# Have the recent scandals screwed the Dems for the mid terms? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [May 16, 2013, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-the-recent-scandals-screwed-the-dems-for-the-mid-terms/658517 "2013-05-16T16:04:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2013, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-the-recent-scandals-screwed-the-dems-for-the-mid-terms/658517/41 "2013-05-16T22:49:16Z")
By showing up and voting in more numbers than they would have otherwise. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2013, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-the-recent-scandals-screwed-the-dems-for-the-mid-terms/658517/42 "2013-05-16T23:01:19Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > **Oakie:** > > Its is true that our electoral maps are skewed in such a way that geographical entities have more political power than actual people. Which is ok with you, so long as you get your way? No, it is true that our congressional representatives are allotted according to the Constitution. I happen to like the Constitution the way it is. ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2013, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-the-recent-scandals-screwed-the-dems-for-the-mid-terms/658517/43 "2013-05-16T23:05:36Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > No, it is true that our congressional representatives are allotted according to the Constitution. I happen to like the Constitution the way it is. Of course you do. Because the rural states get unprecedented power, especially with a standing filibuster. The only way that someone can be happy that ten percent of the population gets veto power over the other 90, is if you’re in the ten. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2013, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-the-recent-scandals-screwed-the-dems-for-the-mid-terms/658517/44 "2013-05-16T23:13:40Z")
> [@Lobohan](#): > > The only way that someone can be happy that ten percent of the population gets veto power over the other 90, is if you’re in the ten. No, one can have a working knowledge of history and law, and thereby understand the Constitution and the reasons underlying its provisions. ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2013, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-the-recent-scandals-screwed-the-dems-for-the-mid-terms/658517/45 "2013-05-16T23:26:10Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > No, one can have a working knowledge of history and law, and thereby understand the Constitution and the reasons underlying its provisions. The Constitution wasn’t written with the filibuster in its current form in mind. It also had the Senate elected by the state houses, for what that’s worth. The writers of the Constitution didn’t expect the razor thin and intricate gerrymandering that we have now. Which has allowed more people to vote for Democrats, but elected more Republicans to the House. The writers didn’t think we’d have rural states that have the same ignorant, fantasy ideology that is promulgated by a monolithic RW radio and FOX News juggernaut. They were wise men, but not perfect. Even if the filibuster were gone tomorrow, rural states would still have vast power in comparison to their numbers. It’s just it would take 20% of the population to thwart the other 80. At least it would be a step in the right direction. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2013, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-the-recent-scandals-screwed-the-dems-for-the-mid-terms/658517/46 "2013-05-17T00:19:52Z")
This thread is about the recent scandals erupting and the mid-term elections 18 months from now. This thread is not about guns, gun control, gun grabbers, or any other topic with “gun” in it. Please, everyone, drop the hijack. Thanks, **twickster** , Elections moderator ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2013, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-the-recent-scandals-screwed-the-dems-for-the-mid-terms/658517/47 "2013-05-17T00:56:08Z")
It’s way too soon to tell if these scandals will affect the election. I’d say it all depends on how quickly the President deals with the IRS issue. Benghazi is what it is, it may hang around awhile but if it didn’t affect 2012 it’s not going to affect 2014. The AP scandal is important in that it’s turned the media against the administration, but who knows if that will last? The IRS issue is the only one that could dog the President for a long time, but that’s entirely within his power to fix. He’ll start by firing the people responsible, which so far he hasn’t done. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2013, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-the-recent-scandals-screwed-the-dems-for-the-mid-terms/658517/48 "2013-05-17T01:01:55Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Benghazi is what it is, it may hang around awhile but if it didn’t affect 2012 it’s not going to affect 2014. I agree. > [@](#): > > The AP scandal is important in that it’s turned the media against the administration This starts with a mistaken premise and immediately jumps to a wrong conclusion. It does it fast, though, so I’ll give you some points for that. 😉 > [@](#): > > He’ll start by firing the people responsible, which so far he hasn’t done. The person who was running the IRS when this stuff happened was already gone and can’t be fired now. The person who took over as acting head already agreed to step down, and the current head of the tax exemption unit just announced that he’s also leaving. Please explain how Obama hasn’t done anything. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2013, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-the-recent-scandals-screwed-the-dems-for-the-mid-terms/658517/49 "2013-05-17T01:05:41Z")
Not so. The current head of the tax exempt division is still there in a different role. As for the AP, it’s a scandal if they say it’s a scandal, since they control our flow of information. We’re talking about elections here, not necessarily what the truth is. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2013, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-the-recent-scandals-screwed-the-dems-for-the-mid-terms/658517/50 "2013-05-17T01:47:20Z")
Remember how we all thought that the unemployment rate was a millstone around Obama’s neck in 2012? And how gleeful Romney looked every time the new rates came out and he sprinted to a microphone with a shit-eating grin? Didn’t work out so well for the GOP, did it? Now we’ve got Mitch McConnell looking like the happiest tortoise in the zoo because of the Tea Party IRS “scandal”. Here’s the deal: Tea People _already_ vote in every election and they _already_ vote 100% Republican. I’m not seeing where the Democrats lose any votes here. Pseudoscandal one, strike one. Then there’s the AP story. Too bad for Republicans that the right wingers hate the press nearly as much as they hate Obama and Hillary. Somehow complaints from the “lamestream” media aren’t going to result in a flood of GOP votes. Pseudoscandal two, strike two. Then there’s Benghazi. Sheer repetition doth not a scandal make. The emails that the White House released show that Ambassador Stevens refused more security which was offered to him. The more that is revealed, the better Obama looks. Those who are upset about Benghazi didn’t vote for Obama in 2008 or in 2012 and weren’t going to vote Democratic in 2014, either. Pseudoscandal three, strike three, you’re out, game over. ---
**Author:** ![NotfooledbyW](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f475e1/32.png) [@NotfooledbyW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NotfooledbyW)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2013, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-the-recent-scandals-screwed-the-dems-for-the-mid-terms/658517/51 "2013-05-17T02:41:56Z")
Benghazi is a functionally brain dead right wing scandal that has the crowd that might listen to Rush Limbaugh, Mark Levin and Sean Hannity chasing the hearse, and will not ever give up the belief that their beloved scandal is really riding in an ambulance and there is hope it can be revived. Republicans are now seen as the biggest scandal on Benghazi because the released e-mails were released to Republican members of Congress during the John Brennen confirmation and there was no ‘scrubbing’ issues to be found. The truth has always been with the Dems on Benghazi. Now it is confirmed with the release of the emails. The AP ‘scandal’ is a no go for Republicans and actually a political win for Obama and Dems, because they (Republicans) were the loudest screamers in front of every news camera for the White House to find out who leaked serious highly classified information to the news media. Republicans accused Obama of intentionally leaking the news that an al Qaeda bomb plot had been foiled, and the actual bomb was in US Government hands, and that al Qaeda had a U.S. informant and infiltrator into their organization in Yemen. Obama also holds the fourth ace in his hand on the AP ‘scandal’ and that is that he voted for a Bill in the Senate to shield reporters and news organizations from such things as the scandal is supposed to be about. Republicans killed the shield law that Obama supported. The IRS actions will not harm Obama directly because this happens in previous administrations but this is where the only blowback will occur in relation to implementation of ObamaCare. Republicans who know there is no scandal here that would reach the White House, do salivate at attacking the IRS with intent to abolish it, and their main theme coming up over the next few months will be that Obama Care is being enforced by the IRS and you can’t trust the IRS with your health. That will probably go nowhere because we have just received good news that the Federal Annual budge deficit is rapidly going down. There is a important point about OBAMA CARE in the following excerpt. I have highlighted in red… to show… why the right wing use of the IRS scandal will work to tie the oppressive IRS to ObamaCare. > [@](#): > > For the 2014–2023 period, CBO now projects a cumulative deficit that is $618 billion less than it projected in February. \*\*That reduction results mostly from lower projections of spending for \*\*Social Security, **Medicare, Medicaid,** and interest on the public debt. [Updated Budget Projections: Fiscal Years 2013 to 2023 | Congressional Budget Office](http://www.cbo.gov/publication/44172) Health care spending by the Federal Government is going down… and that reduction in spending is being significantly being credited to ObamaCare. The other quiet good economic news this week aside from right wing scandal fever is about energy.. > [@](#): > > The USA’s 15% gain in crude-oil production since 2008 is by far the world’s biggest, with new fields just beginning to be developed. The U.S. has overtaken Russia as the world’s largest refined-petroleum exporter, according to Citigroup. > > [http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/money/industries/energy/story/2012-05-15/1A-COV-ENERGY-INDEPENDENCE/54977254/1](http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/money/industries/energy/story/2012-05-15/1A-COV-ENERGY-INDEPENDENCE/54977254/1) > Most enticing, a team of analysts and economists at Citigroup argues that the U.S., or at least North America, can achieve energy independence by 2020, as more domestic production and doubling down on conservation produce a virtuous cycle. The U.S. can make itself a net exporter of crude oil, refined products and natural gas — says Citigroup energy strategist Seth Kleinman. > U.S. energy independence is no longer just a pipe dream By Tim Mullaney, USA TODAY Republicans are hiding the good economic news… declining gas prices, lower unemployment from the Bush induced highs, and a soaring Stock Market… behind their scandal skirt. ---
**Author:** ![NotfooledbyW](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f475e1/32.png) [@NotfooledbyW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NotfooledbyW)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2013, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-the-recent-scandals-screwed-the-dems-for-the-mid-terms/658517/52 "2013-05-17T03:08:04Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > Remember how we all thought that the unemployment rate was a millstone around Obama’s neck in 2012? And how gleeful Romney looked every time the new rates came out and he sprinted to a microphone with a shit-eating grin? Didn’t work out so well for the GOP, did it? > > Now we’ve got Mitch McConnell looking like the happiest tortoise in the zoo because of the Tea Party IRS “scandal”. Here’s the deal: Tea People _already_ vote in every election and they _already_ vote 100% Republican. I’m not seeing where the Democrats lose any votes here. Pseudoscandal one, strike one. > > Then there’s the AP story. Too bad for Republicans that the right wingers hate the press nearly as much as they hate Obama and Hillary. Somehow complaints from the “lamestream” media aren’t going to result in a flood of GOP votes. Pseudoscandal two, strike two. > > Then there’s Benghazi. Sheer repetition doth not a scandal make. The emails that the White House released show that Ambassador Stevens refused more security which was offered to him. The more that is revealed, the better Obama looks. Those who are upset about Benghazi didn’t vote for Obama in 2008 or in 2012 and weren’t going to vote Democratic in 2014, either. Pseudoscandal three, strike three, you’re out, game over. You are quite right… little to no Worries for Dems… from the righties scandal hoopla ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2013, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-the-recent-scandals-screwed-the-dems-for-the-mid-terms/658517/53 "2013-05-17T13:19:32Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > Now we’ve got Mitch McConnell looking like the happiest tortoise in the zoo because of the Tea Party IRS “scandal”. Here’s the deal: Tea People _already_ vote in every election and they _already_ vote 100% Republican. I’m not seeing where the Democrats lose any votes here. Pseudoscandal one, strike one. That would only be true if we had a 100% voting participation. The IRS scandal WILL get the Republicans a lot of votes. ---
**Author:** ![Sinaptics](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/278dde/32.png) [@Sinaptics](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sinaptics)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2013, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-the-recent-scandals-screwed-the-dems-for-the-mid-terms/658517/54 "2013-05-17T13:57:10Z")
> [@DigitalC](#): > > That would only be true if we had a 100% voting participation. The IRS scandal WILL get the Republicans a lot of votes. It might increase turnout within Republicans but I’m not seeing it for the broader public. Most people it’s not even on their radar. For those that go over the news slightly, it’s too wonky. “Oh nos! Did you hear the IRS audited Tea Party non-profit groups!?!” And for those, like us, that read the news religiously, it sounded a bit disturbing at first, but after more evidence came out, seems very blah. Not feeling the outrage on this one and I’m expecting most people don’t. It’s just a news circle-jerk. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2013, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-the-recent-scandals-screwed-the-dems-for-the-mid-terms/658517/55 "2013-05-17T14:06:24Z")
> [@Sinaptics](#): > > It might increase turnout within Republicans but I’m not seeing it for the broader public. Most people it’s not even on their radar. For those that go over the news slightly, it’s too wonky. “Oh nos! Did you hear the IRS audited Tea Party non-profit groups!?!” And for those, like us, that read the news religiously, it sounded a bit disturbing at first, but after more evidence came out, seems very blah. > > Not feeling the outrage on this one and I’m expecting most people don’t. It’s just a news circle-jerk. Do their votes count less then? Republicans will be getting votes because of this 20 years from now. I don’t understand why people are dismissing this so easily, that the IRS targeted conservative groups basically takes a cattle prod to the conservative brain. This is everything they feared come true, everything they worried about happening, their entire irrational belief system finally justified. We are going to get creamed in 2014. It doesn’t matter that it is all complete bullshit, it is bullshit that hits all the right notes to cause them to go into apoplexy. ---
**Author:** ![Sterling\_Archer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Sterling\_Archer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sterling_Archer)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2013, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-the-recent-scandals-screwed-the-dems-for-the-mid-terms/658517/56 "2013-05-17T14:25:54Z")
When I heard about the IRS targeting tea party groups, it didn’t surprise me at all. I thought, “Now there’s justified profiling.” These are groups that have declared themselves to be anti-govt, have declared they feel income taxes are unconstitutional, have declared that anything the govt says is not to be trusted and that tea party loyalists should be preparing for the revolution if the govt tries to assert any more power over their citizens. Given that, if I were in charge of the IRS, you better BELIEVE I’d be looking more closely at their tax returns. I would also look more closely at any group that declared themselves to be anti-American, or anti-tax. Fundamentalist Mormon groups would definitely deserve special attention because they make it clear in their teachings they want to get as much as possible in “free” benefits from the govt. It isn’t even a case of the IRS targeting citizens who are known affiliates of these groups, it is simply the IRS targeting the ORGANIZATION itself… totally justified. ---
**Author:** ![CJJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecc23a/32.png) [@CJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CJJ)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2013, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-the-recent-scandals-screwed-the-dems-for-the-mid-terms/658517/57 "2013-05-17T15:02:39Z")
IMO the IRS scandal is the most politically damaging to Obama for the mid-terms. The details of the scandal feed perfectly into both the GOP base’s persecution complex and their assumption that Obama is an illegitimate tyrant. But more importantly it doesn’t have the stink of crazy like all of the other Free Republic criticism of Obama. Unlike questions about his birth certificate, or theories that obliquely depend on racism, this scandal is actually based on something real, and that gives GOP leaders a method to communicate and rally their base directly thru the MSM. That will undoubtedly help candidates who are having trouble shoring up support with the base–like Mitch McConnell, whom [the Kentucky Tea Party finally endorsed last week](http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/senate-races/299697-tea-party-group-endorses-mcconnell-for-response-to-irs-scandal) (no primary challenge for him) specifically because of his response to the IRS scandal. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2013, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-the-recent-scandals-screwed-the-dems-for-the-mid-terms/658517/58 "2013-05-17T15:04:57Z")
> [@NotfooledbyW](#): > > The AP ‘scandal’ is a no go for Republicans and actually a political win for Obama and Dems, because they (Republicans) were the loudest screamers in front of every news camera for the White House to find out who leaked serious highly classified information to the news media. Republicans accused Obama of intentionally leaking the news that an al Qaeda bomb plot had been foiled, and the actual bomb was in US Government hands, and that al Qaeda had a U.S. informant and infiltrator into their organization in Yemen. And because while the public likes the First Amendment, the public does not like the press. That’s a very bipartisan issue. ---
**Author:** ![Sinaptics](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/278dde/32.png) [@Sinaptics](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sinaptics)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2013, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-the-recent-scandals-screwed-the-dems-for-the-mid-terms/658517/59 "2013-05-17T16:24:07Z")
> [@DigitalC](#): > > Do their votes count less then? Republicans will be getting votes because of this 20 years from now. I don’t understand why people are dismissing this so easily, that the IRS targeted conservative groups basically takes a cattle prod to the conservative brain. This is everything they feared come true, everything they worried about happening, their entire irrational belief system finally justified. We are going to get creamed in 2014. It doesn’t matter that it is all complete bullshit, it is bullshit that hits all the right notes to cause them to go into apoplexy. I already expect them to come out in force, so I don’t think it’ll move the scales much. But that’s just my opinion. According to this, interest in the IRS scandal is below Benghazi and both are below normal interest levels for scandals. [http://www.politico.com/story/2013/05/scandals-poll-91546.html?hp=r18](http://www.politico.com/story/2013/05/scandals-poll-91546.html?hp=r18) ---
**Author:** ![NotfooledbyW](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f475e1/32.png) [@NotfooledbyW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NotfooledbyW)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2013, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-the-recent-scandals-screwed-the-dems-for-the-mid-terms/658517/60 "2013-05-17T17:24:51Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > And because while the public likes the First Amendment, the public does not like the press. That’s a very bipartisan issue. The first full hour of Limbaugh today as I expected has been solely devoted to IRS, but now he is building a story that the IRS scandal was released by the White House to cover up Benghazi exactly when Benghazi was gaining so much traction. That’s a good one. But the IRS according to Rush is not about Obama, it is about all the millions of little Obamas who work for the governing elites with the sole purpose if crushing the individual liberty of all those who listen to his garbage. He says the IRS is in charge of ObamaCare and now conservatives, Christians, gun owners should expect to be forced to go to the back of the line when they are in need of getting health care. Muslims and immigrants and liberals of course will be first in line at the doctors office if we don’t defeat all the millions of little Obsmas. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-the-recent-scandals-screwed-the-dems-for-the-mid-terms/658517.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-the-recent-scandals-screwed-the-dems-for-the-mid-terms/658517.md?page=4)