Voters' message to the politicos

Wildcat File Photo Arizona Daily Wildcat

In many ways, this is true. But there are some truly valuable lessons to be learned from the voters this past Election Day.

First, despite the spin from each camp, there was no decisive winner at the polls. While Democrats are suggesting they defied history in gaining a handful of seats in the House and breaking even in the Senate, Americans still entrusted Republicans with the majority.

In reality, voters chose not to reward either party. Most of the congressional elections brought about low turnout and did not produce landslide victories. Close races with low turnout make it difficult for a sensible person to believe that either party won a mandate.

In fact, turnout was much lower than most had expected. This is even more glaring considering the record spending. People simply did not care enough to go to the polls. Or perhaps another way to look at it, they cared just enough to stay home. However one chooses to read it, it is hard to ignore the stink of public dissatisfaction.

Observers, though, should be careful when suggesting this election was a referendum on leaders in general. Voters were more than willing to embrace those running outside the Washington beltway. The governors were the big winners, highlighted by the stars of the day, the Bush brothers, with George and Jeb coasting to victory in the Lone Star and Sunshine states respectively. George Pataki in New York, John Engler in Michigan, Jane Hull in Arizona and, yes, Jesse Ventura in Minnesota, demonstrated that they could win the considerable support from the voters.

The reason for this is clear: they won on a battle of ideas, not politics.

The lessons to be learned in Minnesota are critical. Besides providing Leno and Letterman with a replenished reservoir of one-liners, much can be concluded from this unusual outcome. Like many Americans, Minnesotans were fed up with the self-serving political establishment.

Most of the time, unfortunately, voters are without another choice. Let this serve as a wake-up call to both parties: you had better change your ways. There will be more Jesse Venturas to come.

Some will argue that this was a referendum on efforts to seek justice in the investigation of the president. Such suggestions serve to be more politically convenient than factually accurate. The president's crisis was as much a factor in Clinton-defender Charles Schumer unseating Al D'Amato in New York as it was in Clinton-defender Carol Mosley Braun being unseated by Peter Fitzgerald in Illinois.

It should be now be apparent that voters long for candidates who stand for ideas, not the disgusting rhetoric they have become numb to. And this year, Republicans are perhaps more to blame - because they should know better.

The revolution of 1994 was a clear example of what works with the public. It was not based on mudslinging, 30-second TV attack-ads, or empty campaign promises. Rather it was based on a contract, a drafted, signed, Contract with America. Americans overwhelmingly embraced the idea of a positive campaign based on ideas, and overwhelmingly rewarded the GOP for that effort.

It is time for all in Washington to return to this arena of debate. Lay out your agenda to the American people and let them decide. Americans are tired of the spin, and Republicans can continually win as long as they run on the issues. The Democrats, on the other hand, face an uncertain future. They will no longer be able to hide from their positions by running against Newt Gingrich.

So with the end of a campaign, another begins. The 2000 race is underway. Let those on Capitol Hill heed the warning the voters have given them. Because if they don't, they will be swept away as surely as will the century itself.

Al Mollo is a political science senior serving an internship in the office of Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, and can be reached via e-mail at Al.Mollo@wildcat.arizona.edu.