Evan Bayh
I’ve been trying to decide whether or not to post this piece because, really, there’s nothing news-worthy in the clip. Senator Bayh seemed wary of an ambush-style interview (even though I’ve introduced myself several times), and didn’t have much to say beyond the standard Hill dodge, “talk to my press secretary.”
With that said, Senator Bayh has engaged with progressives in the past. Not too long ago, he spent some time with Rachel Maddow explaining why Joe Lieberman deserved to keep his Chairmanship. Progressives can be frustrated with the Senator for any number of things, but he shouldn’t be accused of cowardice.
As you all know, I’m unabashedly liberal. When progressives complain about Lieberman, Lincoln, Pryor, Conrad, Nelson, Nelson, Baucus, Bayh or any of the other more conservative members of the caucus, I’m feeling their pain…
But…
Well, maybe it can be chalked up to Stockholm Syndrome, but I’m finding it increasingly difficult to really ramp up the outrage when these folks operate in ways that disappoint me. After all, almost every one of them represent a red state. And they found a way to get elected as a Democrat. And it’s not like any one of them ever represented themselves as a birkenstock-wearing liberal. They ran as conservatives to represent conservative states. And now they are doing what they advertised! It seems a little unfair to me that we’d expect anything different.
Of course, it’s still plain to me that conservative policies are bankrupt, regardless of what letter comes after the name of the politician pushing them. It’s never wrong to question perceived inconsistencies in rhetoric and voting records. And when progressives find themselves the subject of attack, there’s nothing wrong with responding aggressively.
So here we are. In recent months, Senator Evan Bayh has gone on television and decried “left-wing blogs“. He frequently joins with Republicans in espousing tax cuts as a path to prosperity, including recent calls for reform (reduction) of the estate tax. He calls himself a fiscal conservative, but thinks it is a bad idea to fund the wars he votes for.
I decided to ask him what the “left-wing” bloggers that criticize him are wrong about. He decided not to answer right then, but I’ll keep trying to get his thoughts.
Mike, I’m glad to see you balancing the criticism of blue dogs and progressives from the red states. I talked to Taze Shepard yesterday and his answer on Pelosi was interesting and well-phrased: he doesn’t agree, but he’s going to be nice so he can bring home the bacon for the district. It’s classic blue dog-speak, but it could get him elected.
Matt Osborne
11 Feb 10 at 9:51 pm
yeah, it’s hard to figure out what people expect of Ben Nelson when he goes home and can’t get a slice of pizza without being ad out of the restaurant, simply because he voted for the watered-down Senate health care bill…
talk radio is the primary source of news for a lot of these folks’ constituents. until Democrats seriously begin to consider media reform, i think we’re stuck with these kinds of Senators…
Mike Stark
12 Feb 10 at 5:32 pm
Even brilliant men are wrong occasionally:
“People can decide with as much propriety on the alterations and amendment [to the Constitution] which shall be found necessary, as ourselves, or I do not conceive that we are more inspired, have more wisdom or possess more virtue than those who will come after us.”– George Washington, 1787
Gary
14 Feb 10 at 11:46 pm
Just curious, I’m wondering if Bayh’s press secretary got back with you?
Additionally, I feel like the complying to their conservative demographics is a bit overstated. For one, many if not all of these so called Blue Dogs were elected for their charm and policies and it is their job to frame the party platform in a form that people in their district can understand. I find that progressive lawmakers tend to work harder at informing their constituents, who are most likely already in the bucket for them. also find that conservadems are doing little to non of this outside of groundbreakings. They are following the republican paradigm of less info is better, hence findinngs that conservative constituents are far more less informed. Everyone and their mama knows that Evan Bayh BARELY pulled his weight. The culture in the Senate as well lends itself to being way less accessible than their house counterparts. But I do know their are eyes on you and this is how you must portray this. He can sound as reasonable as he wants now, but we know he is a serial underachiever that saw the ugliness of his wife’s connections, his votes and the writing on the wall. His numbers looked good enough to win again, so what are we missing here?
Manamongst Hussein
23 Feb 10 at 6:51 pm