It seems to me like the only thing that the Blue Dogs ever fear is retribution from the business community. My theory on this is that they mainly represent poorer, rural districts and cannot raise enough money from regular folks to offset what the business community can bring in for their opponents. So, they do whatever the business community wants, not so much to get their contributions as to deny them to any prospective opponent. It seems like as good a theory as any, but you have to wonder why they wouldn’t leap at the chance to restrict the power of corporate America to give limitless undisclosed contributions.
So in a huddle with rank-and-file members this morning, Democratic leaders told Blue Dogs they should ignore threats from the bill’s chief opponent, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber endorses the occasional Democrat, albeit infrequently, but leaders made the case that Blue Dogs aren’t likely to be rewarded by the usually pro-GOP group for blocking the bill.
“The Chamber is playing hardball to derail this bill,” a Democratic leadership aide told TPMDC. “Why give them an upper hand in elections by not forcing them to disclose who is funding their ads?”
Leaders also have been telling members privately they should be on the same side as President Obama, “not Karl Rove and Rush Limbaugh,” the aide said. The bill would require CEOs to stand by their ads, in addition to other transparency measures, and Democrats believe it will be an election-year victory to show that they side with the people while GOP tries to protect corporations.
The DISCLOSE Act passed the House, barely. Some progressives opposed it because it provides an exemption for the National Rifle Association.