The Other McCain

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MoveOn.org vs. ‘Blue Dog’ Barrow

Posted on | April 4, 2010 | 15 Comments

This story could have major ramifications in Georgia and beyond:

Left-wing rage over Georgia Rep. John Barrow’s vote against ObamaCare has reportedly prompted the powerful MoveOn.org political action committee to target him for defeat in this year’s Democratic primary.
Barrow was among those “Blue Dog” Democrats slammed last summer by MoveOn.org radio ads . . . Sources in Georgia tell the American Spectator that MoveOn.org’s PAC has already purchased time on Savannah stations for more anti-Barrow ads. . . .

Read the whole thing. Also check out this profile of Georgia’s 12th District by Jake at Red State. The situation confronting Barrow is the tip of an iceberg of “damned if you do, damned if you don’t” politics for Blue Dog Democrats this year.

In competitive districts, there wasn’t really a “safe” vote on ObamaCare for Democrats. On the one hand, a “yes” vote would put them in the crosshairs of conservatives; on the other hand, a “no” vote would undermine grassroots support among the liberal Democratic base. I expect that this November, you’ll see Blue Dogs defeated both ways. In fact, the eradication of the Blue Dogs as a meaningful influence in Democratic Party politics may be the most important part of Obama’s “legacy.”

Category: Congress, Democrats, Election, Georgia, Health Care

Comments

15 Responses to “MoveOn.org vs. ‘Blue Dog’ Barrow”

  1. Estragon
    April 4th, 2010 @ 8:07 am

    Barrow won big in 2008, but that was an anti-Republican wave year with record-breaking black turnout. Obama isn’t on the ballot, and the pendulum has swung the other way for independents. Barrow won modestly in 2006, which was also a Democratic year. So I wouldn’t say the seat is “unwinnable,” particularly in a midterm in a good environment for Republicans.

    If the primary opponents can force Barrow to spend some serious cash, they may have an effect. Fund-raising is the guy’s Ace in the hole, and unless he is depleted if not defeated, the GOP isn’t going to send the kind of money needed to make a run at him (figuring it may be more efficiently spent elsewhere).

  2. Estragon
    April 4th, 2010 @ 3:07 am

    Barrow won big in 2008, but that was an anti-Republican wave year with record-breaking black turnout. Obama isn’t on the ballot, and the pendulum has swung the other way for independents. Barrow won modestly in 2006, which was also a Democratic year. So I wouldn’t say the seat is “unwinnable,” particularly in a midterm in a good environment for Republicans.

    If the primary opponents can force Barrow to spend some serious cash, they may have an effect. Fund-raising is the guy’s Ace in the hole, and unless he is depleted if not defeated, the GOP isn’t going to send the kind of money needed to make a run at him (figuring it may be more efficiently spent elsewhere).

  3. smitty
    April 4th, 2010 @ 12:16 pm

    The ‘Blue Dog Flog’ may become the acceptable form of animal abuse.

  4. smitty
    April 4th, 2010 @ 7:16 am

    The ‘Blue Dog Flog’ may become the acceptable form of animal abuse.

  5. proof
    April 4th, 2010 @ 3:52 pm

    May I say cynically, that if the so called “Blue Dogs” (we used to call them “Yellow dog Democrats”)are defeated that Mooove On will both claim credit for the victory and become more shrill in its fund raising, citing gains by the eeeeevil Republicans.

  6. proof
    April 4th, 2010 @ 10:52 am

    May I say cynically, that if the so called “Blue Dogs” (we used to call them “Yellow dog Democrats”)are defeated that Mooove On will both claim credit for the victory and become more shrill in its fund raising, citing gains by the eeeeevil Republicans.

  7. Your Sunday one word wrap-ups « The Daley Gator
    April 4th, 2010 @ 11:07 am

    […] has the battle we should all […]

  8. jefferson101
    April 4th, 2010 @ 6:23 pm

    I informed my Representative (Mike Ross) the other day that sending me a nice mailing reminding me that he voted against the Healthcare fiasco gained him absolutely no points.

    “Sorry, Congressman, but the first thing you did in this Session was vote for Nancy Pelosi for Speaker. Regardless of what positions you took since then, you poisoned the well right then.”

    The self-described “Blue Dogs” have managed to dig themselves a serious hole. Regardless of whether they diverge from the majority of the leftoids on a few particulars, they are reliable votes for most all of this Administration’s more questionable tax and spend projects.

    Thanks, guys. You voted against Healthcare, and you have sometimes been fairly reliable on Second Amendment issues. But I can spend the next hour listing things you’ve done to me, and that’s just off the top of my head.

    If the Move-On types manage to knock Mike Ross off before the Republicans get a chance to do so, it’ll make it easier to flip AR-4, not harder. So one could note that I’m stocking up on the popcorn.

    Yeah, baby! “Let’s you and him fight!”

    Ye-Haw!

  9. jefferson101
    April 4th, 2010 @ 1:23 pm

    I informed my Representative (Mike Ross) the other day that sending me a nice mailing reminding me that he voted against the Healthcare fiasco gained him absolutely no points.

    “Sorry, Congressman, but the first thing you did in this Session was vote for Nancy Pelosi for Speaker. Regardless of what positions you took since then, you poisoned the well right then.”

    The self-described “Blue Dogs” have managed to dig themselves a serious hole. Regardless of whether they diverge from the majority of the leftoids on a few particulars, they are reliable votes for most all of this Administration’s more questionable tax and spend projects.

    Thanks, guys. You voted against Healthcare, and you have sometimes been fairly reliable on Second Amendment issues. But I can spend the next hour listing things you’ve done to me, and that’s just off the top of my head.

    If the Move-On types manage to knock Mike Ross off before the Republicans get a chance to do so, it’ll make it easier to flip AR-4, not harder. So one could note that I’m stocking up on the popcorn.

    Yeah, baby! “Let’s you and him fight!”

    Ye-Haw!

  10. jkstewart2
    April 4th, 2010 @ 7:15 pm

    Several truisms have come forward.

    1. There are no conservative democrats.

    2. Democrats = Socialists

  11. jkstewart2
    April 4th, 2010 @ 2:15 pm

    Several truisms have come forward.

    1. There are no conservative democrats.

    2. Democrats = Socialists

  12. Ira
    April 4th, 2010 @ 11:59 pm

    attn Blue Dogs: two words: Ernst Rohm…

  13. Ira
    April 4th, 2010 @ 6:59 pm

    attn Blue Dogs: two words: Ernst Rohm…

  14. Logan Robinson
    May 24th, 2010 @ 7:50 pm

    I love those large German Shepherd dogs and also those tiny Chihuahua’*-

  15. Logan Robinson
    May 24th, 2010 @ 2:50 pm

    I love those large German Shepherd dogs and also those tiny Chihuahua’*-