Democrats Won The Presidency, Gained Seats In the Senate and House, But No Mandate?!?!?

[TomCADem]

This is the BS talking point that the corporate media talking heads keep on telling us.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

1. The Republicans think that a mandate is a gay thing.

Cheap joke but it's true,

[aletier_v]

2. Really? Then why do THEY always have one? :)

[Angry Dragon]

5. LOL

[patrice]

10. he, he . . .

[southernyankeebelle]

3. Not true. Remind them that W said when he won in 04 that he had a manadate at 289 electoral

votes. When FL will finally be counted Obama will have 332 electoral votes. So I'd say he has a manadate. Just remind them W said it.

[TomCADem]

6. Worse, in 2000, Bush LOST the Popular Vote, But That Did Not Stop Republicans...

...from destroying the country's credits with ruinous tax cuts to the rich while the country simultaneously waged two wars.

[southernyankeebelle]

19. that is soooooooo true. but we must remind these republicans.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

16. I did that very thing today with co-workers that are Democrats and support the president.

I had to explain to them that Obama won by a larger margin that W who claimed that he had a mandate. I had to explain that winning 50%+ *IS* a mandate.

Unfortunately, the Right Wing put that meme out immediately after the president's win, and even liberals are buying it.

When will we stop this?!?!?

[southernyankeebelle]

18. Well I think on Last Word with Lawrence O'Donnell he showed a clip. Remember the

one when W. at the WH Briefing room. He said that the american people gave him a manadate and he was going to use it. He only had like 289 electrol votes. Obama will have 332 when the final count wih FL. I think if you go over to MSNBC click on Lawarence's name at the very top it will bring the clip of the show up. I think it was last night.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

20. Yes, I know. He did a fantastic job explaining Obama's mandate. However, it is amazing that

the right wing is able to set the narrative that Obama is illegitimate, and those who are on our side buy into it.

I think I was able to shut them down yesterday, but I was stunned by the ignorance.

Since when is 50%+ with 332 electoral votes NOT a mandate?

[robinlynne]

4. I hear it from Dems even. I heard Obama say he is going to sit down with Mitt Romney to work togethe

I did not like that moment in his speech.

[Angry Dragon]

7. I agree ......... why would want to sit down with a liar??

[gkhouston]

17. I've seen it argued that by treating Mitt as the "leader" of the GOP, it undercuts

Boehner and McConnell.

[Jack Sprat]

8. Re: George Bush

He said his reelection gave him a mandate with the Congress, that he was going to remind them of that and that he intended to use it. He won by a slimmer margin than Obama's. Therefore, Obama has a mandate with this new Congress and he can use it.

[TomCADem]

12. Not Sure I Want President Obama Taking Tips From Dubya...

Dubya is pretty much the worst President ever. Even Ronald Reagan worked with Democrats on matters like immigration reform and increasing revenues. It is not mentioned by the RW, but Reagan actually did compromise on occasion.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-08-28/hero-reagan-s-compromise-would-collide-with-tea-party-certitude.html

Ronald Reagan remains the modern Republican Party’s most durable hero. His memory will be hailed as The Great Uncompromiser by those who insist the GOP must never flag in its support for smaller government, lower taxes and conservative social values.

His record tells a different story.

During Reagan’s eight years in the White House, the federal payroll grew by more than 300,000 workers. Although he was a net tax cutter who slashed individual income-tax rates, Reagan raised taxes about a dozen times.

His rhetoric matched that of many of today’s most ardent Christian conservatives, yet he proved to be a reluctant warrior on abortion and other social issues. Perhaps most tellingly, he was willing to cut deals, working closely with Democratic leaders such as House Speaker Tip O’Neill of Massachusetts to overhaul Social Security and House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dan Rostenkowski of Illinois to revamp the tax code.

[progressivebydesign]

9. I was pissed last night at, I think, Brokaw or Gregory who said "well, it's not a GRAND win,"

They totally downplayed the damn win all night. it wasn't big enough. It wasn't exciting enough. People weren't as fired up. He won only because he advertised heavily that Romney was a bad person. It was horrible to watch. Even as he pulled over 100 Electoral votes, and nearly 1 million popular votes up, they kept saying that.

[TomCADem]

13. John King on CNN Was Loudy Insisting That President Obama's Re-election

...Was not a mandate. Bullshit. The re-election was more than a mandate. It was a validation of President Obama's policies and leadership over the past four years and a rejection of what Mitt Romney offered.

[mgcgulfcoast]

23. we can create our own mandate

[msongs]

11. are dems gonna let the repubs set the tone and agenda again? like last time? nt

[TomCADem]

14. Ah, the Democrats Are No Different From Republicans Talking Point

...Afterall, they just let the Republicans implement their agenda, including repealing Obamacare, repealing Financial Reform, rolling back fuel efficiency standards, defending DOMA, and not letting LGB serve in the military.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

15. Sadly I've been hearing this "non-mandate" meme from Obama supporters themselves.

I had a discussion today with co-workers who have bought into this meme that Obama didn't win a mandate.

I had to explain to them that 50%+ IS a mandate. I had to explain to them that over 300 EVs amounts to a mandate.

Am I missing something here?

[Cosmocat]

21. I said this was going to be the talking point BEFORE the election

it is pretty predictable ...

[gravity]

22. The Republicans lost their "mandate"

They believe that the 2010 elections were a mandate against Obamacare and the Obama administration. Now they can no longer make that argument.

Whether you call it a mandate or not, the fact is that Democratic party gained political capital from the election and the Republicans lost theirs. The Republicans know it which is why they are acting scared.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

24. I agree

I'm also getting tired of the BS meme that it's PRESIDENT OBAMA that has to "reach across the aisle" and work with the Republicans- as if he is mostly (or entirely) to blame for all of the gridlock mess in Congress since he was elected. It's like they pretend that that meeting that the Republicans had where they adopted their "Grand Obstructionist Party" plan to make President Obama a one-term President never even happened.

[jzodda]

25. Its a mandate if we act like it is

Its only not a mandate if Obama and the Senate does NOT act like we have one.

We need to get aggressive with these idiots in the house. So even if they obstruct the people will punish them in 2 years.

We need to change the Senate rules so we don't need 60 votes for important work.

Of course the corporate and right wing wing hacks will say there is no mandate. It gives cover for those who choose to obstruct. We need to punish those who do and then Obama needs to campaign for a House he can work with.

In 2002 Bush went all over campaigning for house seats. We need to do the same here. We can NOT let 2010 happen again. This time Obama has to be fully engaged.