.....a small step definitely in the RIGHT direction

[Guest083013]

http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/...s-weiners-seat

Republicans scored an upset victory in the House race that became a referendum on President Barack Obama's economic policies.

[Rodram]

I can dispute that it's the right direction dennisrn, but I'll say it is a troublesome development for Democrats.
Some Democrats are dismissing this loss for various reasons and others are taking very it seriously, but I think it's a major problem and I'll expand on this later.

Lets do each other a favor and drop the bullshit for the sake of the other readers. We have huge political differences and I have gone after you with some pretty vicious vitriolic rants and some of it way overboard. My criticism of your politics won't go away but I will be as constructively critical as I can without the vitriol. - Rodney

[Rodram]

This election was for District 9 in New York formerly held by Anthony Weiner(D-NY) before resigning over a tweeted picture of his manhood to a woman he was having an online relationship with. That district has been a Democratic district for over 80yrs and no matter what some pundits and Democratic leaders say, this was a devastating loss for President Obama and Democrats.

The controversy is whether or not this a bellwether election for President Obama. Surveying done in the district concluded that many voters voted to send a message to President Obama that they were unhappy about the job he is doing. It's unclear to me about what exactly they were dissatisfied with or if it was just a general critique of his administration.

Democratic party leaders are dismissing District 9 as a bellwether election and claiming that this was backlash from the Weiner controversy. I disagree with this because another Democrat, Charlie Rangel(D-NY) was involved in an ethics scandal and was removed from chairing a major committee but still was re-elected in his district during a time when President Obama's approval rating was higher.

This election was for a seat that's got a year left and then will be rerun again. The only caveat I would even consider would have to do with whether or not the Democratic Party in that district truly put its best resources and money into that election because it would not change the vote count of the House or result in a change away from a Republican majority. I contend that any election loss for the party of the President in office is a negative.