Obama, Democrats scramble for change
Issue date: 1/31/10 Section: Cover
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Special to the NNPA from the Philadelphia Tribune
(NNPA) - It's too early to sound the death knell of the Obama administration and the Democratic Party despite the election of Sen. Scott Brown, a conservative Republican, to replace Sen. Edward Kennedy, a stalwart Democrat, agreed a collection of Democratic lawmakers and political observers.
"The presidency in modern history is not determined by the first year," said G. Terry Madonna, a political historian and director of the Center for Politics and Public Affairs at Franklin and Marshall College. "There is little doubt that President Barack Obama has had a rough first year. His job approval ratings - hovering at 50 percent - are at record lows. But other presidents have endured similarly bruising first years and gone on to second terms," Madonna said, pointing to the first years of Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton.
John F. Kennedy, too, had a bad first year but likely would have been elected to a second term if he had not been assassinated. The most recent sign of trouble for Obama was Brown's recent election to the Massachusetts seat that has been Democratic for 50 years. Brown's election stunned the nation and sent political shockwaves through Washington, D.C. His win gives Republicans 41 votes in the Senate, effectively ending the Democrats' ability to override filibusters and force through their legislation.
It also raised red flags for Democrats as the nation prepares for the first mid-term election of Obama's presidency. Republicans immediately began crowing, predicting disaster.
"There is a potential tidal wave building that could shatter the Democratic Party for generations," said Newt Gingrich, former speaker of the House and now an author and political activist, in an e-mail blast sent to reporters.
Even traditional supporters of the Democratic Party have expressed their frustrations.
"The reason Ted Kennedy's seat is no longer controlled by a Democrat is clear: Washington's inability to deliver the change voters demanded in November 2008," said Andy Stern, president of Service Employees International Union. "During the past year, Republicans refused to do anything but stand in the way of change and Democrats took too long to do too little." Democrats, shaken, tried to regroup.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced last week that the House lacked the votes to push through health care legislation.
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