Blue Dog Democrat
In American politics, a Blue Dog Democrat is a relatively conservative Democrat in Congress. They have organized a caucus in the 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 49 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.
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.[1].
An editorial from the conservative Washington Times notes they have had success in foreign policy too:
- ... the Blue Dog Coalition ... joined with Republicans in passing a temporary FISA fix that would ensure that the National Security Agency and other intelligence agencies could monitor suspected terrorist communications overseas without having to obtain a warrant. [1]