Commentary: Looming Slaughter for the Democrats

by John LeBoutillier

April 7, 2010

Since the health care bill passed the Congress and was signed into law – two weeks ago – the President has simultaneously tried to win back independents (changing his position on off-shore oil drilling) and then lurching back to the Left with his (feel-good for the Left) decision to limit the potential use of nuclear weapons.

But the real story is Obama’s approval rating has dropped five points since the supposed triumph of the health care passage.

The CBS poll shows his approval rating down to 44% - down from 49% right after he signed the health care bill. And in the generic ballot question, which party will you vote for in this fall’s congressional elections, Republicans have taken a one point lead over the Democrats for the first time in over three years.

Furthermore, the health care bill is bedeviling Democrats back home. In Harry Reid’s Nevada a whopping 65% oppose it. No wonder Harry’s re-elect number is hovering around 40%, a sure-fire sign that ole Harry is headed for a humiliating defeat in November. GOP candidates in Illinois – going for Obama’s seat – and Pennsylvania are ahead. The GOP candidate for governor in California is ahead of Jerry Brown by 3 points. And Democrats running in the four open House seats in upcoming special elections are all in trouble.

Why all the trouble for the majority party? Why are they – at this moment – in trouble even in normally Democratic states and districts? And why are the President’s ratings dropping to George W. Bush levels?

1) Because as April 15th approaches, we are seeing that our taxes – whether they be local, state or federal – are going up at a time we have less money.

2) The jobs situation is still not improving despite some small statistical signs of meager job growth. People know that it is a bleak jobs picture and will be for a long time.

3) Because the President and the Democrats continue to talk about the health care bill – even after it has been passed! Why keep talking about a bill that 55% of Americans still say they want to repeal?

4) Because the President is avoiding the very problem that is hurting him: the economy.

The Democrats are going to be slaughtered this November for one basic reason: the perception is that they have not made the economy better. Period. If that perception changes, Democrats can then get away with this other left-wing nonsense. But until and unless the economy does a major turn-around, the “in” party is “in” the voters’ cross hairs.

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John LeBoutillier is a former member of Congress from Long Island, and is the author of Harvard Hates America.