Election Message to Democrats: Stop the War, Stop the Corruption, Hold Bush Accountable

Interview with Matthew Rothschild, editor of The Progressive magazine, conducted by Scott Harris

The Nov. 7 midterm congressional election landslide for Democrats was comparable to only two other ballots in recent U.S. history: the 1974 sweep of Democrats in the wake of the Nixon-era Watergate scandal, and the Republican tidal wave of 1994 during Bill Clinton's presidency. Democrats picked up at least 29 seats in the House and beat 6 GOP incumbents in the U.S. Senate to take control of both legislative bodies. Additionally, Democrats gained six new governorships and took control of nine new state legislatures. According to exit polls, the two most important issues for voters in this election were opposition to the Iraq war, and disgust with corruption and scandal in the Republican-controlled Congress.

Statewide referendum results also yielded good news for progressives: six states voted to raise the minimum wage; Missouri voters passed a stem cell research initiative and South Dakota rejected a virtual total ban on abortion.

Opinion polls indicate that the public overwhelmingly supports the agenda of the incoming Democratic majority on a wide range of issues including: raising the minimum wage; extending health insurance to the uninsured; negotiating lower prices for prescription drugs in the Medicare program and implementation of the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission.

Between The Lines Scott Harris spoke with Matthew Rothschild, editor of the Progressive Magazine, who discusses what message he believes voters sent to Washington on Nov. 7, and the issues which should be priorities for the Democrats on domestic and foreign policy as they take office in January.

Read Rothschild's commentaries online at www.progressive.org

Related links:

"Election Ends One-Party State: How Will Democrats Use Their New Power to Investigate?" Between The Lines Week Ending Nov. 17, 2006, interview with James Ridgeway, investigative journalist, conducted by Scott Harris

Authors of "The Case for Impeachment"- David Lindorff and Barbara Olshansky's website: www.thiscantbehappening.net "The Impeachment of George W. Bush," by Elizabeth Holtzman, The Nation, Jan. 30, 2006

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