Dog the blue dog

By Michael Ruhl, University of New Mexico – Talk Radio News Service

Grassroots advocacy groups are launching an offensive against conservative Democrats in Congress who are opposing President Obama’s legislation. Campaign for America’s Future has launched a program called “Dog the Blue Dogs”, which is aimed at persuading members of the Blue Dog Coalition into voting for President Obama’s legislation. The Blue Dog Coalition is a group of moderate and conservative Democrats in the House of Representatives.

Bob Borosage, President of Campaign for America’s Future, said that several Blue Dog Democrats are conspiring with the Republicans to be obstructionists of the president’s agenda, and are partnering with the likes of talk show host Rush Limbaugh to try to make Obama fail all together. The response from Borosage and groups like USAction is going to be a ground offensive against these Democratic members of Congress. The plan is to run ads in each member’s home district, informing the constituents of how their congressional representatives voted against the President. Borosage said that the campaign is about educating the public, not partisanship.

Senator Evan Bayh (D-Ind.) has been painted with a target for his position on the president’s budget. William McNary, President of USAction and part of Unity 09, said that his organization was going to be mobilizing grassroots efforts in Bayh’s home state of Indiana during the upcoming congressional recess, but could not elaborate on what specific strategies would be used. McNary said that if Senator Bayh wants some specific changes made to the Obama budget, he should express that in a clear and articulate manner, instead of simply voting against the bill.

McNary said that the public should not let members of Congress get “cold feet” about change. Borosage believes this reluctance by some members is because of the power of entrenched interests, rather than individual political stances. He continued that these legislators must “be heard by their constituents, not just their contributors”.

Borosage denied planning this with any of the Congressional Leadership, and said that White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emmanuel was also not involved.

Blagojevich dismissed impeachment charges, attacked Illinois House

Embattled Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich (D-Ill.) responded flippantly to the State House of Representatives over their vote for his impeachment, and accused the state body of trying to oust him for several years.

Blagojevich avoided talking about the criminal accusations against him, and instead proceeded to rail against the house, charging that they had stood in the way of progress.

"[I was] engaged in a struggle with the House to get things done for the people," said Blagojevich during a press conference in which the Governor was surrounded by citizens that he claimed to have claimed to have aided throughout his term.

Blagojevich rapidly listed his legislative attempts and accomplishments, steps that he described as the true reasons for the impeachment vote. Among these were health care reform, the creation of an easier prescription drug program (a move that Blagojevich said was made on the recommendation of former Illinois Rep. and soon to be Chief of Staff Rahm Emmanuel), a low cost cancer detection program, and property tax relief. After listing each he asked, rhetorically, if it should be considered an impeachable act.

The Governor, who has been accused of trying to sell President Elect Obama's Senate seat, said that he was confident he would be exonerated and ended his press conference by reciting a poem by British Poet Alfred Lord Tennyson, saying "to strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield."

Blagojevich did not take any questions, although those in attendance prompted him to throughout his speech.

Energy bill goes to the House floor

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and other House Democrats announced an upcoming vote in the House on what they called a comprehensive energy bill. "It's time for an oil changes," said Pelosi. She said that the bill will meet the "all of the above" strategy that House Republicans have called for. Pelosi was joined by Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.), and Rep. Rahm Emmanuel (D-Ill.)

Clyburn perhaps had the strongest criticism for his Republican colleagues for their previous "drill here, drill now" slogan calling it the "methadone treatment for oil addiction."

Hoyer, the House majority leader, said that with energy legislation on the floor the Democrats will find out, "if what we are most interested in are solutions or campaign slogans." He explained that Republicans have been calling to let energy legislation on the floor and now that the Democrats have moved their bill they will have the chance to vote on "comprehensive legislation."

Pelosi was also very critical of John McCain saying that given the "fragility of our institutions" it was wrong for McCain to say that the economy is fundamentally sound. "Is a 500 point drop in the stock market sound?" she said as she criticized President Bush as "a bad manager."

Obama campaign hones in on the economy

The Obama campaign held a conference call with two of Sen. Barack Obama's congressional Democratic colleagues from Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin and Congressman Rahm Emmanuel, the Chairman of the Democratic Caucus. The two spoke about new ads being released to day by the Obama campaign that highlight the economy as the number one issue in the presidential race.

Durbin spoke about the economic indicators that are down. Citing job loss and the housing crisis Durbin said that Obama's opponent, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) is divorced from the reality of American families. Durbin said that McCain has the same "failed policies" of the Bush administration.

Durbin said that the Obama economic plan will bring tax relief to 95 percent of American families who are middle income, "They are the ones who need a helping hand," he said.

Emanuel, referencing recent self deprecating commentd made by McCain said that, "John McCain is right about John McCain." Emmanuel argued that Barack Obama is not a product of the entrenched Washington experience.."There's one authentic agent of change in Washington and that's Barack Obama," he said.

Emmanuel also said that with the McCain/Paline ticket the American people would be getting a two for one deal "George Bush's economic policies and Dick Cheney's foreign policies."

When asked if Obama was being "swiftboated" by a statements made by the Republican vice presidential nominee Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, Durbin said that the Democrats have lived through one swiftboat experience and that they're not about to do it again. Emmanuel said that be watching Palin voters will see not only Palin's lack of experience but also "McCain's lack of judgement."