Marion Berry Blue Dog Down
Half a year ago, as it maneuvered to delay health care reform legislation so that Republicans could have the summer to attack it, the Blue Dog Coalition of Democrats in the House of Representatives seemed like a growing force that would redefine the Democratic Party. However, over recent weeks, a large number of Blue Dog Democrats have been forced to announce retirement (or change of party, in the case of Parker Griffith). Progressive Democrats in the House, in the meantime, have been sitting tight.
This morning, we learn of yet another Blue Dog retirement: That of Marion Berry, who had been sitting for the first congressional district in Arkansas. Like all Blue Dogs, Congressman Berry has had a voting record that leans toward the right more than toward the left. His current legislative score for the 111th Congress is a negative 7 (a positive 100 is perfectly progressive, whereas a negative 100 is thoroughly right wing).
Blue Dogs have been calculating that they can take progressive voters for granted, because they’re registered Democrats, while grabbing many Republican votes because of their right wing records. The retirement of so many Blue Dogs in this election cycle, however, suggests that the opportunistic political formula has not been sustainable.
