Lessons from tonight's race in Massachusetts

I give credit to Scott Brown for running a smart, populist campaign against a lackluster and timid Democratic candidate who assumed she was going to win. For example, Coakley had 19 events after the primary through Sunday; Scott Brown had 66. The Democrats have no one to blame but themselves.

However, I don't believe today's result were a referendum on Obama but it shows America's dissatisfaction with his handling of the economy. According to a poll today, 53% of MA electorate approves of Obama, 38% disapproved, which is about right. In fact, Obama came into the office with more pressing problems (including the real possibility of a depression and worldwide financial collapse) than any other president since FDR, and he stabilized things pretty quick. Congressional Quarterly, the impartial Hill magazine, rates Obama as the one of the most successful first-year presidents.

Obama needs to become a better politician, and be tougher with the GOP, Wall Street, and anyone in his party goes off on his own. He needs to take another page from the Reagan playbook (where he continued to blame Jimmy Carter and his policies until the economy turned around) and appropriately remind the country that Bush let Wall Street run wild during his eight years and we are still paying the piper for that. Reagan's inner circle knew how to insulate their leader from criticism even though he made some big mistakes, like approving clandestine arms deals, etc, and Obama's team needs to do that for their boss. Furthermore, I can't imagine Karl Rove ever allowing a situation in Massachusetts to develop like that; he would have squelched it.

Most of all, I am concerned about how this could derail much needed health care reform in this country. It makes no sense that our country spends twice as much per capita on health care as Australia and Denmark and we have a lower average life expectancy than either. And over 35 million Americans are uninsured, and people like me can't shop for a better health care because I have a pre-existing condition (having recovered from an early stage melanoma despite having overall excellent health) and beholden to my insurance company. This is crazy.

Obama needs to get tougher, stay optimistic, and remind voters which party is the real agent of the banks and insurance companies, not the people. Mr. Brown cleverly used his pickup truck and folksy manner to win tonight; but make no mistake, he is no man of the people. Obama really needs to lead!