Moderates in Congress win clout

[Robbien]

Source: AP

WASHINGTON (AP) — Moderate Democrats in Congress who built their ranks in November's elections are nudging their party's liberal agenda to the center, working to add a pro-business dose of pragmatism to President Barack Obama's plans to rescue homeowners, overhaul health care and revamp energy policy.

With close ties to industry and a keen understanding of how markets work, these Democrats have taken an increasingly influential and visible role in debates over federal spending and housing. They also have powerful allies in the White House. Obama told the House's band of New Democrats during a meeting last week that he considered himself one of them, according to several attendees. His chief of staff, former Rep. Rahm Emanuel, is one of their most prominent alumni.

Among recent signs of their clout:

_The 68-member New Democrat Coalition temporarily sidelined a measure to let bankruptcy judges rewrite mortgages. They held out for limits on court-ordered easing of mortgages, a move lenders were demanding.

_A few centrist Senate Democrats helped slow passage of a $410 billion spending bill because of its cost.

"This is a healthy reprise (of) what we had in the Clinton administration. We were go-to people on the pro-growth area and on balancing the budget, and on making sure that we were competitive in the trade environment," said California Rep. Ellen O. Tauscher, head of the New Democrats. "We've got members strategically placed throughout all the big committees. ... We can really deliver votes."

Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gMpsz3RdpFBPR0ZS-uI69RbKi-xAD96TQB7O1

---

"one of them"

[Idealism]

1. Obama = DLC

Liek, oh-em-gee.

[onehandle]

2. This is news? Not new news. This is an extension of the Clinton White House.

Except, Obama doesn't have a hostile Congress like Bill did. Well, yet.

He will be able to get more Progressive things done as a Centrist than Bill was allowed to.

[frylock]

3. oh good..

let's party like it's 1994.

[TheWraith]

4. The bullshit of the "new" AP strikes again. And some DUers will swallow it whole.

Because hey, anything that encourages Obama hatred should be looked at completely uncritically.

[Cha]

6. I read that article

and I smelled bullshit, too.

[Robbien]

7. Since AP is only one of many online sites carrying this story

Your "Obama is to be Worshiped at all times, in every instance, no exceptions" spiel falls flat.

How narrow minded, one has to either worship him or be called a hater.

[TheWraith]

8. And how many source it to the AP?

God forbid we should think critically, and consider the idea that the AP--as headed up by a right-wing buddy of Karl Rove--is doing the same thing that we've known it to be doing for months, which is spinning to the right and trying to sell the idea that the country hasn't moved left. :eyes:

[Robbien]

9. The story I read was two days ago, from a liberal offshoot of dailykos

http://www.congressmatters.com/storyonly/2009/3/12/12242/5199/248/779

which was a commentary of compilations of the same story from multiple leftie site stories. (all sourced at the above link)

AP's story was a couple of hours ago.

[Mithreal]

11. No one here hates President Obama or will ever be persuaded to hate him.

DU'ers can be tricked into believing BS, we are human. "You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you can not fool all of the people all of the time."

Has President Obama even met with the Progressive Caucus yet? It appeared to some they were being shut out. The President doesn't need the AP to create a split between himself and some of the Progressive among us.

But, no one here hates President Obama or could even be persuaded to do so. Policy dissent on the other hand is alive and well. Can we stop being lazy and calling people either worshipers or haters? I do not direct that at you because that is not what you said. There are real worshipers here despite that being a poor term, but haters, I do not believe it.

[msongs]

5. "new democrats" = republican-lite? nt

[Doremus]

10. >vomit icon here

DAMN. This ain't good.

[Jefferson23]

12. Oh come on, a progressive was never going to win the presidency

this time around. The Bush Regime was a most oppressive and coercive group of bastards, with a base that included the corporate whores, Wall Street and bankers organized crime thugs and the religious fundamentalists. Obama will and has made choices I'm opposed to, but my hope is he will do more good than harm and pave the way for a true progressive candidate after 8 years.

[wroberts189]

13. Why is pro-business considered a moderate position?

I am not drinking that kool aid.

[dipsydoodle]

14. And what was her name ?

Two countries divided by a common language.

English slang for vagina : http://www.peevish.co.uk/slang/c.htm

:rofl:

[november3rd]

15. Talk about "clout"

The 68-member New Democrat Coalition temporarily sidelined a measure to let bankruptcy judges rewrite mortgages. They held out for limits on court-ordered easing of mortgages, a move lenders were demanding.

_A few centrist Senate Democrats helped slow passage of a $410 billion spending bill because of its cost.

I always knew conservatives had bigger muscles than those faggy, flabby libbs, even if they ARE Democrats! lol

[wroberts189]

16. "according to several attendees" WHO????? nt