20-Jul-2010 | By Bob Beauprez, Editor-in-Chief
At the beginning of July, a study was released that analyzed the voting records of 82 incumbent House Democrats in competitive Congressional districts. The results were startling, even to this former Member of Congress. The study relied on The Cook Political Report to identify competitive seats, using those seats that Cook rates as “Likely Democratic,” “Leans Democratic,” and “Democratic Toss Up.” The study then looked at each of the 1,357 votes cast during this Congress, beginning on January 6, 2009 through June 16, 2010. The incumbent’s voting record in each competitive district was then compared to the voting record of the House Democratic Leader. A percentage score was reached for 2009-2010 and for just 2010.
The results show that most Democrat incumbents in these competitive districts, as well as those who claim to be “moderate,” vote overwhelmingly in support of the Democratic leadership’s agenda. For example, Ed Perlmutter, my successor in representing Colorado’s 7th Congressional District, has voted with the Democratic leadership 97.5% of the time this Congress. This percentage is astoundingly high, given how liberal the Congressional agenda has been since 2007. In 2010, Rep. Perlmutter’s percentage is even higher, as he has voted to rubber-stamp the Democrats’ liberal agenda an astounding 98.9% of the time. A copy of the complete study for each of the 82 incumbents can be found here.
Congress’ approval rating is now near an all-time low. The American people disapprove of the job Congress is doing and oppose Congressional Democrats’ liberal agenda (think stimulus, health care, cap and trade, record deficits). Democrat incumbents are aware that the American people are angry with Congress. That is why they will go back to their districts for the August recess and will tell their constituents that they are “moderate” or “independent.” In order to distance their voting records from Speaker Pelosi and President Obama’s agenda, Democratic incumbents will list a few votes where they voted against their leadership and boast about being an independent voice in Washington. The American people should not be fooled by this predictable tactic of an incumbent Democrat running away from their liberal voting record.
What voters need to know is how frequently their Member of Congress is voting for the Democrat leadership’s unpopular agenda. Republicans running against these incumbents should highlight these statistics during every campaign speech. In addition, each challenger needs to highlight the fact that most of these Democrats also voted to elect Nancy Pelosi as Speaker of the House at the beginning of the Congress. That means they voted to let Nancy Pelosi set the agenda and they have been voting for that unpopular agenda ever since.
Voters in November should not be fooled by the myth of the moderate House Democrat.
