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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 Dogs 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]]".