Michael Baron of the American Enterprise Institute discusses the how Barack Obama and John McCain were perceived by the public in the wake of the financial crisis.
Karlyn Bowman of the American Enterprise Institute discusses the turnout among young voters in the 2008 election (0:30).
Although RNC chairman Robert Duncan described his attitude about the previous night’s election results as hurting too much to laugh but being too big to cry, he nevertheless made an effort to find the bright side in Obama’s landslide victory.
“While it was a difficult night for Republican candidates, it was a historic night for the republican party. The election of America’s first black President… has realized the vision of a color-blind society that first inspired the Republican party,” Duncan said during a National Press Club discussion with DNC Chairman Howard Dean that touched on the United States’ current political trajectory, the preceding election season and campaign finance reform.
Duncan dismissed the notion of a mandate for the democratic party, and pointed to Obama’s support for offshore drilling, merit pay for teachers, a tax cut for 95% of Americans.
“Put simply, Barack Obama just ran the most successful moderate Republican campaign since Dwight Eisenhower”.
Duncan described the political situation that Obama will be facing as president, saying that Obama will be heading a center-left party but presiding over a population that is still center-right on most issues. Duncan raised the specter of Newt Gingrich and Ronald Reagan, warning that an attempt to move the agenda to the left would result in a Republican victory in the mid-term elections.
Dean disagreed with Duncan’s assertion that the country is right leaning and said that Obama’s victory meant that there was a mandate.
“I don’t think this is a center-right country…we did a lot of polling when I first became Chairman. It turns out that most people in Nebraska, not exactly known for being a very liberal state, actually agreed with democratic positions more than they agreed with Republican positions if you put them in the words of each party.”
Both chairmen discussed campaign spending, with Duncan claiming that the only transformational aspect of the Obama campaign was the way it will affect the financing of future presidential campaigns.
“Presidential campaign financing as we know it died last night. No major candidate will ever submit to public funding restrictions,” said Duncan.
” Less than two election cycles ago since the passage of campaign finance reform, the system has failed…the result is a campaign finance system far less transparent, less accountable, and more vulnerable for corruption.”
Dean countered that the Obama campaign’s ability to raise small donations was a form of campaign finance reform in its own right.
“I think the president-elect ought to get credit for the inspiration that he gave to the American people who were willing to give 5 and 10 at a time averaging 86 dollars per donation. That is campaign finance reform. That is putting politics back in the hands’ of individuals and taking it out of special interests’ hands.”
Duncan brought up the future of the Republican party, describing how the RNC was poised to make an effort to better address their voters concerns. Duncan said that one way this this will be done is through an online forum titled Republican for a Reason.
The Campaign for America’s Future held a conference call about the results from election day and what they mean for the future of the American government. Robert Borosage is the co-director of the Campaign for America’s Future. He outlined the “clear message” that was made by voters about the desire for “progressive reform” in the government. Borosage spoke about the claim being made that America is a “center-right nation”, which he believes people stick to because it is a “familiar old” idea. A new center is emerging, he said, and President-Elect Obama must respond to the “reality of the mandate he’s been given”, which means he must be a bold and transformative president.
A series of thoughts and reactions from people attending the Republican National Committee Election Watch Party.
Standard Podcast: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download Standard Podcast: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download Standard Podcast: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download Standard Podcast: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download Standard Podcast: Play Now | Play in Popup | DownloadObama supporters sing the national anthem outside the White House hours after Obama’s election had been announced
Obama supporters jump for joy outside the White House hours after Obama’s victory was announced.
Democrats watch and react to John McCain’s concession speech at a watch party organized by the Democratic Senatorial and Congressional Campaign Committees
A reveler tells me that his name is Hussein, and it doesn’t matter, so maybe he can become president, too. His friend is black, and Obama is black, so maybe he could become president. “It doesn’t matter anymore,” he says.
Revelers count down to Obama’s victory at a watch party hosted by the Democratic Senatorial and Congressional Campaign Committees