It's a devastating night for Democrats. We can talk about how great 2016 is going to be but that's hope. Tonight is reality and it is a serious slap in the face.
Yes, six years into an administration is tough for the president's party. Yes, a lot of the critical senate races were in difficult states. But something else happened tonight. Once again, Democratic candidates who were unwilling to offer an assertive argument for progressive policies and values were beaten by intense, unapologetic champions of the right.
In Iowa, Colorado, Kentucky, and apparently North Carolina, hard-core conservatives whipped candidates who were either incompetent (Braley) or insipid (Udall and Grimes). Grimes's completely artless distancing from the president was political malpractice. Braley's criticism of Grassley as a farmer was just suicidal. Udall's campaign focus on reproductive freedom and contraceptive coverage was one of the best examples of failing to defend the broad range of Democratic principles.
Republicans in Congress have obstructed and lied about Obama since he was elected. They have denied the importance of climate change, misrepresented and tried to sabotage health care reform, and obstructed jobs programs. They should be on the defensive, and that's just where Elizabeth Warren can put them. It's easier to do so in Massachusetts but no matter where one runs as a Democrat, you've got to give people something to vote FOR, not just something to vote against.
And in a time when every election is a base election, you've got to give occasional voters a reason to get out and vote. The best analytics in the world won't get people to vote for someone who won't clarify, illustrate and defend his or her principled commitments.
Obama is also to blame. Trying to seek compromise at the beginning of his presidency with an intransigent Republican caucus was terribly naive. He had been in the senate four years--long enough to know who his Republican colleagues were. As a student of recent history he should have known how Gingrich changed Congressional politics in 1994. There was no way they were going to give him anything. This year he could have taken action on immigration and mobilized Latino voters throughout the country, but again, to unwilling to make the clear progressive move.
More and better Democrats? We won't have more Democrats in Congress unless we have better Democrats, and they need to represent the Democratic wing of the Democratic Party. In Kentucky, Colorado, Iowa and everywhere else. Sure, they won;t win in deep red states. But they will begin to engage the American people in a meaningful conversation about reality and the purpose and promise of progressive politics.
Meanwhile, Elizabeth Warren for minority leader. We need change. We need a passionate fighter to be the lead voice in the senate. Imagine the debate, the exchange between Warren and McConnell. The turtle would be left flat on his back.