Marathon Pundit: Report from Rep. Kevin McCarthy's post-Massachusetts conference call

One of my favorite blogging endeavors is taking part in the bi-weekly GOP Whip Team blogger conference calls hosted by Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA). Unfortunately, I was quite busy at my daytime job, so I missed the last few.

But today I had a day off, so I was able to participate in a special call--about Tuesday's special election in Massachusetts.

But first, some congratulations are in order. In the London Telegraph's annual ranking of the most influential US conservatives, the Bakersfield Republican ranked number 53. But I disagree with the paper's view that a GOP takeover was a long shot bid.

McCarthy declared Scott Brown's upset win "a wake up call for America, showing that if you can win in Massachusetts you can win in anywhere." Going into more detail, McCarthy rattled off the districts Brown convincingly won: Massachusetts' Second, Third, Fifth, Sixth and Tenth. Then there is the Bay State's Fourth, which is held by uber-liberal Barney Frank--and McCarthy says Brown appears to have carried it, albeit by a close margin.

So yes, the GOP can win anywhere--and that means in where I live too, Illinois' Ninth, which is represented by another ultra left-winger, Jan Schakowsky. Interestingly, the Republican candidate I've endorsed in the Ninth, Joel Pollak, famously confronted Frank about the subprime loan crash that occurred while he was chairman of the House Financial Services Committee. Let's all sing: "It's the circle of life."

McCarthy didn't discuss Pollak or the Ninth, but he is quite optimistic about the candidates he has recruited to run in November--McCarthy is the recruitment chair for the National Republican Congressional Committee. The House's Chief Deputy Whip is proud of the 82 candidates, successful people he says, many of whom have never run for public office before.

The latest Cook Report lists 50 competitive House seats--and an astounding 40 of them are held by Democrats. And over the last few months, some Dems have announced their retirement, which greatly increases the odds of a pick up by the GOP in those districts. 2010 looks great for the GOP.

Tuesday's results are being viewed by the pundits as a referendum on ObamaCare. Which is why I asked about something else--that's my job. What about energy, which was a major issue in 2008?

After mentioning that gasoline prices are almost a dollar higher than they were a year ago, McCarthy related a story about two family farmers in his district who are looking at Canada to locate their carrot processing plant--because of cheaper energy costs north of the border.

Republicans believe in energy independence. But the GOP believes "in all forms of energy to get us energy independent--not punishing one for the other." Which brings us to cap and trade, and McCarthy told us that based on polling in states such as Ohio and Virginia--the cap and trade issue motivates voters in some House districts more than health care reform. According to NRCC staffer Mike Shields, who also participated in the call, some House Democrats who voted for cap and trade ran away from the health care bill. The reason? A candidate had been recruited during the abeyance to oppose them--they're scared. Shields added, "We are being provided with a menu of issues to use in different congressional districts." Shields revealed that taxes and spending are the primary issue in other districts. The GOP will have a jammed-pack and lethal tackle box when it trolls for Democrats this fall.

Another blogger queried McCarthy about the belief among some liberals that Americans just don't understand the health care bill and that they should push harder for ObamaCare. McCarthy flatly replied, "They're wrong." And he reached back to November's gubernatorial races in New Jersey and Virginia, citing exit polls, "72 percent in one state, and 75 percent in another--that they were voting for the Republican candidate mainly to send a message to Washington on the way that policy has been carried out--meaning health care and cap and trade."

But the ObamaCare fight is not over, Shields reminded us. "Last night didn't kill it--we have to kill it now." McCarthy added that it was not just the health care legislation they objected to--but the manner they debated the legislation...the arrogance."

Have the Democrats learned anything? Maybe. But some are discussing the need to ram their health bill down the throats of an increasingly angry populace.

Related posts:

National Journal poll says Kevin McCarthy is the GOP congressman with brightest future

Kevin McCarthy: Washington can't continue this disconnect with double digit unemployment

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