"Within the Democratic party, I think there’s an internal debate about the cost of the program, with Blue Dog Democrats being concerned about that and how it’s financed and over whether there’s a public option.”
Democrats hold 255 of the 435 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, but that hasn’t translated into President Obama passing agenda items—like health care reform—without pushback from some of his fellow Democrats.
Much of the resistance comes from the Blue Dog Coalition. But who are the 52 Blue Dogs? Some say they’re progressive party spoilers... others call them pragmatists.
While critics view Blue Dogs as obstructionists…others say they walk a tight rope that other Democrats from liberal districts can’t understand.
MSNBC’s Joe Scarborough, a former Republican congressman characterized it this way:
“They get pounded every time they go home. They’ve done so much heavy lifting in 2009. Isn’t that why we send them there, though? To make tough votes. They’re supposed to do what they think is right and not be hammered by the DailyKos and Huffington Post. Just because they think it’s the right thing to do in San Francisco, doesn’t mean they think it’s the right thing to do in Tennessee.”
Blue Dogs make up more than 20 percent of the House which gives te, weight to throw around. According to Politico, Democratic House Leader, Steny Hoyer, is sympathetic to the Blue Dogs’ concerns… even saying a public option wasn’t essential to a final health care bill.
But Hoyer’s support for the Blue Dogs fell flat with party leaders, including House Speaker and staunch public plan advocate, Nancy Pelosi.
“I’m sure he [Steny Hoyer] pisses her off, but he’s the guy who’s taking care of the Blue Dogs, the suburban guys, the freshmen and the sophomores. He’s taking care of his constituency, and she’s taking care of hers.”
Democrats of every stripe have opinions on how to best bridge a sometimes large ideological divide.
CNBC’s Squawk Box talked about strategist James Carville’s unique, if not eccentric, plan to bring Democrats together on the health care vote.
“Put legislation together that has every bell and whistle any of the Democrats want on it and put it through. It rides right through. And if Republicans want to vote this down and not let it happen…if the Blue Dog Democrats don’t want to get on board…that’s fine. Let them go back and run on this as being the party in favor of the status quo.”
So what do you think about the Blue Dogs’ role? Are they contrarians who are stalling President Obama’s agenda and making him look ineffective? Or are they doing what’s best for their constituents and sticking to their ideals?
