Dan Boren (D-OK), Heath Shuler (D-NC), Brad Ellsworth (D-IN), Jon Salazar (D-CO), Gene Talyor (D-MS), Sen. Max Bachus (D-MT), To name just a few, draw ire from many mainstream Dems. Often, that includes myself.
Upon further review, I see them as a badge of honor for the Democratic Party. Blue Dogs are more than just numbers in the party; they're living proof of the waning influence that Republicans are now suffering, completely through their own design.
They can and do cause the left frequent headaches in Congress, and some of them will likely repeat that performance during the upcoming Health Care debate. They backed the Iraq War. They fired a few shots during the stimulus vote, and many voted for the Patriot Act.
Yet they are still Democrats, still targeted by the Republicans every cycle, still put the gavel in Pelosi's hand, and still cheered with us on election night last Novemeber.
We can usually bind with them on some issue, likely in corporate regulation, middle-class relief or energy change. Sometimes, they see abortion our way.
Republicans who drift to the middle - much less the left - do not continue untouched. Apologies to Rush must be made. A crossover vote would be a near scandal, if one should ever happen. Romney is hit over where he spends Sundays. Hatch is hit over being a personal friend of Ted Kennedy. Powell is hit over thinking for himself.
Theirs is a party that demands lockstep, obedience, and a singluar train of thought. Whatever our legion of problems with Blue Dogs on policy and views, we can NEVER allow our selves to fall into that trap.
We will and have lost the Shelbys and the Zell Millers. That was part of the geographic shift. But those above stayed and/or joined in spite of their misgivings.
Joe Lieberman tried to shank us in the election, but the Republicans will never have him: Pro-choice, Pro-spending, Pro-regulation, pro-environment, pro-stem cell research. Opportunism isn't the only reason he's caucusing with the Democrats. PUMAs were a charade. Hillary supporters (like me) didn't want a woman to be elected...we wanted, backed, and helped elect a Democrat.
Florida Governor and Republican Senate candidate Charlie Crist has drawn far-right critisism from inside the party, and probably a primary challenge as well. A far-right revolt forced a party switch by Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter, and even John McCain will have a playoff game next fall.
Addition by subtraction is not as effective a strategy in elections and legislation. Raw numbers are top weapons. For every defection and shunning that involves a former Republican may make their message more pure, it makes their army smaller.
Blue Dog Democrats represent the center and center-right of the country. And that segment of the population has overwhelmingly sided with us.