I love it. The Democrats’ current anti-Republican message is that Republicans are the “Party of No” – that they are “obstructionist” and therefore the bad guys. 

What the Democrats don’t realize is that Americans are actually really comfortable with voting ‘no,’ with opposition to things that take their money and/or their freedom. Recall the phrase “Don’t tread on me.” It’s as American a sentiment as there is, and it’s a ‘no’ phrase if I’ve ever heard one. 

Example from outside the beltway: My father was a state legislator for a couple of terms in the great liberal state of Vermont. He is a very conservative Republican. When constituents asked him “Hey, Dave, what are you doing down there in the legislature?” (which is how constituent relations actually do work in a small state), he’d simply answer “I’m voting ‘no’!” His constituents – independent, crusty New Englanders – liked that answer just fine. They knew that at least half of the hare-brained ideas in the state capitol where for things they didn’t need or didn’t want. Mostly, they wanted not to be bothered by the government. 

Right now, there is a growing sense that the government can’t fix things anyway, so it might be best to shoot down their new ideas, new bailouts, etc. 

You see, the American people were invited to a big party last year – a celebration called “change,” but so far they don’t care too much for the fare. Think about it this way: if you really don’t like the food or drink that’s being served at a party, eventually you’ll say “no, no thank you” and have a bowl of cereal when you get home. 

Right now, voters are ready to say “no, thank you” to government meddling and work on their own problems, economic and otherwise, individually, at home and at work.

So when Republicans are accused of being the “Party of No,” I encourage them to embrace the label! “Hell, yes, I’m saying ‘no’ to this stuff,” they might say to a reporter.

And when Democrats bellow in interviews or on TV ads that Republicans are the “Party of No,” they’d better be careful. They might be giving their opponents a compliment in the eyes of the American people. Because “no” is the new “yes” – right now, it means “yes” to freedom.

Jean Card has been a professional writer in Washington, D.C. for more than a dozen years.  Today, she is freelance writing and consulting, full-time. Jean is a native of Vermont and a graduate of Middlebury College. She lives and writes in Alexandria, VA with her husband, a new puppy (adopted from PAWS Rescue of Northern Virginia) and two rather poorly-behaved cats (adopted from AdvoCATS).