Moderates... in Moderation

Last Tuesday afternoon, President Obama met with forty three of the forty nine Blue Dogs, an increasingly influential group of fiscally conservative Democrats, to discuss changes to the stimulus package. The big topics of discussion: fiscal responsibility, balancing the budget, and reducing government spending, an agenda with uncanny resemblance to the campaign literature distributed by Democrats in recently won -- and once thought unwinnable -- conservative Congressional districts.

The Blue Dog Coalition, formed in 1995, is primarily made up of pro-gun, pro-free trade, anti-spending Democrats from conservative districts in every region of the country. And they aren't the only game in town. The New Democrat Coalition, closely affiliated with the centrist Democratic Leadership Council, boasts almost sixty members, more than twenty percent of the entire Democratic caucus.

Thirty one Democrats became freshman Congressmen after the 2006 elections. Another twenty one did the same two years later. Winning so many seats meant competing in places where Democrats had not been seen as competitive in a generation or more. It required a confluence of events: a president without credibility, an opposing party with a mortally wounded brand, an unpopular war, a series of headline-grabbing corruption scandals, and, lest we forget, an economic collapse so serious that legitimate comparisons of Republicans to Hoover, and of the crisis to the Great Depression, are made daily in national media.

What was also required to win in such implausible districts was a centrist brand of Democrat, the kind for whom a Republican voter might give real consideration. All over the country, Democrats who railed against earmarks, who demanded a balanced budget and reduced government spending, those who had, as the central plank of their campaign, a call for fiscal conservatism, won by attracting business Republicans and Independent voters to their candidacies. In doing so, they established themselves as uniquely aligned to their constituency, but constrained by the narrow boundary on which they staked their campaign.

With such substantial congressional wins has come a swelling in the caucus on its moderate flank, an entire cast of characters who won their seats by opposing huge chunks of the party platform, by distancing themselves from rather than embracing all things Obama. Now, in light of a stimulus debate in which many Democrats worked with Republicans to cut major progressive spending, from education construction to energy efficiency and health care, they have left little doubt about their intent and potential influence.

Despite the resurgence of the progressive wing of the Democratic Party, and a modest liberalization of the voting public, the consequences of consecutive landslides might, for some, feel unintended, throwing up some of the very obstacles they were meant to break down. It is likely the case that Obama will be able to guide his agenda through Congress anyway; he has large enough margins and an impressive enough mandate to get the job done. But along the way, in committee and conference, during markup and debate, where critical funding is secured, the centrist wing of the Democratic party may well become the president's most frustrating opposition.

Comments

[realpolitic]

I am surprised the Blue Dog Democrats fall on the free trade side of the argument. Since many, like Rep. John Murtha, are from aging industrial states, it seems they would be ideologically inclined toward protectionism.

[GonzoFactor]

Another word for Moderate is Mutt. Most moderates are mixes of liberal and conservative political and social ideals rather than purebred anything. It allows us to pick and choose the best of both sides rather than becoming hidebound in one direction or another. Reality is usually somewhere in the middle between extremes, and moderate mutts tend to be realists and pragmatists, not idealogues.

[zerotimes10]

Yes I worked hard to get Obama elected. I know at his heart that he is a Progressive. But he has to face these Bluedogs too. I'd like to see the critics of Obama do that juggling act. Maybe you would do a better job. However, he's the one that mounted what will most likely be considered one of the most successful orgaizational Presidential campaigns in History. I live in a Rural Western County and the County Democratic Party is shamefully corrupt from top to bottom. Me and others here (Obama people) are working to change that. The current sitting group of corrupt Democrats did NOTHING to elect Obama because they wanted Hillary. She wasn't my first choce but I would have worked for her if she had received the nomination of my Party. These same corrupt "Democrats" not only did not work for Obama but have referred to him with the 'N' word on several occasions. Democrats. Yeah right. I call on all Democrat Progressives to get involved. Organize and Win. It's all about the numbers. We can do it.

[glockman]

My problem is that I'm a democrat with republican fiscal values, and a republican with democrat social values. So, where do I fit in? I'm not really a blue dog, because I'm also staunchly pro second amendment (which many blue dogs aren't). And I seem to want more real civil liberties for people than both parties combined, so, what am I?

[Eduardodelazul411]

Libertarian?

[camper65]

How about well informed and intelligent?

[glockman]

I've tried that, but we can't seem to gain any ground. And choosing Barr this time around didn't endear me too much.

[GuyRC]

Republican fiscal values. Hehehehe

[Pie7]

I want to know where do I fit in also. I'm a democrat with republican social values, and a republican with democrat fiscal values.

[realpolitic]

Many Democrats today are fiscally conservative and liberal in terms of social values. Historically, government spending is higher under Republican administrations than Democratic. It is possible with responsible spending to have an activist government with a balanced budget. Think how much money we would have saved without going to Iraq to wage an unnecessary war or without the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy which did little good.

[GuillermoGodinez]

This is why the two-party system is outdated. We try and fit everything into two neat packages. While I don't propose going down the messy Israeli path, we really need to start developing grassroots political parties at the local level that can caucus with the Ds until they mature.

[camper65]

How about single-party rule? It worked so well in Germany and the USSR. Wait......we have that!

[jotunloki]

You had the 1930's German kind for 6 years.

[glockman]

This must be the grown up room. You people are talking like you have brains. Am I missing something here?

[JakeMontero]

I'm a centrist democrat like MOST of America. The extremes on both sides have created the most toxic governing environment in the history of our great nation. I'm sick of the Hanitty and Olbermann types trying to define the majority. Let me guess... 911 was an inside job... right....

[glockman]

Wow, where have you been? Most of the posts i read on this site are made by screaming, wet behind the ears uber-partisans on both sides. You, sir, are a breath of fresh air.

[camper65]

Well - not "most"of America. Just 38% according to the latest polls.

[Pie7]

co-sign

[robco]

The Blue Dogs are proof that politicians will say anything or change their views to get elected. There are still too many who believe in Reaganomics and think he was the second coming. He was, just not of the good guy...

In any case, progressives need to learn to speak the language and put things into terms the righties can comprehend. Health care is a great example. We subsidize care for people who don't have the means to pay themselves - we just do it in a really inefficient manner. Spending is spending whether it's personal, private or gubment. People with insurance, or without it but have money, get charged way more to offset the patients receiving reduced or charity care - or those on Medicare and Medicaid (neither reimburses enough to cover costs). People don't get routine care, so by the time they wind up in the ED, the cost of their treatment has increased exponentially. It would be far better to have a system in place to provide preventive care for everyone. Businesses are buckling under the weight of increasing premiums. The government may wind up spending more, but spending overall will be less and more efficient.

Unfortunately no progressive can be elected. There are too many single-issue voters, especially on the GOP side. Lots of working class voters support the GOP simply because they're anti-choice and/or anti-gay. The fact that GOP policies screw over the poor and working class doesn't seem to matter...

[bayside]

You have to admit republicans posing as dems. was very effective at getting most liberals out of congress. And I see Obama not a progressive but more of a blue dog however. when the investigations begin and they will because we will not accept anything else, most will fall as well as republicans..They think very much alike..My opinion..

[mommadona]

"The New Democrat Coalition, closely affiliated with the centrist Democratic Leadership Council, boasts almost sixty members, more than twenty percent of the entire Democratic caucus."
P
Now - come on....let's call these elephants in the living room EXACTLY what they are:

MULTINATIO­NAL/CORPOR­ATION, BUSINESS AS USUAL BEST FRIENDS FOREVER.

CLINTON started this - the dismantling of the REAL Democratic (BLUE COLLARED) Party - to the detriment of this country. Period.

This is the MAIN reason Hillary wasn't the nominee. It is that simple.

The REAL Democratic Party refused "Business as usual".

It started with the choice of DEAN over Tim Roemer in 2004.
I was there - I saw the dynamics.
http://kydem.blogspot.com/2004/12/roemer-seeks-chairmanship.html

Now, can you IMAGINE where we would be today if Mr. K STREET/BLUE DOG Roemer had been chosen for DNC chairman?

Yep.

"BUSINESS AS USUAL".

Now....about Rahm "StickyFingers" Emmanuel.......
Last " da MAN" standing?

[glockman]

Am I in Bizarro Huffington post? You people are beginning to sound like reasonable moderates.

[mommadona]

Just an Independent woman Viet Era vet who's mad as hell and .......you get the picture.

"Blog it, Danno"

[Synoia]

To the "Blue Dogs":

What is your solution? Put it on the table and let's see it for it's merits.

Sunlight, the antidote.

[mommadona]

I am sad to report, they have only one mantra:

'BUSINESS, AS USUAL'

[Realist-or-bust]

I will go one step further. All politicians are "business as usual". Let us push for stronger local government and keep the federal government as far out of our lives as possible.

[PlaceboStudman]

When are you Progressives going to learn, President Obama is not the great and wonderful Fearless Leader you believe him to be? He is to the right of many of us who even consider ourself liberal. He has not shown any real steps toward a true Progressive Social platform that many of us had hoped for. Where was the Executive Order to overturn DADT? Where was the executive order to overturn DOMA? Where is the executive order to hand over half the stimulus bill cost to Embryonic stem cell research and cord blood banking? Where is the executive order to reverse national drug policy and make marijuana legal? Where is the executive order banning doctors from being prosecuted for even talking about end of life decisions? Where is the executive order to force the courts NOT to hear challenges to living wills/advanced directives??

Until he does any of those things, you're just going to have to face the fact that President Obama is much more moderate/centrist than many of us would like

[mimspoot]

ok, its been three F-IN weeks that he has been in office and we are in a crisis. Can you please be patient.

jeeeze

[Pie7]

I hope you are right, because I voted for a moderate, if not centrist democratic president.

[WorkingClass]

The Democrats are the new Republicans because they will not end corporate rule of the United States. Sooner or later the working class will find leadership and make their bid for freedom. When Obama sends the army against American citizens the comparison to Lincoln will be complete.

[mommadona]

It IS going to be a long, hot summer.

[Coinyer101]

blue dogs endlessly search for change somewhere in the center of the political spectrum. after searching for decades, they still wont accept the fact ,that change isn't hiding somewhere in the center. only progressives and their ideology of adapting to and trying new things, are the only folks who even know what change could be. the President needs to stick with those progressives who were/are his earliest supporters. even AA's didn't give him the early support he got from his progressive supporters [many didn't think he could get white support. well, we did support him early on, and that's why he one Iowa, and the rest started seeing he was a legitimate contender. only then did others start to climb on board. most of the hillary supporters were bluedogs and were late for the game ,by the time she withdrew. now they want to put their agenda before his and ours. 2010 needs to be a time to remove some of these 'repubs in disquise', and get President Barack more progressive support. then we will see the change we deserve.
YES WE CANNABIS!

[Pie7]

Are you suggesting President Obama throw the AA's under the bus?

[scooperss]

These so called *blue dogs* are going to have a lot more to answer for. And so will President Obama if he allows them to continue with their nefarious plotting.

"These players are promoting a tricky way to whack Social Security benefits, but to do it behind closed doors so the public cannot see what's happening or figure out which politicians to blame. The essential transaction would amount to misappropriating the trillions in Social Security taxes that workers have paid to finance their retirement benefits. This swindle is portrayed as "fiscal reform." In fact, it's the political equivalent of bait-and-switch fraud. "

http://www.thenation.com/doc/20090302/greider?rel=hp_currently

[jotunloki]

Sorry that happened in the 1980's. The Reagan administration started rolling the Social Security trust fund into the general budget under the claim that the continued lower taxes for the rich would generate so much revenue that the money could be repaid as needed. We have not had any true Social Security trust fund since that time. That's why it's supposedly been going broke every since then.