The Obama Drag Claims Another Blue Dog

October 21, 2011

So-Called “Moderate” Dem Dennis Cardoza Retires Amidst Record Disapproval of Obama and Failed Dem Policies

California Democrat Dennis Cardoza yesterday became the latest Blue Dog to throw in the towel, and he cast a “scathing parting shot” at President Obama on the way out.
Cardoza’s exit follows earlier resignations from prominent Blue Dog Reps. Mike Ross (D-AR) and Dan Boren (D-OK). It’s hard not to draw the conclusion that Nancy Pelosi and Barack Obama’s Democrat party is a less-than-welcoming place for so-called “moderate Democrats,” even phony “moderates” who vote with their party leadership.
Democrats down the ticket are noticing that Obama’s approval ratings are bad, and have only gotten worse since crushing special election loses last month in New York and Nevada. How many more Democrats will head for the door as the president keeps calling for more of the same failed policies?

BACKGROUND

California Democrat Dennis Cardoza yesterday became the latest Blue Dog to throw in the towel, and he cast a “scathing parting shot” at President Obama on the way out:

BLUE DOG REP. DENNIS CARDOZA “THE LATEST MODERATE DEMOCRAT TO HEAD FOR THE EXITS”: “California Democratic Rep. Dennis Cardoza announced Thursday that he will not seek reelection in 2012, a move that makes him the latest moderate Democrat to head for the exits.” (Aaron Blake, “Democratic Rep. Dennis Cardoza Becomes Latest Blue Dog to Retire,” The Washington Post, 10/20/2011)

CARDOZA “ISSUED A SCATHING PARTING SHOT AT PRESIDENT OBAMA’S TRACK RECORD ON HIS WAY OUT”: “Rep. Dennis Cardoza, D-Calif., announced his retirement from Congress this afternoon — and he issued a scathing parting shot at President Obama’s track record on his way out.

“In a statement explaining his decision, Cardoza, a leader of the centrist Blue Dog Coalition, said he was ‘dismayed’ by the administration’s ‘failure to understand and effectively address the current housing foreclosure crisis.’

” ‘Home foreclosures are destroying communities and crushing our economy, and the Administration’s inaction is infuriating,’ Cardoza said.” (Jessica Taylor and Billy House, “Announcing Retirement, Dem Congressman Bashes Obama,” National Journal’s “Hotline On Call”, 10/20/2011)

CARDOZA CRITICISM “BOUND TO STING AT THE WHITE HOUSE” GIVEN THAT MANY OTHER DEMOCRATS ARE “KEEPING THEIR DISTANCE” FROM OBAMA: “…[I]t’s rare to see a departing congressman blast the president in an official statement. Given his growing dissatisfaction with his party, Cardoza’s departure didn’t come as a surprise to Democrats, but his sharp criticism of Obama is bound to sting at the White House, which has already seeing many members of his own party, particularly those in battleground states and districts, keeping their distance.” (Jessica Taylor and Billy House, “Announcing Retirement, Dem Congressman Bashes Obama,” National Journal’s “Hotline On Call”, 10/20/2011)

Cardoza’s exit follows earlier resignations from prominent Blue Dog Reps. Mike Ross (D-AR) and Dan Boren (D-OK). It’s hard not to draw the conclusion that Nancy Pelosi and Barack Obama’s Democrat party is a less-than-welcoming place for so-called “moderate Democrats,” even phony “moderates” who vote with their party leadership:

DRIVE TO 25? ALL SIX HOUSE REPS. TO RETIRE SO FAR ARE DEMS: “Cardoza is the sixth member — all Democrats — to announce plans to retire outright so far.”(Jessica Taylor and Billy House, “Announcing Retirement, Dem Congressman Bashes Obama,”National Journal’s “Hotline On Call”, 10/20/2011)

NOT EXACTLY RANDOM: AMONG ALL DEM GROUP OF RETIREES, HALF ARE BLUE DOGS: “He’s also the third member of the Blue Dog Caucus to head for the exits — joining fellow moderate Reps. Dan Boren, D-Okla., and Mike Ross, D-Ark.”(Jessica Taylor and Billy House, “Announcing Retirement, Dem Congressman Bashes Obama,”National Journal’s “Hotline On Call”, 10/20/2011)

SO-CALLED “MODERATE” CARDOZA VOTED FOR STIMULUS 1.0 AND DEMS’ GOVERNMENT HEALTHCARE TAKEOVER: “Cardoza voted for the Democratic-led health care overhaul and for the economic stimulus package in 2009.” (Kevin Freking, “California Congressman Won’t Seek Re-Election,” Associated Press, 10/20/2011)

ADVISERS TO REP. DAN BOREN: “UNPOPULARITY OF [BOREN’S] NATIONAL PARTY” TOOK “A TOLL” ON DEMOCRAT: “But there was also a private acknowledgement among Boren loyalists that the unpopularity of his national party in deep-red Oklahoma had taken a toll on him. …

“One Boren adviser, speaking on condition of anonymity, said 65 percent of the district’s voters currently have an unfavorable impression of Obama.

“The congressman’s camp was bracing for his toughest race yet.” (Alex Isenstadt and Dave Catanese, “Another Blue Dog Bites the Dust,” Politico, 6/9/2011)

LIBERAL ACTIVISTS AT DAILY KOS CELEBRATE LATEST RETIREMENT: “GOOD NEWS FOR THOSE OF US WHO WANT TO SEE THE END” OF BLUE DOG INFLUENCE: “News that Rep. Jim Costa is retiring is particularly good news for those of us who want to see the end of the pernicious influence of the biggest band of self-defeating Democrats in Congress—the Blue Dogs.

“In 2008, they numbered 54 members, and bragged that they were turning away Democrats clammoring to join their caucus. After 2010, they [sic] were 25—a silver lining to an otherwise bleak year.” (Markos Moulitsas, “The Death of the Blue Dogs Accelerates,” Daily Kos, 10/20/2011)

Democrats down the ticket are noticing that Obama’s approval ratings are bad, and have only gotten worse since crushing special election loses last month in New York and Nevada. How many more Democrats will head for the door as the president keeps calling for more of the same failed policies?:

MORE BLUE DOGS ON THE ROPES?

FORESHADOWING: CARDOZA MENTIONED ON LIST WITH 15 OTHER “VULNERABLE” AND “POTENTIALLY VULNERABLE” BLUE DOGS: (Aaron Blake and Rachel Weiner, “Blue Dog Democrats a Dying Breed,” The Washington Post, 7/26/2011)

DEMOCRATS STEER CLEAR OF OBAMA ON LATEST STIMULUS ROAD TRIP:

VA DEMS FLEE OBAMA WHEN HE SWINGS THROUGH THE STATE: “Don’t look for Democrats in fiercely contested Virginia legislative elections to join President Barack Obama as he brings his campaign-style American Jobs Act bus tour to three cities there. For that matter, don’t expect Tim Kaine, the former Democratic National Committee chairman and Virginia’s governor two years ago, to join his old ally either.” (Bob Lewis, “Some Dems Won’t Join Obama in Swing Through Va.”, Associated Press, 10/18/2011)

REUTERS: “DEMOCRATS WARY OF THEIR UNPOPULAR PRESIDENT”: “Many of McCaskill’s fellow Democrats in Congress may also decide they are too busy to be with Obama, whose approval rating of about 40 percent as the economy struggles threatens to be a drag on their own reelection chances next year.

” ‘You may see a number of Democrats say ‘Sorry, I have a scheduling conflict,’ ‘ said a senior Democratic lawmaker.” (Thomas Ferraro, “Democrats Wary of Their Unpopular President,” Reuters, 10/11/2011)

BLUE DOGS NOW “TRY[ING] TO PERSEVERE AMID LOW OBAMA POLL NUMBERS”: “Blue Dogs in Congress, already an endangered species following the last election, are bracing for another challenging campaign season. …Redistricting, coupled with President Obama’s low approval ratings, has buoyed GOP hopes of picking up seats in the 2012 election.” (Cameron Joseph, “Conservative Dems Try to Persevere Amid Low Obama Poll Numbers,” The Hill, 9/27/2011)

WHY? HIS APPROVAL RATINGS KEEP GOING LOWER AND LOWER…

DEMOCRACY CORPS: OBAMA APPROVAL AT 40%, 53% DISAPPROVE: (“Democracy Corps/Center for American Progress,” Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research, 10/15-18/2011)

CNN: 59% OF AMERICANS SAY OBAMA’S POLICIES WILL FAIL, NEARLY DOUBLE THE LEVEL IN 2009: “According to the survey, 36% say they think the president’s policies will succeed, with 59% saying Obama’s policies will fail, up 12 points from last year and nearly double the 32% who said in 2009 that the president’s policies will fail.” (“CNN Poll: Record High Say Obama’s Policies Will Fail,” CNN, 10/17/2011)

PPP OHIO: OBAMA AT 43/52, 39% APPROVAL WITH INDIES AND 73% EVEN WITH DEMOCRATS: (Tom Jensen, “Obama Struggling in Ohio,” Public Policy Polling, 10/20/2011)

CNN NEW HAMPSHIRE POLL: OBAMA APPROVAL SINKS TO “NEW LOW” OF 41%: “The October poll, from the University of New Hampshire Survey Center, shows Obama’s approval rating among New Hampshire adults slipping to 41%, a drop from 46% in July and a new low in the Granite State.” (Kevin Liptak, “Obama Approval Sinks in Key State of New Hampshire,” CNN, 10/17/2011)

QUINNIPIAC NEW JERSEY: OBAMA AT 43% APPROVAL, 52% DISAPPROVAL, HIS LOWEST EVER: (Steven Shepard, “Obama, Menendez Remain Vulnerable in NJ,” National Journal, 10/13/2011)

EPIC-MRA: OBAMA AT 38% APPROVAL IN MICHIGAN, 61% DISAPPROVAL: (“Poll: Obama, Snyder Fare Poorly in Mich,” Associated Press, 10/10/2011)

NBC NEWS/MARIST: OBAMA APPROVAL RATING IN IOWA AT 42%, AT 38% IN NEW HAMPSHIRE: (Mark Murray, “Romney Leads in Iowa and New Hampshire,” NBC News, 10/11/2011)

QUINNIPIAC VIRGINIA: OBAMA UNDERWATER AT 45/52: (“Cain, Romney Top Pack in Virginia GOP Race, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Both Tie Obama as Perry Fades,” Quinnipiac, 10/11/2011)

PUBLIC POLICY POLLING IN NC: OBAMA UNDERWATER AT 44/53: (Tom Jensen, “Obama Leads All Republicans in North Carolina,” Public Policy Polling, 10/6/2011)

FIELD POLL: OBAMA AT 46% APPROVAL IN CALIFORNIA, 44% DISAPPROVAL:(Gabriella Schwarz, “Poll: Obama’s Drop Out West,” CNN, 9/14/2011)