WHAT REALLY HAPPENED ON TUESDAY?

Thanks to greenmassgroup for providing a counter to the spin that the defeat of Martha Coakley represents a sudden turn to the right by Massachusetts voters.  The reality is this:  The progressive voters who turned out in 2008 to endorse Barack Obama’s message of hope stayed home, or cast votes for Brown to protest the health care monstrosity that Congress is on the verge of passing.  Coakley’s defeat was a long overdue revolt of progressives against Democrats, not a sign of conversion to Republicanism.

This  view is backed up by a poll taken by Research 2000 which showed that 18 percent of people who voted for Barack Obama in 2008, supported Scott Brown in the Senate race.  Of that group an overwhelming majority – 82 percent – favored a public option health plan, while just 14 percent oppose it.  Of those who stayed home, 86 percent support a public option, while just seven percent oppose it.   They didn’t turn conservative.  They just turned against the Democrats.