. For them to not make these points are completely understandable. For the Democrats to not make these points are mind boggling and moronic. Plenty of political strategists would say "the President's approval rating was an all-time low". My point again you're not trying to win over independents and undecided you need your base to get out an vote. Real Clear Politics had a listing of the President's approval rating among Democrats throughout the year. From the multitude of polls they collected none had the President's approval rating below 70% . So why not utilize your best weapon in rallying your base!?
One last time I look at the quote from Colin Powell "learning from failure, loyalty, and persistence". All 3 were something Democrats failed to do this midterm. They didn't learn from the mistakes of 2010, they didn't remain loyal to the President and leader of their party, and they weren't persistent in their message. As insane the Republican rhetoric can be they're persistent in spewing it. Even if you actually cared to get those undecided or independents. What do you think they're going to think if you have a group screaming at the top of their lungs how horrible the President is; and his own party is terrified to be seen with him? People will probably go "hey he must be doing a terrible job". It's infuriating to me that you have a party like the GOP claim they'll end the gridlock in Washington. WHEN THEY'RE THE ONES THAT CAUSED THE GRIDLOCK! It's like a person that's slammed their brakes in the middle of the highway causing a 50 car pile-up to then want praise and credit for taking their foot off the brake and moving the car down the road. Yet Democrats allowed them to do so. No reiterating how it was the GOP that literally SHUT DOWN THE GOVERNMENT costing people jobs, and untold amounts of lost revenue, or that they OPPOSE A MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE! No Democrats were too busy running away from the President. Well congratulations you ran away from the President and now the GOP has runaway with the Senate.
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