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Apr 3 2009, 9:21 am by Marc Ambinder

Dem Loyalty Triumphs; WH Not Mad At Bayh, Nelson

After all the sturm und drang from left side of the party, how many fewer House and Senate Democrats voted against President Obama's budget than against President Clinton's first budget? Democrats lost only 20 members in the House this year versus 41 who defected from Clinton.  Two senators -- Evan Bayh and Bill Nelson -- voted no this year, versus six who went against Clinton. The upshot: a very loyal, focused, Democratic Party that is moving mostly in lockstep with the President.  BTW: senior administration officials tell my colleague Ron Brownstein they have no trouble with Nelson and Bayh voting no given their support for earlier measures and given their electoral situation.

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Comments (8)

Buzz Feedback

Evan Bayh's greatest ambition is to be King for Life in Indiana. As for Nelson, it's fitting that he holds Roman Hruska's seat.

Aaron

On the other hand, Greg Sargent pointed out that something different may be going on with Evan Bayh:

"Obama’s political operation is urging voters in Indiana to call their members of Congress — including Dem Senator Evan Bayh — to say where they stand on Obama’s budget."

akcoyote

Interesting. When the Dems stand together, it's loyalty. When the republicans stand together, they're being obstructionists. Does anyone else notice the disparity?

maxpower (Replying to: akcoyote)

[/q]"Democrats lost only 20 members in the House this year versus 41 who defected from Clinton... very loyal, focused, Democratic Party that is moving mostly in lockstep with the President" [/q]

It's a comparison between the Clinton congress vs. Obama congress. Don't miss the forest trying to aim for those trees.

freaktown

what exactly is even bayh's "electoral situation"? the president won his state and john cornyn himself (head of the NRSCC) said that they probably wouldn't be targeting Bayh in 2010...

freaktown (Replying to: freaktown)

i think ezra klein has the best analysis i've seen as to why nelson and bayh voted against the budget.

Because the budget only requires 50 votes, their opposition didn't seriously imperil the President's budget. If eight more Democrats had signed on, it would have, and there would have been consequences. But the consequences of ineffectual opposition are all positive. Bayh and Nelson have elevated their status as the Democrats willing to imperil the President's priorities. They've assured that the media will say the names "Bayh and Nelson" a lot. They've secured themselves a steady stream of requests to appear on news shows and many calls begging for a quote. They have further cemented their status as power brokers in a closely divided Senate and media stars in a conflict-hungry news environment. It's really a very good day for them.
musicguy595

Ben Nelson voted against the budget, not Bill Nelson.

mattw

Whatever -- they screwed up and let Lieberman run free, so now it'll be milquetoast season for any bill or nominee that's even a slight challenge. Kiss climate change legislation goodbye. And god forbid we wind up having to fill a Supreme Court vacancy!

Since Bayh wants to crap on the budget while slipping in a tax cut for dead billionaires, I'd suggest that the reconciliation committee search for the missing money in Indiana's share.