The defeat of elitism

The people have spoken.\nIn spite of poll numbers that favored Sen. John Kerry, the election results of Tuesday dealt a devastating blow to the increasingly liberal and elitist Democratic Party and the American "left" by re-electing George W. Bush and expanding the Republican majorities in Congress.\nIn addition, nearly a dozen states approved ballot initiatives that do not recognize same-sex marriages, a resounding defeat of activist judges that believe their own opinions -- which establish imaginary rights and institutions unfounded in law -- trump the will of the people.\nPerhaps most importantly, the legitimacy of the presidency -- under attack from liberals for the last four years -- is restored. \nTuesday was a victory not just for the GOP, but a victory for democracy.\nAlthough pundits like James Carville tried to portray this election as if the Republican political machine was hell-bent on intimidating and disenfranchising voters -- specifically black people -- Americans came out in solid support of the president. The worries of an illegal seizure of the election placed in the minds of so many people did not materialize, probably because the fears were baseless propaganda. \nTo his credit, John Kerry never bought into nor propagated the myths of a stolen 2000 election, and responsibly conceded defeat in the most honorable fashion. He is to be commended.\nThat said, with the Democrats in absolute disarray, some lessons should be learned from this debacle. \nFirst, it is time for the Democrats to abandon the far-left. Appeasing fringe groups which often shirk traditional values only energizes GOP support in the South and Midwest while simultaneously putting swing states like Ohio in the "red" column. \nEveryone, this columnist included, underestimated the power of social conservatism in the heartland of America. The Democrats paid dearly for that miscalculation. \nSecondly, Democrats must come to terms with the fact that Northeastern establishment liberals cannot win national elections. They do not possess the capacity to convincingly reach out to the populist base of the party -- let alone the nation -- and therefore cannot conceivably expect to win outside of their region. \nTheir elitism works well on college campuses, but it does not translate well to the rest of the American electorate. If they want to be a factor in any election in the near future, the Democrats must get back in touch with the America that lives outside the "Beltway" and does not read The New York Times' Op-Ed page.\nThirdly, I believe this is the last election the Democrats could take the black vote for granted. The social conservatism struck a chord with the black community, and although most continued (and will continue) to vote for Democrats, many African-Americans agree with President Bush's social message. If the Democrats do not get back to center, their iron-clad support in the socially conservative black community will erode.\nLast, and certainly not least, the opinions of France, Germany and the greater population of Europe do not hold sway with most of America. Our president is just that -- OUR president. As such, Nov. 2 was not a global referendum -- it was a successful exercise in American democracy. \nWhile many speak of a "time for healing," I'd say it is time for the vitriolic liberals and Democrats to grow up. This is what America wants.\nDeal with it.\nBush's election is not the end of the world, as some of my classmates have intimated. It is the will of a nation that is not satisfied with the Democratic Party and its messages of fear and hate. The president can now lead, along with both parties in Congress, without the burden of groundless suspicions born in the imagination of many left-wing talking heads. \nPresident Bush didn't steal the last election, but given the shift in the popular vote and the strengthening of the GOP's congressional majorities, he certainly ran away with this one. \nHail to the chief.