The story below, from the The Hill, talks about an issue that concerns me both as a student of politics and as an American. In recent years, the issue of party loyalty has become such a problem that more middle of the road members of Congress, like Collin Peterson of Minnesota, are such a dwindling minority. Peterson voted for the GOP Medicare package which included a prescription drug benefit. Peterson district, near the border with Canada had apparently instructed him to vote for the measure. But now, when Peterson's seniority puts him in line to be the ranking member of hte Agriculture Committee, the Democrats in the House Leadership, all of whom are much more liberal than Peterson, have rebuked Peterson for not being partisan enough.
This troubling trend of strongly enforced party discipline is just another sypmtom of how much Congress no longer truly represents America. Peterson's district is a middle of the political road district. Peterson himself, while a Democrat, is a middle of the road Representative. Peterson appears to have remembered who he works for, the people of his district, not Nancy Pelosi and Steny Hoyer.
If the Democrats are looking to win in the future, getting rid of people like Peterson who can present a moderate face to vital constituencies of exurban and rural America, is not the way to do.
Good Luck Congressman Peterson, I hope you get your seat.
Leaders crack whip on loyalty
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