Progressive Pundits Trying to Scare Democrats into Holding the Senate
If you’ve been listening to America’s most prominent liberal commentators lately, you might think the Democrats have already lost the Senate. Rather than cheerleading or promoting a positive outlook for this year’s midterm elections, progressive pundits appear to be predicting the worst.
But are they just being pessimistic? Or are they hoping that by making the loss of the entire legislative branch of government in President Barack Obama’s final two years in office a tangible reality that Democrats will be shaken out of complacency and fight harder to retain the upper chamber of Congress this fall?
It started last week when Chris Matthews shocked MSNBC’s audience — and delighted the right — by saying definitively that Democrats are “going to lose the Senate” this year. Coming off of Democrat Alex Sink’s loss to Republican David Jolly in Florida’s special congressional election, Matthews warned, “I think we heard from the Ghost of Christmas Future this week.”
But in practically the same breath, Matthews had advice for Democrats who are up for reelection this year. “Get out there and put a very strong, bold picture on what the Republicans would like to do and say that’s what they’re going to do,” he said, pointing to issues like entitlements and abortion rights, which could be in danger if Republicans control both houses of Congress.
Watch video below, via MSNBC:
The doom and gloom for 2014 continued on Sunday morning, this time from a former member of the Obama Administration. On Meet the Press, Robert Gibbs said the Senate is “definitely, absolutely” in danger for Democrats.
Like Matthews, Gibbs did have some suggestions for Democrats and Obama himself on how they can help turn the tide before Election Day. “We know that Obamacare is going to bring Republicans out,” he said. “What issues can the president put on the table to get Democrats excited?” If Obama doesn’t get more involved in raising money for congressional candidates, Gibbs said, “you lose the Senate. And if you lose the Senate, turn out the lights, the party’s over.”
As David Gregory pointed out, Gibbs’ message (along with that of Matthews) sounded very different from White House Senior Advisor Dan Pfeiffer, who appeared earlier on the show. “I believe we will keep the Senate,” Pfeiffer told Gregory just moments earlier. “We have great candidates with experience winning in tough states and we’re on the right side of the issues.”
“I did the same thing a few years ago on your show,” Gibbs remarked, “and I still have tire tracks from Nancy Pelosi — Honesty can only go so far in Washington when you’re employed.”
Watch video below, via NBC:
The difference between what those inside the Obama administration can say without hurting anybody’s feelings and what pundits like Matthews and Gibbs can express freely illustrates the expectations game that could help shape this fall’s election. As he eluded to with his “tire tracks” comment, Gibbs took heat from congressional Democrats for saying on Meet the Press that “there’s no doubt there are enough seats in play that could cause Republicans to gain control” of the House. Four months later, his prediction came true and Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) lost her speakership.
Gibbs’ warnings in 2010 obviously weren’t enough to turn the tide for Democrats. Four years later, with another midterm election that could hinge on voters’ feelings about Obamacare, he and his liberal colleagues are at it again, trying to prepare the country for the once seemingly long-shot chance that Obama could be left without both the House and the Senate, the same thing President George W. Bush faced in 2006.
But instead of simply succumbing to this unwelcome reality, perhaps Democrats — including the president — will take these warnings as a call to action to mobilize the progressive base in this country that defied expectations in 2012. White House officials like Pfeiffer may stay on Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s good side by sticking to their optimistic outlooks, but if Democratic candidates and voters don’t believe there is real danger afoot, then they run the risk of playing it too safe.
The Obama campaign made the wise decision two years ago to never act too confident heading into Election Day, despite the massive amount of data they had that pretty much assured a victory. If you recall, the Mitt Romney campaign went the other way, expressing an over-confidence that they would somehow upset the incumbent. We all know how that worked out. In a year that seems to favor Republicans, Democrats should avoid making the same mistake.
[photo via screengrab]
— —
>> Follow Matt Wilstein (@TheMattWilstein) on Twitter
This is an opinion piece. The views expressed in this article are those of just the author.
