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Politics : The Obama - Clinton Disaster -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: DuckTapeSunroof who wrote (15236)	7/12/2009 8:20:23 PM
From: Hope Praytochange	1 Recommendation Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 103300

GOP Lures Six Democrats to Fight Obama Agenda The biggest threat to President Barack Obama's agenda on healthcare and climate change could come not from Republicans but from six centrist Democrats in the Senate. GOP leaders have been reaching out to the half-dozen legislators, and any defections from the party line could cost Democrats the 60-vote, filibuster-proof majority they achieved in the Senate with Tuesday's swearing in of Al Franken. "The Democratic Conference has 60 votes, if they're all here, and if they are straight party-line that means that Republicans cannot stop legislation," said Senate Republican Whip Jon Kyl of Arizona. But "if a couple of Democrats don't vote with their party, then it doesn't matter that they have 60 votes," Kyl noted. The potential defectors include Sen. Ben Nelson, a pro-business Democrat from Nebraska; Sen. Joe Lieberman, an independent Democrat from Connecticut; and Sen. Mary Landrieu of Louisiana, according to The Hill newspaper. Lieberman has indicated he might vote against Obama's healthcare reform effort. Nelson has expressed opposition to the healthcare proposal and is against the cap-and-trade program to limit carbon emissions. Landrieu is expected to oppose both initiatives. The other three Democratic senators being wooed by the GOP are Evan Bayh of Indiana, and Blanche Lincoln and Mark Pryor of Arkansas. Bayh opposed the $410 billion omnibus spending bill and joined Nelson in voting against the budget. Lincoln and Pryor have both voiced concern over the Employee Free Choice Act, a top priority of labor unions that is supported by most Democrats, The Hill reported. Pryor has said: “Liberal groups need to understand that we are not elected to represent the president. We’re elected to represent our states." Ron Bonjean, Kyl's former chief of staff, told The Hill: "Creating bipartisan coalitions on key issues is important to prevent Democrat legislative victories. Getting Democratic moderates is extremely important."