NEWS AND OPINION:
The Democratic Party has been fairly jaunty in the aftermath of the midterm elections, looking towards 2016 and either blaming Republicans for something, or pining for the end of the GOP’s honeymoon with voters. One Democrat, however, stepped out Tuesday to chart the failures and offer a critique. Sen. Charles Schumer appeared at the National Press Club in the nation’s capital with his diagnosis. The New York lawmaker said voters blamed Democrats for a string of monumental government failures. But that’s no excuse to give up on a strong government, he cautioned - insisting that an all-embracing government is the key to a 2016 White House win.
“Middle class incomes have been in decline for over a decade, and the grand optimism over the American dream is in jeopardy. The 2014 election results can be explained this way. During 2013, neither party convinced the middle class that they had an effective way to get them out of this morass, that they had an effective plan to create good jobs and raise incomes. As 2014 began, the parties were in stalemate. But when government failed to deliver on a string of non-economic issues - the rollout of the Obamacare exchanges, the mishandling of the surge in border crossers, ineptitude at the VA, initial handling of the Ebola threat - people lost faith in government’s ability to work, then blamed the incumbent governing party, Democrats - creating a Republican wave,” Mr. Schumer explained.
“Ultimately, the public knows in its gut that a strong and active government is the only way to reverse the middle class decline and help revive the American dream. Democrats lost in 2014 because the government made mistakes that eroded the electorate’s confidence in its ability to improve the lives of the middle class. But that same underlying expectation that government should help make life easier for the middle class is as strong as it has ever been, setting the stage for a Democratic victory in 2016, if and only if we can convince people that government can work and help restore the middle class to prosperity,” the lawmaker said.
“We are in a much better position to do this than Republicans because when economic conditions are declining for the middle class, the electorate instinctively turns turns to Democrats. But in order to win in 2016, Democrats must embrace government, not run away from it,” Mr. Schumer concluded.
THE HAGEL PRESS
The departure of former Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel is subject to noisy interpretation among journalists. A small selection of headlines, then, following Mr. Hagel’s resignation on Monday:
SEE ALSO: Chuck Hagel latest Obama national security team member to jump ship
“Hagel takes a bullet for Obama” (The Daily Beast), “Hagel forced out from Pentagon post” (MSNBC), “Is Hagel’s resignation a first sign of the administration’s implosion?” (HotAir), “Chuck Hagel was a huge mistake” (The Week), “Chuck Hagel: Not a wartime consigliere” (Powerline.com), “Ugly ouster: Frustrated Hagel faces unfair sniping” (Fox News), “Republicans attacked Chuck Hagel for being anti-Israel” (New Republic), “Hagel resigns under pressure as global crises test Pentagon” (New York Times), “Hagel retreats from Pentagon under fire” (Time), “Hagel’s replacement must be cautious” (Washington Post).
’MORE HAWKISH’
Americans are growing “more hawkish” when it comes to the U.S. strategy against ISIS, says a CNN/ORC poll released Monday. “The news comes on the heels of Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel’s sudden announcement that he’ll resign, which some have suggested could be tied to disagreements over the U.S. strategy in combating the militant Islamist group in Iraq and Syria,” the news channel notes.
And the survey numbers: 78 percent of the public supports airstrikes against the militant group while half say it poses “a very serious threat to the U.S.” Six in 10 are confident the U.S. will “degrade and destroy” the ISIS forces.
“Americans are also warming to the idea of sending U.S. ground troops to accomplish that mission in Iraq or Syria — with 43 percent now in favor, up from 38 percent in September. Still, 55 percent of Americans oppose sending combat troops into action in either country to fight ISIS,” CNN says.
CONSIDERING ’YOUR TIRED, YOUR POOR’
SEE ALSO: Michele Flournoy is front-runner to replace Chuck Hagel as Defense Secretary
Many Americans recall the verse “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free” inscribed on the base of the Statue of Library, and written by poet Emma Lazarus in “A New Colossus”,” her poem of 1883. Eight-out-of-10 Americans say these sentiments applied in the past, notes a YouGov poll released Monday. Do we still believe these words today?
Well, not particularly: 47 percent say this phrase applies to America now. And yes there are partisan divides on this subject, of particular interest following President Obama’s recent revelations about amnesty. Please consult the Poll du Jour at column’s end for the insight. And the complete verse: “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door.”
TURKEYTOPIA
The People for Ethical Treatment of Animals tried their best, but the White House turkey pardoning will go on as scheduled in Wednesday in the Rose Garden before a bank of cameras, journalists, amused officials, cautious turkey handlers — and possibly in the snow, if weather predictions hold true. The activists group reached out to First Daughters Malia and Sasha, pleading with them to become vegans and intercede on behalf of the pair of turkeys, who hail from Ohio. The group considers the ceremony offensive, and a promotion for poultry breeders.
“You come from a family whose members don’t hesitate to fight for those who have been oppressed by standing up for civil rights, women’s rights, and LGBT rights. This year, we would like to ask you to lend your powerful and influential voices to another group whose voices often go unheard: animals,” asked Rachelle Owen, in her letter to the young ladies.
Yeah, well. The show must go on. President Obama will pardon the turkeys as part of the 67th anniversary of the “National Thanksgiving Turkey presentation,” the White House says, and that’s that. The birds themselves will retire to “Turkey Hill,” a historic turkey farm located at the home of former Virginia Governor Westmoreland Davis in Leesburg.
THAT FICKLE INFLUENCE
Brace for it, here come the end-of-year lists. First among them is “The Least Influential People of 2014,” released by GQ magazine on Monday, and penned by correspondent Drew Magary.
“Another year, another round of people who took up vast clouds of oxygen, gave us back nothing of use, and probably helped accelerate the death of our planet. Here they are, in no particular order, although you’ll probably assume we ranked them anyway, because most of you probably skipped this part,” the author explains.
Yes, President Obama is on the list, along with Sarah Palin, Sen. John McCain, Woody Allen, CNN and 25 other actors, politicians, news and entities. Mr. Magary spares no one. And here is what he says about Mr. Obama: “Why are you still on Martha’s Vineyard?! Missouri is BURNING. Putin is conquering Europe. The CDC is playing nude Twister with Ebola patients. U2 is forcing bad songs on everyone I need you ON THIS. Are you even president anymore? When Obama got blasted for golfing shortly after ISIS beheaded journalist James Foley, he said, ’I should’ve anticipated the optics.’ How do you win the presidency without knowing that golfing makes you look rich and indifferent?”
POLL DU JOUR
• 79 percent of Americans say the verses “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free” inscribed on the Statue of Library applied in the past; 84 percent of Republicans, 74 percent of independents and 78 percent of Democrats agree.
• 54 percent say this phrase will apply to America in the future; 47 percent of Republicans, 51 percent of independents and 62 percent of Democrats agree.
• 47 percent say this phrase applies to America now; 44 percent of Republicans, 44 percent of independents and 52 percent of Democrats agree.
• 59 percent approve of the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program which allows oppressed people to apply for U.S. citizenship; 55 percent of Republicans, 52 percent of independents and 72 percent of Democrats agree.
• 54 percent say the program should not be giving cash or medical assistance; 66 percent of Republicans, 54 percent of independents and 43 percent of Democrats agree.
Source: A YouGov survey of 990 U.S. adults conducted Oct. 22-24 and released Monday.
• Grand proclamations, smart little ideas to jharper @washingtontimes.com.
• Jennifer Harper can be reached at jharper@washingtontimes.com.
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