Michelle, I think the results are a little more complex than being a vote for tolerance.
I think that is much of it. There clearly was a distaste for the overreaching of the Republican Religious Right in many, many places. I think that by and large white voters were voting centrist, and against RR. Or more so, anyway, than expected.
However, Clinton also succeeded in getting out a lot more of the black and Hispanic voters than expected in an off year election. This was largely a backlash against Republican RR cultural extremism, as expressed in the attempt to make Clinton's adultery the crime of the century and a absolutely disqualifying event. Black voters especially remain attracted by more government, generally. So the backlash success of the Republicans in bringing out the black vote, and also the liberal white vote, in an off year election was some movement towards what you don't want.
I think the really strong message of this election was to embolden democrats to move back leftwards, however. The strong message was to the Republicans, that the Bush brothers forms of more tolerant sounding (at least) Republicanism is much more effective than the strident right wingism of the Faircloths and the Bob Barrs.
I.e., the RR took it on the kisser. Thank the lord. <ggg>
Doug |
