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Editorial: Hagan's 'moderate' affiliation may serve constituents better

Thursday, March 26, 2009

(Updated 3:00 am)

Sen. Kay Hagan is in good company with the Moderate Dems Working Group. She recently joined 15 colleagues in a coalition that aims to pursue "mainstream solutions" to the country's problems.

Other members include Evan Bayh of Indiana, Joe Lieberman of Connecticut and Mark Warner of Virginia.

The group's initial emphasis was budget negotiations and "passing a fiscally responsible spending plan in the Senate," according to a press release.

Members of both parties have expressed concern about huge federal deficits projected to extend far into the future. Pushing against excessive spending could place this group in conflict with some of President Barack Obama's priorities, but some issues matter more than party loyalties.

"North Carolinians elected me in November to stand up for their interests, not solely for my party's interests," Hagan said last week.

Some did, but some elected her to support Obama and the Democratic Party agenda. Hagan will hear from those constituents if she takes a more "moderate" position on key issues than does the president or the Senate leadership. But no senator should submit her own judgment or the preferences of her constituents to the direction of president or party.

The "Moderate Dems" may not stand as a bloc on every issue. They won't always take "moderate" positions in the estimation of conservative observers. They surely will line up with other Democrats on some party-line votes.

Yet they are drawing distinctions and warning that they'll pursue "mainstream" solutions when perhaps the rest of their party is staked out somewhere else. That's a welcome development because the right answers often may lie about halfway between liberal Democrats and conservative Republicans. That's territory North Carolina senators should occupy more often than not.

What do you think?

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zeus80

March 26, 2009 - 3:55 am EDT

IF SHE WANTS TO KEEP HER U.S. SENATE SEAT, KAY HAGAN BETTER NOT STRAY TOO FAR FROM OBAMA'S AGENDA. AND SHE WON'T1

MGDougherty

March 26, 2009 - 6:58 am EDT

Moderation is fine. But the interests of NC are a whole lot less important than the interests of the USA at this juncture. What we need in Washington is less turf defending and more solidarity on the big issues that threaten us as a country. So Ms. Hagan wants to defend NC interests. Does this mean she will oppose alternative energy development because that is a western states benefit? That she will oppose Free Choice Act because we have strong non-union interests? That she will waffle on abortion rights because there is a strong religious interest in our state? Everyone seems to go to Washington looking for an "angle" to make their vote more important than others'. The 14+1 senators are excited because now they feel like they control the process. Rather than fragmenting, rather than defending home turf, might anyone decide to be the great compromiser to bring others together? Ms. Hagan would do well to read up on Henry Clay, who was nominated for President by three parties because he brought the interests of many together.

3rd0f8

March 27, 2009 - 3:43 pm EDT

Needless to say, I disagree with the writer's comments. Before seeing this I had prepared the following for "Letter to Editor" submittal but it was longer than the 200 word limit and I couldn't shorten it and express my thoughts fully.

An open letter to Sen. Kay Hagan:

Dear Sen. Hagan,
Congratulations on your impressive win over Senator Dole in the fall election. All of us who supported you voted for dramatic change from the status quo. That’s why it was disheartening to learn of your alignment with the group of so-called moderate democrats in opposition to the mythical straw man, progressive inclinations, of the Democratic Party.

Our country is currently in the midst of a severe recession, amplified by the breakdown of our financial system. The world has endured many similar problems throughout history and we have ample data points to know what works and what doesn’t. That knowledge will enable us to eventually get through this debacle. However, we are also faced with unprecedented long-term problems in healthcare, energy and education. Because the benefits of effective actions on these issues will only appear in the distant future, politicians are loathe to ask their constituents to make a definitive sacrifice today for an opaque future.

We finally have a president who is seemingly willing to address these issues that directly impact everyday Americans. This is an opportunity that should not be squandered. My fear is that by identifying yourself with an opposition group you will be inclined to find and amplify faults with any proposal that may come, if only to validate your membership in the opposition.

You were elected to bring your experience and ideas to the body of ideas in the congress to constructively deal with issues facing the American people. By putting on a straight jacket of ideology you constrain your ability see constructive alternative approaches to recognized problems. My hope is that you will reevaluate your position.