Cantor's Loss Puts Establishment GOP Meme To Rest

talkingpointsmemo.com ^ | 6/11/14 | Ed Kilgore

[cotton1706]

For the first post-primary Wednesday this year, I’m not having to poke holes in the pre-ordained MSM narrative for this campaign cycle, The Year of the Republican Establishment, wherein the Great Big Adults of the GOP were supposed to put down the unruly Tea Folk and position their “pragmatic” party perfectly for smashing victories in 2014 and maybe 2016 as well. I’d say the Republican voters of the 7th congressional district of Virginia put that meme to rest for the immediate future.

Yes, in case you weren’t anywhere close to political news outlets (or Twitter, which exploded) last night, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, poised to inherit John Boehner’s gavel any old day now, and usually thought to be safely to Boehner’s right, was denied renomination by the Republicans of his district. By a 56-44 landslide. To a “nobody” that he outspent at least 20-1.

So now Randolph-Macon College economics professor David Brat is the GOP nominee for Congress in the 7th District, and unless Cantor chooses to roll the dice on a general election write-in campaign (which would, of course, kill his leadership career even if he won, and might even throw this strongly red district to a Democrat), he’s history. And speaking of history, there’s no recent precedent for a House or Senate Majority Leader’s deposition in a primary. The closest analog is Newt Gingrich’s (then serving as the number two Republican in the House) near-death experience in a 1992 primary immediately after a redistricting force him to move into unfamiliar territory. Two years later, Newt stood astride Washington like a colossus. Cantor can only imagine what might have been.

[Liz]

LOL-----so true AND s-o-o-o-o insightful.

The know-it-alls failed to report that this was not just a loss---it was a 12 point political slaughter. Congressional Quarterly reported NO sitting leader ever lost an election. The victorious Brat ran as Cantor's "TERM LIMIT"---a good slogan for other Republicans.

WRT the amnesty issue----the miniscule Hispanic vote is overly-hyped and pumped-up to scare vote-crazed Dems---its at a nothing 10 per cent now and for the for-seeable future.

Brat's winning opposition to it puts the kibosh to amnesty. But you know the execrable Obama will see this as his "right" to an Executive Order.

Starting now, Dems are on notice---if Obo moves on this unilaterally----Americans will insist Dems demand his resignation

[Jane Long]

I’ve called Cantor’s DC office, as well as my own Pubbie Rep’s office, asking if Cantor is planning to immediately resign his Majority *Leader*ship position. As of this morning, they didn’t know.

I told them he should, as VA has sent Cantor a clear message....Get out!

Call Cantor’s and your Rep’s (pubbie) offices and demand he resign the position.

[Jane Long]

I want to see photos of Cantor looking confused and down...I want to GLOAT, dammit!

Well, he certainly seemed confused during his concession speech (or whatever that was), last night. I think he was shellshocked but he pretty much rambled his canned, go-to nonsense.

[Liz]

I called Cantor’s DC office, as well as my own Pubbie Rep, and told them VA has sent Cantor a clear message....Get out!

Oh God---I love it (cue applause meter).

[sickoflibs]

RE :”WRT the amnesty issue——the miniscule Hispanic vote is overly-hyped and pumped-up to scare vote-crazed Dems-—its at a nothing 10 per cent now and for the for-seeable future.
Brat's winning opposition to it puts the kibosh to amnesty. But you know the execrable Obama will see this as his “right” to an Executive Order. “

I bet not many Hispanics voted in that GOP primary in that district, I wonder what % of that entire district is hispanic.

[Jane Long]

I just read that Cantor will resign from his Leadership position at the end of July.

He should resign that position immediately!

[GOPJ]

When Republicans move 8 million Chinese (who have agreed to vote Republican in exchange for citizenship) into that district it won’t matter... will it?

[Liz]

Thanks to you-—you got the ball rolling.

Kudos.

[catfish1957]

The stupidity of the GOP(e) will eventually result in basically what the UK has now, a 3 party system. This schism will be a result of decades of ignoring and taking conservatives for granted. Politically, is not the best solution for the country, but enough is enough.

My best guess, is after the 3rd conservative ultra-RINO is shoved down our throat in 2016, the Tea Party will coalesce and consolidate into it's own party by 2020- 2022.

[Grampa Dave]

Cantor was arrogant, contemptable, dismissive, rude and didn't listen to those who put him into office.

Those are the cores of most hemmoroids in DC after a few years. Which is why they need to be removed by their voters when those signs appear.

[Vision Thing]

Lindsey hardly stomped the tea party, instead, the tea party stomped itself by running five candidates against him. Compare that to Cantor vs. Brat in VA, which was a one-on-one contest, where the tea party won handily.