Penn's parties celebrate, mourn outcome

Events chairman Clayton Robinson (left) and fellow Penn Democrats celebrated as Penn Republicans contemplated what went wrong.

The mood among the Penn Democrats only improved last night as time passed.

The Penn College Republicans were somewhat more sour.

The Democrats met last night at Huntsman Hall to watch the election returns roll in. The mood the was initially cautious and subdued, but people became more jubilant as reports of wins started to arrive.

"I think we've taken the House, it's just a question of by how much," said Engineering freshman Jay Fiddelman, a deputy political director in the Penn Democrats.

Incumbent Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum's loss and concession speech brought palpable excitement to the room, with one member saying that she couldn't believe it and that she felt close to tears.

If there were tears among the College Republicans gathered in an off-campus residence, they were of a different kind.

"For a lot of us, Rick Santorum was a true American hero," said College junior Sean-Tamba Matthew, the second vice-chairman of Pennsylvania Federation of College Republicans.

Some members alleged irregularities at polling places.

Matthew, who is black, said he was a poll watcher during the day and had a confrontation with a Democratic party member who questioned whether Matthew was allowed at the polling place. He says that the person muttered a racial slur under their breath.

"It's sad to see how bad the Philadelphia [voting] system is," Matthew said.

The Penn Democrats, meanwhile, thought the election process went smoothly.

College senior Stephanie Fennell, who coordinated election workers' poll-watching, said there were a few minor issues but scoffed at allegations of widespread irregularities.

Both groups, however, were proud of their get-out-the-vote campaigns.

Fiddelman said turnout had matched that of the 2002 mid-term election by 1:00 p.m.

Penn Democrats events chairman Clayton Robinson said he thought momentum had been built by rallies the group had held, such as one attended by Democratic House leader Nancy Pelosi (D - Calif.).

The College Republicans also cited their get-out-the-vote campaign, which involved knocking on hundreds of doors and making thousands of calls.

"I don't think there was anything more we could do," College Republicans Chairman and Wharton junior Michael Shiely said.

He added that his group was looking forward to the 2007 Philadelphia mayoral election and 2008 presidential election.

But though the outcome in the Senate was still not clear in the early morning, the Penn Democrats were happy to live in the moment.

"Either way the night goes, getting Santorum out of office is something to celebrate," Fennell said.

Comments (3)

It's sad to hear Sean-Tamba being a little bitch about the election. I'm sure he wouldn't be taking the time to insult Philadelphia or claim that someone "muttered a racial slur under their breath" if Santorum had won-- he would be celebrating-- so apparently those things are only issues when you're a sore loser.

I'm glad Democrats are now taking a new tune in Washington by calling on Republicans to be more civil. Democrats were calling our great American troops terrorists (John Kerry), cold blooded murderers (John Mutha), academically challenged (John Kerry), torturers (Ted Kennedy), and like the Nazi's (Dick "the turban" Durban). Every single Dem also called our President (whether you agree with him or not) dumb (higher grades at Yale that John Kerry, jet fighter pilot, etc) during a time of war. Today the Dems moderate outreaching tone to the President they said "Do what we want or there will be hell to pay."(DNC's grassroots chairman-name I can't remember) Not much of an improvement, but still somewhat of one for today.

Actually, as someone who knows Sean, I am sure he would speak out against disgusting left-wing behaivor no matter what the outcome. Conservatives have been dealing with "sore losers" for the past 6 years, and the cancer that has corrupted the Democratic party has included a debasing of common values we hold as American. From throwing Oreos at Michael Steele, to making sick jokes out of a Senator's name, to pushing out moderate Dems, the sick melonoma that has unfortunately engulfed many in the Ass party has led to a disintegration of civility and values. Those who rightly complain when their war dissent leads to Anti-American name calling by a few, are the same ones who will cry "racism" and "homophobia" to those who simply oppose affirmative action and same-sex marriage, respectively. Those who complained about the GOP "running on fear" with terrorism, will then turn around and tell us how we all will die from global warming, lack of healthcare, and inability to pay for college. There was some political corruption in the national GOP, which happens when a party is in power a long time and forgets some of its values. But unfortunately, ideological corruption is now the hallmark of the "Know-Nothing" Democrats, who won on an anti-Bush platform, instead of a pro-agenda. Well you got what you asked for guys. Problem is, instead of Dems like Harold Ford that could take the party back from the extremists , you got empty suits like Bob Casey and Bob Menendez. The lack of agenda will kill the Dems and lead to GOP wins in '08 (including the Presidency IMHO). However, what happens to our country in the next 2 years is of more importance than some political analysis. I truely do wish the best of luck to everyone elected/re-elected to office. I hope for the best for this country and for the troops now stationed around the world. God Bless!

Comments are closed for this item.