House Centrists in Both Parties Are Under Attack

[question everything]

This is a story from the WSJ, but it really concentrated on Peterson:

DETROIT LAKES, Minn.—Rep. Collin Peterson plays in a rock band named the Second Amendments. His staff includes a former GOP state legislator. He voted against the Affordable Care Act, and he worked with House Speaker John Boehner (R., Ohio) to hash out part of this year's farm bill.

For more than two decades, Mr. Peterson's conservative bent and focus on agricultural policy has helped him maintain his hold on the western Minnesota district he flies himself around in a Beechcraft Bonanza single-engine plane. But as one of just seven Democrats running for re-election in districts lost by President Barack Obama in 2012, he faces a new level of scrutiny this election cycle as he seeks his 13th term in the House. As the ranks of centrist lawmakers in both parties have thinned, political operatives' efforts to oust them have intensified.

Once, there were 60 to 70 "middle-of-the-road" Democrats in the House, Mr. Peterson said at a recent fundraiser for state politicians in Detroit Lakes. Now, thanks to redistricting and the GOP's 2010 gains, there are nine House Democrats in districts lost by Mr. Obama, with two retiring at year's end. The remaining seven—Mr. Peterson, Reps. Nick Rahall of West Virginia, John Barrow of Georgia, Patrick Murphy of Florida, Pete Gallego of Texas and two Arizona lawmakers—are now GOP targets.

(snip)

The House Republican campaign arm is spending money for the first time against Mr. Peterson, 70, in support of his GOP challenger, state Sen. Torrey Westrom, 41. The National Republican Campaign Committee recently reserved $3.2 million in Minnesota ad time—more than planned for any other state's incumbent Democrats—aimed at unseating both Mr. Peterson and Rep. Rick Nolan, a more liberal Democrat representing a district won by Mr. Obama.

(snip)

Mr. Peterson has sided with Republicans "when it doesn't count," said his rival, Mr. Westrom, a former lawyer who was blinded in a farm-related car accident at the age of 14. Particularly for the state's farmers, many of whom are self-employed and must find their own health insurance, the law's early bumps have been felt hard, leading to canceled policies or higher premiums, he said.

(snip)

Backers of Mr. Peterson cite his opposition to the health law and his help in passing a five-year farm bill this year—a significant qualification in a state where the party is officially called the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party and radio stations break to give updates on commodity prices. Thief River Falls resident Myron Jesme, 54, said Mr. Peterson shared his concerns about the health law's impact on businesses. "He voted against it for exactly the reasons I stated," said Mr. Jesme, administrator of the Red Lake Watershed District, who said he supported Mr. Peterson based on his farm-policy credentials. "I vote 90% Republican and 10% Democrat. Collin happens to be that 10% Democrat."

(snip)

http://online.wsj.com/articles/house-centrists-in-both-parties-are-under-attack-1404676182

[geardaddy]

1. This sentence is crap

"Particularly for the state's farmers, many of whom are self-employed and must find their own health insurance, the law's early bumps have been felt hard, leading to canceled policies or higher premiums, he said. "

Typical WSJ reporting.

[Viva_Daddy]

2. Well, polarization breeds more polarization like violence breeds more violence.