The Republicans’ main strategy this election is to associate Democrats as closely as they can with President Barack Obama. It’s a smart move politically, since the president has “near historic lows” in ratings for his administration, as TIME reported.
Of course, I understand why North Carolina House Speaker Thom Tillis and many other Republicans use this strategy. The president isn’t popular with voters, so if they say their Democrat opponent is a supporter of the president and his policies, they’ll get more votes.
However, it angers me when Democrats resort to deflecting questions about whether they even voted for Obama in 2008 and 2012. This cowardice makes me lose respect for some Democrats.
Alison Lundergan Grimes, in her Senate race in Kentucky, exemplified this when she was asked during a debate if she voted for the president. She maintained her vote is private and she doesn’t have to answer.
Although Grimes should not have been asked for whom she voted in the first place, she should have confidently said she voted for Obama, granted that she did, before going on to discuss the points with which she agrees or disagrees with the president.
It’s disappointing that a member of the party I associate myself with could give such a weak answer. I know it’s difficult this election—due to our Democrat president’s low approval rating—but that’s no reason to shy away from saying whether or not you voted for President Obama.
I watched an ad this week for Michelle Nunn of the Georgia Senate race, and it’s one of my favorite political ads I’ve seen this election.
Her opponent, Republican Senate candidate David Perdue, ran an ad showing a picture of Nunn with President Obama, saying she’d “fit right in” in Washington and supported all of Obama’s policies.
Nunn’s ad, in response to Perdue’s, was perfect. She shows the picture Perdue had in his ad where she’s with the president. Then she goes on to say it was actually taken at an event honoring President George H.W. Bush, who Nunn worked with as CEO of his Points of Light Foundation.
Bush founded Points of Light to promote volunteerism, according to the foundation’s website. When Bush signed the National and Community Service Act of 1990, the foundation began.
Nunn talks about how she worked with President George Bush, Sr. in his foundation and strives to be bipartisan and works with both Democrats and Republicans.
The ad demonstrates her integrity and seems to be working for her. The Washington Post reported this week she’s performing better in the polls than Perdue. It was a smart move because it shows she intends to be bipartisan, since she associated herself with both Obama and Bush.
George H. W. Bush apparently isn’t happy he’s featured in her ads, The Post reported. But I like how Nunn shows voters she has respect for both presidents’ administrations and is willing to work with Republicans and Democrats. Besides, Bush obviously liked her if she was made a CEO of the program, so he shouldn’t be complaining that she’s promoting bipartisanship, which we need more of.
I want to see more ads like this.
Also, I want Democrats to defend why they voted for President Obama if asked—assuming most did.
I remember the 2008 election. I may have been in eighth grade, but he inspired me and is a huge reason I’m so passionate about politics today. If I’d been able to vote for him as president, I’d never deny that I did. I expect the same from Democrats in office or who are running for office.
The New York Times recently pointed out that Democrats could use Obama’s 2009 stimulus bill, which jumpstarted the economy, as a way to fire back at Republicans. The article also stated that “the Affordable Care Act, one of the most far-reaching and beneficial laws to have been passed by Congress in years, gets little respect even among the Democratic candidates who voted for it.”
In part, Democrats such as Grimes have fueled the Republicans’ strategy this election season by shying away from saying they’ve ever agreed with or supported the president.
If you voted for him, say why you did and after that, if you don’t agree with him now, explain that too. It’s that simple, and it will keep your level of respect and integrity with your voters instead of turning your Democrat supporters, such as me, away.