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Security Moms Are Back
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The Spectacle Blog
For the last year, we’ve watched all the hand-wringing from Republican insiders in Washington. Fresh off a whipping in 2008, they were all scared to take on the President in a campaign. “Attack Pelosi and Reid,” we heard so many say. “Don’t make this a referendum on the President, make it about his policies.”
Outside the Beltway, Tea Parties were taking the President on directly, and with wins in Virginia, New Jersey, and Massachusetts — well-run campaigns, each of which tapped into the grassroots angst and anger — we started to see some cracks in the Obama veneer.
Still, it has seemed at times that the Republican establishment in Washington was, how to put this nicely … cowed.
They’d all beat up on the President’s policies on talk radio and cable news, but when it came time to put money behind it — i.e. campaign advertising — there was a reticence to take on The One.
As of last night that changed. Why? Well, it seems it takes a woman to man up to Obama. The President is on the road in Colorado today to do three fundraisers for his loyal ally, appointed Senator Michael Bennet. When Air Force One touches down, he’ll be greeted by TV ads from GOP Senate candidate Jane Norton that lay down a pretty tough message. Norton, talking straight to the camera, calls the President out, reciting back a line from his 2008 convention speech in, appropriately enough, Denver. Obama said then that he promised to “go through the federal budget line by line eliminating programs that no longer work.” We all know what happened to that promise, and Norton holds his feet to the fire. “You should balance the budget or decline to seek re-election,” she says. Not much nuance there, huh?
It’s the first time that a major statewide Republican candidate has directly taken Obama on. And in a state that he carried handily — one of those “red to blue” states that were supposed to herald a new era of Democratic governance.
I can think of a few reasons why it’s a woman who is the first to politically take on this President head-on — and kudos to Norton for doing it. People will say that people will be more willing to accept the message from a woman than from a man. That Norton’s personality makes it possible for her to be this aggressive on the campaign trail.
But I think there is something bigger going on here. Eight years ago, after 9/11 people talked about how all those “Soccer Moms” were becoming “Security Moms.”
And these slightly more independent women voters were inclined to go with the candidate who would make their families safer.
Well, I think all those “Security Moms”— watching the man who promised them a more fiscally responsible government, who ran up enough debt to saddle our children and grandchildren with historic levels, and who has failed to make our nation safer and more respected around the world — are now “Accountability Moms.”
The “Accountability Moms” want results. We want fiscal discipline and soundness. We want security for our children, with the economy and against enemies foreign and domestic. We want and strength and safety, so that when our sons and daughters go to war, it is for good reason and with good resources to fulfill the mission.
We’ve had it with promises. We want action with forethought, and in the great tradition of America’s values and principles set forth by our Constitution. And beyond that, we can handle our own lives and those of our families.
Who’s with me?
View all comments (18) | Leave a comment
More Blog Posts by Jeri Thompson
http://spectator.org/blog/2010/02/18/its-about-time
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Mari Uhler| 2.18.10 @ 4:23PM
Jane Norton is suspiciously absent from meet-ups with her primary opponents. Can she not compete with them or does she think we'll elect her because she thinks she's running against Brack?
Jane Norton supported the largest tax increase ever in Colorado. She didn't demand anyone go through the Colorado budget line-by-line eliminating programs that no longer work.
Forked tongue?
Cheri Ofner| 2.18.10 @ 8:33PM
Sadly, you do not know what you are saying. Jane has been to every forum when the others are there. I know of one where she was there, but Buck did not show. Norton is THE most conservative candidate! Weins and Tidwell have no traction at all. Buck grabbed 5,000 tax returns from a Hispanic tax preparer. He was told is was illegal by our Atty Gen, Suthers. It was ruled illegal by two courts, and the State Supreme court. The majority of the people were in the country legally. Buck grew his DA office by 50%, and his litigation cost Weld CO $300,000. He was the first prosecutor in the country to file charges under the new hate crimes law. A conservative believes hate crimes goes into thought police. The people know all of these issues, and that is why Buck raised only $39,000 in the fourth quarter. The press and Dems will have a field day over the tax returns. He is not electable!
Norton cut the funds from Planned Parenthood when she was Lt. Gov. She and Gov Owens consolidated nine programs to feed the indigent into three. Ref C has brought in very little funds, and will sunset in a few months. Norton is up 14 points over Bennett. She is conservative across the board!
Pingback| 2.18.10 @ 4:55PM
Twitter Tweets about Obama as of 18. februar 2010 « Obame and Copenhagen links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Jeff Perren | 2.18.10 @ 5:05PM
You write a fine column, Ms. Thompson. Although "let's do it for the children" is a bit hackneyed (single people have the same rights and feel just as strongly about individual freedom, national security, limited government, and voluntary trade), I do reverberate to the message.
Well done. And nice to see it happening in Colorado, which seriously needs a makeover after going into Obama's column.
Andrew Struttmann| 2.18.10 @ 6:09PM
Great post, Mrs. Thompson. I too found Norton's recent campaign ad a great balance between being over-aggressive and refusing to hold back when it comes to strong, solid issues. Focusing on the President, especially as his approval ratings continue to decline, is something that does take temerity, but something we should not be afraid to do.
The angle of the early 2000s security moms translated into today's rhetoric was a powerful one I hadn't seen before, and I think it really fits with the Norton persona and message.
John Frodo| 2.18.10 @ 7:32PM
Where was Jane when Bush was running up a huge deficit?
Alborn| 2.18.10 @ 11:07PM
This comment is getting old. Why do you think Obama got as many votes as he did. He said he was going to be different. Of course I did not believe a word he said. Obviously he planned all along to grow government to this rediculous number so they would vote for him again to keep their jobs. If Obama speaks he lies.
Tim| 2.18.10 @ 8:20PM
Reminds one of how Lincoln courted "Abolition Moms" in 1860...
DrTomVoter| 2.18.10 @ 8:20PM
A few months ago, while watching the nightly Fox coverage of the first Tea Party Express Tour, I noticed that the majority of those in the crowd and leadership were women. Same thing the next night, and the next night. I did a quick mental survey of the local activists, and those I knew from social networking sites across the country, and saw the same female majority.
I won't try to rationalize the reason, but you are correct, Jeri. If this country is to be saved, it is women who will do it.
Pingback| 2.18.10 @ 9:47PM
Jane Norton: It takes a woman | The Spot links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Pingback| 2.18.10 @ 10:14PM
The News Factor, an informative online Conservative News Magazine » Obama gets “calle links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
martin j smith| 2.19.10 @ 8:10AM
Are there a few trolls in the house ? Or are they fools ?
les grossman| 2.19.10 @ 10:15AM
Norton sounds like a good candidate, and kudos to her for calling out Obama directly. But respectfully, she is not the first GOP candidate to do so. That distinction belongs to Sarah Palin, who called out Obama directly and repeatedly in the 08 Campaign, and got knifed in the back by her own campaign staff, GOP girlymen in Washington and their mouthpieces in the new and old media. Her non-stop opposition to Obama continues today, and she still draws as much fire from the GOP "cows" as she does from the left.
Welcome to the club, Jane Norton. And watch your back.
Mickey Matu| 2.19.10 @ 4:49PM
You might want to listen to what Cheri Ofner has to say, she obviously has inside information and she is right on the money (something Buck likes to spend as long as it is not his).