Tell Us Where You Stand
by: Chris Bowers
Thu Sep 24, 2009 at 13:50
Demand a floor vote on the repal of DOMA now.
Protect marriage equality in Maine
The Hill has a particularly irritating article today about Democratic moderates complaining that the leadership isn't doing enough to protect them from the voters. Specifically, these Democrats are worried they might actually have to take sides on things, and that would be bad:
Pelosi also helped Blue Dogs avoid a showdown with the powerful National Rifle Association by allowing a vote on a bill that would erase many of the District of Columbia's gun laws. And to the relief of some centrist Democrats, the Speaker has refused to have the House vote on immigration reform and a union-backed "card-check" bill until the Senate acts first.(...)
What irks them most is the sense that the Senate won't pass anything so strong, if it passes anything at all. So they expect to get beaten up for voting on a bill that will never become law.
"What bothers me is I was put in that position unnecessarily," said one vulnerable lawmaker.
Yes--it must be bothersome to have to take a position on an issue when you are a member of Congress. What an annoyance!
It should not make any difference whether a member of Congress is forced to vote on a bill or not, because that member of Congress should have a public statement detailing their position on that vote or potential vote. They should tell voters straight up that they support or oppose card-check, and if they support or oppose erasing most D.C. gun laws. From that point, voters can make an informed decision, and the candidates can be attacked or supported based on their stated positions.
Instead,
these centrists are anonymously complaining that they are forced to take a public position on these issues. That is abdication of leadership, and a rejection of the basic idea that voters have a right to know who is representing them in Congress.more...
http://www.openleft.com/frontPage.do**********************************
Dem campaign anxiety: Vulnerables say they lack cover from Pelosi
By Mike Soraghan - 09/24/09 06:00 AM ET
Politically vulnerable Democrats say Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other House leaders aren’t offering them the protection from tough votes that they did in the last Congress.
Conservative Democrats fear that dozens of members could be swept out of their districts in the midterm election next year, and that fear has been intensifying in recent weeks.
Between a tough vote on a climate change bill that many don’t expect to become law and a leftward push on healthcare legislation, Pelosi’s (D-Calif.) critics within her caucus say she’s left the so-called “majority makers” exposed.
“She keeps trying to push an unpopular package,” said Rep. Gene Taylor (D-Miss.), a centrist Blue Dog Democrat, referring to healthcare. “I think it’s fair to say they were better at it before.”
Another Blue Dog lawmaker put it more bluntly.
“They’re seriously endangering their majority,” said the Blue Dog, who requested anonymity. “With the increased margin and a {Democratic} president, there seems to be a different feeling.”
There are 79 more Democrats than Republicans in the lower chamber, giving Pelosi a strong working majority. But her caucus includes 84 Democrats who represent districts won by either President George W. Bush in 2004 or Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) in 2008.
more...
http://thehill.com/homenews/house/60109-dem-campaign-anxiety
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