Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., speaks to the media prior to the start of an election night event for Virginia Gov.-elect Terry McAuliffe, also a Democrat. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
A Democratic senator from a key defense-sector state wants one faction in American politics to rise. But it’s not the faction you might expect.
No, Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., doesn’t want a coalition of moderate Democrats to exert itself on Capitol Hill and state capitals across America. To the contrary, Warner wants the Republican Party to rise again.
During a prime time interview on CNN Tuesday evening, Warner was asked about what a Democratic victory in the Virginia gubernatorial race would mean for the tea party.
The usually diplomatic Warner responded that American politics “has always had a strain and extremism.” Swings in that direction typically are temporary, he said, and the nation “comes back to a more moderate [position].”
That’s what Warner hopes happens with the GOP. And, he made clear, that’s the only way Washington is going to function again — and, just maybe, address the remaining years of deep sequestration cuts to planned defense and domestic spending.
“I actually — I’m a strong Democrat — but I believe in a strong two-party system. I actually hope the Republican Party comes back into the mainstream because that’s where you get governing done in our country, from our deficit, to jump-starting our economy is going to need to actually stop bickering a bit in Washington and get some things done. Work with the President on improving the health care plan and that’s going to take reasonable people not that kind of our way or the highway approach.”