Congressional Republicans are trumpeting Republican Bob Turner’s stunning victory in Tuesday’s special election in New York’s 9th Congressional District as a referendum on President Barack Obama’s agenda and, specifically, his policies on Israel.
National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Pete Sessions called Turner’s victory a “clear rebuke of President Obama’s policies” and said that it “delivers a blow to Democrats’ goal of making Nancy Pelosi the Speaker again.”
Sessions continued, “New Yorkers put Washington Democrats on notice that voters are losing confidence in a President whose policies assault job-creators and affront Israel. An unpopular President Obama is now a liability for Democrats nationwide in a 2012 election that is a referendum on his economic policies.”
Caling it a “major victory,” House Majority Leader Eric Cantor also focused on jobs and Israel as the two major issues in the race.
“For more than two years, President Obama has pursued an agenda that has produced more spending, more debt, and far too few jobs. Bob has a background managing companies small and large in the television industry, and knows that sustainable job growth comes from the private sector, particularly small businesses. He will join a Republican majority that has been focused on creating jobs and changing Washington since day one,” said Cantor in a statement.
“Bob also understands the special relationship that America has with our friend Israel,” he continued. “His victory tonight is an indicator that the Middle East policy pursued by the Obama Administration does not sit well with the many people who care deeply about the U.S./Israel relationship.”
“The victory tonight makes clear that whether Republican, Democrat, or Independent, people want to see results,” Cantor concluded.
Turner upset Democrat David Weprin in the special election to replace former Congressman Anthony Weiner. The district, which covers parts of Brooklyn and Queens, is heavily Democratic; nonetheless, Turner rode a shift in momentum to victory.
Republicans also won a special election in Nevada’s 2nd Congressional District in the wee hours of Wednesday morning.
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