Eric Cantor can yet make a political comeback. In the wake of his defeat by tea party-aligned economist Dave Brat, the departing House majority leader needs to first listen to the voters' message that "power really does come from the people," writes former House Speaker
Newt Gingrich.
He should also "sue his pollster and his consultants for malpractice," Gingrich advises. "They outspent the challenger 25 to 1 and lost. They spent almost as much on steakhouse dinners ($170,000) as Brat's entire campaign spent (about $200,000)."
Contrast Cantor's shocking loss in his Richmond, Virginia, district with Sen. Lindsey Graham's big win in the South Carolina Republican primary, writes Gingrich.
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Both lawmakers were criticized by tea party opponents. "Graham understood the first rule of American politics, which is that the voter is King. The voter loans power to the elected official but they can always take it back. Wise elected officials always remember that power really does come from the people."
The senator regularly returned to his state. He spent time with his constituents, heard their complaints, "explained his policies and emphasized the points on which they agreed."
Voters in Cantor's district felt he'd forgotten them.
His attack ads against Brat only reminded them that they had an alternative. Where Brat signed a pledge developed by the Independent Women's Voice organization to repeal Obamacare, Cantor declined to do so.
"Clearly, repealing Obamacare will have to be a major Republican pledge this fall," Gingrich argues.
Cantor is a gifted man with an estimable political record. "Losing a race does not have to be the end of the line," writes Gingrich. He could yet become a governor, senator, or cabinet member.
People were angry not at Eric Cantor the man as much as they were signaling frustration at the failure of Republicans to mount an effective fight against President Barack Obama's policies.
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