“Since my kids are gone, I can say it: [Republicans] can go f-k themselves!” Rahm Emanuel exclaimed exuberantly at the Democratic victories in the House and Senate, as quoted by the Chicago Tribune.
There is something so candid about Emanuel’s statement. Instead of cowering or growling Howard Dean-style at disgusting Republican rhetoric, Emanuel called it like he saw it.
After 12 years of a party gone wrong and then worse, Emanuel, head of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC), and Charles Schumer, head of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, helped rebuild a falling party.
People can argue that what it means to be a Democrat – that is, being pro-choice and pro-gay marriage – has been redefined in this last election. But the most important issue was decided upon. Citizens of this country are fed up with a war based on lies and greed.
No one should be able to wage war in a predominantly Muslim country if he or she does not know the difference between a Shi’ite and a Sunni. The facts are clear: the Iraq crisis has devolved into civil war.
When Lincoln Chaffee, a liberal, liberal Republican, lost in Rhode Island to Democrat Sheldon Whitehouse, everyone knew it was all over. At the end of the night, more governorships and House seats went to Democrats than Republicans. Claire McCaskill beat incumbent Senator Jim Talent in Missouri. Wednesday, Senator George Allen could have certainly asked for a recount in Virginia, but he just conceded to Jim Webb. Jon Tester took Montana, Donald Rumsfeld resigned, and the Republican Party folded like a $12.99 beach chair.
What’s more is that our guy, our district Congressman Rahm Emanuel was a part of creating this tsunami of Democratic voters across the nation. The Chicago Tribune reported that in a conversation with Democratic strategist James Carville and pollster Stan Greenberg, both trying to persuade Emanuel to go easy on the opponents in the last days of campaign ads, Emanuel responded, “Can you listen for one [expletive] minute? I’m working these campaigns all the time. The campaigns all have different textures.”