Do you recognize the name Marjorie Margolies? You should.

[babylonsister]

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_03/022915.php


MARGOLIES KNOWS A LITTLE SOMETHING ABOUT TOUGH VOTES.... When former Rep. Marjorie Margolies (D-Pa.) talks about the challenges of casting tough votes, she knows of what she speaks.

In 1993, Margolies (then Margolies-Mezvinsky) was a targeted Democratic freshman representing a Republican district. Bill Clinton needed her help to pass his budget plan, which Republicans insisted would lead to economic disaster and national ruin. Her constituents bought into the far-right rhetoric and opposed the Clinton plan, but Margolies supported it anyway.

The Clinton policy went on to produce remarkable economic prosperity -- Republicans' uninterrupted track record of wrong predictions goes back quite a while -- but voters nevertheless threw Margolies out of office in the '94 midterms.

In a terrific Washington Post op-ed today, Margolies tells Democratic lawmakers wavering on health care reform: "I am your worst-case scenario. And I'd do it all again."

{I}t is with the perspective of having spent nearly two decades living with your worst political nightmare that I urge you to vote for health-care reform this week.... The moral of my brief political story is not that casting a tough and decisive vote necessarily predicts a bad electoral outcome for you, nor that the majority of your constituents is always wrong or always right.

It's that there are times in all our careers when we must ask ourselves why we're here. I decided that my desire for public service at that moment was greater than my desire to guarantee continued service. Yes, there are few jobs as rewarding (mostly) as being a member of Congress, and I was let down after I lost. But I believed then and now that being able to point to something tangible that changed our country for the better was a more powerful motivator than the possible electoral repercussions.

I urge you simply to cast the vote you can be proud of next week, next year and for years to come. Given the opportunity, I wouldn't change my vote.

Margolies's piece, which is well worth reading, notes that Republicans will attack vulnerable Dems anyway, so they might as well "cast the vote that you won't regret in 18 years." She also reminds lawmakers that their constituents' judgment is not flawless -- her district actually thought Clinton's economic policies would be awful. Her constituents got it wrong, but benefited when their representative got it right. If the goal is for lawmakers to help those they represent, Margolies succeeded in siding with her district's best interests.

There's one point, though, that her op-ed didn't mention, but which is also worth keeping in mind -- with her judicious vote in 1993, Margolies secured a place in history. Indeed, her name is still remembered on the Hill, all these years later, as an example of wisdom and courage. With the benefit of hindsight, we know that Marjorie Margolies did the right thing and made a positive difference in the lives of millions.

Isn't this why candidates run for Congress in the first place? Do these wavering Dems really want to be remembered for cowering on the biggest vote of their careers? Do they really want to be known forever as politicians who wilted when given history's spotlight?

Or would they rather put their stamp on history and be remembered as a hero?

—Steve Benen

[ashling]

1. The Clinton Budget only passed

by her one courageous vote.

[karynnj]

4. Unrelated, but her son is engaged to Chelsea Clinton

That is a great article. This is something worth losing a seat over.

In addition, the statistics show that a vote EITHER way loses about the same amount as it gains. That is very deceptive though. The poll was asked of the full pool of voters. Consider what that means.

That means that a portion of the respondents are Republicans. Many of whom are as likely to vote for a Democrat as we are to vote for a Republican. Now if they are partisan, do they answer honestly that it doesn't change their likelihood to vote for the Democrat (there are NO Republicans) who votes for healthcare - or do they take the chance to themselves say "NO" to healthcare? What would you have said if the question would have been on the Bush plan (that never got far) on privatizing Social Security? I know I would have said "less likely".

This really is a question they should have done with a question first to define where they were. (ie At this point, are you more likely to vote for a Democrat or Republican for the House? then the questions both ways on the vote could be tabulated by those responses.

[babylonsister]

5. Wow, I didn't know that, karynnj. nt

[Jennicut]

7. Chelsea and Mark Mezvinsky

Cute couple.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

8. Small World (nt)

[tishaLA]

2. Heck, I remember when she was Marjorie Margolies-Mezvinsky

And MMM was a very brave congressperson when she cast that vote. She is a model of courage.

[jonnyblitz]

3. yup I remember that incident. Chelsea Clinton is engaged to her

son as well. I also believe her husband is in prison for some Wall St crime.

[ashling]

6. I think he got involved in

an internet scam

[Voltaire]

9. I remember when she was a T.V. reporter at WCAU-TV, Philadelphia

And boy am I aging myself with THAT!

[wisteria]

10. Thank you for posting this. it is truly an inspiring op-ed.

I think it should be e-mailed to all wavering Dem's. I will be sending a copy to Rep Altmire who is from PA. He voted no before and is likely to do the same again because he says he only hears from constituents who are against it and he has to represent their interests. Frankly, I think he has an obligation to inform the misinformed,and is just concerned about his own *ss, but maybe this op-ed will give him something to think about.