While the Senate returns from its Easter recess this week, members of the House won’t be back until next Monday or Tuesday (unless this leads to a surprise). In the past, I’ve noted that because of the narrow Democratic majority, some freshman Democrats are being forced to take ‘tough votes.’ This recess provides the first real opportunity for members of the 110th Congress to meet with constituents, so I thought I’d see if any are facing heat over their early votes. Most notable is Paul Hodes of New Hampshire, who met with a group of Gold Star mothers–yielding the following video. It’s great. I think the highlight is the following quote: “Congress should be putting pressure on our enemies.” Watch the whole thing:
I believe this is the same meeting referenced in the article over here. This disappoints me, because if captured on tape, then the quote of the week would have been: “Have the Nads to End it Now!” While Hodes was at least bold enough to meet with constituents who disagreed on Iraq, it’s reported that the other new Democratic Representatives from New Hampshire–Carol Shea Porter–has tried to stifle those who disagree with her. Another Democrat who has already attracted an unhealthy amount of controversy in the early going is Joe Sestak. He recently garnered lots of attention for addressing the Philadelphia chapter of CAIR. There’s also an odd dimension to the story. Sestak says that speaking to the group was the right thing to do, but half apologizes for the fact that a former CAIR staffer who now works for him accepted the invitation without consulting him first. This strikes me as an area where I’d want to speak clearly on whether the address was the right thing to do, or a mistake. Sestak’s home-state colleague Jason Altmire, doesn’t appear to have addressed any CAIR conventions, but he’s caught at least a little criticism for his vote on a date certain for withdrawal. Tim Walz, a freshman Democrat from Minnesota already has several declared opponents, and John Hall of New York has at least one as well. Nancy Pelosi’s chances of being the Speaker again in 2009 are directly related to the re-election rate of the freshman Democrats who delivered her a majority. A number of those who represent swing districts have already given their GOP opponents some ammunition for 2008. And there are lots of difficult votes yet to be cast: tax increases, immigration amnesties, sops to labor, and others. Heck, if some of the less politically shrewd House Democrats get their way, there’s still a military draft and an impeachment to vote on. If Ms. Pelosi doesn’t manage to protect some of these marginal members from unpopular votes, they won’t be around for the start of the next Congress.
