Gaps Appear in G.O.P. Solidarity

[ccharles000]

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/10/us/politics/10vote.html?_r=1&hpw

WASHINGTON — After being stingy with their support in the early days of the Obama administration, significant numbers of House Republicans have begun breaking from their party leaders and voting for legislation moving through the Democratic-led Congress.

Scores of House Republicans joined Democrats in recent days in pushing through measures meant to rein in credit card companies, increase federal resources to pursue financial fraud and crack down on predatory housing lenders — all legislation opposed by top House Republicans. On the credit card and financial fraud bills, only a minority of Republicans ended up opposing them.

“It is hard to say we shouldn’t put in more stringent standards on mortgage lending, given what has happened in the past,” said Representative Mike Simpson, an Idaho Republican who backed all three measures.

Democrats say the fracturing suggests that rank-and-file Republicans are growing nervous about their leadership’s near-blanket opposition to the agenda that Congressional Democrats and President Obama are pursuing, particularly on measures that have obvious popular appeal.

[Zynx]

1. An Idaho Republican came out in favor of some of Obama's legislation?

Man, the world is truly coming to an end.

[rpannier]

2. They gotta get re-elected

It's kind of sad when this...

“It is hard to say we shouldn’t put in more stringent standards on mortgage lending, given what has happened in the past,”

comes from a republikkan and Sen Ben Nelson (D?) is fighting to protect banks and mortgage companies