Are Democrat Reps SUPPOSED to Represent the Democratic Party?

[Mr. Ected]

If a blue dog Dem has been elected in an overtly conservative district, is it his/her responsibility to veer far to the left, or to vote in accord with the majority of his/her constituency?

[wndycty]

1. Constituency, however they have a responsibility to lead as well and . . .

. . . the 3rd District of Illinois is a conservative Democratic district. Progressives have challenged the Lipinski's and have lost a number of times. I would love a true progressive to represent that district, however until the constituency changes it ain't going to happen.

[Mr. Ected]

3. My Friend Chris Carney is a Blue Dog Democrat From Penn.

He wrested the seat away a long-seated Republican in a very conservative district in 2006.

He was re-elected in 2008. I can assure you that a Republican would be occupying that seat if Chris aligned himself with the left side of the Democratic Party.

[elocs]

2. If any politician veers too far to the left or right from the majority of their constituency

they will find themselves out of a job after the next election. If we were to purge every member of Congress who does not vote lockstep with every Liberal, progressive issue we would have a much smaller party and certainly not a majority one. The Republican party has been concentrated down to one that is now very conservative while the political spectrum of the Democratic party is much wider. In the end I would rather has someone who is with us even 75% of the time and counts as a member of our majority than have the person as a Republican and rarely, if ever, vote with the Democrats on important issues. Reality is a harsh mistress.

[cali]

4. tell it to bernie sanders

[elocs]

8. You point out an exception. One. The basic reality is that if you do not support the majority

of your constituency you will be voted out of office at the next election.

[cali]

9. nah, Look at MA and VT and people like Sherrod Brown and Boxer

They're definitely to the left of the Congressional mainstream and they get elected over and over. What you're suggesting may be true in most places, but it's not true universally.

[leftynyc]

17. They may be to the left of the

congressional mainstream however they're right in line with their constituents which I believe was the point of the poster. They are there to represent their constituents, not the left wing of the Democratic party.

[elocs]

20. I never claimed it to be universal, but it is clearly the norm.

Buck your constituency and you are sent packing.

[stillcool]

5. They get to do anything they want..

as long as the people they represent are okay with it. I guess it's what happens when the populace doesn't care enough to involve themselves.

[butterfly77]

10. Evan Bayh says..

the democratic majority is too strong.

[stillcool]

13. Sometimes I wish I lived in..

a different state. We have that canvassing thing going on this weekend, which I think I'm going to attend, but it's a given that my Representative and my Senator's are going to vote for the budget. I really wish I didn't give a shit. I'm working on it, but so far I can't seem to let go.

[butterfly77]

14. I think that the thing is to keep people awake...

to what is continuing to go on. What I do is talk,talk,talk,talk,talk and I have seen it work with people who have never been involved in politics becoming political junkies when they use to tell me to chill out. I have become the go to person when they don't understand an issue.

Many who I know are now screaming and telling friends about cspan and are now seeing what people like Glenn Beck,O'lielly, and Slannity are doing and they have now become more involved. They are now contacting congressmen and senators all over the country and telling family members in other states what is going on,not that everyone shouldn't know by now what is going on.

[stillcool]

19. thank you for saying that...

I get so discouraged when all I see and hear is blathering, bombastic diatribes. It's my fault, because I'm not looking at anything else.

[Fresh_Start]

6. they represent their constituents

not their party

[MiniMe]

7. They are elected to represent their constituents

In some states, they probably couldn't get elected unless they were more conservative dems. And Progressive dems would have amost no chance at all. Not perfect, but better than an R.

[malaise]

11. Democratic Reps you mean? n/t

[Mr. Ected]

12. Yes. Democratic Reps. Democratic Party. No Need For Hypersensitivity.

[Clear Blue Sky]

15. Reelection seems to be their only priority...

[anonymous171]

16. Lockstep is good and vital to our success. nt

[hfojvt]

18. let me know when Congress starts to veer way to the left

instead of 1/10th of a degree to the left and have conservative Democrats join the Republicans in squawking 'socialism, socialism, socialism'.