Why Democrats Need a Blue Dog Proof Majority

Posted by Chris Bowers, Open Left at 9:14 AM on February 19, 2009.

Two days ago, I argued that what progressives need to be working toward now is a Blue Dog proof majority in the House of Representatives, rather than just electing more Democrats of any sort. If the Iraq and FISA fights in the previous Congress failed to convince you of this (39 of the then-47 Blue Dogs sides with Republicans on both), and if the concessions the Blue Dogs squeezed from the Obama administration on the stimulus (see here and here) failed to convince you, then check out Blue Dogs on the Employee Free Choice Act:

Last week, at the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce headquarters, chamber officials briefed nearly 100 members of a coalition opposing card check about their efforts to lobby members of Arkansas congressional delegation.

According to individuals who attended the meeting, they were encouraged by what they heard, especially what was relayed to them regarding conversations between chamber officials and 1st District Congressman Marion Berry, a Democrat.

An official informed the group that Berry recently had told him that he thought the bill was a piece of junk and that he only voted for it because he knew then-President Bush would veto it.

The official then told the group that Berry recounted to him a recent discussion the Blue Dogs had with House Democratic leadership. According to Berry, the Blue Dogs told House leadership that card check wasn't a free vote for them anymore and that their constituents were giving them a lot of grief over the issue.

So, now we have Blue Dogs going to Chamber of Commerce meetings and telling Employee Free Choice Act opponents that the bill is "a piece of junk." Nice. Let's keep electing Blue Dogs!

To top it off, the Blue Dogs are claiming that "their constituents" are giving them problems over the issue. Really? Really really? Because average voters understand card check legislation, and because somehow preventing union organizing is high on the list of priorities for people currently losing their jobs and health care? Yeah, I buy that.

The only "constituents" calling Congress opposing the Employee Free Choice Act are members of business organizations. It is important to remember that business organizations, like the Chamber of Commerce, must be who Blue Dogs consider to be their true constituents.

Tagged as: congress, democrats, conservatives, unions, blue dogs, employee free choice act