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A '''Blue Dog Democrat''' is a relatively conservative [[Democrat]] in [[Congress]], as opposed to the [[leftist]] Democrat leadership.  They have organized a caucus in the [[U.S. House of Representatives|House]], and usually vote together on fiscal issues.  Many come from districts that have been voted Republican in the past, so the Blue Dogs make an effort to appeal to [[conservative]] voters.

A '''Blue Dog Democrat''' is a relatively conservative [[Democrat]] in [[Congress]], as opposed to the [[leftist]] Democrat leadership.  They have organized a caucus in the [[U.S. House of Representatives|House]], and usually vote together on fiscal issues.  Many come from districts that have been voted Republican in the past, so the Blue Dogs make an effort to appeal to [[conservative]] voters.

The Blue Dog Coalition is a caucus of 52 conservative House Democrats. Leaders include  Rep. [[Mike Ross]] of [[Arkansas]], Rep. [[John Tanner]] of [[Tennessee]], and Rep. [[Allen Boyd]], a farmer from the Florida Panhandle. The [[Obama Administration]] tried to mollify them, realizing they have the power to defeat legislation if they vote with the [[Republicans]] in the House. The health care bill--a major item on the Obama agenda--was only able to pass with their support, and negotiations for a compromise that would satisfy the Blue Dogs went underway in late July, 2009. Ultimately, Obama was able to win the Blue Dog's support by signing a misleading and loophole- full executive order supposedly banning the federal funding of abortion.

The Blue Dog Coalition is a caucus of 52 conservative House Democrats. Leaders include  Rep. [[Mike Ross]] of [[Arkansas]], Rep. [[John Tanner]] of [[Tennessee]], and Rep. [[Allen Boyd]], a farmer from the Florida Panhandle. The [[Obama Administration]] tried to mollify them, realizing they have the power to defeat legislation if they vote with the [[Republicans]] in the House. The health care bill—a major item on the Obama agenda—was only able to pass with their support, and negotiations for a compromise that would satisfy the Blue Dogs went underway in late July, 2009. Ultimately, Obama was able to win the Blue Dog's support by signing a misleading and loophole- full executive order supposedly banning the federal funding of abortion.

Founded in 1994, the Blue Dog Caucus took its name from their view that the Democratic Party's liberal establishment had "choked blue" conservative voices in the party, from the drawings of blue hounds by Louisiana artist George Rodrigue which graced the walls of offices where they met, and as wordplay on "[[Yellow Dog Democrat]]".

Founded in 1994, the Blue Dog Caucus took its name from their view that the Democratic Party's liberal establishment had "choked blue" conservative voices in the party, from the drawings of blue hounds by Louisiana artist George Rodrigue which graced the walls of offices where they met, and as wordplay on "[[Yellow Dog Democrat]]".

Most recently they were successful in the 2006 and 2008 Congressional elections.<ref> see  [http://voteview.com/hou110.htm analysis]</ref>.

Most recently they were successful in the 2006 and 2008 Congressional elections.<ref>see  [http://voteview.com/hou110.htm analysis]</ref>

An editorial from the conservative  ''[[Washington Times]]'' notes they have had success in foreign policy too:

An editorial from the conservative  ''[[Washington Times]]'' notes they have had success in foreign policy too:

==Criticism==

==Criticism==

Most of the attacks on the Blue Dogs come from the left, as liberals complain about the betrayal of party principles.  However some attacks on the Blue Dogs have come from the right with complaints they are not conservative enough on every issue.  The [[Heritage Foundation]] and [[Human Events]] have compiled a list of the 16 top issues before the 111th Congress and scored the Blue Dogs on their votes. <ref>[http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=32898&s=rcmc Blue Dog Dems Report Card Human Events, July 29, 2009]</ref> What they found was that the Blue Dog Coalition has voted in lockstep with liberal Rep. [[Steny Hoyer]] 78% of the time.

Most of the attacks on the Blue Dogs come from the left, as liberals complain about the betrayal of party principles.  However some attacks on the Blue Dogs have come from the right with complaints they are not conservative enough on every issue.  The [[Heritage Foundation]] and [[Human Events]] have compiled a list of the 16 top issues before the 111th Congress and scored the Blue Dogs on their votes.<ref>[http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=32898&s=rcmc Blue Dog Dems Report Card Human Events, July 29, 2009]</ref> What they found was that the Blue Dog Coalition has voted in lockstep with liberal Rep. [[Steny Hoyer]] 78% of the time.

*[[SCHIP]]- 96% of all Blue Dogs voted in favor

*[[SCHIP]]- 96% of all Blue Dogs voted in favor

==Legislation to defund [[Planned Parenthood]]==

==Legislation to defund [[Planned Parenthood]]==

The 2009 measure offered by Republican Mike Pence to stop taxpayer dollars from being used to fund [[abortion]]s failed and funding was kept in place. Only 12 Blue Dogs voted with conservatives to remove funding. <ref>[http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2009/roll643.xml#Y%23Y FINAL VOTE RESULTS FOR ROLL CALL 643 House.gov]</ref>

The 2009 measure offered by Republican Mike Pence to stop taxpayer dollars from being used to fund [[abortion]]s failed and funding was kept in place. Only 12 Blue Dogs voted with conservatives to remove funding.<ref>[http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2009/roll643.xml#Y%23Y FINAL VOTE RESULTS FOR ROLL CALL 643 House.gov]</ref>

==Legislation to defund [[ACORN]]==

==Legislation to defund [[ACORN]]==

Of the seventy-five failed Democrat votes in the September 17, 2009 House resolution defunding ACORN, surprisingly only one Blue-dog Democrat stood with ACORN. <ref>[http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/blogs/beltway-confidential/House-votes-to-cut-off-ACORN-funding-59647917.html House votes to cut off funding, but 75 stand by ACORN, Wshington Examiner, September 17, 2009]</ref>

Of the seventy-five failed Democrat votes in the September 17, 2009 House resolution defunding ACORN, surprisingly only one Blue-dog Democrat stood with ACORN.<ref>[http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/blogs/beltway-confidential/House-votes-to-cut-off-ACORN-funding-59647917.html House votes to cut off funding, but 75 stand by ACORN, Wshington Examiner, September 17, 2009]</ref>

==Blue Dogs For [[ObamaCare]]==

==Blue Dogs For [[ObamaCare]]==

The following Blue Dog's November 7th, 2009 votes for a nationalized healthcare proved that in reality, they were [[liberal deceit | fake]] conservatives and in fact statist [[big government]] supporters; <ref>[http://conservativeblogscentral.blogspot.com/2009/11/these-are-blue-dogs-who-vote-for-pelosi.html THESE ARE THE BLUE DOGS WHO VOTE FOR PELOSI CARE, Conservative Blogs Central, November 8, 2009]</ref>

The following Blue Dog's November 7, 2009 votes for a nationalized healthcare proved that in reality, they were [[liberal deceit|fake]] conservatives and in fact statist [[big government]] supporters;<ref>[http://conservativeblogscentral.blogspot.com/2009/11/these-are-blue-dogs-who-vote-for-pelosi.html THESE ARE THE BLUE DOGS WHO VOTE FOR PELOSI CARE, Conservative Blogs Central, November 8, 2009]</ref>

Arcuri, Mike (NY-24)

Arcuri, Mike (NY-24)

[[Kirsten Gillibrand]] was a Blue Dog member before being appointed [[Hillary Clinton]]'s seat in the [[Senate]].

[[Kirsten Gillibrand]] was a Blue Dog member before being appointed [[Hillary Clinton]]'s seat in the [[Senate]].

[[Parker Griffith]] (AL-05) was a Blue Dog member before switching to the [[GOP]] on December 22, 2009. <ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/12/22/rep-parker-griffith-switch-parties-republican/ Freshman Alabama Congressman to Switch Parties to Join GOP, Fox News, December 22, 2009]</ref>

[[Parker Griffith]] (AL-05) was a Blue Dog member before switching to the [[GOP]] on December 22, 2009.<ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/12/22/rep-parker-griffith-switch-parties-republican/ Freshman Alabama Congressman to Switch Parties to Join GOP, Fox News, December 22, 2009]</ref>

==See also==

==See also==

* [[Reagan Democrat]]s, voted for Reagan

* [[Reagan Democrat]]s, voted for Reagan

====references====

====References====

<references/>

<references/>

==External Links==

==External links==

* [http://ross.house.gov/BlueDog/ The Blue Dog Coalition Website]

* [http://ross.house.gov/BlueDog/ The Blue Dog Coalition Website]

[[Category:Conservatives]]

[[Category:Conservatives]]

[[Category:Obama Presidency]]

[[Category:Obama Presidency]]

[[Category: United States Political Terms]]

[[Category:United States Political Terms]]

[[Category:Conservative Democrats]]

[[Category:Conservative Democrats]]