August 09, 2006
On Joe Schwarz's Defeat
MI Rep. Joe Schwarz's long history in his CD -- from doctor, to mayor and active rep -- couldn't save himself from the fire that his moderate positions on social and fiscal issues kindled.
Schwarz's positions easily handed ex-state Rep. Tim Walberg the backing of MI Right to Life and the Club for Growth. RTL helped Walberg's ground game and CFG helped Walberg raise money when the MI and national GOP establishment lined up behind Schwarz.
(It's the first time a Club-endorsed candidate has ever beat a federal incumbent.) Schwarz's electoral base was never large to begin with: he won 24% in the six-way '04 GOP primary. It didn't hurt that Walberg is a minister and was a red-blooded fiscal conservative during his 16 years in the Legislature.
Sources in MI say that Schwarz ran a poor campaign. Robocalls from Pres. Bush, Laura Bush ex-Dem Gov. Jim Blanchard barely helped. Also: Walberg's campaign used sophisticated precinct targeting software developed by a young DC-based consultant.
The solidly GOP CD means Walberg is on his way to Congress. Walberg is certain to stay to the right once there, saying he admires Reps. Mike Pence (R-IN) and Jeff Flake (R-AZ). Schwarz's absence will rob moderate House GOPers of one of their own, at a time when they've played an influential role in shaping the House GOP agenda (like killing ANWR drilling).
Unified Dem opposition made moderates the key for the GOP leadership to pass legislation. The hope among conservatives is that Schwarz's defeat will encourage moderates to tack right. [JUSTIN MILLER and MARC AMBINDER]
Posted at 12:18 PM
Comments
Not true -- here in PA, the top two State Senate Republicans were defeated in the primary in the uproar over a pay raise that legislators gave themselves in the middle of the night last summer. The challengers received significant support, arguably even most of their support, from the PA Club for Growth and from Pat Toomey and his allies.
Fred in PA | 08.09.06 02:47 PM
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Tuesday's defeat of Connecticut Senator Joseph Lieberman in the Democratic Party primary and Michigan Congressman Joe Schwarz in the Republican Party primary may have offered a telling sign for the future of American politics. Lieberman and Schwarz are moderates of the centrist wing of their respective parties. Lieberman backed the War in Iraq and Schwarz voted often in favor of abortion and gay rights issues. Both elected representatives worked across party lines only to be defeated by challengers promising to return the seats to the core principles of the Democratic and Republican Parties.
Tuesday's primary results show that not only is the electorate polarized, but that the two major political parties in the United States are turning further to the left and right. Any candidate/elected representative who reaches across the political divide is in danger of being challenged from the fringe of his/her party.
Yesterday was not the first time moderate incumbents have been defeated in a party primary. New York Senator Jacob Javitz lost a re-election bid to Alfonse De'Mato in the early 80's as the Republican Party shifted to the right. Recently, moderate Republican state legislatures in North Carolina have been targetted by interest groups ran by pro-business millionaire Art Pope and were defeated in the primaries of 2004 and 2006.
Democracy works because the power rests in the hands of the people. However, a flaw in democracy is that power rests in the hands of the people and is subject to the inflamed passions created by current events. Passion allows for the development of factions that often overlook the greater good of the community. Lieberman and Schwarz were victims of such political groundswells of passion.
As any practicioner of politics knows, inciting the factions within political parties is a successful method to win elections. Unfortunately, most people are not core politicos and are of the centrist persuasion. Wtih both political parties beholden to the fringes, average working Americans are having their issues go unrepresented.
My biggest fear is that Tuesday's primary results will become an all to regular experience. If moderate incumbents continue to be knocked off in primaries, I worry that our government at all levels will become less responsive to the majority of Americans. Gridlock will become more prevalent and major issues will go unresolved.
With the issues that are facing America over the next 50 years, bipartisanship will be necessary to preserve the quality of life Americans have come to enjoy. By declaring open season on any moderate, the special interests are jeopardizing our security and freedom.
CarolinaDem | 08.09.06 02:48 PM
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Well, if Schwarz ran a poor campaign, they certainly fooled me. I did some volunteer work in one of their offices and they were Johnny on the Spot.
What exactly do people think they did poorly?
ParkerS | 08.12.06 09:53 PM
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They lost because they had kids running the whole campaign, as opposed to adults.
Che | 04.01.07 04:15 PM
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