How Compulsive Centrist Disorder Cost Democrats the VA Governorship

If you haven't heard by now, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Creigh Deeds got clobbered by the Republican candidate. One of the things that hurt him was the poor turnout by independents and Democrats compared to the 2008 presidential election. And why did they stay home?

Consider the answers to these three questions posed to VA Democrats who voted for Obama, but not for Deeds:

deeds1

And:

deeds3

And:

deeds2

If the Democrats don't stop acting like Republican-lite, like Herbert Hoover (although that's an unfair comparison to Hoover, who, while ideologically hidebound, had saved millions of lives from famine earlier in his career), then they will get clobbered in 2010. It won't be the liberals who get taken down (they're in safe seats), it will be the Blue Dogs, many of whom are in close elections, who will be hurt if the recent influx of Obama supporters doesn't show up.

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Given a choice between a Republican and a Democrat who acts like a Republican, Americans will prefer the real thing. That statement has been attributed to Harry Truman, who was president back in the days when dinosaurs and moderate Republicans roamed the earth. It's still true today.

By Eric Lund (not verified) on 13 Nov 2009 #permalink

I'll never forget the tale of Truman tag-teaming a Stegosaurus with a Rockerfeller Republican...

By Moderately Unb… (not verified) on 13 Nov 2009 #permalink

Agreed but I'm saving my energy to campaign against Leiberman. I doubt we could field a worse candidate.

It won't be the liberals who get taken down (they're in safe seats), it will be the Blue Dogs, many of whom are in close elections, who will be hurt if the recent influx of Obama supporters doesn't show up.

No, but it'll be the liberals that get blamed. Y'know, just because we're not going to vote for Republicans no matter what they call themselves. Well, unless they were liberal or actual centrist Republicans. In which case we'd have to keep pulling them off the cross their own party nailed them to.

By JThompson (not verified) on 13 Nov 2009 #permalink

Actually, I think this is more evidence that most Americans are stupid. Instead of picking the lesser of two evils, they're all 'Boo, you don't do exactly what I want' and vote for the guy who's even dumber.

By Katharine (not verified) on 13 Nov 2009 #permalink

Actually, I think this is more evidence that most Americans are stupid.

No. This is evidence that progressive Democratic voters are finally sacking the fuck up and doing what is necessary to get their fucking party to stop throwing them under the motherfucking bus every time some sick-fuck right-wing douchebag throws a hissy fit.