Conservative Democrats run in House races; may pose a problem to party leaders in Congress

[DeepModem Mom]

LAT: Conservative Democrats run in House races
Competing in traditionally GOP strongholds, they campaign on fiscal discipline, gun rights and oil drilling. They may pose a problem to party leaders in Congress if they win.
By Richard Simon
November 1, 2008

Reporting from Washington -- The prospects for big Democratic gains in the House, amplified by advances in the Senate and a White House victory, have spurred grave Republican warnings of a shift to the left that could bring increases in spending, taxes and regulation.

But if anything, a number of potential Democratic newcomers have been running well to the right of their party's leader, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco). Competing in traditional GOP strongholds, many are campaigning on pledges of fiscal discipline, gun rights and "family values."

If elected, they could pose a problem to party leaders at a time when Democrats hope to gain control of both chambers of Congress and the presidency for the first time since 1994....

***

After gaining control of the House in 2006 for the first time in 12 years, Democrats are expected this year to pick up 20 to 30 additional seats, and perhaps more....But a number of the potential Democratic newcomers are running in conservative-leaning districts. Their election could present Pelosi with a bigger majority, but not one likely to follow lock-step behind her.

"The bigger majority, the harder it is to control," said Robert L. Bixby, executive director of the Concord Coalition, a budget watchdog group. "A lot of these conservative Democrats have been running against Republicans who have said, 'You can't let the Democrats take control because they'll go on a spending spree.' So they'll be particularly sensitive to that."...

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-house1-2008nov01,0,4195725,full.story

[TreasonousBastard]

2. We haven't had conservative Democrats before? n/t

[bluestateguy]

3. More pro-gun Democrats in Congress is a good thing, not a bad thing

Our party has been just drilled in the heartland over this for 20 years now.

And gun control makes us look like the sissy party.

[David__77]

1. I want the Democrats to be THE gun rights party.

I'd like us to let the GOP be the anti-freedom party in this area.

[BlooInBloo]

4. (shrug) In order to get more and better Democrats, you gotta get more.

[Dogmudgeon]

5. Our problem has been spinelessness, not excess conservatism

My senator is Bob Casey. He's anti-abortion. He's also consistently avoided bringing the topic up. And he's also supported expanding medical help for poor women and women with children.

Most of the Democratic "conservatives" have a fairly good sense of how to deal with their differences and present their points of view. We should deal with them on a case-by-case basis.

--p!