To start, your Barrow numbers are wrong. He (mis)represents a blue district; you must have him mixed up with another Georgia politician, Paul Broun perhaps. So, look at those votes again with that in mind. Look specifically at his anti-energy bill vote and notice just how close his district is to the coast and see how long you scratch your head. Then, look at his PAC donations for this year. Lot’s of energy money.
I also feel the need to answer some things said here and elsewhere in defense of the Blue Dogs.
1. I’ve seen the line that there are more conservatives brought up at least twice here. First, the plurality of the electorate is self-identified moderates. Add liberals, and you get 66%, leaving conservatives at just 34%. Second, that’s self-identified conservatives. After decades of “liberal” being a dirty word, of course fewer are going to self-identify as such.
2. A lot of people have convinced themselves
3. I’ve also seen a
I say primary them all. Nineteen Blue Dogs come from Obama districts. Another seven or so come from only marginal McCain districts, making claims of some huge Republican tide seem far-fetched. And if we’re not going to get