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| Griffith says he's staying a 'Blue Dog' |
| 2009-09-07 |
| He's hopeful Pelosi will discuss issues 'in a rational way' During the August congressional recess, Parker Griffith got an earful from his constituents about what they want - and more specifically, don't want - in health care reform. What he heard propelled the freshman Democrat to publicly censure his party and its leadership for trying to "shove" a government-run health insurance program "down the throats of America." At health care town hall meetings in Florence and Athens and in one newspaper interview, Griffith said he wouldn't again vote for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., because she's "divisive." He even said if she didn't approve of or understand his more conservative stance on health care, he had a mental health gift certificate he'd share with her. Shortly after he was sworn into office, Pelosi put Griffith on the science and technology, transportation, and small business committees. All are crucial to the 5th District, the congressman said, and that's why he voted for her as speaker. But Griffith said he's not afraid that his "honest and candid" remarks about Pelosi will cause him to lose committee slots. He said he has the support of the chairmen, and "I've brought a lot to the table." Still, the "Blue Dog Democrat" admits that some members of the "Democratic leadership" have called him since his remarks made it into the national media. He wouldn't say who has called him, but he said he told them "my response was a reasoned comment." "My constituents feel we need to come together as Americans," Griffith said in an interview Friday. "If the Democratic leadership can't do that, perhaps we should look at altering that." None of the Democrat leaders, he said, have asked him to consider changing parties. And he said he's not thinking about it, either: "I am a Blue Dog Democrat." There are a total of 52 conservative Blue Dogs in the House. According to a survey by the Pew Research Center for the People released last week, just 37 percent of Americans have a favorable opinion of Congress. "I'm hopeful Speaker Pelosi will see this as an opportunity to discuss things like health care, education and illegal immigration in a rational way," Griffith said. Griffith, a retired doctor, said the eventual health care bill won't be 100 percent of what anyone wants: "There will have to be a lot of compromise." But he said he will not veer from his opposition to a public option or from his support for patients being allowed to choose their own doctor and medical treatments. |
| Posted by:Fred |