Bill Clinton says he's surprised by midterm losses

[Old Nick]

Source: The Denver Post

Ken Thomas Associated Press
Posted: 11/15/2014 05:25:39 PM MST
Updated: 11/15/2014 06:11:58 PM MST

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Former President Bill Clinton said Saturday that Democrats lacked a "national advertising campaign" in the recent midterm elections and that he's surprised many Senate races were not closer.

Clinton said in an interview with Politico that Republicans were helped by a larger bloc of voters who felt more strongly about the elections than members of his party. Democrats could have benefited from a national message that reinforced the party's positions on refinancing student loans and promoting equal pay for women, he said.

"The people who were against us felt more strongly than the people who were for us. The people who were for us just in all the din couldn't hear what was actually a fairly coherent economic message coming out," Clinton told the publication during an event surrounding the 10th anniversary of his presidential center.

It was Clinton's first extensive comments on Democrats' sweeping losses in the November elections. Republicans gained control of the Senate majority, strengthened its hold on the House and won governor's offices in several Democratic-leaning states. Former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton has not yet publicly discussed the recent elections, but her advisers are closely studying the results ahead of a potential presidential campaign in 2016.

Read more: http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_26946030/bill-clinton-says-hes-surprised-by-midterm-loses

---

One word: Dean.

[VanillaRhapsody]

1. Democrats lacked a "national advertising campaign"

he's absolutely right....

[quadrature]

44. not true. the national campaign was obvious ...

my Repub opponent(insert name here) sucks
Bush and Cheney suck

[VanillaRhapsody]

45. pfffffttt....baloney

we didn't sell and defend our Progress....

[cprise]

2. DLC'er surprised by Third Way's handiwork

Now Hillary's advisors are giving her a crash course on speaking populist.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

8. Yeah, that should go over like a lead balloon.

[Bartlet]

38. Third way's

method is to not go out an vote? Cause this was the most poorly attended election in decades. So if you're saying third way did less and had a less appealing message than any third party in a couple decades then yes that's true.

[VanillaRhapsody]

46. Oh really?

Strongly Favors topic 1:
Abortion is a woman's unrestricted right
(+5 points on Social scale)

Strongly Favors topic 2:
Legally require hiring women & minorities
(-5 points on Economic scale)

Strongly Favors topic 3:
Comfortable with same-sex marriage
(+5 points on Social scale)

No opinion on topic 4:
Keep God in the public sphere
(0 points on Social scale)

Strongly Favors topic 5:
Expand ObamaCare
(-5 points on Economic scale)

Strongly Opposes topic 6:
Privatize Social Security
(-5 points on Economic scale)

Strongly Opposes topic 7:
Vouchers for school choice
(-5 points on Economic scale)

Strongly Opposes topic 8:
No 'rights' to clean air and water
(+5 points on Social scale)

Opposes topic 9:
Stricter punishment reduces crime
(+2 points on Social scale)

Strongly Opposes topic 10:
Absolute right to gun ownership
(-5 points on Economic scale)

Strongly Favors topic 11:
Higher taxes on the wealthy
(-5 points on Economic scale)

Favors topic 12:
Pathway to citizenship for illegal aliens
(+2 points on Social scale)

Opposes topic 13:
Support & expand free trade
(-3 points on Economic scale)

Opposes topic 14:
Maintain US sovereignty from UN
(-3 points on Economic scale)

No opinion on topic 15:
Expand the military
(0 points on Social scale)

Strongly Favors topic 16:
More enforcement of the right to vote
(+5 points on Social scale)

Favors topic 17:
Stay out of Iran
(+2 points on Social scale)

Strongly Favors topic 18:
Prioritize green energy
(-5 points on Economic scale)

Opposes topic 19:
Never legalize marijuana
(+2 points on Social scale)

Strongly Favors topic 20:
Stimulus better than market-led recovery
(-5 points on Economic scale)

[Ken Burch]

3. He is not. He wanted that to happen.

HRC's campaign is glad that we lost the Senate, because they think it means that everyone will buy into the idea that she's our only possible hope.

And Bill was completely indifferent to the idea of fighting to restore Democratic control of either house of Congress after 1994, so why should we think he'd actually care about how anybody in the party other than Hil or himself is doing.

[hrmjustin]

9. Bull! He went out and campaign hard for every senate candidate as did Hillary.

I get you don't like the Clintons but you are wrong and making up stuff here.

[davidpdx]

12. I tend to agree with Ken that this sets Hillary Clinton up perfectly for the "savior" role

Even some DUers are already pushing the meme that Clinton is the only one that can save us. This isn't about policy for them, it's about politics and getting Clinton elected like she DESERVES to be (in their mind).

I hope Justin you will keep an open-mind and an eye out for this stuff because I consider you an even-keel guy.

[hrmjustin]

15. These two people gave their time and their hearts to these candidates.

Part of being fair is being fair. This is not fair and clearly wrong.

[davidpdx]

22. Not sure I'm following

What isn't fair?

[hrmjustin]

37. My point was that it is unfair to say that the Clintons wanted us to lose the senate.

[davidpdx]

57. I don't agree with that

I think that the senators or candidates did themselves in by running from the president like chickens. I do think the losses will benefit her.

[Reformed Bully]

17. 2016 Obama - Biden (Michelle & Jill)

[Ken Burch]

18. We could do worse...much, MUCH worse. n/t.

[Reter]

42. We could also do better...much, MUCH better

n/t

[F4lconF16]

26. Nope.

I can't support political dynasties. Part of the reason I don't support HRC. We don't have a monarchy for a reason.

[VanillaRhapsody]

47. I don't recall us abandoning elections....

[F4lconF16]

50. I'm sorry, how is that relevant to what I said?

Or are you trying to accuse me of something?

[VanillaRhapsody]

51. How the hell do we have monarchys when we have elections?

If 64% currently support her....what are YOU trying to say about the many people that do?

[F4lconF16]

52. I never said we had a monarchy.

Nor was I saying anything about HRC supporters. I said we don't have a monarchy. By that, I meant that I don't think it's a good thing we have these political dynasties. I'm not going to bother to explain why, since youdo nothing but twist and misrepresent what people say. Goodbye.

[VanillaRhapsody]

53. You said that another Clinton would be like a Monarchy

and I say....not if she is supported by 64% it most certainly isn't. And besides its tantamount to saying Bill and Hillary are ipso facto identical politically just because they are married....which is wrong and sexist too.

[roguevalley]

21. if he is he is dumber than he looks. alaska senate with a quizling third wayer was bell weather for

This

[still_one]

23. right, and so did Barack Obama. What nonsense.

[tabasco]

34. Why would you state an outright lie?

Are you a liar?

[Bartlet]

39. Uh that not even close to reality.

Clinton was on the campaign trail for months before the '94 election for every candidate that would have him. A simple Google search that any 12 year old can do amply demonstrates that.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

55. Exactly! He wanted it to happen. None of his Blue Dog Democrats won! Not one of them!

All the so-called white constituencies that were so racist and didn't want to support Obama either stayed home, and I'm willing to bet some of them (Reagan Democrats) voted Republican. Clinton is a failure. His "prowess" is overrated.

[JDPriestly]

4. One word: Dean.

Actually, Bill Clinton campaigned on good issues. Unfortunately, he signed a lot of bills that hurt the country. NAFTA, the Telecommunications Act and the repeal of Glass-Steagall to name just a few. Also the changes in the welfare system that he signed into law are coming back to bite us as conservatives show unwillingness to adequately fund the limited programs that remain like food stamps.

[raging moderate]

6. Two words: HOWARD DEAN!

Three words:

DRAFT HOWARD DEAN!

That was not a Dean Scream; that was was a GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS' SCREAM!

They want to talk about a scream; let's show them a scream! Let the Green Mountain Boys ride again!

[Phlem]

7. Well of course he's surprised,

what else is he going to say, oops?

[hrmjustin]

10. The senate loss was not his fault.

[Helen Borg]

33. Awwww!

[blkmusclmachine]

11. Hillary will run to Obama's right. And lose.

[Fearless]

14. Hopefully in the primary.

[silvershadow]

16. One can only hope. nt

[Beacool]

41. That seems to be your meme.

You keep repeating it in every Clinton post.

I guess you secretly wish for a Republican to win?

[VanillaRhapsody]

48. she will?

Strongly Favors topic 1:
Abortion is a woman's unrestricted right
(+5 points on Social scale)

Strongly Favors topic 2:
Legally require hiring women & minorities
(-5 points on Economic scale)

Strongly Favors topic 3:
Comfortable with same-sex marriage
(+5 points on Social scale)

No opinion on topic 4:
Keep God in the public sphere
(0 points on Social scale)

Strongly Favors topic 5:
Expand ObamaCare
(-5 points on Economic scale)

Strongly Opposes topic 6:
Privatize Social Security
(-5 points on Economic scale)

Strongly Opposes topic 7:
Vouchers for school choice
(-5 points on Economic scale)

Strongly Opposes topic 8:
No 'rights' to clean air and water
(+5 points on Social scale)

Opposes topic 9:
Stricter punishment reduces crime
(+2 points on Social scale)

Strongly Opposes topic 10:
Absolute right to gun ownership
(-5 points on Economic scale)

Strongly Favors topic 11:
Higher taxes on the wealthy
(-5 points on Economic scale)

Favors topic 12:
Pathway to citizenship for illegal aliens
(+2 points on Social scale)

Opposes topic 13:
Support & expand free trade
(-3 points on Economic scale)

Opposes topic 14:
Maintain US sovereignty from UN
(-3 points on Economic scale)

No opinion on topic 15:
Expand the military
(0 points on Social scale)

Strongly Favors topic 16:
More enforcement of the right to vote
(+5 points on Social scale)

Favors topic 17:
Stay out of Iran
(+2 points on Social scale)

Strongly Favors topic 18:
Prioritize green energy
(-5 points on Economic scale)

Opposes topic 19:
Never legalize marijuana
(+2 points on Social scale)

Strongly Favors topic 20:
Stimulus better than market-led recovery
(-5 points on Economic scale)

[harun]

59. She will run to Obama's right and not even make it out of the Primaries.

[Cha]

19. Dean on the Midterms..

Course, there were other reasons too.. like the repubs Cheating/Same as breathing.

[peacebird]

25. Howard Dean nailed it. Running away from Obama's record instead of touting it killed them

Economy is recovering, too slowly, but recovering.
Hundreds of thousands of jobs added each month.
Obamacare means no one can be denied insurance, and parents can keep kids covered when they are starting out on their own.

[tabasco]

35. Dean is spot on.

How sad to see so many gutless Democrats fail to stand up for the principles of the party.

[Bartlet]

40. And sadly

Dean was not in charge to help the Dems win as he should have been. I don't dislike Wasserman-Shultz but I don't think she had a strategy to win and that's something Dean has demonstrated he's good at.

[DonCoquixote]

20. more like hopeful

his fingerprints do not show, such as his anointing of Alison Grimes.

You know Bill, ther eis one thing that you and Hillary could do if you were smart, you could USE these midterms as your EXCUSE to turn LEFT! You coudl even score easy points beating up on Obama , saying Hillary is the liberal he could never be. Yes, it is Bullshit, but no one delivers Bullshit better than you, especially if you confuse people on what a liberal is.

Seriously, use the midterms to tack left, and Liza and Bernie will be discasrded like cigarette butts out of an ashtray!

I say this because I know you are too scared of your donors to do that, like Alice Walton.

[VanillaRhapsody]

49. are you claiming the Hillary has the exact same politics as Bill by default...

because if you are...THAT is sexist....

He IS in fact a Moderate Democrat.....she is NOT!

Strongly Favors topic 1:
Abortion is a woman's unrestricted right
(+5 points on Social scale)

Strongly Favors topic 2:
Legally require hiring women & minorities
(-5 points on Economic scale)

Strongly Favors topic 3:
Comfortable with same-sex marriage
(+5 points on Social scale)

No opinion on topic 4:
Keep God in the public sphere
(0 points on Social scale)

Strongly Favors topic 5:
Expand ObamaCare
(-5 points on Economic scale)

Strongly Opposes topic 6:
Privatize Social Security
(-5 points on Economic scale)

Strongly Opposes topic 7:
Vouchers for school choice
(-5 points on Economic scale)

Strongly Opposes topic 8:
No 'rights' to clean air and water
(+5 points on Social scale)

Opposes topic 9:
Stricter punishment reduces crime
(+2 points on Social scale)

Strongly Opposes topic 10:
Absolute right to gun ownership
(-5 points on Economic scale)

Strongly Favors topic 11:
Higher taxes on the wealthy
(-5 points on Economic scale)

Favors topic 12:
Pathway to citizenship for illegal aliens
(+2 points on Social scale)

Opposes topic 13:
Support & expand free trade
(-3 points on Economic scale)

Opposes topic 14:
Maintain US sovereignty from UN
(-3 points on Economic scale)

No opinion on topic 15:
Expand the military
(0 points on Social scale)

Strongly Favors topic 16:
More enforcement of the right to vote
(+5 points on Social scale)

Favors topic 17:
Stay out of Iran
(+2 points on Social scale)

Strongly Favors topic 18:
Prioritize green energy
(-5 points on Economic scale)

Opposes topic 19:
Never legalize marijuana
(+2 points on Social scale)

Strongly Favors topic 20:
Stimulus better than market-led recovery
(-5 points on Economic scale)

[struggle4progress]

24. 2014 midterm election turnout lowest in 70 years

BY DOMENICO MONTANARO, RACHEL WELLFORD AND SIMONE PATHE
November 10, 2014 at 9:06 AM EST

... Lowest turnout since WW2: Final numbers are still being tallied, but at this point it looks pretty clear that turnout in these midterms was the lowest overall in 70 years. Turnout of the voting-eligible population was just 36.4 percent, according to the projection from the United States Elections Project, run by Dr. Michael McDonald at the University of Florida. That’s down from the 41 percent that turned out in 2010. You have to go all the way back to 1942 for lower numbers when turnout in that midterm was just 33.9 percent. They had a pretty good excuse back then — many adult-age Americans were preoccupied with fighting in a world war ...

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/2014-midterm-election-turnout-lowest-in-70-years/

[sendero]

27. Is he also surprised..

... that repealing Glass-Stegall and passing the Commodity Futures Modernization Act has allowed bankers to destroy our economy for their benefit?

I guess as long as he got his, that's just ok.

[RKP5637]

31. K&R! None often want to hear it, but he did some things that did not help! n/t

[fredamae]

28. Heh! Bill's In Denial-Typical Third Way

response.

If he's seriously surprised? Then He's a Major part of the Problem, eh? Out of touch on Steroids.

[Live and Learn]

29. Has he also expressed surprise at the poverty and suffering he is responsible for

by passing the Welfare Reform Act? How about the financial impact on loved ones of these individuals? Nope, of course not.

[RKP5637]

32. The democratic message to the masses is often confusing and conflicting! Some people say they

have no idea what the democratic party stands for, because there are so many conflicting and convoluted messages. And I agree. The messaging in this last election was utterly ridiculous and sadly laughable!

[librechik]

36. lol. Sure, Bill. Whatever you say. n/t

[UTUSN]

43. He too busy kissing the Shrubs n/t

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

54. Bill Clinton ain't shit and neither is his wife. If she runs, she will lose!

[bravenak]

58. Thank you!!

I feel the same way.

[oldandhappy]

56. Really, Bill??

You do not read the papers or pay attention to the internet or listen to your advisors or watch the polls. Really, Bill? Sorry sweetie, I do not believe you.

[melm00se]

60. here is the challenge

all voters (regardless of which end of the political spectrum) wants to hear what the candidates overarching vision is.

Obama had one
Clinton had one
Reagan had one

but a vision is not enough, there has to be a clearly defined strategy and vigorous execution. The latter is the one that trips up presidents and why, for the most part, the president's party does not fair well at the midterms.

Until or unless the Democratic Party comes up with more than "they suck", Democratic candidates are going to have a tough row to hoe.

The republicans will have to do the same thing. Their message of "Obama sucks/is a socialist/bad for the country" will run its course (especially by the next set of federal elections).

If one side comes up with a compelling vision and the other doesn't, the election will go decidedly in one direction.

[One_Life_To_Give]

61. Maybe spend more time with people who can't pay $5000.00 to have dinner with you

If you keep yourself isolated in a bubble of your rich supporters. You will never see the discontent till it bites you in the arse.