Learn from '09 or risk more in '10

The Democrats’ spin machine has been in overdrive since Election Day to explain their losses in New Jersey and Virginia. Even their razor-thin victory in the special election to fill the seat of former Rep. John McHugh in New York’s 23rd Congressional District confirms what they refuse to acknowledge, which is that Democrats are in for a tough election in 2010 if they continue to follow an agenda that expands the federal government, imposes taxes or other hurdles to job creation, adds to an already crippling deficit and spends money that our nation can’t afford.

The House’s recent passage of the Obama-Pelosi health care bill suggests that Democrats not only have failed to learn from the history of the 2009 elections but also are doomed to repeat it.

The Republican victories in Virginia and New Jersey sent two clear, unmistakable signals.

First, voters want elected officials to address the issues they care about most while staying true to common-sense principles of lower taxes, less spending and smaller government. Bob McDonnell and Chris Christie both ran campaigns that offered positive solutions to issues like reining in state spending, fostering an environment for entrepreneurialism, creating jobs and improving transportation. Both candidates were rewarded with victories in states that have historically favored Democrats and that President Barack Obama carried in 2008.

Second, voters soundly rejected the liberal, Big Government, overreaching policies that Obama and Washington Democrats are trying to force on Americans. When presented with a clear choice, voters will favor innovative policies that promote freedom, opportunity and economic growth.

This includes the independent voters who helped carry the president to victory just one year ago. Obama and most Democrats had little to say following their party’s trouncing earlier this month, but they dismiss the 2009 election results at their own risk.

The Democrats’ main talking point coming out of their losses in New Jersey and Virginia is that they both were state elections and Obama’s popularity proves that they were not referendums on the president. Make no mistake: The 2009 elections may not have been a referendum on the president personally, but they were absolutely a referendum on the policies of Obama and the Democrats.

The Republican National Committee’s post-election survey of voters in the two gubernatorial elections confirms this. In Virginia, voters disapprove of the policies the president is promoting, 54 percent to 42 percent. Just as significant, voters who cast their ballots for Republicans McDonnell or Christie did so to send a message that they are unhappy with the direction in which Obama is taking the country. In New Jersey, 54 percent said they were more likely to vote for Christie because of the president’s policies, and in Virginia, 67 percent said so, in voting for McDonnell.

On the economy, voters are extremely concerned about the excessive spending, debt and taxes coming out of Washington. When asked what they feel is the best way to grow the economy and create jobs — controlling spending and cutting taxes or increasing spending for more government programs — 61 percent of voters in New Jersey and 64 percent of voters in Virginia chose controlling spending and cutting taxes.

The president’s so-called cap-and-trade program to reduce carbon emissions becomes significantly unpopular once voters learn that it would increase energy costs and cut jobs. In Virginia, 61 percent oppose it once they learn it would raise costs, and 63 percent oppose it when they learn it would cut jobs. This illustrates the significant challenges that vulnerable Virginia Democratic Reps. Glenn Nye, Thomas Perriello, Rick Boucher and Gerry Connolly face on this issue as they prepare for reelection next year.

Finally, voters in New Jersey and Virginia overwhelmingly oppose central elements of Obama’s government-run health care plan, which would cut Medicare, raise taxes, ration health care and spend $1.3 trillion of the taxpayers’ money. A majority of voters would rather see Congress pursue common-sense, incremental health care reforms similar to those proposed by Republicans.

It is clear that the current debate taking place in Washington is more of what voters don’t want. Here are two telling data points from the RNC’s post-election surveys that prove this point and should be a clear warning to Democrats.

• Fifty-nine percent of voters in New Jersey and 61 percent in Virginia feel the president and Congress should focus on getting the economy back on track and creating jobs now — and deal with health care and other issues at a later time.

• More voters in New Jersey and Virginia said they would be less likely to vote for their congressman or senator next year if he or she voted to pass Obama’s government-run health care plan.

Republican victories in New Jersey and Virginia are a clear signal to Democrats facing reelection in 2010 that they should support Obama’s liberal agenda at their own risk. Without a change of course, Democrats are in for a tough 2010, just like 2009.

Michael Steele is chairman of the Republican National Committee.

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