Jobs

Blue Dogs Cool To Obama Jobs Vision

Brian Beutler | September 14, 2011, 1:29PM

Rep. Heath Schuler (D-NC)

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this article incorrectly attributed remarks by Rep. Kurt Schrader to Rep. John Barrow. TPM regrets the error.

Blue Dog Democrats are pushing members of the joint deficit Super Committee to reduce the deficit significantly more than they've been tasked with. But they don't want to talk about President Obama's jobs plan. And beneath the surface its clear that there are major differences between the White House and conservative members of his party.

Leaders of the Blue Dog caucus held a press conference in the Capitol Visitor's Center Wednesday to push the Super Committee to "go big." But thanks to an explicit efforts by Democrats and the administration the deficit panel's work has become linked to the idea of job creation, and Obama's jobs bill. But the Blue Dogs didn't really want to talk about it.

After the press conference I asked Rep. Heath Shuler (D-NC) whether he agreed with CBO chief Doug Elmendorf -- and by extension Obama -- that the wisest economic path involves near term stimulus followed by long-run fiscal restraint.

Read more »

Jim Cooper

NRCC Robocall Targets Dem Congressman From Tennessee Blue District

Eric Kleefeld | December 24, 2009, 11:51AM

Rep. Jim Cooper (D-TN)

The NRCC is now expanding their 2010 playing field, with a new robocall targeting Rep. Jim Cooper (D-TN) and calling him an out-of-touch liberal -- which may seem odd, considering he's from a blue district.

"Jim Cooper has been in Congress for over seven years, and has lost touch with what Tennessee workers are going through," a woman says in the robocall, provided to us by a reader. "Unemployment in Tennessee is 10.3%, but Jim Cooper spent 2009 helping liberal Speaker Nancy Pelosi pass a massive government takeover of health care that will increase costs and could lower choices."

Tennessee a red state that offers the GOP some solid pick-up opportunities in 2010, such as the retirements of Democratic Reps. John Tanner and Bart Gordon, in districts that were carried by John McCain. However, Cooper's district is one of two solidly Democratic districts in the state. It voted for Barack Obama by 56%-43%, and for John Kerry by 52%-47% before that.

The Republicans are making a big push to pick up Democratic seats in the South in 2010. But could even this one be a good target?

Click To Play

Health Care

Blue Dog Jim Cooper In Online Shouting Match With Markos "Kos" Moulitsas

Eric Kleefeld | August 24, 2009, 3:06PM

Rep. Jim Cooper (D-TN)

Blue Dog Congressman Jim Cooper (D-TN) is now in a public feud with Daily Kos publisher Markos "Kos" Moulitsas, after Kos commissioned a Research 2000 poll that ended up showing Cooper's Democratic constituents disapproving of his actions on health care -- and the Republicans approving of him in this area.

Said Kos: "There is certainly an opening for a strong primary challenge. Cooper isn't the lock many (including him) believe him to be. And why are the natives restless? His long record of obstructing health care reform surely ranks among the reasons. The public option polls strongly in Cooper's district, yet he doesn't seem to care"

Cooper fired back in a statement, attacking the reliability and fundamental accuracy of the poll -- saying that Kos is wrong to even accuse him of opposing a public option. And while he's at it, there's stuff Cooper likes in the poll, too.

Read more »