From self-satisfaction to predictions of a further divided country, political pundits were at no loss for words over the news that President Obama had defeated GOP challenger Mitt Romney in the 2012 presidential election.
“This hurts,” said conservative commentator Alex Castellanos on CNN. “It’s time for us to remember what this was all about. It’s leading the country to a better place. It’s time for Republicans to be as gracious as they were passionate.”
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His network colleague Van Jones, a liberal activist, said Obama’s re-election was a chance for Republicans to come together to work with the president.
“The Republican Party is a great party historically,” Jones said. “I think there has been some elements that have pulled it too far in one direction. That can be corrected. This is an opportunity for us to come together.”
Also on CNN, Margaret Hoover predicted: “There is going to be a fight over who controls the Republican Party, and there is no elected leader of the Republican Party over the next four years.”
MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow noted the difference between Tuesday and Election Night 2008.
“It is a different feeling,” Maddow said. “It is a different thing. It is about a consequential president, not just about a consequential election.”
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Her network colleague Ed Schultz said the election should serve as a loud signal to the GOP.
“This win by Barack Obama is a real wake-up call to the Republican Party — don’t obstruct progress in this country,” he said.
On ABC News, Barbara Walters turned her thoughts to Romney and what would become of the 65-year-old former governor of Massachusetts.
“I think that his wife is holding his hand and saying: ‘We’re OK. We will get through this,’” said Walters. “He has said this is the end of his political career. … He may go into business with one of his sons. He could start another financial hedge fund, but his political career is finished.”
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On Fox News Channel, Lanny Davis, former special council to President Clinton, called upon Obama to emulate Clinton’s second term.
“Now it’s time to do what Bill Clinton did in his second term, which is to pivot, go to the center, reach out to Republicans, make the grand bargain and run for history, not for the next election.”
But National Review editor Rich Lowry was skeptical that would happen.
“If he’s actually going to make this kind of Lanny Davis pivot, there’s no sign of it yet,” Lowry said. “My forecast is we’ll have a bitter standoff over taxes almost immediately.”
Several pundits took to Twitter to share their thoughts.
This victory that the Jackie Robinson of American politics is cruising to is more impt than the first;1 term=failure; he had to be a success
— Bill Maher (@billmaher) November 7, 2012
Congratulations @barackobama – you’ve got another chance to do it properly this time. Good luck.
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) November 7, 2012
The good news is the promise of continued massive unemployment among young people.
— Ann Coulter (@AnnCoulter) November 7, 2012
Heartbroken. My party has to evolve or it’s going to die.
— Meghan McCain (@McCainBlogette) November 7, 2012
