Democrats say no liberal plans in next Congress

[oberliner]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Three Democratic congressmen who are about to take important leadership posts said on Sunday they plan to pass popular legislation blocked by Republicans but would refrain from pushing some of the most controversial elements on the liberal agenda.

The three, appearing on Fox News Sunday, are among the most liberal Democrats who will take over key committee chairmanships when Democrats regain control of the House of Representatives in January.

Rep. Barney Frank (news, bio, voting record) of Massachusetts, who will take over the U.S. House of Representatives committee that covers banking and other financial institutions, mentioned raising the minimum wage, providing cheaper drug coverage for the elderly and providing more affordable housing and help with college tuition as the focus of Democratic legislation.

"Our first efforts are going to be to do those things that I think the mainstream of America wants," Frank said. "Some things have become liberal because the right wingers who control the Republican party have abandoned them to us."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20061126/pl_nm/congress_agenda_dc

[Nozebro]

1. It would be nice if they were simply using words to prevent a firestorm,

but unfortunately, they aren't. How could anyone realistically expect otherwise? Regardless of party affiliation, the paymasters are the same for all involved. That is not going to change anytime soon and neither is the march towards a totally right-wing America. It may go a tad slower for a while, but that's about all we can hope for.

[WHEN CRABS ROAR]

2. Amen to that.

They are still corporate reps.

[BrewerJohn]

3. While that may be true,

I read that story as a total hit job, starting with the headline, which is not even implied by
any of the quotes they used.

Dingell talks about not taking extreme positions...somehow this gets translated into not taking liberal positions?

[KingFlorez]

4. I'm not seeing what the headline says

The writer took what Dingell said and equated extremism with liberalism.

[fujiyama]

5. What the hell are "liberal plans"

These headlines are so poorly written.

[Minnesota_Lib]

7. That was my first thought as well. Sounds like the Yahoo headline was written by a freeper.

[oberliner]

11. Reuters carries the same headline on its website

http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=topNews&storyID=2006-11-26T182304Z_01_N26411308_RTRUKOC_0_US-CONGRESS-AGENDA.xml&WTmodLoc=NewsArt-C2-NextArticle-1

[Radical Activist]

6. What was all that crap about the liberal House members who would chair committees?

You know, the posts about how we had to vote for conservative Democrats because of all the liberals that would get in power. Yeah, I guess that all goes out the window now.
The only way to effect change is electing a progressive majority, not a conservative Democratic one.

[liberaldemocrat7]

8. If you can't elect a progressive majority boycott their "Paymasters"

Pressure the companies that give money to conservatives with boycotts until they get congress to pass progressive legislation.

[DaveinMD]

9. plenty of liberal things will get done

raising the minumum wage.
Phasing the tax cuts for the super wealthy
Reforming the give away prx drug bill
Making college more afforable for everyone. And this is just the start.

[Zenlitened]

10. Minimum wage. Affordable health care and housing. College help for the middle class.

Nope, nothing liberal there. Sorry folks. :eyes:


If you have a moment, visit the Reuters "Contact us Page" and click on "Contact a Reuters Editor." I'm sure they'd be grateful for some advice on how to write headlines that actually match the content of the story:

http://today.reuters.com/HelpAndInfo/ContactUs.aspx

:think:

[nadinbrzezinski]

12. Just sent this

no liberal plans in the next congress....

Was that headline writen with an agenda in mind?

Let me see, revisit Medicare Part D is not liberal? How about raising the minimum wage?

These days, oversight is liberal.... or are we still on the liberal=bad mantra that the right wing you fear loves?