A Tough One To Spin

[babylonsister]

They got nothin'!!


http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2009_04/017901.php

A TOUGH ONE TO SPIN.... It's the job of the parties' campaign committees to put as positive a spin on election results as possible. But now that the results are final in the special election in New York's 20th, I think the NRCC will have to do better than this.

Rep. Pete Sessions (Texas), chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, said that although Tedisco came up short that his message of fiscal discipline provided GOPers a blueprint on which to run next year.

"Since Election Day, we continue to hear the growing chorus of frustrated and concerned citizens who demand more from their government than profligate spending and mountains of debt that will be paid for in higher taxes by our children and grandchildren," said Sessions. "Although Jim was unsuccessful in his hope to change Washington, he has shed light on our Party's efforts to win back the majority in the House."

Frankly, if I worked for the NRCC, I'm not sure what I would have come up with, but suggesting a failed strategy in a Republican district can be duplicated for success elsewhere seems rather foolish.

Tedisco started out with a big lead in the polls, a huge advantage in name recognition, and a built-in benefit thanks to the Republicans' sizable registration advantage in the district. He embraced the national party's economic message and lost.

It doesn't sound like much of a "blueprint."

The day before the election, the Weekly Standard had a piece noting, "{I}f Republicans can't make it in New York's 20th, they can't make it anywhere." No wonder Pete Sessions is at a loss.

—Steve Benen