What is a "Blue Dog" Democrat? I've heard of a "Yellow Dog" Democrat

[auntpattywatty]

which means "I'd vote for a yellow dog before I'd Republican". But Blue Dog??????

[southerngirlwriter]

1. My local representative is one.

Bud Cramer. It means a "conservative Democrat," but what it REALLY is, in my humble opinion, is a way for Dems in the South to keep getting re-elected. Rep. Cramer's voting record isn't purely liberal, but it's shockingly progressive for a Rep from Alabama, and -- get this -- he almost always runs for re-election unopposed!

This "Blue Dog" thing makes people like my freeper parents think of him as a Republican who for some weird reason runs as a Democrat. He's not.

[BJ]

2. My Representative, Leonard Boswell, is also a Blue Dog

It's a coalition of 37 "conservative" (closet Republicans) and moderate Democrats Link to their Web site.

Boswell's pretty good on labor but conservative on social issues. For example while he voted against the administration sponsored "partial-birth abortion" bill he backed another resolution offered by one of his fellow Blue Dogs that was very similar.

However, he may be retooling his moderation after the Repugs kicked the Democrats in the teeth over the "Medicare Drug Prescription Reform."

[mermaid]

3. The Blue Dog Democrat

basically is a creation of Texas, and has spread over the South. The Blue Dog Democrat is fiscally moderate to conservative, but liberal on social issues. In a nutshell.

[goobergunch]

7. Actually co-founded by Louisiana Rep. Billy Tauzin

who switched parties in 1995 and is now a Republican.

[Rose Siding]

11. But why that term?

Why have they used that term as the identifyer?

[imhotep]

4. a euphamism

for white male, capitalist, and racist.

[SharonAnn]

5. I think Harold Ford is a "Blue Dog Democrat" and I find that he

and I don't always agree. Since I'm fiscally conservative and socially moderate to liberal, I'm not sure where that puts him on the spectrum.

[Bucky]

6. another euphemism

for far too many people on DU "racist" means "viewpoint that I disagree with"

[INTELBYTES]

8. Hey there! I have two out of three of those symptoms!

nt

[Bombtrack]

9. here's a link

http://www.house.gov/tanner/blue.htm

The Blue Dog Coalition is a group of 37 moderate to conservative Democrats in the 108th Congress.

Rep. Rodney Alexander (LA)

Rep. Joe Baca (CA)

Rep. Marion Berry (AR)

Rep. Sanford Bishop (GA)

Rep. Leonard Boswell (IA)

Rep. Allen Boyd (FL)

Rep. Dennis Cardoza (CA)

Rep. Brad Carson (OK)

Rep. Ed Case (HI)

Rep. Bud Cramer (AL)

Rep. Lincoln Davis (TN)

Rep. Harold Ford, Jr. (TN)

Rep. Ralph M. Hall (TX)

Rep. Jane Harman (CA)

Rep. Baron Hill (IN)

Rep. Tim Holden (PA)

Rep. Steve Israel (NY)

Rep. Chris John (LA)

Rep. William Lipinski (IL)

Rep. Ken Lucas (KY)

Rep. Jim Matheson (UT)

Rep. Mike McIntyre (NC)

Rep. Mike Michaud (ME)

Rep. Dennis Moore (KS)

Rep. Collin Peterson (MN)

Rep. Earl Pomeroy (ND)

Rep. Mike Ross (AR)

Rep. Loretta Sanchez (CA)

Rep. Max Sandlin (TX)

Rep. Adam Schiff (CA)

Rep. David Scott (GA)

Rep. Charlie Stenholm (TX)

Rep. John Tanner (TN)

Rep. Ellen Tauscher (CA)

Rep. Gene Taylor (MS)

Rep. Mike Thompson (CA)

Rep. Jim Turner (TX)
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maybe this would make a good avatar

[mot78]

10. Boswell..isn't he a Dean supporter?

At least Dean can pull in Blue Dogs.

[Rose Siding]

12. No, he isn't

Dean did a fundraiser for him, as he is the only Dem rep from Iowa, but there were no strings attatched and as far as I know, Boswell hasn't endorsed anyone.

[Bombtrack]

13. I think Loretta Sanchez is though

I don't have anything against moderate democrats, because according certainly to all the purists here I would be one, with a high percentage of those purists who slam my views being Dean supporters