The sad tale of the Democrats who hated the unemployed

[jpgray]

Most of them are now, ironically, jobless
By Alex Pareene

Last summer, we met the Democrats who hated the unemployed -- the 16 House votes from the majority party against an emergency extension of unemployment benefits. They were:

John Adler, D-N.J.
Brian Baird, D-Wash.
Melissa Bean, D-Ill.
Marion Berry, Blue Dog-Ark.
Bobby Bright, Blue Dog-Ala.
Travis Childers, Blue Dog-Miss.
Jim Cooper, Blue Dog-Tenn.
Joe Donnelly, Blue Dog-Ind.
Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, Blue Dog-S.D.
Baron Hill, Blue Dog-Ind.
Frank Kratovil, Blue Dog-Md.
Betsy Markey, Blue Dog-Colo.
Jim Marshall, Blue Dog-Ga.
Walt Minnick, Blue Dog-Idaho
Glenn Nye, Blue Dog-Va.
Heath Shuler, Blue Dog-N.C.

These brave politicians bucked their free-spending, ultra-liberal party, and cast votes in favor of fiscal responsibility. And for their willingness to oppose Barack Obama's liberal agenda, nearly all of them were rewarded with early (and ironic) retirement from public service.

Brian Baird and Marion Berry retired. Melissa Bean will probably lose. Of everyone else listed, only Heath Shuler, Jim Cooper, and Joe Donnelly won reelection.

http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2010/11/03/antiunemployment_dems_unemployed/index.html

[jpgray]

1. Unrecs for the unemployed?

Figures.

[pacalo]

3. Must have been your headline? I gave you a rec.

[jpgray]

4. It's Salon's headline--didn't figure it needed any commentary. (nt)

[one_voice]

2. K&R n/t

[Rex]

5. The people spoke right up!

Did anyone pay attention?

[jpgray]

7. I doubt it's that simple, but their break with party ideals did not save their seats

Or could not do so in and of itself.

[readmoreoften]

6. Fuck the Blue Dogs.

They're worse than Republicans. They're Republicans who are also liars.

[jpgray]

9. They're better than Republicans insofar as they create majorities and the attendant benefits

We'll miss Waxman on oversight once we have Issa, for example. Boy, will we ever. The point is not Blue Dogs are wonderful, but they aren't wholly exchangeable with Republicans by any means.

[leftstreet]

8. They must be feeling very....used

K&R

[Naturyl]

10. Have fun in the unemployment line.

Enjoy collecting the benefits you voted against.