Beginning last month, I started researching candidates from my district house of representatives, FL-12. I quickly realized that as in many places around the country, there is a blue dog and then there is a real progressive. Well here in FL-12, the blue dog is Lori Edwards. She is the current supervisor of elections in Polk County. She decided to wait until Adam Putnam retired and run this year. The progressive candidate is Doug Tudor, who ran against Putnam in the 2008 elections and did formidably well considering our district and the $$ pull that Putnam has. Nevertheless, Lori Edwards is running this year in the primaries, and has the support of other anti-liberals such as Debbie Wasserman Schultz. So I began asking questions, through their websites, about where they stood in health care reform. What shocked me was Edwards' response. Then again, it didn't, she's a blue-dog.
Last month I had asked in Mrs. Edwards' website what her stance was on healthcare and public option specifically. I hadn't had the time to pass it on, but this is some of what they replied to me:
"Given that the public option is certain not to be included in any final bill that could be signed by the President, Lori has not taken a position on that individual piece of possible health insurance reform."
In other words, its not politically expedient for me to be for the public option, so I won't be for or against it. This is the blue-dog mentality, what will get me elected? That's why I'm proud to support Doug Tudor, a real progressive that is going to work for working families all across our county. Vote Tudor! And please if you can donate to his campaign, Blue America has endorsed him as well. Donate!