Will Blue Dogs Be Lap Dogs for Obama & Pelosi’s Stimulus 2.0?

September 29, 2011

FYI, a similar version of this release below went out to the following districts: Jason Altmire (PA-04), Sanford Bishop (GA-02), Leonard Boswell (IA-03), Dennis Cardoza (CA-18), Ben Chandler (KY-06), Jim Cooper (TN-05), Jim Costa (CA-20), Henry Cuellar (TX-28), Tim Holden (PA-17), Jim Matheson (UT-02), Mike McIntyre (NC-07), Michael Michaud (ME-02), Collin Peterson (MN-07), Loretta Sanchez (CA-47), Kurt Schrader (OR-05), Heath Shuler (NC-11)

Will McIntyre Be a Lap Dog for Obama & Pelosi’s Stimulus 2.0?
North Carolina “Blue Dog” Has Yet to Signal Where He Stands on Obama Stimulus Redux Under Increasing Pressure

Washington — Mike McIntyre will have to soon announce where he stands on President Obama’s second stimulus plan, since Washington Democrats intend to champion their failed policies once again in response to growing anger at their failed leadership on job creation. As McIntyre and his fellow Blue Dogs face constituents dissatisfied with their loyal support for Nancy Pelosi’s failed agenda, will McIntyre once again stand strong with an increasingly liberal House Democrat Caucus?

“Mike McIntyre’s constituents in North Carolina are now seeing this ‘Blue Dog’ for what he really is, a mere lap dog for Nancy Pelosi and President Obama’s failed policies,” said NRCC Communications Director Paul Lindsay. “Since President Obama wants to double down on another stimulus plan, frustrated middle-class families in North Carolina will certainly want to know whether McIntyre will again be another rubber stamp on the failed Democrat agenda.”

The Blue Dogs are finding themselves increasingly vulnerable in conservative districts while promoting President Obama’s failed policies:

“Many of the conservative House Democrats who survived the biggest wave in more than 70 years are now facing political extinction from the redistricting process. Redistricting, coupled with President Obama’s low approval ratings, has buoyed GOP hopes of picking up seats in the 2012 election.” (Cameron Joseph, “Conservative Dems try to persevere amid low Obama poll numbers,” The Hill, 9/27/11)

House Democrat Leader Nancy Pelosi still calls the shots in her loyal House Democrat caucus:

“After the 2010 elections, Blue Dogs expressed hope that they would become more powerful in Congress as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s power was diminished. That hasn’t been the case. Outside of another huge Democratic victory — which looks very unlikely — this group will likely be further marginalized in the next election.” (Aaron Blake and Rachel Weiner, “Blue Dog Democrats a dying breed,” The Washington Post‘s The Fix Blog, 7/26/11)

And Leader Pelosi says her caucus is united behind the President’s stimulus redux:

“Dem Leaders Pelosi adds ‘Our caucus is very unified about the American Jobs Act’ responding to ?s about some Dems not liking Obama plan” (Tweet from Kelly O’Donnell, NBC News, 9/15/11)

Mike McIntyre’s constituents in North Carolina are increasingly frustrated with the Democrats’ failed leadership in Washington, and they are looking for pro-growth reform instead of more government spending and borrowing. McIntyre needs to explain now whether he will be another rubber stamp for Obama and Pelosi’s new stimulus plan.

Will Blue Dogs Be Lap Dogs for Obama & Pelosi’s Stimulus 2.0? http://ow.ly/6IuZo #madeinwdc

Collin Peterson for Congress

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