A recently released Associated Press article on the Operation Counterweight race between David Rouzer (R) and Mike McIntyre (D) has echoed a common assertion regarding Mike McIntyre’s political status.
A member of his party’s conservative Blue Dog caucus, McIntyre casually quotes Scripture, rails against illegal immigrants, touts his votes against “Obamacare” and says he’s never met a tax cut he didn’t like.
It’s interesting to see what qualifies as Blue Dog. Sure, he voted against Obamacare, but is that the threshold we should be forced to measure political competence at? McIntyre knows that voting for something like Obamacare would not pass in his district, even before it was redrawn, and it would effectively end any hopes of his reelection.
Looking at McIntyre’s voting record when Democrats were enjoying popularity reveals a very different picture than he would like his constituents to believe. As David Rouzer, points out, when McIntyre’s feet weren’t being held to the fire by angry voters, his so-called political independence fell in lock step with the Democratic party leaders.
From 2007-2010, McIntyre voted with then House Speaker, Nancy Pelosi, 90% of the time. Here’s the Rouzer campaign’s ad on McIntyre’s ties to Pelosi when she was Speaker of the House.
Even with that record, McIntyre still fancies himself Blue Dog Democrat. But the facts would seem to indicate that McIntyre only drifts toward the middle when its politically necessary for him to do so.
Moreover, in a situation reminiscent to the one Lee Anderson is facing in Georgia’s 12th district, David Rouzer’s opponent is reluctant to reveal who he’ll be voting for in the Presidential election.
In the end, however, it could be the presidential race that most influences whether McIntyre returns to Washington. Asked if he plans to vote to re-elect Obama, who polls say is unpopular in his district, the Democratic congressman refused to answer.“I’m not making any comments on that,” McIntyre said. “I’m running my own race.”
The “I’m not telling” excuse has become a tired refrain.
Just as it’s time for a change in the highest office in the land, it’s also time for a change in many of these Congressional districts where entrenched incumbents have become willing to do what’s right by the people only when their jobs are on the line. It is clear that NC-7 is one of those districts.
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