Victory for Reid, Nevada

Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2010 | 5:32 p.m.

There was plenty of voter anger — exacerbated by the poor economy — that manifested itself on Election Day. Republicans were the beneficiaries, making sizable gains across the nation, including capturing the U.S. House and putting a dent in the Democrats’ majority in the Senate. After two straight elections in which Democrats made significant gains in the Senate and House, capturing Congress in 2006 and the White House in 2008, Republicans made a comeback this election as pessimism seems to have gripped many Americans. There was a concern among many voters regarding the direction of the federal government and about President Barack Obama’s policies and their effect on the economy and the national debt.

U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, seeking re-election, was one of the prime targets nationwide by Republicans and special interest groups from out of state that poured tens of millions of dollars into the race in hopes of defeating him. He entered the race having served 24 years in the Senate, rising to the post of majority leader, wielding influence no Nevadan has ever had in Washington. Reid has been instrumental in bringing green-energy jobs and hundreds of millions of dollars to Nevada. But Tea Party favorite Sharron Angle, who perfectly fit the definition of extreme in her advocacy of phasing out Social Security and Medicare, was unable to ride the Republican wave. Nevadans sensibly voted to re-elect Reid, a potent voice for them in Washington.

What kind of change, if any, will we see with the new Republican gains in Congress? Unfortunately, we might see the same kind of obstructionism that Obama has faced during his presidency.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, when asked what the party’s top political job would be following the election, told the National Journal last week: “The single most important thing we want to achieve is for President Obama to be a one-term president.” A member of the House leadership wasn’t sounding conciliatory either, as Rep. Mike Pence of Indiana recently told CNN: “There will be no compromise in ending this era of runaway spending, deficits and debt, no compromise on repealing Obama-care lock, stock and barrel.”

So much for talk of finding common ground, an indication that Republicans are in danger of overplaying the gains they made Tuesday. According to a Bloomberg News national poll, an overwhelming majority wants to see cooperation among the parties, something that is alien to GOP members of Congress. Just 16 percent of those polled said the parties should stick to their principles even if it means gridlock. In vivid contrast, a commanding 80 percent said they want the parties to work together even if it means compromising some principles.

Obama and Reid repeatedly offered to work with Republicans during the past two years, but they were rebuffed every time. Now that the GOP has control of the House, we hope its leaders’ recent talk of continued obstructionism was just that — talk. We also hope both parties finally will work for a common good that looks past the next election because that is the only way for a great country like ours to remain strong and vibrant.