Will Blue Dogs Support Democratic or Republican Goals?

Under a Republican administration, the pro-business Blue Dog Democrats were viewed as savvy House centrists who worked on a bipartisan basis to forge vital legislation.

But under Obama's liberal-leaning administration and the Democratic-led 111th Congress, can the 47 members of the fiscally conservative Blue Dog Coalition be relied upon to support the Democratic agenda? Or will they throw their votes behind Republican stances on the issues?

The question is simple:

• Will Blue Dogs choose to become a constructive part of the Democratic conversation to help Americans deal with the devastating economic crisis left by the Bush administration?
• Or will Blue Dog Democrats opt to vote with the Republican obstructionist minority?

(Read Meet the Blue Dog Democrats, Fiscally Conservative House Members to learn more about the Blue Dog Coalition.)

Labor Unions Testing Blue Dog Loyalty
Blue Dog loyalty to Democratic party constituencies and causes is being questioned right now as labor unions ask: will Blue Dog Democrats vote for the Employee Free Choice Act, which was introduced in Congress this week? Explains the Memphis Business Journal:

"If passed, the bill would strengthen the ability of unions, which are at record lows in enrollment, to organize. It is widely opposed by business groups, who call it a 'job killer'... The bill makes it easier for workers to form collective bargaining units and negotiate better wages... "

Labor unions, of course, heartily endorsed and supported both Barack Obama and Congressional Democrats in the November 2008 elections. But many Blue Dogs hail from conservative districts with few liberal Democrats or labor-union members.... so they may have less incentive to care about easing labor woes.

How Close Are Blue Dogs to Corporate Lobbyists?
To be brutally honest, I wonder just how close the powerful, pro-business lobby is to members of the Blue Dog Coalition. And I wonder just how much "pro-business" Democrats actually feel beholden to corporate lobbyists.

Take this tidbit from last summer's national convention in Denver, for instance. In a fascinating Salon story entitled AT&T Thanks the Blue Dog Democrats with a Lavish Party, Glenn Greenwald reported:

"Armed with... press credentials issued by the DNC, I (and others) went... in order to cover the event, interview the attendees, and videotape the festivities. There was a wall of private security deployed around the building, and after asking where the press entrance was, we were told by the security officials, after they consulted with event organizers, that the press was barred from the event, and that only those with invitations could enter -- notwithstanding the fact that what was taking place in side was a meeting between one of the nation's largest corporations and the numerous members of the most influential elected faction in Congress.

"As a result, we stood in front of the entrance and began videotaping and trying to interview the parade of Blue Dog Representatives, AT&T executives, assorted lobbyists and delegates who pulled up in rented limousines, chauffeured cars, and SUVs in order to find out who was attending and why AT&T would be throwing such a lavish party for the Blue Dog members of Congress.

"Amazingly, not a single one of the 25-30 people we tried to interview would speak to us about who they were, how they got invited, what the party's purpose was, why they were attending, etc. One attendee said he was with an "energy company," and the other confessed she was affiliated with a "trade association," but that was the full extent of their willingness to describe themselves or this event...

"After just a few minutes, the private security teams demanded that we leave, and when we refused and continued to stand in front trying to interview the reticent attendees, the Denver Police forced us to move further and further away until finally we were unable to approach any more of the arriving guests."

First Blue Dog Pledges to Vote Against Employee Free Choice Act
When Congressman Dan Boren of Oklahoma recently became the first Blue Dog Democrat to pledge to vote against the Employee Free Choice Act, the Oklahoma SEIU blasted:

"Rep. Dan Boren chose to turn his back on the needs of struggling Oklahomans - in this unprecedented economic crisis, nearly one million residents of his state are unemployed, underemployed, or lacking adequate healthcare coverage...

"Oklahomans would be able to bargain for better wages, benefits, and job security while helping his state’s economy. If the Employee Free Choice Act passes, 900,000 Oklahomans would see a 14% raise... "

And other Blue Dogs, as well, may back corporate interests on the bill . Indeed, the Blue Dog Coalition as a while has openly expressed nervousness about the Employee Free Choice Act.

Strained Relations Between Speaker Pelosi, Blue Dogs
Relations are already touchy between House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, an unabashed progressive Democrat, and certain Blue Dog members. For instance:

• Blue Dog Rep. Jim Cooper of Tennessee not only voted against Democratic leadership on the stimulus package, but told the press that "I actually got some quiet encouragement from the Obama folks for what I’m doing." Unamused, labor-backed Pelosi suppporters are running radio spots targeting 17 Republicans and Democrat Jim Cooper.
  
• Then there's Blue Dog Rep. Heath Shuler of North Carolina. Per Newsmax.com, a conservative media outlet: "... Heath Shuler is at the top of... Nancy Pelosi’s 'enemies list'... Why? Shuler has staked out a leadership position as a fiscal conservative who doesn’t ride with the pack on issues like the massive stimulus package, which he and five other conservative 'Blue Dog' Democrats voted against.

  "The conservative, anti-abortion Shuler would have made the list for voting against both bank bailout bills and the stimulus package, but the way he went about it didn’t help; Shuler told an audience back home that 'House leadership and Senate leadership have really failed' on the $787 billion package."

Will Blue Dogs Support Democratic or Republican Goals?
The questions are many:

• Will Blue Dogs use their signicant bargaining power to help create smart solutions for the fiscally battered American people?
• Will Blue Dogs work with, or against, Democratic Congressional leadership?
• Are some Blue Dogs too chummy with or beholden to pro-corporate lobbyists?
• Are Blue Dogs in agreement with the goals of the party's Obama-led Democratic Party '08 National Platform: Renewing America's Promise?

But the main question is simple. Will Blue Dogs support Democratic goals of healing and moving this country forward from the debacle of the Bush years?

Or will Blue Dogs opt to vote with with obstructionist, anti-labor, anti-health care, anti-education, pro-corporate interests Congressional Republicans?

If they choose the latter, who do they believe will support them for reelection as Congressional Democrats in 2010?

(Photo #1: Rep. Jane Harman of California led a 2007 Blue dog Coalition press conference on fiscal accountability in Iraq; Alex Wong/Getty Images. Photo #2 of Rep. Health Shuler of North Carolina: Mark Wilson/Getty Images.)