BOSTON — The thumping Scott Brown delivered in Massachusetts was a shocking rebuke of President Obama and Democrats in Congress, but it is Republicans who should take this moment to stop and think long and hard about the lessons that must be learned.
It is true that the GOP has enjoyed a recent string of impressive victories in unlikely places — Republicans won back Virginia, and took New Jersey by storm. Most impressive of all was robbing Democrats of Ted Kennedy’s old Senate seat this week.
Obama has campaigned in three races since taking office — and lost all three. After years of digging themselves deeper and deeper into a hole, the GOP has finally figured out how to stop digging.
But let’s be honest: Winning off-year elections last November and a special election this week when voters are only marginally paying attention is not the same as prevailing in a major general election when everybody turns out.
Republicans have gotten this far by saying “No” to Democrats. Clearly, voters are very grateful for that.
But now it is time for Republicans to move beyond simple defense.
They must go on offense with clear, principled and imaginative ideas for fixing the unprecedented mess that Washington has foisted upon America.
Republicans now must figure out and explain to voters precisely what they would do to lower health care costs that are crippling companies and families.
They must come up with a very specific plan for what they will do to address the stubbornly high unemployment rate and stagnated paychecks.
They must outline everything they will do to better regulate Wall Street without causing any more catastrophes such as the burst housing bubble.
And they must lay out a clear vision about America’s role in the world and how we will stamp out the scourge of radical Islamic terrorism.
Unless and until voters everywhere know exactly what your plan is, you will not be playing in the big leagues.