US Mid-Term Elections add to Obama Disappointment
The strength of support for the Democratic Party and Barack Obama’s re-election potential have been called into question as the Democrats suffered disappointing results in the US mid-term elections. Despite its marginal defeat in the Senate where the Democrats still hold a six seat majority, the Republican Party have gained sixty seats in the House of Representatives and with it a fifty four seat majority, which gives them the power to block any legislation the White House tries to impose and puts the futures of Obama’s controversial Healthcare Reform and Climate Bill in jeopardy.
Looking back just two years to the Obama-mania of the presidential election campaign and its promise of hope for the future, radical change and economic reform, few would have predicted America’s abrupt and colossal disenchantment with Obama that has lead to this defeat.
The cause of Obama’s downfall appears to be the current sense of economic unease that is rife throughout America and with one in ten Americans still currently unemployed in the face of the looming deficit, it is not difficult to see why Obama’s treatment of the economy has come under such immense scrutiny. Americans accuse Obama of focusing primarily on implementing socialist policies such as the Healthcare Reform instead of instigating the positive changes needed to reduce the deficit and are frustrated with the pace of economic recovery. David Smith from Austin, Texas told the BBC, ‘Americans just want the basic necessity of life... a job.’ and as the votes show, the people of America are fast losing their faith in Obama’s ability to provide that.
Another detrimental force that affected Democratic support was the rise in popularity of the grass roots Republican sub-group: The Tea Party, loosely lead by ex vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin. With the state of the economy at the forefront of voter’s minds, fiscal conservatism was a key notion in the Republican election campaign and promises to cut public spending and reject Obama’s Healthcare Reform as means to economic progression were factors heavily emphasised by the Tea Party, and consequently swung voters from Democrat to Republican. Support from the Tea Party lead to some of the Republican Party’s most influential wins including the election of John Boehner as the speaker of the House of Representatives, Marco Rubio in Florida and Rand Paul in Kentucky to the Senate, and Nikki Haley to the South Carolina governor's mansion; the latter three of which were originally considered long shots.
In his press conference Obama defended the effectiveness of the bills he has implemented since his election but recognised the reasoning behind the waning support for him and his party; asserting that he inherited an economy in ’freefall’, Obama stated that ‘we [Democrats] have stabilised the economy and have job growth in the private sector, but people aren’t feeling that progress, they don’t see it’ and that as President, he ‘takes full responsibility for that’
Therefore with the outcome of the mid-terms presenting Obama and America with a divided government the questions on the lips of all Americans are how these contrasting Parties are going to function with the shift in majority within Congress and what this means for the future of America. Although the Republican majority in the House of Representatives has the power to block legislation, it does not have the numbers to pass any of their own bills to the Senate alone. However their opposition of bills could cause a stalemate that would stagnate American politics and hinder progress. This is a possibility that Obama is distinctly aware of in his propositions for the future declaring in the press conference that ‘No one party will be able to dictate where we go from here, we must find a common ground in order to make progress.’ He also stated, ‘I am not suggesting this will be easy and I won’t pretend that we will be able to bridge every difference or solve every disagreement.’ This was met by a rather cold response from the Republican Mitch McConnell: ‘If Mr Obama is willing to meet us halfway on some of the biggest issues, it's not inappropriate for us to do business with him.’ However it is clear that both parties recognise the need for cooperation if progress is to be made within American politics.
Despite this defeat and consequent political struggle the future isn’t entirely bleak for Obama, as both Bill Clinton and George Bush Senior have combated disappointing results in the mid-terms to be re-elected in next Presidential elections.
Leah Davenport
