A Blue Dog Beats a Pink Elephant

I am not writing a children’s tale but rather talking about the conservative democrats who actually call themselves Blue Dog Democrats and the pink elephants is an unofficial nickname for the Gay Republican movement.

I have discussed this with many people, but November the 7th was not a liberal sweep of America, but rather a democratic sweep. There is a fundamental difference here. America is a very religious and conservative country, what we might see in LA, San Francisco, New York and Boston is a far cry from the value system and beliefs of many areas of small town USA. It is incomparable to countries like the United Kingdom, France and Canada.

New Congressmen like Baron Hill and senators like Jim Webb and Bob Casey have more in common on economic issues and social issues with mainstream Republicans than mainstream Democrats. They have conservative positions on many matters, but are part of the Democratic Party.

Here is a definition for a Blue Dog Democrat
Blue Dog Democrats are social and economic conservatives and centrists in the United States Democratic Party. In the United States House of Representatives, Blue Dogs are an actual coalition of like-minded Democrats organized as the Blue Dog Coalition, rather than just an expression such as "Yellow dog Democrat." The term is a reference to the "Blue Dog" paintings of Cajun artist George Rodrigue of Lafayette, Louisiana; the original members of the coalition would regularly meet in the offices of Louisiana representatives Billy Tauzin and Jimmy Hayes, both of whom had Rodrigue's paintings on their walls (and both of whom later switched to the Republican Party).

Often, the group will be instrumental in striking a balance between liberal and conservative ideas. Despite Blue Dogs' differing degrees of economic and social conservatism, they share a strong orientation toward fiscal responsibility, and as a rule work to promote positions within the House of Representatives which bridge the gap between the two extremes. Blue Dogs are an important swing vote on spending bills and, as a result, have gained an influence in Congress out of proportion to their small numbers. They are frequently sought after to broker compromises between the Democratic and Republican leadership.

Courtesy of Wikipedia

I am sure many liberals and social democrats will stick their nose up at them, however, if we want the Democrats to win in 2008 and take back the White House then we need a big tent attitude. Just as much as the unions, and the minority groups are integral to the base of the Democratic party, for the party to take back power it needs a broader appeal. Moderate and reasonable conservatives need to feel that they can be a part of this party.

Some of the Blue Dogs are opposed to abortion on a personal level but wont let their personal preference and conscience get in the way of policies which will affect those most at risk if Roe vs Wade were to be overturned.

I hope that the Blue Dogs become part of the Democrat discourse and feel at home in the party, but, at the same time, the liberal and socially progressive agenda needs to be advanced in America and the Democrats cant let that happen because of politicking by the Blue Dogs.

I think liberals need to be content that this will be a gradual process, first America needs to become blue, before it can become more liberal.

Many new elected Democrats are gun carryin’, anti gay marriage, fiscal conservatives, but these elected Democrats are disenchanted by the corrupt antics of many Republicans and the failure of the War in Iraq.

Before this election, there was just blue n the North Eastern corner of the map and on the West Coast of Oregon, California and Washington, the Democrats have made inroads in many more places.

Harold Ford Jnr. might bash that bible a bit too hard, and he is wrong on the issue of gay marriage, and he might use the term family values loosely at times, but at the end of the day only a Harold Ford Jnr can help the Democrats win states like Tennessee in the future, it is wishful thinking if we think that the people of Tennessee are ready for a gun-controllin’, latte sippin, Hollywood lovin liberal.

There has to be a place in the big tent for the Blue Dogs as long as they pee outside the tent….

Photos

Harold Ford Jr. making a speech, Ford Jr. a Former Democratic Congressman for Tennessee failed in his bid for the senate. He is seen as a potential superstar in the Democratic Party

This is the emblem for the Blue Dog Democrats.