Anti-Incumbent Sentiment on the Move

In a Washington Post article today, entitled, So Much For The Power of Incumbency, Chris Cillizza writes:

In Pew Research Center's polling, just over half of Americans said they would like to see their members of Congress reelected next fall. Only 34 percent said they want most incumbents to be reelected in the midterms.

Pew describes those numbers as among the most negative in two decades of collecting data. They approach levels found in the run-ups to the 1994 and 2006 midterms -- elections in which there were significant seat changes in the House and Senate.

Now is not the time to rest on our laurels. While the public is re-awakening to the anti-incumbent strategy in dealing with a derelict Congress and the political party's antics, the majority of them are reacting to current policy issues and have not yet adopted a longer term anti-incumbent strategy to maintain better government from our Congress.

This means Vote Out Incumbents Democracy's efforts and purpose to insure a sustainable and growing anti-incumbent voting block election after election, is as important and vital as ever to achieving better government. Voters rejected incumbents to a larger degree in 1994, but, then went back to voting for incumbents for the most part, until 2006. And our nation is no better off for it.

To make real changes for the better in our federal government, we must sustain a growing anti-incumbent voting block across multiple elections. Only then, will those in Congress acknowledge that the voters are calling the shots and will continue to do so until a sustained improvement in Congress' performance on behalf of the American people is realized. One election or two of anti-incumbent backlash, won't accomplish the value and priority changes that Congress and both the political parties must adopt.

Your support is vital to our mission to inform and organize a sustained anti-incumbent movement that can accomplish the systemic changes which Americans demand from the political process and Congress. This will not occur in one or two elections. We must continue to grow the anti-incumbent voting block.

Fortunately, there has never been a better political climate for VOID. The rise of the Independent voters who have had enough of the status quo incompetence, and upside down priorities of politicians in both parties, prepares a stage for anti-incumbent growth that did not exist in 1994, and which will last across many federal elections. We must reach out to these independent voters and congratulate them and encourage them to maintain their anti-incumbent stance for many elections to come.

To be sure, every politician in Congress will be trying to divine how to placate these voters with pork spending, misinformation and lies, and bashing the other party. But, we know such actions will not change Congressional irresponsibility toward the American public and tax payers. And it is our job at VOID to insure that growing numbers of independent voters understand this as well, and help them resist being bought off in the short term by their representatives in favor of preserving the destructive status quo in Congress of legal bribery, hateful rhetoric, meaningless partisan non-cooperation on the people's behalf, and politicians putting themselves and their party as higher priorities than the nation's and the people's futures in our America.

The time is now, to promote the VOID strategy taking advantage of this independent voter growth and growing hostility toward Congressional performance. Please do your part in support of these efforts by following these 3 easy steps:

1) Spread the word to family, friends, and acquaintances why voting out our own representatives and for their challengers is the only way the people have of forcing Congress to change. As well intentioned as our own representatives may be, the simple fact is, they have proven to be ineffective in creating a responsible Congress and better governance. Voters don't have to vote for another party's candidate. They only have to vote for a challenger in their own party's Primary elections, to carry the Vote Out Incumbents movement forward. Help your friends, family, and acquaintances to understand this.

2) Become a dues paying Member of VOID, today. Every dollar VOID receives goes toward promoting the VOID strategy and objective of better Congressional governance. Membership includes a Vote Out Incumbents window/bumper sticker, membership card, and voting rights in the election of VOID director elections, among other privileges.

3) Share your ideas and thoughts about the VOID organization and mission on our Community web site. Organizations need interaction amongst its members. It is the juice that keeps the blood flowing in the volunteers and supporters as they contribute their time and effort to making America a better run country for us all. Or better, consider volunteering an hour or two per week, yourself, and really make a personal difference for our nation's future.

I have spent 4 years volunteering my time and effort at VOID, and it has been the most gratifying and rewarding experience of my life, to be at the forefront of working to improve our nation's future. It could be for you, too.

Spread the word, become a proud member, and share your thoughts and experience with other VOID supporters. Three easy steps to insuring an improvement in America's federal government and our nation's future.

As the Wa. Post's article says: "... this sort of political environment is decidedly unpredictable and could lead to surprising defeats for presumed safe incumbents -- of both parties -- next November."

Let's make this happen.

By David R. Remer
Published: November 16, 2009 2:32 PM
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