Meanwhile, many Democrats view their new minority status as a source of relief, as it has removed the pressure to deliver results or obey their party's leaders. Even Obama seems to feel liberated, proposing popular programs – for example, free tuition at two-year community colleges and a minimum-wage increase – that he knows the Republicans will reject, thereby upholding their reputation as the “party of no."
与此同时，许多民主党因为重新沦为少数派而舒了一口气，因为这使他们不再有压力必须取得成果获听命于党领导人。甚至奥巴马似乎也觉得获得了自由，提出了公众所支持的计划——如两年期社区学院免费和增加最低工资——他知道共和党会拒绝这些计划，因此这样能坐实他们“说‘不’党”的名胜。