Few of us like a smart aleck, the “know it all” or those who tell us “I told you so.” Having hereby inoculated you with the vaccine of said perspective, please forgive me for reminding you that we stated weeks ago that it was too soon to call for the demise or decline of the TEA Party, as so many in the mainstream media have done.
The race was in Virginia, but upstart David Brat gave House Majority Leader Eric Cantor an “-ss whooping,” as they say in Texas about parents who still discipline their kids the old fashioned way.
Brat was outspent some 25 to 1 by Cantor's backers, this AP news story details that, but please enjoy the commentary from the New Yorker Magazine linked below as being of particular insight.
http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/newsdesk/2014/06/david-brat-the-elizabeth-warren-of-the-right.html
So what does this Cantor defeat and Brat Primary win mean to Manufactured Housing?
First, a heads up that we plan to reach out to the David Brat for Congress campaign for comment, and let them speak for themselves, if they so desire. Naturally we want to hear there positions on MH and related topics.
Next, while respecting those voices in our industry who may read these tea leaves (pun intended) differently, IMHO this ought to be a signal to those on the left – or at CFPB and other federal agencies – who may find that the electorate is indeed shifting anew in many parts of the nation.
That shift may take a few months before its reflected in November's elections and a new Congress, which gives federal officials time to pivot to a stance that promotes jobs and businesses.
While immigration was a topic mentioned by the media on the Cantor defeat, the New Yorker column linked above suggests it was a broader set of hot buttons that moved Brat into the spotlighted victory primary election night.
As the GOP struggles in coalescing behind a revived identity, Cantor himself suggested a point worth pondering, when he said that the acronym for the T.E.A. Party meant 'Taxed Enough Already.' Cantor said that was a widely held view in Republican ranks.
Remember, on the Masthead, we believe that our industry is a bi-partisan issue.
Sources inside the MH community also suggest that while Cantor has been supportive of MH, that this victory for Brat is not a reversal for our industry. As of this date, Cantor had not yet formally co-sponsored the bi-partisan HR 1779, as has 114 of his colleagues in the House.
The images shown are from the Dave Brat for Congress website, and suggest what he is striving to do in his messaging to voters.
The vast majority of races so far this cycle have seen the incumbent win, but as Scandal-Town USA (DC) stays in the head-lines, the overseas headlines continue to disappoint and domestic economic malaise continues, it wouldn't be surprising to see more upsets such as David Brat pulled off.
There are many take-aways from this, including the fact that as prior CFPB counsel and HUD program director, attorney Bill Matchneer suggested in his guest column, we could mobilize MH owners with the right message. Brat used little bucks to win big, why not manufactured housing?
Half the battle is in our minds. “Whether you think you can or whether you think you can't, you're right.” – Henry Ford. ##
(Editor's Note: As on any topic presented on the Masthead or other articles on MHProNews.com, we welcome feedback on or off the record.)
L. A. 'Tony' Kovach ManufacturedHomeLivingNews.com | MHProNews.com | Business and Public Marketing & Ads: B2B | B2C Websites, Contract Marketing & Sales Training, Consulting, Speaking: MHC-MD.com | LATonyKovach.com | Office 863-213-4090 Connect on LinkedIN: http://www.linkedin.com/in/latonykovach
