New Dem FL congresswoman votes with GOP 4 times 1st week. Sits with GOP at SOTU speech.

[madfloridian]

She is not from my district, nonetheless when she votes with the GOP 4 times in one week it affects all of us in the state. She said she is going to take North Florida values to DC with her. Wonder where that leaves the rest of us and our values?

North Florida is traditionally very conservative, although there are more Democrats than Republicans.

If a Democrat is going to vote with the GOP and cross the aisle to sit with them during a speech given by the president, it concerns me a lot.

I've heard all the arguments about how a Democrat in a conservative district must vote as the Republicans do. Newsflash, we have lost in a major way in 2010 and 2014 by following such a policy. It appears to be getting us nowhere.

Democrat Gwen Graham takes heat for right-leaning votes

U.S. Rep. Gwen Graham of Tallahassee, who unseated Republican Steve Southerland in November, is under fire from Democrats for votes in favor of the Keystone pipeline, to roll back Wall Street reforms and other issues, illustrating the difficulty she faces in a district with a sizable conservative base.

"I promised to bring the North Florida Way to Washington — and that means working with both parties to reach common sense solutions," Graham told the Buzz. "Now, I'm following through with that promise and focusing on creating jobs, improving education and ending the gridlock in Congress. Neither party is right 99 percent of the time, so the people of North Florida expect us to work together to get things done."

That might have been true at one time. But again here are our Democrats trying to compromise with extremists who will not give an inch. They may enjoy talking about how they love working together, but what they are doing is hurting the people.

Her moves have drawn praise, including an editorial in the News Herald of Panama City. "It seems clear that Graham is making a good faith effort to work with Republicans on the important issues of the day."

In a statement to the Buzz, Leon County Democratic state committeewoman Tabitha Frazier said: "I know that many liberal Democrats had been hoping for a party-line voter when it came to Gwen, one of the few Democratic wins in the entire country. But the majority of North Florida voters are moderate and she campaigned to victory as a moderate. Gwen's independent leadership and across-the-aisle style in Congress are exactly what she promised, and it's a refreshing change from Rep. Southerland's tea party priorities and extreme partisan ways."

Crossing the aisle to sit with David Jolly who was elected in great part by the Tea Party....I do not think she should have done that.

Gwen Graham Responds to State of the Union Address

WASHINGTON, DC – Statement from Rep. Gwen Graham on the State of the Union address:

“Bipartisanship starts with forming relationships. Tonight, I crossed the aisle to sit with my Florida colleague Representative David Jolly. The people of North Florida don’t expect Democrats and Republicans to agree on everything, but they do expect us to work together to get things done.

Good luck on that, Gwen. At least your father, though very moderate in his beliefs, put his loyalty with the Democrats....but he did stand up against them when they helped take us into a war built on lies.

Here are her first four votes.

Meet the new conservative rising star: Florida freshman "Democratic" Rep. Gwen Graham

Gwen Graham (D) won her seat in one of our rare, balanced districts of the red Northern section of Florida. Although District 2 has 16% more Democratic voters in the district than GOP, it normally leans GOP because that's how Florida voters roll.

She replaced a teabag incumbent that was so incredibly terrible, he couldn't even win in a red wave election. Steve Southerland was the guy who said that his $174,000 congressional salary "wasn't very much", that his job "didn't mean much" to him, and also justified a male-only fundraiser by saying he once went to a "lingerie shower". Really, he was that bad.

Democrats, including myself, worked hard for Gwen. She was the daughter of a popular, former Democratic governor and promised to fight for the working class. Graham won her seat.

And what has she done?

In her first week in Congress, she has voted with the GOP every single time.

She voted against ACA.
She voted for the Keystone pipeline.
She voted to gut Wall Street reform.
She voted against Nancy Pelosi as speaker.

[YOHABLO]

1. If she votes like a Republican than she's a Republican. Get rid of her FL

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

2. Another "Not as Bad" type rep we're supposed to vote for

[RKP5637]

4. Yep, another republican at the core that wears a democratic label. n/t

[Terra Alta]

3. So how is she any different than the teabagger she beat in November?

Who did she vote for for Speaker? Certainly not Boner? Sounds like she is one of those "Blue Dog" type Dems who is really a closet Repuke.

[madfloridian]

5. She voted for Jim Cooper of TN, a centrist who wasn't even running.

http://www.tennessean.com/story/news/politics/insession/2015/01/06/jim-cooper-gwen-graham-house-speaker/21371751/

[Terra Alta]

7. thanks.

Looks like she voted for a fellow Blue Dog "Democrat". No surprise there.

[kelliekat44]

6. Dems just need to be as smart as the GOPers. They have been doing this for a long time (Dixicrats).

We need to start running stealth Dems as Republicans all over the country in those little red hamlets. There should never be an uncontested seat anywhere for Congress even if it means running as a GOP in a primary.

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

55. Exactly.

'Stealth Republicans', aka 'RINO's, to challenge in every race.

[Baitball Blogger]

8. I hear the alarm:

DINO! DINO! DINO!

[appalachiablue]

9. She's a Republican not a Dem. So this is what the Dem. Party has come to, this changed & weak.

Her voting record, this soon on these major issues should disqualify her from the Dem. Party.
How's Debbie Wasserman-Schultz and the woman head of the FL Dem. Party, gone maybe.
I have family in No. FL, they're liberals, 3rd gen Dems. Relatives near Melbourne too, same.

[Terra Alta]

12. Wasserman-Schultz needs to be gone as the head of the DNC.

Bring back Howard Dean and his 50 State Strategy.

[calimary]

34. My sentiments exactly!

[cascadiance]

50. Did Debbie Wasserman-Schultz recruit this "gem"? Seems like they think alike!

DWS has had a history of not wanting to work against her Republican congressional "friends" in the house. It would seem like she'd want someone else there that would work with them also on their uber trans-party corporatist agendas!

http://washingtonnote.com/venting_about_d/

Yep, 2014 should be the last election that DWS participates in as a Democrat in any fashion! Get that PRETENDER as a Democrat OUT of the party and someone else in to the DNC to recruit REAL Democrats rather than wingnut sympathizing corporatists!

[appalachiablue]

72. I don't know if this Rep. is in the DWS group, although that came to mind right off. No good can

come of this.

[MisterP]

10. you put a car into D to go forward and R to go back!

you put a car into D to go forward and R to go back! you put a car into D to go forward and R to go back! you put a car into D to go forward and R to go back! you put a car into D to go forward and R to go back! you put a car into D to go forward and R to go back! you put a car into D to go forward and R to go back! you put a car into D to go forward and R to go back! you put a car into D to go forward and R to go back! you put a car into D to go forward and R to go back! you put a car into D to go forward and R to go back! you put a car into D to go forward and R to go back! you put a car into D to go forward and R to go back! you put a car into D to go forward and R to go back! you put a car into D to go forward and R to go back! you put a car into D to go forward and R to go back! you put a car into D to go forward and R to go back! you put a car into D to go forward and R to go back! you put a car into D to go forward and R to go back!

[BlueJazz]

13. North Florida. Southern Georgia. Southern Alabamee. Played around there once. No thank you.

If she's from North Florida, she probably thinks Eisenhower was a flaming, extreme, Liberal hippie.

Those good ol' boys will kill ya.

[delrem]

14. Very nice, indeed. Here "moderate" means "Republican".

I'm so gosh darned happy with how the term "moderate" can morph the smell of shit into the smell of roses. It's a miracle word that can be used ... well ... everywhere. Just everywhere. Don't y'all feel safe in your "moderate" world? I know you do.

[Triana]

15. She should be expelled from the party. Period.

She is NOT a Democrat in any way, shape, form, or fashion.

If Democrats want to prevent these veritable wolves in sheep's clothing from running as Dems when they're REALLY Republicans, they need to crack down on this shit - HARD.

[KingCharlemagne]

17. Technical Question (and comment): Does the Democratic Party have a mechanism

by which it can expel people who fail its various tests? If there is no such mechanism, I'm thinking Minority Leader Pelosi should not assign this congress person to any meaningful committee assignments. I'm not enough a wonk to know what those less-attractive assignments might be. But I'd guess there is some sort of pecking order. And she should be cast to the very bottom of said pecking order (if she cannot be expelled).

[Triana]

44. I don't know re: formal mechanism but...

...I agree - this Republican among Dem ranks should be placed at the bottom of the pecking order - marginalized to the max.

[geomon666]

16. This shit infuriates me.

[lobodons]

18. U.S. Rep. Gwen Graham of Tallahassee, who unseated Republican Steve Southerland in November

Jesus people. She won as a D in a R district. ANY votes with the D's is an upgrade. You all think Bernie Sanders could win in the F'n pan handle of Florida. Get a grip. DINO's are needed if the D's are ever gonna get the gavel back in the House.

[iamthebandfanman]

20. Well

hes a white male who wants to help poor people...
logic would dictate he would..
its unfortunate that the people of that area are so backwards and illogical to the point theyd screw their own self interest. they get what they deserve perhaps.

[madfloridian]

24. Well now...they have done it for years now. Remember getting our butts kicked...

in 2010 and 2014?

It's not working.

Do you think the ones who voted for her as a D want her to act like a Tea Party Republican?

I don't

[Jim Lane]

27. Usually I agree with your approach, but there are limits.

Recognizing that the district is conservative, I was willing to grit my teeth and tolerate her as a nominal Democrat... right down until the last line of the OP.

You write, "DINO's are needed if the D's are ever gonna get the gavel back in the House." That's exactly what I was thinking. BUT if she won't even vote for the Democratic candidate for Speaker, then she's not helping us get the gavel back.

OK, maybe this was just a symbolic protest vote, i.e., pandering to the right-wingers at home in a vote where her individual choice would make no real-world difference. Maybe, if the Democrats had precisely 218 seats, she would have fallen in line. It makes me uneasy, though. Someone like her, finding herself as the 218th vote (for Speaker and committee chairships), might decide to reach across the aisle and get things done, by voting with the Republicans in exchange for various forms of more-or-less-legal bribery for herself (perks beyond what a freshman normally gets) and/or her district (pork, pork, pork).

If these conservaDems want Party support despite voting for Wall Street and so on, the minimum requirement is that they stick with the Democratic Party on organizational votes.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

19. "working with both parties to reach common sense solutions"

IOW: Selling out.

Or maybe someone can tell me how you meet halfway with people who lied us into a war for fun and profit.

[madfloridian]

46. And those who deny climate change and take from the poor and needy...can't compromise.

Not with them. They quit compromising a long time ago.

And sitting by climate change denier David Jolly at the SOTU won't change who he is. He's teaparty.

http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2014/01/29/3220541/david-jolly-climate-change/

[Omaha Steve]

21. Freshman D in Omaha beat lee Terry R same thing

Ashford used to be an R. He is pro-choice though.

[madfloridian]

26. I think Gwen says she's pro-choice.

May even take her Dad's stance of tolerating some late-term abortions for serious reasons.

But I have Republican family members who are Catholic and would go along with that also.

[ReRe]

22. Every single one of those are Republican votes.

What she actually is is a flat out liar. She lied when she ran as a Democrat. She is not a Democrat. I bet Democrats who voted for her aren't very happy about now. Hope those Dems give her an ear full. Honestly, there should be a liar, liar pants on fire crusade against her for two years.

[KamaAina]

23. State legislators flip all the time.

Even La. Gov. Buddy Roemer did it, from D to R, of course.

But Congress? All I can think of is Sen. Jim Jeffords (VT). from D to I, caucusing with the Dems.

[d_r]

56. Richard Shelby

[KamaAina]

58. Jeffords flipped from R to I, of course.

[JI7]

25. congressional elections are usually about local matters

even many state elections.

[madfloridian]

28. Sorry but they still affect all of us.

Not just the district. She's from Tally, and it is not all that right wing. Not as much as the panhandle.

[JI7]

29. yeah, but people disagree, the only thing you can try is to go there yourself and

try to convince the people to vote in certain ways.

they get elected because people voted for them .

[madfloridian]

30. Mostly Democrats voted for her.

Probably some Republicans fed up with the tea party. But if she votes like they do, will be hard to differentiate.

[JI7]

31. the democrats in that part are often the dixiecrat types

[madfloridian]

35. Many around me are also.

I have trouble relating to the Democratic party here now. I donate only to those now whose views I know and respect.

So if she votes to please dixiecrats, what does that mean for her legacy?

[appalachiablue]

59. Family in N. FL & Melbourne are 3+ gen. Dems. from LBJ, JFK, FDR, earlier. No Dixiecrats.

[stevenleser]

51. Most of the Democrats in that area also voted for George W. Bush. They are conservative Dems.

She is probably the leftmost we can hope for in that area.

[madfloridian]

52. I am familiar with the North Florida area.

However if she votes and sits with the GOP too much she should be called out on it.

I say it is a failed policy...trying to be just like the Republicans so we can win. It did NOT work in 2010 or 2014, and it is not going to work next time.

[stevenleser]

53. I know you are. I am too.

She's not trying to be anything. She is voting the way she campaigned and she campaigned saying she would vote exactly how she believes. She specifically said she would vote this way on these bills.

[JI7]

62. And that's why she won in a district

That Obama lost both times

[project_bluebook]

32. If it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, looks like a duck, it must be a duck

or, in this instance, a republican.

[madfloridian]

48. ....

I tend to agree.

[sabrina 1]

33. Another Third Way infiltrator in our party. Hope her infiltration is short lived. She has a party,

how did she lose her way and wander into this party?

Btw, did the Leadership of the party support her?

[madfloridian]

36. Yes, she's Bob Graham's daughter. They sought her out and gave great support.

But then really she is much like other Florida Democrats. When her dad was governor, and then senator....I don't remember feeling this badly about his stances. But then times were different.

[sabrina 1]

37. If she is Bob Graham's daughter then she must know what he knows about how the Repubs lied us into

Iraq. It's inconceivable that she would feel anything but total distrust of Republicans.

How sad. I don't know much about Graham's domestic policies, but on the war crimes, the lies, the deceptions, he certainly was on the right track.

[madfloridian]

39. As I said, his governorship was years ago....but he was so respected.

He had workdays in different fields and occupations. Once he was working as something in the school where I taught. I don't remember anything but respect for him. I was not aware that any of his views affected my life in any way but good.

But then these were the pre-wedge-issue days of the right wing extremists.

You'll love these Florida memory pictures of his workdays.

https://www.floridamemory.com/photographiccollection/photo_exhibits/bobgraham/

[sabrina 1]

41. I do love them, MF. What a great way to stay connected to the people who elected him.

I wonder what he thinks of his daughter right now.

Thanks for the link, he walked the walk, it seems.

[madville]

38. I'm in her district

Her timing was good because Southerland was one of the worst candidates ever, painfully awkward campaign.

The sad part is she knows she would be out in two years when potentially a more competent opponent challenges here. She just made their job a whole lot tougher around here.

In the big picture I don't have a problem with her voting for stuff the Republicans would easily pass regardless, we need seats and unfortunately this is the way she has to play the game in order to win this seat. A Democrat way further to the left or a party line voter won't win this seat anytime soon.

My prediction is she wins the district again in 2016 with Hillary on the ticket. It will then be a battle in 2018 as the Republicans gain a few seats back that they will lose in that presidential ticket cycle.

[madfloridian]

40. As you say it is your district. I am glad a Democrat won there.

However when she votes to weaken any regulations on Wall Street that hurts us all.

When she votes for the pipeline that affects us all as well.

I would imagine a lot of her constituents would agree with me on those two points.

[madfloridian]

42. The GOP website is already mocking her. Pic of whiny baby. They will not be kind.

What really bothers me is that no matter how much she sits with them, votes with them....they will still attack her viciously.

Don't want to link to the NRCC website, but here's part of the attack on her. They posted an email she sent to constituents and then made fun of her.

Well, that didn’t take long. Earlier today, Gwen Graham sent out a campaign e-mail complaining to her supporters simply because the NRCC drew attention to her contradiction in yesterday’s edition of The Tallahassee Democrat.

Here’s a quick refresher: Graham warmly embraces Barack Obama’s plan to raise taxes on the middle class to pay for “free” community colleges (that actually comes with a $60 billion price tag). Graham then says she doesn’t support proposals by the President that raise taxes. This brings up a legitimate question as to whether or not Graham supports the middle class tax increases needed to pay for the “free” community college.

Unfortunately, her e-mail made no mention of her position. Gwen Graham can’t have it both ways. Either she supports Barack Obama’s calls for a middle class tax increase or she does not. Why won’t Graham be honest with the hardworking families of North Florida? For someone who ran for Congress as your everyday person, she’s quickly on her way to being part of the politics as usual in Washington, D.C.
NRCC Comment: “Gwen Graham is simultaneously trying to support Barack Obama’s $60 billion plan for free community college while at the same time opposing the middle class tax hike needed to pay for it. Gwen Graham needs to come clean to the people of North Florida by simply admitting her support of Barack Obama’s plan to raise taxes on the middle class to pay for $60 billion in more government spending.” -NRCC Spokesman Chris Pack

This angers me and saddens me. There is no way to make peace with this bunch of right wingers.

[madfloridian]

43. Gwen's dad, Gov Bob Graham, workday as pooper scooper in 70s Great pic.

State Senator Bob Graham during workday as a "Pooper scooper" for Ocala Breeders Sales - Ocala, Florida

Credit this photo: State Archives of Florida, Florida Memory, http://floridamemory.com/items/show/156616
(please include photographer's name when noted).

[ChosenUnWisely]

45. The Party will not move forward when people like her are even allowed to run as Democrats

She should be kicked out out of the party she is not a Democrat at all.

[hobbit709]

47. that is no democrat and anyone that gives the BS about the alternative can go fornicate themselves.

[madfloridian]

49. Will be a power presence. Assigned to several committees already.

I hope she will use that influence for the Democrats.

http://www.saintpetersblog.com/archives/177807

[FloriTexan]

54. K&R

[madfloridian]

57. Thanks.

[Takket]

60. "I've heard all the arguments about how a Democrat in a conservative district must vote as the

Republicans do"

a Democrat that votes with Republicans is a Republican. Lipstick on a pig.

[madfloridian]

61. Agreed. Plus it's not working that well come election time.

[Starry Messenger]

63. k&r

[Lochloosa]

64. This will be her last term. Tallahassee is my home town. Very politically aware and very liberal.

They won't put up with this shit.

[madfloridian]

68. Thanks I thought Tally was pretty liberal...

but wasn't sure enough to say it out loud.

[bvar22]

65. It must be something in the water.

In 2008 Debbie Wasserman Schultz refused to endorse these 3 Democrats
who had won their Primaries and had a chance to win Republican seats:

Miami-Dade Democratic Party Chair Joe Garcia

Former Hialeah Democratic Mayor Raul Martinez

Democratic businesswoman Annette Taddeo

All three had won their local Democratic Primaries, and were challenging Hard Core Republican incumbents with whom Wasserman-Schultz had become cozy.
Not only did the head of the DCCC Red to Blue Program REFUSE to endorse these Democratic challengers,
but she appeared in person at at least one (possibly more) Campaign/Fundraiser for their Republican opponents.

FL-18, FL-21, FL-25: Wasserman Schultz Wants Dem Challengers to Lose
by: James L.
Sun Mar 09, 2008 at 7:15 PM EDT
<snip>

Sensing a shift in the political climate of the traditionally solid-GOP turf of the Miami area, Democrats have lined up three strong challengers -- Miami-Dade Democratic Party chair Joe Garcia, former Hialeah Mayor Raul Martinez, and businesswoman Annette Taddeo to take on Reps. Mario Diaz-Balart, Lincoln Diaz-Balart and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, respectively.

While there is an enormous sense of excitement and optimism surrounding these candidacies, some Democratic lawmakers, including Florida Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Kendrick Meek, are all too eager to kneecap these Democratic challengers right out of the starting gate in the spirit of "comity" and "bipartisan cooperation" with their Republican colleagues:

But as three Miami Democrats look to unseat three of her South Florida Republican colleagues, Wasserman Schultz is staying on the sidelines. So is Rep. Kendrick Meek, a Miami Democrat and loyal ally to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

This time around, Wasserman Schultz and Meek say their relationships with the Republican incumbents, Reps. Lincoln Diaz-Balart and his brother Mario, and Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, leave them little choice but to sit out the three races.

"At the end of the day, we need a member who isn't going to pull any punches, who isn't going to be hesitant," Wasserman Schultz said.

Now, you'd expect this kind of bullshit from a backbencher like Alcee Hastings, but you wouldn't expect this kind of behavior from the co-chair of the DCCC's Red to Blue program, which is the position that Wasserman Schultz currently holds. Apparently, Debbie did not get Rahm's memo about doing whatever it takes to win:

The national party, enthusiastic about the three Democratic challengers, has not yet selected Red to Blue participants. But Wasserman Schultz has already told the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee that if any of the three make the cut, another Democrat should be assigned to the race.

http://www.swingstateproject.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=1537

The bloggers also are furious with Rep. Kendrick B. Meek (D-Fla.), who similarly refuses to endorse the Democratic challengers to the three Cuban American Republicans.

They are calling for Wasserman Schultz to step down from her leadership role at the DCCC. And they're not letting up, even after one Florida liberal blogger reported that the congresswoman seemed "frustrated" by the blogs and had asked to "please help get them off my back."

This prompted even harsher reaction from perhaps the most influential of the progressive political bloggers, Markos Moulitsas, a.k.a. Kos, founder of Daily Kos, who wrote on his blog Wednesday: "On so many fronts, the Republicans are standing in the way of progress, on Iraq, SCHIP, health care, fiscal responsibility, corruption, civil liberties, and so on. Those three south Florida Republicans are part of that problem. And she's (Wasserman-Schultz) going to be 'frustrated' that people demand she do her job?"

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/19/AR2008031903410_3.html


Here are Kos comments on the Wasserman-Schultz betrayal of the Democratic Party:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/03/20/480511/-DCCC-Says-Uproar-Over-DWS-Recusal-Much-Ado-About-Nothing

A lot of time has passed since 2008, but I don't take these kinds of betrayals lightly,
and don't forget them easily.

---bvar22
cursed with a memory

[DonCoquixote]

66. here is the deal

You can talk all you want to about how you cannot elect a liberal in a conservative area,however, even if that person is meant to be a place holder for a realliberal, they at least have to pretend to tow the line, and NOT sitwi th the same GOP who are pllaning to kill you with Koch money.

[benz380]

67. She'd be perfect as a cabinet member for President Hillary. nt

[harun]

69. Scum

[tallahasseedem]

70. I can't imagine that's going to go over well in Tallahassee...

It was a highly blue city when I lived there. Of course, everything has gone to hell in a hand basket in that state, so you never know!

[avebury]

71. Is she the one that Debbie Wasserman Schultz

was helping? I heard something about her doing some funny stuff in Florida that helped some Republican.