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Boyda: “The New Center”
Published today and on newsstands this weekend, The National Journal's 2007 Vote Ranking issue is out- and Congresswoman Nancy Boyda is on the cover.
The cover story, called "The New Center," puts Boyda smack dab in the middle of members of Congress in the magazine's annual most liberal/conservative ranking.
Moving from a member on the radical extreme (Ryun as #1 most conservative) to Boyda in the very middle of the body, is a refreshing change for Kansans, who, certainly, are better represented by a centrist than by a radical on either end of the spectrum.[Rep. Tim] Mahoney has plenty of freshman classmates to keep him company at the center, including Rep. Nancy Boyda, D-Kan. She said she viewed her moderate ranking as "third-party validation" of her nonpartisan approach, which, she emphasized, is "not based on ideology or beholden to a party."
"Kansans don't get involved in the politics," Boyda contended. "They want to know how the issues affect them." She is so independent that she has refused to join the House's moderate "Blue Dog" Democrats and has turned down entreaties to participate in party programs to promote her re-election. "I told [House Democratic Caucus Chairman] Rahm [Emanuel] in no uncertain language that I didn't care what he thought about how I should run my campaign," Boyda said. "I told him to leave me alone, and I won't tell him how to run [other] campaigns. After three weeks, he learned to leave me alone."
Boyda's centrism is all the more compelling because she defeated GOP Rep. Jim Ryun, who was the No. 1 most conservative House member in NJ's 2006 vote ratings. Ryun is trying to regain the seat this year, but he faces a primary challenge from a more moderate Republican.
Congresswoman Nancy Boyda: 203rd most liberal, 227th most conservative. Exactly where her district is: exactly in the middle of the country.
[Update: Congresswoman Boyda's office included the following information in a press release sent out announcing the cover story and we wanted to pass it along:
(Please note that the mention of the Blue Dog Coalition is slightly inaccurate. Nancy did apply for membership in the Blue Dog Coalition early last year, and at the time the Blue Dogs had reached their membership limit. Since then Nancy has found that not being a Blue Dog has helped to preserve her independence.)
We think the other blog covering this race needs to issue a retraction..but, well, we know they won't.
11 March 2008
at 11:42 p.m.
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conservative (Anonymous) says…
If you wish for me to issue a retraction please inform me where I got my information wrong.
Here is the Press release when Boyda did not get into the Blue Dog Coalition.
I would like to point out the line “The Blue Dogs are dedicated to a core set of beliefs that transcend partisan politics, including a deep commitment to the financial stability and national security of the United States”
“I would like to join my fellow Co-Chairs in congratulating the newly elected members of the Blue Dog Coalition,” said Rep. Mike Ross, Blue Dog Co-Chair for Communications. “These individuals are true fiscal conservatives who are willing to work across party lines to protect the financial stability and national security of the United States. They will undoubtedly strengthen our efforts to bring back accountability and responsibility to the fiscal practices of the federal government.”
During their annual retreat, in order to ensure that the Blue Dogs remain a cohesive and effective group, the members of the Blue Dog Coalition implemented a membership cap that is equal to twenty percent of the Democratic Caucus. This floating cap will fluctuate with each new Congress and ensure that the Blue Dog membership will remain an influential and moderate voice within the caucus for fiscal responsibility and strong national defense.
The fiscally conservative Democratic Blue Dog Coalition was formed in 1995 with the goal of representing the center of the House of Representatives and appealing to the mainstream values of the American public. The Blue Dogs are dedicated to a core set of beliefs that transcend partisan politics, including a deep commitment to the financial stability and national security of the United States. There are now 47 members of the Blue Dog Coalition. For more information, visit the Blue Dog website at http://www.house.gov/ross/BlueDogs/. ”
12 March 2008
at 9:04 a.m.
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shimane (Anonymous) says…
Nancy Boyda also just signed on to the National Political Do Not Contact Registry and agreed not to robo call voters who sign up to stop robo calls at StopPoliticalCalls.org.
She is to be commended on her leadership on this issue that is truely non-partisan.
As I testified at the U.S. Senate 2.27 robo calls are an epidemic and are invading the privacy of All American Voters.
Our members are taking a stand and saying enough is enough at the National Political Do Not Contact Registry at StopPoliticalCalls.org.
Here is a quote from a member this morning:
“I find it very frustrating… I tend to get calls at the WORST time. I have a one year old daughter, and it NEVER fails that the phone will ring when I put her down for a nap or for bed. Also my vote is private… so who do you think you are calling with a survey to find out who I am voting for!!! Stop calling me.”
Regards,
Shaun Dakin
CEO and Founder
http://www.stoppoliticalcalls.org