While Democrats on the national stage licked their wounds Wednesday after historic GOP gains in Congress, supporters of Sen. Michael Bennet gathered under mild autumnal skies in Denver to celebrate his election.
And as Democrats here celebrated, we found some reason for hope.
One of the key reasons we endorsed Bennet was our hope that he could help bridge the widening gap between partisans in the Senate and form a more centrist coalition to move the country forward.
Bennet correctly noted in a meeting with us that a Senate tilted 60-40 in favor of Democrats was not a true reflection of the American electorate. A series of anomalies allowed for the Democrats’ dominance of that body, and it produced a dynamic that was not a good fit for a center- right nation.
With Washington fully controlled by Democrats — and an economic crisis facing down the Obama administration — the party acted unilaterally as it pushed through emergency stimulus spending, the health care reform law and bold new financial regulations. Voters saw the massive deficit spending and underhanded deals needed to pass health care reform as government overreach, and they responded on Tuesday.
President Obama admitted as much, saying the “shellacking” his party received reminded him of his promise to run Washington differently. Meanwhile, the historic Republican gains in the Senate and takeover of the House have left many wringing their hands with understandable concerns that hopeless deadlock awaits Washington.
Like Bennet, we suggest there is another way forward. We are hopeful that now that Washington is far more balanced in its power structure, something meaningful can occur. The political chessboard now allows for consensus-building, which is somewhat easier than when one party controls so many of the pieces.
We hope that’s not naïve to believe, and that our elected officials realize this balance of power is what voters wanted when they said they wanted to take the country back. They want a government that works and is responsive to the people.
The incoming Republican freshman class should recognize the opportunity the new Congress has and not make the same mistakes Democrats made over the last two years — that is, forcing political agendas without bipartisanship. Voters, according to exit polls, are still angry at Republicans, too.
Americans have demonstrated unequivocally that they do not like to be overruled. When a party takes up the role of domineering parent, the people react. As well they should.
We challenge Democrats like Bennet and the newly energized Republican leadership to seek common ground and put an end to the vitriol that for too long now has poisoned the debate.
