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A '''Blue Dog Democrat''' is a relatively conservative [[Democrat]] in [[Congress]], as opposed to the main-stream [[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]] has 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--can only pass with their support, and negotiations for a compromise that will satisfy the Blue Dogs were underway in late July, 2009.

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]] has 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--can only pass with their support, and negotiations for a compromise that will satisfy the Blue Dogs were underway in late July, 2009.