Progressive Recruiting Against Mike Ross Begins
U.S. Representative Mike Ross has made himself a proud, loud voice for the right wing Blue Dog Democrats, a group that often helps Republicans block progressive legislation in Congress. Ross seems to be particularly happy about his central role in lighting health care reform legislation up in flames. He brags about the way that he’s held the bill “hostage”, forcing Democratic leadership to add yet more special interest provisions favoring insurance companies.
Ross is betting that the Democratic Party will stay with him no matter what he does to help out corrupt corporate causes. Perhaps the Democratic leadership will, but the Democratic rank and file may be another matter.
A sign that Congressman Ross may have miscalculated comes this week with a solicitation fired off by Jane Hamsher over at progressive blog FireDogLake. Hamsher notes that Green Party resistance to right wing Arkansas Democrats has been high, and issues the invitation for a Green Party challenger to Ross for 2010: “If anyone is interested in challenging Ross, let us know.”
