digby: Who Are These People? (Dems who voted against unemployment extension)

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2010/06/defining-values-if-democrat-votes.html

Who Are These People?

by digby


Not all Democrats are alike, obviously. There are corporate Democrats and populist Democrats and ACLU Democrats and pro-military Democrats and many other permutations of Democrats. In fact, the party is so disparate that it's often philosophically incoherent. But there are such things as defining issues --- things so intrinsic to the shared values of a political party that being on the other side is an act of fundamental betrayal.

If a congressperson find finds him or herself voting against extending unemployment insurance during a severe economic crisis then I think they have hit a wall and should ask themselves (and their constituents should ask them) on what basis can they possibly define themselves as Democrats. In fact, I can't see on what basis they even call themselves human beings.

Here's the list of Democrats who voted "No" yesterday, via Howie:


  John Adler (D-NJ)- still on autopilot
  Brian Baird (D-WA)- willing to thumb his nose at voters since he's retiring
  Melissa Bean (D-IL)- the Chamber of Commerce's go-to person inside the Democratic caucus
  Marion Berry (Blue Dog-AR)
  Bobby Bright (Blue Dog-AL)
  Travis Childers (Blue Dog-MS)
  Jim Cooper (Blue Dog-TN)
  Joe Donnelly (Blue Dog-IN)
  Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (Blue Dog-SD)
  Baron Hill (Blue Dog-IN)
  Frank Kratovil (Blue Dog-MD)
  Betsy Markey (Blue Dog-CO)
  Jim Marshall (Blue Dog-GA)
  Walt Minnick (Blue Dog-ID)- only Democrat, in a manner of speaking, endorsed by both the U.S. Chamber and the Tea Party
  Glenn Nye (Blue Dog-VA)- still on autopilot like Adler
  Heath Shuler (Blue Dog-NC)



I honestly can't see why I should care if any of these people keep their seats any more than I should care about your average teabagging wingnut Republican.

And it's not an excuse to say that their own district's unemployment rate is low. There are times when every representative must look beyond the parochial concerns of their own constituents and represent their party and the nation as a whole. This is one of them.


Update: There were, by the way, Blue Dogs in conservative districts who voted for the extension. There were even some Republicans.

Let's remember who's not on our side.

she's still better than that miserable witch musgrave, but i am not pleased with her.

Frank Kratovil... just fired off an email noting my disgust. I actually voted for this creep last time... never again! :puke: