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Profiles in courage?

A writer whose letter we'll publish tomorrow praises U.S. Rep. Brad Miller for his "courage" in voting for the House health-care reform bill.

I don't begrudge Miller's vote, but I can't see any way it required courage.

The bill was backed by House Democratic leaders. Miller's part of that leadership. His district is solidly Democratic. In fact, he's the only representative that district has ever had.

Nothing could be safer politically than for him to side with his party on major legislation.

It took exactly the same amount of courage for Republicans like Howard Coble and Virginia Foxx to vote no. Their districts are strongly Republican, and their opposition probably keeps them in line with a majority of their constituents.

For examples of fortitude -- or at least calculated risk-taking -- within North Carolina's congressional delegation, you have to look at the three Democrats who voted against the bill: Mike McIntyre, Larry Kissell and Health Shuler.

Kissell and Shuler ousted Republicans to win their seats (in 2008 and 2006, respectively), and neither one is safe from GOP challenges in the future. They have to keep looking over their right shoulders if they want to stay in office.

McIntyre seems firmly ensconced in his eastern district and likely won't suffer any dent in popularity from his no vote, so his courage level is probably a good bit lower.

Kissell's vote struck me as gutsiest because it crossed some of his most passionate supporters -- liberals who really hated Republican Robin Hayes, whom Kissell defeated in their second go-'round, and placed a lot of faith in Kissell as a progressive champion. You can get a sense of their anger here at Bluenc.

Meanwhile, Republicans in Shuler's western district are dogging him to pledge to vote against Nancy Pelosi's re-election as speaker. Get a grip, GOPers. That vote isn't until January 2011. Hassling a Blue Dog Dem like Shuler just after he voted against his party on major legislation is just not very gracious.

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Posted by Doug Clark on Thursday, November 12, 2009 at 4:41 pm

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tonymo

November 13, 2009 - 10:38 am EST

The latest Gallup and Rassmussen polls show that in the "gerneric" who would you vote for, Independents, who usually determine elections, as they did in '08, now favor the Republican candidate by more than 20 points! Demo-Rats have led in that poll for more than two years until a few months ago. Liberals are losing jobs just like anyone else. They can see just like the rest of us that this president's policies, domestic and international are a disaster. Yes, some will do as did the Jonestown robots and drink the Kool Aid.

Now, even the Obamamedia is being forced to report on the misinformation being put out concerning the number of jobs created, or "saved" by the disastrous "emergecny stimulus" plan. Significant numbers of these reported jobs were completely fictitious. Now the president, nearly a year later wants to hold a jobs summit! In other words, he's clueless.His ideas have not worked, or maybe they have!

I thought he was the only one who could fix the economy. After the election many in the Obamamedia wanted Bush to leave early so that the Messiah could get on with fixing everything. Remember him saying that he was going to "hit the ground running." Yeah, running around the world apologizing for his country!

Fortunately for these "courageous" Demo-Rats this Pelosi economy killing "reform" will never make it into law. The senate is a totally different animal from the (Nut)House. The senate cannot be controlled by a single tyrant as can the (Nut)House. Also, many fewer senators have "safe" seats than do House members, many, like Comrade Pelosi, of whom could not lose if they murdered their spouse on You Tube! And there are 37 or 38 Demo-Rat senators up for re-election in 2010. How many bluer states are there than New Joisey!

What would have been a truly "courageous" vote for any Demo-Rat would have been to support the amendment requiring all members of congress to enroll in the Public Option! The Demo-Rats, including the "Lap" dogs, voted it down! If this plan is so great why would they do that!

Fortunately many people are beginning to realize that they have been fooled by Obama's centrist talk during the campaign. They see that many of the lost jobs are not coming back any time soon if ever! They realize that this president will not even call a terrorist attack, a terrorist attack, because there are no terrorists trying to kill us! That would include the ONE who identified himself as a "Soldier of Allah" on his business card! This administration, and many members of congress, and most of the media are the best friends that terrorists have in this country!!!

Connie Mack Jr

November 13, 2009 - 12:04 pm EST

I don't begrudge Miller's vote, but I can't see any way it required courage* Doug

Sure it did! Don't you remember all those Republican Looney Glenn BeckTea Baggers trying to get into his office with rope, tar and feathers, and a rail to get his attention.......

Doug

November 13, 2009 - 12:25 pm EST

I remember he reported a death threat back in August. The Capitol Police investigated but apparently dropped the matter, so the congressman probably was never in any danger.

Doug Johnson

November 13, 2009 - 12:41 pm EST

Courage is the NR doing there best to run off it's few remaining customers, by forever printing this crap.
Connie Mack, you are one wondrous person, you call me looney because I am one of those teabaggers, and you know nothing about me are my family.
Just because some of us, take the time to read the ballot, and do not vote straight liberal, does not make us lonney!
I pulled 6 years in the army, worked from the time I was able to squeeze a cow cows tits, until I was 57.
And paid enough taxes, to support a village of lazy ass welfare voters. Still do!
I will be in Raleigh, at the Halifax Mall, tomorrow for a tea party event.
I wear a fluorescent yellow hat , with a Palin button on one side, and a American flag on the other,
so I will be easy for you to find and you can call me looney to my face.

tonymo

November 13, 2009 - 2:29 pm EST

Hey Doug Johnson, I've decided to never again reply to the neverending vile ignorance of the Connie Mack's that troll these sites. They are not worth the time. They are a cancer eating away at the fabric our country, and of the founding principles that most of us live by. His is the sick, twisted mindset that denies terrorism even when the terrorist carries a business card advertising his philosophy. That denies the destruction of our country that is happening before his eyes. That believes Obama actually cares about reforming, rather than taking control of our health care system, and thereby control of our lives.

I also served in the military for 9 years to preserve the right of even the deranged among us to spew their vileness, and protest our government's policies. Yet these vermin are the first to attack, mock those of us that believe in, love, and were willing to fight for this country, when we dont' want to lose our way of life, or the very liberties that we fought for.

We "tea baggers" were not rounded up by SEIU/ACORN and bused to protest rallies when we see in front of us the destruction of our way of life. Apparently Mr/Ms Mack can't read or he/she would see that most of this country shuns his/her warped philosophy. This will be the last mention by me of this truly disturbed individual! He represents what many of us fought against!

Connie Mack Jr

November 14, 2009 - 1:24 pm EST

I also served in the military for 9 years to preserve the right of even the deranged among us to spew their vileness, and protest our government's policies* A upset Vet

Good for you! So what Army did you serve with! The Bush SS Panzers or the Darth Vader Cheney Stormtroopers?

And stop calling me a Communist! I supported Ron Paul in the last presidental election.......

Connie Mack Jr

November 14, 2009 - 1:18 pm EST

I will be in Raleigh, at the Halifax Mall, tomorrow for a tea party event.
I wear a fluorescent yellow hat , with a Palin button on one side, and a American flag on the other,
so I will be easy for you to find and you can call me looney to my face.* The other Doug

Good for you! I will be at the Clemson-State Game and will be wearing a Pink Clemson Tiger Mascot Dress at the State 40 yard line trying to make NC State tea baggers mad with my Tiger Rag dance....I had no idea that the Palin Tea Baggers had Cheerleaders!