Thread: Conservative Democrats Wield Newfound Clout

Blue Dog Democrats Wield Newfound Clout

Tuesday, November 18, 2008 6:54 PM

By: John Mercurio

The left may still be crowing about its resounding Election Day victory, but it’s the fiscally conservative Blue Dog Democrats who are emerging as a significant force in the upcoming Congress.

The influential Blue Dog coalition of House Democrats saw their ranks increase on Election Day, and they’re likely to gain even greater power on Capitol Hill with an ally in the White House.

Just a few days after his victory, President-elect Barack Obama tapped his chief economic adviser, Jason Furman, to consult regularly with the Blue Dog leadership on economic issues.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, meanwhile, acknowledged the new power of centrists when she said, a few days after her party gained at least 20 House seats, that “the country must be governed from the middle.â€

If Democrats overall gained 20 seats in the US House, and Blue Dogs were only two or three of them, how does that improve the balance?

Good point Captainron,

If this article is meant for me as a conservitive to lower my guard, it has not worked.

"...and they're (Blue Dog Democrats) likely to gain even greater power on Capital Hill with an ally in the White House.

Just a few days after his victory, President-elect Barack Obama tapped his chief economic advisor, Jason Furnan, to consult regularly with the Blue Dog leadership on economic issues."

Blue Dog Democrats represent conservative districts. Many were elected to replace Republicans because they campaigned as even being even more conservative on fiscal and other issues than their Republican rivals These issues included amnesty for illegal aliens, for which most "Blue Dog Democrats" expressed opposition during their campaigns. "Blue Dog Democrat" Heath Schuler follwed through on this by authoring the "SAVE" Act. If we are to prevent passage of amnesty through the House of Representatives under this Administration, we must hold conservative Democrats who campaigned on oppostion to amnesty to their campaign promises despite pressure from their Democratic leadership to change their position.