Krugman: Obstructionism and Misrepresentation Won

In his November 6 commentary, economist Paul Krugman writes that Republicans won primarily by masking their true positions on issues, and having discovered that "obstructionism bordering on sabotage is a winning political strategy."

Detailing the many recent cases when conservative Republicans were blatantly wrong on issues — from believing that the economic collapse of 2008 was impossible even after it occurred, to insisting that healthcare costs would soar and more would lose than gain insurance coverage with the Affordable Care Act, to a near-religious denial of human involvement in climate change — Krugman concludes " bad for America but good for Republicans."

Most voters don’t know much about policy details, nor do they understand the legislative process. So all they saw was that the man in the White House wasn’t delivering prosperity — and they punished his party.

Read the complete essay here.