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DCCC Chair Congratulates Owens, Cheers 'Double-Blow' To GOP

November 4, 2009, 12:52AM

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Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD)

Bill Owens, Chris Van Hollen, DCCC, Doug Hoffman, Election Reaction, NY-23

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Rep. Chris Van Hollen, chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, released the following statement on Congressman-elect Bill Owens' victory in the Special Election in NY-23:

"Congratulations to Congressman-elect Bill Owens on his remarkable victory. Voters in New York's 23rd District responded to Bill Owens' message and track record of creating jobs and attracting economic development to Upstate New York.

"This election represents a double-blow for National Republicans and their hopes of translating this summer's 'tea party' energy into victories at the ballot box. Not only did eight extreme right-wing groups spend more than $1 million to drive the moderate Republican - and the NRCC's chosen candidate - out of the race. Now, after losing a seat that was held by Republicans for nearly 120 years, they have to deal with an emboldened and well-funded far right-wing that refuses to tolerate moderate Republicans with differing opinions.

"I am grateful to President Obama, Vice President Biden, House Democratic Leaders, Senators Schumer and Gillibrand, Congressman Steve Israel and the entire New York Congressional Delegation for their tireless work on behalf of and support of Bill Owens.

"With his commitment to reaching across the aisle to help President Obama enact his agenda for creating jobs and getting our economy moving again, Congressman-elect Bill Owens will be a tremendous asset to our Democratic Caucus."

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M. Digby IV

November 4, 2009 1:54 AM

As a student of history I was recently watching old 1960/1970's footage of antiwar/Civil rights protesters having riots.You look at those pictures and I understand how folks were very afraid of them. Voting Richard Nixon back into office in 1972. I watch the Tea Baggers and I feel scared and I wonder how would these angry people govern?

But the historical fact is that most of the Democratic parties next leaders came out of those movements. The became mayors,congressmen,Senators and President (I know Clinton never protested anything). The only problem with the Tea baggers is that unless they are hiding it most of their members don't seem very young?

All of this does worry me because we can't survive with a one party democracy.

I think all politics are local. The fact that the tea bagging side of the party picked a guy who had no idea about local issues really affected the voters.

Let me be the first to now welcome our new mainstream Republican overlords. The Tea Party is now the Republican party!

If I were whiter and over 65 I would join you. But I still have to pay my own health insurance premium's. Some day I hope to join your none fact based community.

Miles Digby IV

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massamott

November 4, 2009 5:52 AM

I think this is the big news of the day. New Jersey and Virginia had weak candidates. Based on Virginia's history, it was almost a given that the Republican would win, and Corzine couldn't overcome the local problems.

In contrast, Democrats picked up another seat in the house, a seat that has gone to Republicans for over one hundred years, and it is another loss for Sarah Palin. These three elements seem more significant to me than two governor's races, although it's not being reported that way.

The far right wing lost, and if they want to keep up their antics for 2010, they will continue to lose. McDonnell, although he has a far right history, ran a moderate campaign. We'll see how he governs, but the point is that the moderate won, and the far right lost.

Democrats should be celebrating right now. When one digs through the surface of what looks like a Republican victory, I think Democrats come out on top.

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Russell

November 4, 2009 10:48 AM

Face it conservatives....2 govenor seats means nothing in Congress, and yet the dems picked up 2 congressional seats and that means 2 more votes needed to push the progressive agenda. No one is suprised by Va...that state always votes opposite of who sits in the White House during gubernatorial races, that's a fact! In Jersey...well Corzine wasnt even liked by local dems so he had a hard row going in. But the cherry on top for us is the NY 23rd. That seat has been a gop staple for over 100 years and now thanks to the conservatives, it is now a dem seat and if a conservative runs for it in 2010 it will stay dem. Sarah Palin, Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh along with the conservative gop members pushing Hoffman lost! They lost! Get over it! They lost! They cant win just because they are pushing a candidate and I think the New Yorkers of the 23rd showed these radio shock jock clowns what they think of outsiders coming in and destroying the local gop candidate. Scozzafava was a moderate to be sure, but she was still a very reliable republican, just not a nutbar fanatic like Hoffman. So I tip my hats to the conservatives and say "please go after more moderate republicans" because we dems will collect every seat a moderate republican is forced out by the conservative fringe of the gop. When moderate republicans and independents are only given a choice between a democrat or a hard right conservative fanatic, the dems will win everytime because crazy is no way to vote!

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