Dems Lose Weiner Seat In New York

The seat occupied by disgraced sexting Anthony Weiner (NY-9) is was a very solid Democrat seat. But even that district is unhappy with Obama, so much so that they handed the seat into GOP hands. Remember, liberal punidts have been saying smugly since his resignation that the seat is a referendum on Obama's policies knowing in the back of their minds how safely Democratic the district is: Morning Joe: Special Elections are becoming a referendum on Obama and his failed policies.

And so it was (ironically written by one Rachel Weiner, via memeorandum): Republican Bob Turner wins New York special election

Businessman Bob Turner (R) defeated state Assemblyman David Weprin (D) in the special election for the House seat held by former New York Rep. Anthony Weiner (D).

Turner’s victory is regarded as an upset given the Democratic history of the 9th district, which takes in portions of Brooklyn and Queens, as well as the fact that President Obama carried the seat by 11 points in 2008.

“New Yorkers put Washington Democrats on notice that voters are losing confidence in a President whose policies assault job-creators and affront Israel,” said National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Pete Sessions (R-Texas) in a statement after Turner’s win.

...Republicans also easily held a seat in Nevada’s GOP-heavy 2nd district, which has never elected a Democrat. State Sen. Mark Amodei (R) beat state Treasurer Kate Marshall (D) in a special election for the House seat left open by Sen. Dean Heller (R), who was appointed to replace Sen. John Ensign (R). Ensign resigned earlier this year over a scandal involving an aide. 

Funny that in the Nevada race they didn't give the margin. Via Instapundit: GOP Candidate Wins By 20 Points In Nevada Race. And get this from the WaPo:

Republicans sought to turn the race into a referendum on President Obama, tying Weprin to the surprisingly unpopular commander-in-chief at every turn.

Obama is surprisingly unpopular? Has his approval rating decreased in the last 2 1/2 years unexpectedly? Good grief. About the NY special election, Legal Insurrection inks to the Tweet of Night:

The Democrats are in panic mode and falling over themselves to downplay the win. Via Instapundit:

MICKEY KAUS: WHAT REALLY TERRIFIES DEMS ABOUT NY-O9.

It’s not that Obama’s ratings are so low that even this historically Democratic district decided to send a message of disapproval. Obama’s ratings may pick up, after all.

It’s not that Israel and gay marriage emerged as medium sized ”wedge issues” (translation: issues) that drove some Democrats in a quirky district heavily populated by Orthodox Jews to vote for Republican Bob Turner. Few other districts look like NY-9. ….

It’s the possibility that the Democrats favorite issue–-Social Security-–didn’t work to save them because Obama, too, has embraced cutting Social Security and Medicare in “some undefined ‘everything on the table’ entitlement reform,” as Weigel puts it. Could it be that the differences between Obama’s Medicare cuts and GOP Rep. Paul Ryan’s Medicare cuts–differences that seem so significant to policy analysts in Washington (and to me)–don’t have much salience in the crude argumentation of direct-mail electioneering? Now that’s scary for a Dem. After decades of pledging not to touch the two sacred programs, it’s beginning to look as if Democrats can’t just suddenly agree to pull trillions out of Social Security and Medicare and expect voters to maintain their reflexive loyalties.

Yep.

And from another Insty thread:

DEBBIE WASSERMAN SCHULTZ IS TRYING TO SPIN IT, but the Dems’ defeat in NY09 is a big f—in deal, to coin a phrase. And other Democratic officeholders have to be worrying if Obama will be an electoral millstone around their necks next year.

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UPDATE: From the AP: GOP Novice Wins Weiner's Old NY House Seat