Ruth Marcus
11/10/2010

The author notes the difference between Bill Clinton’s response to his “shellacking” in 1994 and Obama’s response to his in 2010. Both presidents spoke of voters’ dissatisfaction with Washington, but only Clinton understood that his defeat meant Washington, not the people, was in the wrong. While she supports President Obama’s agenda over the last two years, Marcus is uncomfortable with the presumption by Obama and Nancy Pelosi that their defeat was largely the result of not communicating more with the people. In other words, Pelosi and Obama blame the people’s inability to understand their lofty agenda. Obama may be able to reconnect, but Marcus sees little chance that Pelosi will.

Marcus is an editorial writer for The Post, specializing in American politics, campaign finance, the federal budget and taxes, and other domestic issues.

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