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Walt Minnick and the Democrats’ Dilemma

Posted by PETE ABEL, Managing Editor in Politics.
Apr 7th, 2009 | Comments

Walt Minnick was one of the 22 budget-dissenting Democrats I wrote about last week. Today, Politico profiles him, shedding light on the reasons for Minnick’s resistance to the Obama administration.

Minnick is one face of the Democrats’ larger governing dilemma, which Sean Trende reviews, in length, at RCP. Trende’s conclusion:

Obama still has a number of members from conservative districts who will have to watch their backs with their constituents. Until Democrats find a way to address the structural problems described [in this article] — and are willing to shed some members of their coalition in the process — they will continue to have a difficult time governing. In the meantime Obama will have to set an agenda that can be sold in some Republican-leaning states and districts, or risk having that agenda derailed.

Translation: To succeed, Obama will need to adapt some of Bill Clinton’s “New Democrat” instincts.

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elrod

Except it isn't true. Walt Minnick and other vulnerable Democrats can vote against Obama's plans without affecting the final outcome one bit. Meanwhile, Minnick can introduce all sorts of regional and less controversial legislation that he can show off to the locals. Southern Dems have been doing this for decades. As long as the Democratic majority is large enough, the party can allow dissent among a minority.

CStanley

That works in the short run, Elrod, but soon the voters in those districts notice that their moderate Dems are casting these votes which have no effect, because the party passes left wing legislation over their objections.

And then the majority starts to shrink, and then the moderates in the party are gone.

GeorgeSorwell

From RCP:
Until Democrats find a way to address the structural problems described [in this article] — and are willing to shed some members of their coalition in the process — they will continue to have a difficult time governing.

Is it really easier to govern with a smaller, more ideologically narrow group of legislators?

I'm going to guess it's not.

We'll see.

bgarland

Minnick's election was a fluke. Idaho is overwhelmingly Republican. He knows that if he doesn't conduct himself within Idaho's conservative principles (which makes Idaho one of the best places to live in the country and a major draw for California refugees) he'll be out in a heartbeat. He be out anyway as just having a D after his name contributes to the Democrat majority in the House.

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