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.

Invest in America's Future

“At a time that President Bush is spending up to $11 billion a month in Iraq, and sometimes more, he is ignoring an economy right here at home” said Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D-Calif.) at a news conference to release a new economic agenda from USAction. Woolsey and other representatives gathered to discuss what they called failed economic policies from the Bush administration, and looked forward to new policies reflecting USAction’s agenda they have named ‘Invest in America’s Future’.

William McNary, President of USAction stated that among other things, the program’s agenda emphasized reform for healthcare, education and energy policy in order to create a future for America’s working class that that provides equal opportunity and is prosperous. In addition, McNary stated that the program would be beneficial to all Americans, including business, and referred to his organization’s plan as the next ‘New Deal’.

According to USAction’s program director Alan Charney, when a poll was taken by Americans in swing-voting states, 69 percent of respondents said they approved of the ‘Invest in America’s Future” agenda. McNary closed by stating that Congress can no longer afford to continue patchwork policies, but should turn its attention to a comprehensive reform policy in 2009 that reflects his program’s agenda.