Conservative Democrats are killing healthcare reform. They should be voted out of office before they hurt the party even more.
If you encounter any discussion among the punderati regarding the political dynamics of healthcare reform in Washington these days, it would be difficult not to acknowledge an important fact. The word "bipartisanship" may be tossed around, but in reality, when trying to get anything done, it is the dysfunction of our tri-party system that will be staring you right in the face – when not kicking you right in the gut.
There are actually three distinct entities in the US legislature. There are Republicans, who believe less is more – and that doing nothing is the highest form of patriotism. There are Democrats, who are still fighting to ensure that a robust public option is contained in the eventual healthcare legislation and have fought for everything from equal pay for women to legislation to combat global climate change.
And then there are Blue Dogs, a largely rural band of theoretical Democrats who only represent 3% of the US population at best and can be counted on to consistently attack, apologise and otherwise run away from their purported party label while seeking the best deal possible for their corporate benefactors.
In a way, this behavior is almost understandable, as in no real sense are Blue Dogs Democrats. They are largely southern, where the Republican party still has a 50% approval rating (contrast that with the northeast and midwest, where they sport 7% and 13% approval ratings, respectively, rendering them slightly less popular than scurvy). And they are personal vacuums for contributions from the most noxious, consumer-screwing industries that exist. They are not "moderates", as they are often called by the clueless commentators on cable television, but ultra-conservatives on social, foreign and economic policy.
Now, let me walk back a step from indicting the entire group. There are a few genuinely moderate and productive Blue Dog caucus members among their lot, such as Mike Arcuri of New York, Loretta Sanchez and Mike Thompson of California and Mike Michaud of Maine. On key votes, such as Barack Obama's economic stimulus plan, you can usually count on them to support progressive, good-government legislation. There are also a half-dozen (perhaps even a few more) additional adherents of the 52-member group, who are still relatively moderate and more often than not vote for the good for their constituents, party and country.
But most of the rest of these never-bite-the-hand-that-feeds-your-campaign-cash-stash Blue Dogs do nothing but embarrass progressives and moderates, kill the Democratic party's brand and continually wreck any chance for it to become a lasting majority party. For these reasons, good Democrats and all progressives should actively root – with their time and wallets – for the worst of them to lose in the 2010 midterm elections. Even if it's to rightwing Republicans.
continued>>>
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2009/oct/04/blue-dogs-healthcare-democrats-republicans
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