Republican Rebound

Ever since Democrats won the majority in Congress and Barak Obama won the Presidential election in 2008, pundits have proclaimed the demise of the Republican party. Commentators constantly claim that the GOP is leaderless, lacking clear direction and unwilling to include moderate views. But last night’s elections prove that voters are fed up with progressive policies that are bankrupting the economy, nationalizing private businesses and saddling generations with catastrophic debt.

Despite campaign support from the White House, including a personal visit from President Obama on Sunday, New Jersey voters elected Republican Chris Christie as their new Governor. Under incumbent Democratic Governor Jon Corzine, New Jersey has seen the highest unemployment in 55 years and property taxes that are the highest in the country, along with rampant corruption across the state.

In Virginia, Republicans claimed landslide victories for all three statewide elections leading may experts to note the level of mismanagement on the part of Democrat leaders in that state. In addition to Republican Bob McDonnell winning the Governors race, Republican Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling easily won reelection and Ken Cuccinelli, the GOP’s nominee for attorney general, handily beat Democrat Steve Shannon. Bolling won by the narrowest spread of the three, with a 13 percentage point victory, a large majority which shows how overwhelming the conservative turnout was.

In a less publicized but equally impressive vote, Maine residents voted yesterday to reject a recent state law that would have legalized gay marriage. The North-Eastern state was thought to be one of the most supportive states of same sex marriage and the measure’s defeat was surprising and deeply disappointing to gay marriage activists.

"The institution of marriage has been preserved in Maine and across the nation," declared Frank Schubert, chief organizer for the winning side.

"We're in this for the long haul," said Jesse Connolly, manager of the pro-gay marriage campaign. "For next week, and next month, and next year - until all Maine families are treated equally. Because in the end, this has always been about love and family and that will always be something worth fighting for."

Gay marriage has now lost in every single state, 31 in all, in which it has been put to a popular vote. Five other states have legalized gay marriage, starting with Massachusetts in 2004, and followed by Vermont, New Hampshire, Connecticut and Iowa, but all did so through legislation or court rulings, not by popular vote. In contrast, constitutional amendments banning gay marriage have been approved in all 30 states where they have been on the ballot.

The outcome Tuesday marked the first time voters had rejected a gay-marriage law enacted by a legislature. When Californians put a stop to same-sex marriage a year ago, it was in response to a court ruling, not legislation.

Tuesday’s elections are a clear sign that America is tired of the big-government policies that are getting our country into deep trouble. In 2008 voters were promised “hope and change” but were duped by the high minded rhetoric of a politician that contained nothing more than platitudes and campaign slogans.

We must foster and grow the momentum that was created in the last few weeks and carry it forward to the 2010 and 2012 elections. We need to champion candidates that advocate true fiscal responsibility and social conservatism, and who are willing to make sacrifices and do hard work to put our country back on the right path. We must not sit back on our laurels and relish these small but significant gains, instead we must plunge ahead and dive into the work that is necessary to move America forward.