Who Voted & Why: Join the Live Chat
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Tonight we're getting a much better picture of how the votes broke down for each party in the midterm elections. John King will show us who voted for whom and why. Plus, Congresswoman Michele Bachmann. Keeping her honest, see how Anderson tried get her to be specific about how she'd cut the deficit.
Want more details on what covering? Read EVENING BUZZ
Scroll down to join the live chat during the program. It's your chance to share your thoughts on tonight's headlines. Keep in mind, you have a better chance of having your comment get past our moderators if you follow our rules.
Here are some of them:
1) Keep it short (we don't have time to read a "book")
2) Don't write in ALL CAPS (there's no need to yell)
3) Use your real name (first name only is fine)
4) No links
5) Watch your language (keep it G-rated; PG at worst - and that includes $#&*)
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@JoAnn-OH
On the questions of whether Nancy Pelosi will stay, i certainly hope not. In my opinion, she was responsible for inflaming many issues with the Republicans.
I also pray that Harry Reid will NOT be the Dem. leader in the Senate either.
Both of them did damage to the Democratic agenda.
Does anyone, care about the truth in campaign ads?
President Obama gets it. He inherited a mess that no one wants to deal with Democrat or Republican. To much of pointing fingers and not enough of both parties really working together to solve the many problems our nation face. Voters turned out in my opinion because of the very negative ads against the President and the Democratic Party. Most Americans truly do not understand the economy, health care reform or any policies of this President and the Presidents that came before him. As a nation we will continue to weaken and never be the world Leader we once was due to the structure of our Democratic Parties and their agendas.
And although the Tea Party has on the whole identified with the Republiican party there were a lot of the winners and even losers, (i.e. Christine Odonnell) that were warning Republicans that they needed to do what needed to be done or the same thing could happen to them.
I am a registered independent voter. Now that we have the democrats shook up, we need to keep on going and let the republicans know that we are not going to put up with them either.
Just watching your program tonight, looks like we might have to keep an eye on the tea party too. Has anyone seen America, where has it gone?
I think the Crazy tea party is going to make everything that much harder in Washington.
As a long time democrat who grew up with the vietnam war and watergate I now find the democrats only focused on their supporters and not the country as a whole. I find the difference between legislative leaders like Speaker John McCormick and Nancy Pelosi to be troubling. I hope President Obama for the sake of the country follows President Clinton's lead and now makes tough pragmatic compromises to grow the economy, create jobs and reinvigorate americans who feel depressed.
Just a question, did the Bush tax cuts do anything good for the economy? Is that measured?
Bachmann's comment to roll back spending to what it was in 2008 is a great first step. All those agencies lived on 20% less just 2 years ago, and can again. She answer the question, cut EVERYTHING to 2008 levels.
Good Job on that interview and great job checking the facts. Another example of someone winning an election and the only thing they know how to do is talk negative about the opponent, having no real solutions of their own.
If she knew what she was talking about, she would have been falling out of that chair!
Did everyone just see what Bachmann and others would like to cut? Corporations pay NO taxes? They hardly do now with their write-offs. With our Tax System it appears that Business pays a fair amount, but the write-offs result in little actually paid in taxes.
@Jeff.......President Obama spent the first year and a half pushing through a healthcare plan that most Americans didn't want. In the meantime, the ditch became deeper. Time to stop looking back, reach forth and work together for once. WHY is it always about this one or that one when we don't agree with them? How about working together and STOP BLAMING and start solving!!
May be 200 million Indian rupees
Obama is communicating just fine, but the media would rather focus on tea baggers calling him a radical socialist, rather then deliver his message to the public.
The election was about employment and where the next meal is coming from. End of story.
It frightens me so far to hear the suggestions the Republicans are offering to "fix" things. Broad general statements that when they are pinned down about them, they quickly back off. Cut social security but at the same time she says "it's the wrong thing to put fear into our senior citizens".
Nancy in Oregon
She does dance, but if you listened to what she said... there was no substance and the reason Anderson Cooper continued to question her.
Thank You Anderson for a good interview
Will we ever have an elected official specifically answer a question. I grow weary of hearing the same things, no has been able or willing to say just what they can or will do.
Economy has a lot to do with the election results, however, HealthCare was shoved down our throats and that should definately be repealed.
I have no idea how many they need, Jannett...do you? In today's world? Or how many is the 'average'? I think throwing out 'scary' numbers is inflammatory-and meant to be. It's a strategy, nothing more.
I can understand the need to control spending, but security isn't excess.
And so it begins... A Tea Party candidate can't answer a serious specific question about how they would cut spending . Good questions Anderson
The election was not about health care repeal It was a bout frustration and impatient Americans, Republican politicians are the ones screaming about repeal because they excluded themselves and acted like spoiled rich kids. Americans want their former level of indulgence back and they want it fast.
For the record I am unaffiliated.
anderson i think what everyone is saying is why does the president and his family spend so much of our money traveling while we are saving to use the heater in our homes.....
I'm still waiting for you folks to show statistics indicating how many Tea Party Candidates won their race compared to the GOP. It's not the GOP that won as much as it is folks voting for the Tea Party for change and showing their dissatisfaction with all incumbents.
I also I disagree republican Michelle Bachman's comment!
I'm guessing the actual figure is closer to 200 million rupees a day which is closer to $5 million a day.
I think that everything she is saying is completely exaggerated and just has Anderson just reported, all of her knowledge of this came from a "source" in India... Perfect!
Good evening Anderson,
I would like your commentators to give their analyses of last night's elections taking these factors into consideration:
1. These Mid-Term elections reached enormous spending rates (most expensive Mid-Term elections in history)
2. These Mid-Term elections had a smaller turnout than the 2008 presidential elections (so the message that was sent was only sent by a portion of the national electorate)
3. Republicans only won the House (they got 1 out of 2- 50% effectiveness). Democrats only lost the House (they defended 1 out of 2 – 50% effectiveness). The Congress, in absolute terms, is balanced.
4. Today, we have Senators-elect that were unable to even amass 50% of votes (i.e. Alaska, Florida) How representative are they of their respective states?
Therefore, how "genuine" is this so-called "message" – that the media is insisting was sent to President Obama – last night? Please take all these premises into consideration.
Kind Regards from Florida!
Hello everyone!!
She does not know what she is talking about.
The news media is missing the point. It was to get rid of incumbents–to let ALL know that the American people are tired–that things have to change. Health care, jobs–are needed–but getting rid of the majority is a no-brainer–we had Dems–if you vote them out we get the GOP–we don't want their agenda–we want a government to put the Amerian people in their best interset. If they can't do it–we'll vote them out. It's about taking control of our country–By the People-not the GOP or the DEMS. They can call themelve whatever they want–but no more pork–not more BS.
We need to get our manufacturing businesses back. Maybe legislation that will protect our jobs when the threshhold of industry depletion has been reached could prevent domestic recession. Moving our money around (like SSA and taxes) like chips on a table and using our service industry in this vein even more won't get the mass of our people working. In my summary opinion, I believe we are service industry heavy!!!!
The President dosent need 2k body guards.
Jo Ann,
"Obama was defeated yesterday"
Yes, I know. I wonder if there will be any changes over the next two years? Do you think that anything will get done?
She didn't give one straight answer! Typical.
He seemed to me to be saying he would accept the responsibility, but really this whole thing was due to the American public not being patient enough.
She's another smooth-talker, Gloria and Wendy....or tries to be. And tries to keep her voice and eyes steady. It's a lot of show and theatre.
To what extent does the rise of unqualified amateur political candidates parallel the rise of reality TV, where everyday people replace trained actors? Are we witnessing "reality politics?"
Yeah, this is a perfect example of the republicans that are being voted into office! Pitiful!
I agree with Michele Bachman. You have to stop the bleeding in the budget before you radically reform any of the programs. Fiscally, the U.S. is in deep trouble. Our Congress and Senate have their hands full in the next two years.
It is obvious that Michele Bachman is in over her head and does not know what she is talking about.
we people voted the repubs in but that does not mean that they will not stop the agenda that is going to make things right for us
The government has become a giant behemoth. It exists for the sake of its self and not for the sake of it's citizens. It's just happened that way. I can see cuts but you can't cut where it's to the most benefit of it's citizens. Protection from big business is one of them. Regulations are required in alot of areas because you can't trust big business to regulate its self. We've seen the result of that big time with the Economy and the Gulf Oil Crisis. Seniors need a source of income.
While forcing the healthcare reform bill on the american public in the face of clear opposition, the Democrats told the american people that they knew what was best for us. Now, in the face of a clear mandate to change course, the Democrats are telling us that we just don't understand the success of their policies. Why does the Democratic party think they are smarter and know better than the people they are supposed to serve?
I agree that the Dems did not properly communicate their accomplishments. I also agree that when people are saying this shows what the people want. Their were millions of people who voted for Dems, and "we want our country back." I'm confused who is "we." Those are the people who were in uproar and turned the election.
You have to admit that having a Democratic President, House and Senate was very one-sided. I think that the republican votes represent a need to balance policy making.
the GOP won last night jobs for everyone tomorrow
The Pres does not need 2 thousand body guards.
Bachmann is right. Obama has increased spending by more than 20% in just 2 years. A good first step is to roll back spending to 2008 levels.