The Washington Outsider


Congresswoman Kathy Dahlkemper

Previously published on Nov 12, 2010

Moderate Democrats, without regard to their voting records and the motivation behind their votes, took the brunt of the tsunami against the Democratic leadership. In the case of Pennsylvania Third District Freshman Congresswoman Kathy Dahlkemper, this was certainly true. Her opponent, Republican Mike Kelly, ran a rather weak campaign that focused more on Nancy Pelosi than Dahlkemper's actual contributions to the legislative process. Last year, she had sent voters a small report card on what major legislator messages she voted for, cosponsored, and introduced. The list was rather remarkable for a Freshmen Congresswoman, but I was most impressed with the nature of a few measures she pursued as well as her careful study of the issues. Instead of trying to bring home the pork to Erie and Crawford County, she pushed initiatives that would benefit companies within her district, such as GE Transportation, but only because they were also valuable investments for the Country as a whole.

In many respects, I feel the Democratic Party almost wrote off the Third District and left Dahlkemper to mainly fend for herself. Although our region has long had a strong Republican presence, i.e. there are usually no Democratic challengers in our State Congressional elections, most residents are moderates and, even devote Republicans, embrace a far more compromising Republican view thanks in part to issues like outsourcing. As someone who lives in the red hills of Crawford County, I engage in political conversation with Republicans and independents from all walks of life on a consistent basis. The truth is that we are more interested in our candidates' ideas and their ability to enact those ideas than their affiliation, thus the Democratic Party has a real chance in the Third District, if it would just buildup its presence by devoting some resources.

When I walked into the Stueben Township building to vote, I asked the poll workers how good the turnout was; by early afternoon, they had already seen a high turnout of about a quarter of our 400 some registered voters, which is good but sad. I also found, once again, only the Republican campaigns had bothered to post signs near the voting center. Of course, just a few days earlier, no one would have known an election was underway except for a couple of GOP signs in one or two private driveways. In fact, I received only about two or three mailings from the Democrats during the last week of the Midterm; between Monday and Tuesday morning, I had a stack of GOP mailings. Democrats may have brought Bill Clinton in for Dahlkemper, but they barely paid any attention to voters who weren't in their base. This is exactly why GOP messages like "Republicans are listening" resonate so well. Meanwhile, it did not help President Obama rolled out another round of tens of billion of dollar in spending for jobs creation, among other necessary, yet costly, measures, just weeks before the Midterm vote.

For Dahlkemper's part, she probably would have won with their campaign effort in a normal year. Dahlkemper had obviously grown far more confident in her campaign ads this time around, but this year she needed a different strategy. (She appeared a little nervous in some ads, but nowhere as nervous as she did in her first campaign against longtime incumbent Phil English; her sometimes nervous demeanor has been taken by undecided voters as a lack of certainty in her views and by opposition voters as a sign she is a puppet.) I feel she had a couple of really good ads such as one where she fully rejected claims that she voted for the bailouts by shoving the record in our faces. She did, however, have weak ads, such as one where she simply claimed she had a choice as an unmarried, young woman and chose life. Other ads asserting her pro-life stance were better, but they did not reflect the most pressing issue of the economy. In her defense, these ads were a reaction to unrelenting pro-life groups that believe the Healthcare Reform bill funds abortion, despite how much legislators bent over backwards trying to insert redundant measures into the bill forbidding taxpayer funded abortions.

When looking at ousted representatives like Kathy Dahlkemper, it is clear the dynamics of politics in places like Pennsylvania are driven by the issues of the day. Yes, Party mattered more in this race, but voters were more or less voting to counterbalance the liberal leadership in Washington versus voting against specific candidates. Pennsylvania has a history as a conservative Commonwealth, yet, since the beginning of George W. Bush Administration, it had rapidly turned into a reliably blue state. In 2010, it instantly turned red once again. The reason is not because Pennsylvanians are driven to Republican policies; but rather, it is the result of an electorate that seeks out the best ideas and representatives for their views under the current circumstances. In this Midterm Election, the interest of the People focused on checking the Democratic leadership's agenda, but the next election may well be more local.

When all is said and done, I think Dahlkemper actually has a very good chance in the 2012 Congressional race. She does need to give Mike Kelley time to build a voting record that will likely suggest he is simply another vote for the GOP and supports policies that, for example, hurt the manufacturing sector, i.e. he is a free trader versus a fair trader. (This is not to suggest Mike Kelley should be undermined in anyway, but his professed views, which did not come with many specifics, and his experiences in office, suggest that as a Republican he will not have much of an independent voice.) This probably means waiting a year before launching an offensive specifically against the Congressmen. What Dahlkemper must not do is constantly blame the anti-incumbency wave for her misfortune, thus Democratic Party representatives should spend their time visiting often neglected areas in the Third District and others to simply listen to what the People want as they prepare for the next election season.
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      • What Modern Day Revolutionaries Need to Learn from Leader's like Mandela
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      • Discussing the Need for Community Support
      • Why New Forms of Capitalism and Socialism Will Compliment Each Other
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      • Why the World Needs to Reinvest in America
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      • Responding to "the Soldier as Sacrficial Victim"
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        • Evaluating NAFTA and TPP
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        • Why Sudan's Greatest Long-Term Hurdle is Our Lowest-bidder Economy
        • Reduce US Imports by Buying American Made Products
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        • On Questioning the Need to Address Economic Disparity
        • Minimum Wage is Not the Problem
        • Responding to the "Blip"
        • Why Education Is Not The Civil Rights Issue Of The Twenty-First Century
      • Considering the Impact of the Capital Gains Tax Deduction
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        • Capitalism Versus Socialism
        • The Negatives of Socialism
      • Stealing Intellectual Property
      • Changing Business Models: From Enduring Entities to Cash Cows
      • Consumer and Investor Evolution in the Great Recession of 2008-09
      • Dealing with the Issues Surrounding the Patenting of Self-replicating Technologies
      • Is Technology Threatening Jobs?
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      • The Role of Education in Creating a More Dynamic Workforce
      • Primary Education in America and the Changing Needs of Society
      • The Greatness of the American Education System
      • Ideas for Improving the United States Education System
      • Are Teachers Treated as Professionals?
      • Is Engaging Parents in Their Children's Education a Major Factor in Turning Around Low-performing Schools?
      • Should Grants Be Awarded to School Districts that Try Innovative Methods to Improve Student Achievement?
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      • On Reading the US Constitution
      • The Senate should not do more to limit the powers of the Judicial Branch
      • On the DOJ Justifying the “targeted Killings” of US Citizens
      • Corporations Do Not Have the Same Rights as US Citizens >
        • Corporate America Pleads the First
      • Discussing the Constitutionality of Per Capita Taxes
      • Was the California Supreme Court Right in Legalizing Gay Marriage?
      • Should the Bible Continue to Be Used for Swearing-in Ceremonies and in Courtrooms?
      • Should Religious Student Clubs Be Allowed in Public Schools?
      • Should the Government Control Talk Radio to Make it More "balanced"?
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        • Are We Losing Our Second Amendment Rights
      • Eminent Domain Used Against Banks
      • Should a Woman Have the Right to Choose Abortion? >
        • Should Fathers Be Able to Opt Out of Parenthood?
      • Should Smoking Be Allowed in Public Places?
      • Is Teen Driving a Right or a Privilege?
      • Should US Companies Be Required to Provide Equal Pay to Women and Men?
      • Is eighteen too young to vote?
      • First Amendment Rights: The Priviledge of The Press
      • Do Mandatory Seat Belt Laws Violate Individual Rights?
      • Should cell phone use be banned while driving?
      • Dealing with the link between video game violence and children's behavior
      • Should police have to submit to routine drug and alcohol testing?
      • Public schools should not impose mandatory drug testing on students
      • Are High Taxes on Cigarettes Proper?
      • Should pharmacists be required to violate their religious beliefs and dispense the "Morning After Pill?"
      • Should school counselors uphold patient privacy or report students who become unstable?
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    • Ongoing Issues >
      • Red Dawn in Ukraine: Understanding the Actions of Russia >
        • On Russia’s Coercion of Ukraine
        • The Russian Annexation of Crimea in the Eyes of the World
        • Putin Has Overplayed His Hand With Crimea
        • Ukraine in Terms of Resovereignization
        • Avoiding a Conflict Between America and Russia Over Ukraine
        • What Drives the World’s Interest in Russia’s Actions in Ukraine
      • China’s Aggressive Pursuit of Interests Demands a Global Response
      • Iran Makes a Deal: A Start to a Long-term Diplomatic Effort to Denuclearize Iran >
        • On the Future of a Nuclear Negotiations with Iran
      • America's Sphere of Influence: Retaking South-East Asia >
        • Power in Asia: Looking at the Power Shift in Japan
        • The China Paradox: Why America is Worried About China
      • Assessing US Support of Israel >
        • Tread Softly Israel for a Heavy Step May Be Your Undoing
      • Understanding the Dysfunctional Nature of the US-Pakistani Relationship
      • Recognizing the True Threat Behind the Current Unrest in the Middle East >
        • Reacting to the Escalating Crackdown in Syria
      • Assessing the Threat of North Korea >
        • Answering North Korea's Call for Food Aid: Breaking the Vicious Cycle Forced Upon Us by a Warring Nation
        • Dealing with the Restarting of the Korean War
        • North Korea Attacks South Korea
      • Dealing with the Ill-effects of Climate Change
      • Racial Inequality and Oppression Do Truly Exist in Today's Society
      • Should energy independence be a high priority in the US?
      • An overview of world wide Human Rights violations
      • Nuclear Threat from Pakistan
      • Return of The Cold War?
    • World >
      • Coverage of FIFA World Cup is a Chance to Focus on Poverty >
        • The FIFA World Cup Offers Benefits for More Than Brazilian Soccer Fans
        • FIFA Can Bring Brazilians Together as a Nation
      • Being Prepared for Any Potential Dangers at the FIFA World Cup Games
      • Treading Softly on the Politicizing of the 2014 Sochi Olympics Over Gay Rights
      • Why NATO Operations in Libya Lack a Well-defined Mission
      • China Hijacks the Web
      • Lessons from the Great Japanese Earthquake of 2011
      • A Modernizing Cuba Offers an Opportunity for Capitalists
      • The Seeds of Democracy Take Root in the Middle East
      • The Rebirth of Democracy in Tunisia
      • What May Come from the Hurt Revolution in Libya
      • Responding to the Violence of Qaddafi and Other Besieged Leaders
      • Embracing the Rise of a Democratic Egypt
      • Protests in Afghanistan Turn Deadly for Coalition Forces and UN Personnel
      • Haiti: Another Failing Humanitarian Investment
      • What Karzai Can Learn from Calderon
      • START II: A Necessary, Easy Success that Nearly Failed
      • Why Does the U.S. Government Support Independence for the Breakaway Serb Territory of Kosovo but Oppose Independence for the Breakaway Georgian Territories of Abkhazia and South Ossetia?
      • Iraq's Electric Issues: When Human Wants Trump Economic Sense
      • The International Community Reacts to Wikileaks: We May Be Moving Toward a Third World War in Cyberspace
      • On Climate Gate
      • Assessing Obama's Afghanistan War strategy
      • 2009 Iranian Presidential Election: The Fallout
      • Resolving Sri Lankan Conflict through Free Media
      • What are the Global Consequences of Russia's Invasion of Georgia
      • The War in Iraq: an assessment of President Bush's surge strategy
      • Drug War: Actions of Venezuela, Columbia, Ecuador in terms of Resovereignization
      • Is the Iraq Refugee Crisis America's Responsibility?
      • US support for a united Kosovo, Abkhazia, and South Ossetia: why?
      • Should the US withdraw from Iraq?
      • Setting a Timetable for Troop Withdrawal from Iraq is a Terrible Mistake
      • War on Terrorism is needed
    • Law and Order >
      • Rape in the US Military
      • Ethics of Force-feeding Guantanamo Bay Detainees
      • Reacting to the Aftermath of the Tucson Massacre
    • Economy >
      • Affordability Drives Fear of Obamacare and the Individual Mandate
      • Is the Economy Built for a Job's Recovery?
      • Gutting Healthcare Reform of the Individual Mandate
      • Arizona Budget Cuts Lead to Lethal Healthcare Rationing:
      • Shameful Collection Practices of American Banks
      • The Fed Reveals it Actually Undertook an International Bailout
      • Thoughts on French Budgetary Reforms
      • Seniors Start Businesses
      • The Case for Slimming Down the US Military to Make it Better
      • Looking at the Obama Administration's New Approach to Economic Policy
      • Should the Government Regulate the Credit Card Industry?
      • The Big Three's Big Chance
      • The Unhealthy Tone of the Healthcare Reform Debate
      • Should the federal government offer a bailout for home owners?
      • Environmentalists: Do They Do More Good Than More Harm?
      • Responding to Scott Walker's Contribution to the War on Unions
    • US Government >
      • America Needs to Focus on the Impending Fiscal Crisis
      • Reacting to the Bush Era-tax Cut Extension Deal
      • Quitting the Obama Revolution: The Fickle Nature of American Politics
      • John Boehner's Circus
      • Is the Fed Putting Itself in Jeopardy?
      • Wikileaks Goes After the US State Department
      • Discussing the Political Environment Surrounding the 2011 Budget Debate
      • What the Democrats Can Do to Ensure a GOP Year in 2012
      • What the 2010 Midterm Actually Said
      • Congresswoman Kathy Dahlkemper
      • Democrats Minus Nancy Pelosi Equals Opportunity
      • Terrorists Go Postal: The Terrorism Threat Reexamined
      • Victory in the 2008 Election: Reaction to Barack Obama'a Win >
        • Expectations for Barack Obama
      • President Obama's first one hundred days
      • John McCain's Negative Campaign
      • Reasons People did not Elect John Mccain
      • History judges the George W. Bush Administration
      • Should the next US President focus on domestic issues?
      • President Bush, should he resign or be impeached
      • Should the Ban on Government Sponsored Assassinations be Repealed
    • Off Topic >
      • A Face of America’s Greatest Generation
      • A Story About a Man Who Made the World a Better Place
      • Making the World a Better Place
      • The Bipolar Ethical Nature of Google
      • Learning Computer Plays Jeopardy
      • Verifying Medicine is the Real Thing
      • Taking a Practical Step Forward in Optical Computing Using Slow Light
      • Scientists Take a Closer Look at How Lithium Batteries Work
      • Remarking on the First Blizzard of the 2010-2011 Winter Season
      • Driving in the Snow: Acceleration is the Key
      • How People in Northwest PA Are Coping with the Increasing Cost of Oil
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