Who is Evan Bayh and why shouldn't I like him?

[IranianDemocrat]

?

[goobergunch]

1. Senator Evan Bayh (D-Indiana)

Chairman of the Democratic Leadership Council.

Elected Senator in 1998 (64%-35%). Formerly Governor of Indiana (1988-1996) and IN Secretary of State (1986-1988). Term up 2004 (CALL: SAFE DEM).

2002 ADA Rating: 70
2002 ACU Rating: 30

---

People don't like him because he's the head of the DLC.

[tjdee]

2. Some people think he's too conservative.

Apparently, Howard Dean isn't one of those people, because he used to escort Mrs. Bayh as his "surrogate wife" around to different governor functions while Evan and Judy stayed home.

But then, just cause you like one half of a couple doesn't mean you like the other half. And, really, that's not a reflection on Dean's feelings toward Bayh's politics.

Anyway, I don't think you should like or not Bayh. His voting record is what it is, but it's not like the guy's a Republican.

[IranianDemocrat]

3. Is he as moderate as Lieberman?

?

[goobergunch]

4. IMHO he's to the right of Lieberman (n/t)

[tjdee]

6. I would agree with this. n/t

[SmileyBoy]

7. No, I think Lieberman is more to the right.

Look at Bayh's record on social issues. He's more right than Howard Dean (who's place on the political spectrum is coincidentally identical to mine), IMO. But he's more left than Lieberman or Zell Miller. I'd say Bayh's on the 40%-left mark.

[ButterflyBlood]

48. I don't see how Bayh is right of Lieberman on social issues

He did vote for the partial birth abortion ban and signed a bill as governor that requires "counseling" sessions for any woman before getting an abortion. Lieberman opposes any abortion restriction.

[IndianaGreen]

9. Bayh has voted to restrict abortion rights

Lieberman has not done that, therefore Bayh is to the right of Lieberman. Bayh is also to the right of our senior Senator, Dick Lugar.

[NewJerseyDem]

18. He isn't as conservative as Lugar

Even though Lugar is a pretty good republican, Lugar is only moderate on a few issues. On most fiscal issues Lugar is in lock step with the republicans. Bayh is a moderate democrat, and often votes with the democrats.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

22. How Is He To The Right Of Richard Lugar

Show me an ACLU rating, a ADA rating, a ACU rating, a AFL-CIO rating where Richard Lugar is more liberal than Evan Bayh.

[NewJerseyDem]

5. He definitely is

He is probably more moderate than Lieberman. Bayh voted for the senate version of the Bush tax cuts this year. However, Bayh didn't vote for the final version.

[Warpy]

12. I agree completely.

He is what he is, and he is representing his constituency. Indiana, like it or not, is a conservative state, mostly due to the influx of people fleeing the grinding poverty in the South from the 30s through the 70s.

I don't, however, think that kind of conservative thinking should dominate the Democratic Party.

But then, who listens to me?

[rock]

8. He's my senator

Pure politician. And I mean that in the worst way.

On edit: there's a good way?

[diamondsoul]

38. Mine too, and I agree completely.

He's the only congress-member that I've never gotten a response from when I write them about legislative issues. I'll vote a third party candidate before I vote for Bayh again.

[Gloria]

10. On TV recently, he's been very annoying as he supports the Iraq

adventure and questions those who don't. He snivels. He comes across as a cold-fish. I once thought of him as an up and comer among the younger Dems...but he really turns me off now. He could pass for a Repug, the way he talks on TV...like a machine. And in recent appearances, he doesn't seem much different on the war topic.

[diamondsoul]

45. Agreed.

I actually thought he was decent as Governor for the most part, and prior to that he seemed like an average Democrat with some compassion. These days he just doesn't care.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

11. Every Time I See Evan Bayh Trashed

I have to laugh.


Maybe Evan Bayh hugs the center and urges the party to do so because he see what happens when you fail.

His father, Birch Bayh*, was an unabashed liberal who got too far ahead of his constituents and lost his Senate seat to no other than J. Danforth Quayle







* I love Birch Bayh. He saved Ted Kennedy's life when his small plane crashed in 1962. Kennedy broke his back and Birch Bayh pulled him out to safety.

[Adjoran]

13. Agreed

He's got a 70% ADA rating, but nothing short of 95% will suit some people.

The guy has a long history of successful DEMOCRATIC public service and accomplishment. He's working for electoral success for the party.

"to the right of Lieberman?" not by a long shot!

Must be that DLC tag, it's the Kiss of Death around here, even though THEY came to HIM if I remember correctly.

BTW, he's probably also a more electable candidate than any of those declared for '04.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

14. His Role Is Filled By John Edwards

I like John Edwards but his lack of public service is a drawback.

[NewJerseyDem]

20. Lieberman got an 85%

So you like people who get a 70 but not those who get an 85? That doesn't make any sense.

[IndianaGreen]

23. Lieberman voted for abortion rights, while Evan Bayh

voted against them, i.e., voted for "partial birth" abortion ban.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

29. So Did Pro Choice- Bob Kerrey And Pat Moynihan

who compared it infanticide.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

28. Joe Lieberman's

shrill rhetoric makes him look much more conservative than he really is.


Sometimes I think he does it to highlight what are almost non-existent differences.

Besides the war and fetish for school vouchers I don't see how he's to the right of the other mainstream Democratic presidential candidates.

[ButterflyBlood]

50. How's he to the left of Lieberman?

they're both hawks on foreign policy, but Lieberman has a better record on social issues.

[IndianaGreen]

15. The only "center" that Bayh hugs is the American Nazi Party center

Bayh is a pig!

[DemocratSinceBirth]

17. That's A Tad Bit Hyperbolic

Is he better than

Richard Lugar


Stephen Goldsmith


J Danforth Quayle


All Indianan Pukes

[Ouabache]

24. Is he better than Steve Buyer ?

A very likely question to arise next time he is up.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

27. Steve Byer Is A Wing Nut

He was on the House Impeachment Committee.


I'm not worried ..... Evan Bayh will beat him...

[indypaul]

26. Could not disagree with you more.

Evan Bayh, son of Birch Bayh, exactly represents
the State of Indiana. Right of center on fiscal
matters but certainly willing to listen and vote
for those ideas that present a more progressive
social balance. In the eyes of most "Hoosiers" I
think he portrays a moderate viewpoint. He is not a
right-wing nut nor is he a screeming liberal and is
willing to listen to his constituency before he votes
on any issue. Here is a hope that he continues to
represent this state for years to come.

[IndianaGreen]

31. Bayh only listens to the special interests

A rant about Evan Bayh posted in DU in March 2001

To choose the lesser of 2 evils is to choose evil
LAST EDITED ON Mar-07-01 AT 06:47 PM (EST)

Look at the disgraceful behavior of the congressional democrats. Except for the courageous House Black Caucus, there isn't one of them that is worth a warm spit. They are more willing to accommodate Dubya than standing up for principle.

Dems must stand for something, and that better be something other than a water-down Dubya. Case in point, my Democratic Senator is Evan Bayh, one of those DLC scums. Moron sends me a letter in reply to my complaint about his confirmation vote for Seig-Heil Ashcroft. This is what Senator Bay (D-IND) wrote:

"I admire Mr. Ashcroft's deep faith and strongly disagree with anyone who feels his religious convictions disqualify him from public service...I support (Dubya) desire to utilize faith-based organizations to harness the forces of compassion and...work with him...on cutting taxes."

This is the same kind of bullshit answer I would have received from my Republican Senator Richard Lugar. My Democratic Senator, like his GOP counterpart, believes it is okay for the Attorney General of the United States to hold racists views, and to speak at the racist and anti-Catholic Bob Jones University. Follow that up with Senator Bayh's enthusiastic endorsement of Dubya's recycling of the elder Bush's "thousand points of light" and of "trickled-down economics" and ask yourself why should I vote for a Democrat when all I get is a Republican clone?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/cgi-bin/duforum/duboard.cgi?az=show_thread&om=136&forum=DCForumID35&archive=yes#5

[DemocratSinceBirth]

35. I Wouldn't Have Voted For Ashcroft

but Russ Feingold did...

Politicians do all kinds of odd stuff.

[NewJerseyDem]

40. But he didn't vote for Ashcroft

Bayh voted against Ashcroft's confirmation. He even voted against Norton for Interior Secretary unlike half the democrats including Tom Daschle.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

47. TY

[NewJerseyDem]

33. Here's my problem with him

It is fine that he is as moderate. A liberal probably couldn't win in Indiana and isn't that right wing. However, he has been critisizing liberals too much. He has basically been saying that liberal democrats cannot defend the country and that is why a liberal who opposed the war shouldn't win the nomination. That is outrageous. He should keep to himself.

My suspicion is that he is sabotaging the democrats in 2004 so that he can run in 2008 which everyone thinks that he is going to do. Maybe I'm too cynical but it's a possiblility. Too bad for him that no democrat that voted for the Bush tax cuts in 2003 at any stage will win the democratic nomination.

[maveric]

16. Is he the son of Birch?

Former senator in the 60's-70's. Birch Bayh was a repug I beleive.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

19. Birch Bayh Was A Liberal Democrat

a friend of Ted Kennedy, and I believe a 1972 presidential candidate.

[NewJerseyDem]

21. Never mind

I had written that Birch Bayh got a 74% rating from the ADA so he isn't that liberal but Hubert Humphrey didn't do much better so I guess a 74% isn't that bad.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

25. If 0 is Perfect Conservative

and 100 is Perfect Liberal a 74 would be moderate liberal.

I'd take a Dem with a 74 ADA over * in a New York minute.

Actually, I'd take any Dem who scored over 50 against *

[NewJerseyDem]

30. I completely agree

But, I was just saying that Birch Bayh wouldn't be considered anymore liberal than Evan Bayh if you look at their ratings. However, I think that back in the 70's it was much harder to get high ratings from the ADA than it is now. You don't see any people with ratings around 95% from the 1970's but you do now. After I saw other liberals who had ratings in the 70's I corrected myself.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

32. Where Did You Get Those Scores

I used to look in the Almanac Of American Politics.

I'll bet Ted Kennedy and Robert Byrd who were around since than have very different ADA scores.

I'll bet Ted's are consistently in the 90's and Bobby Byrd's in the 60's

[NewJerseyDem]

34. adaction.org

[DemocratSinceBirth]

36. Wow- John Kerry has a higher lifetime ADA than Ted Kennedy

[NewJerseyDem]

41. Kerry is really liberal

Just because of his vote on Iraq some people think he isn't but he is one of the most liberal senators. He even voted against DOMA which makes him quite rare in the senate.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

42. Pardon My Ignorance- What's DOMA?

[charlie]

43. Defense of Marriage Act n/t

[DemocratSinceBirth]

44. TY

IMHO, that was a courageous vote for someone who wants to be pres.

I wonder how

Graham

Gephardt

Edwards vote

I'm afraid they voted for it.

[NewJerseyDem]

46. They did

I don't think Edwards was around, but Lieberman and Graham voted yes. Moseley-Braun voted no. I'm not sure about Gephardt but I think he voted yes.

The only current senators who voted no are

Boxer
Feinstein
Akaka
Inouye
Wyden
Feingold
Kerry
Kennedy

[DemocratSinceBirth]

49. That's The Challenge

An elected official can't get too far out in front of their constituents.

Look at the states those senators represent

CA

HW

MS-is Massachussetts MS

OR

WI

[ButterflyBlood]

51. Massachussetts is MA (and Hawaii is HI by the way)

however, Bob Kerrey from Nebraska voted against it, and Chuck Robb from Virginia. The only other one I can remember who voted no was Moynihan.

*edit* here's the whole voting record:

YEAs ---85
Abraham (R-MI)
Ashcroft (R-MO)
Baucus (D-MT)
Bennett (R-UT)
Biden (D-DE)
Bingaman (D-NM)
Bond (R-MO)
Bradley (D-NJ)
Breaux (D-LA)
Brown (R-CO)
Bryan (D-NV)
Bumpers (D-AR)
Burns (R-MT)
Byrd (D-WV)
Campbell (R-CO)
Chafee (R-RI)
Coats (R-IN)
Cochran (R-MS)
Cohen (R-ME)
Conrad (D-ND)
Coverdell (R-GA)
Craig (R-ID)
D'Amato (R-NY)
Daschle (D-SD)
DeWine (R-OH)
Dodd (D-CT)
Domenici (R-NM)
Dorgan (D-ND)
Exon (D-NE)
Faircloth (R-NC)
Ford (D-KY)
Frahm (R-KS)
Frist (R-TN)
Glenn (D-OH)
Gorton (R-WA)
Graham (D-FL)
Gramm (R-TX)
Grams (R-MN)
Grassley (R-IA)
Gregg (R-NH)
Harkin (D-IA)
Hatch (R-UT)
Hatfield (R-OR)
Heflin (D-AL)
Helms (R-NC)
Hollings (D-SC)
Hutchison (R-TX)
Inhofe (R-OK)
Jeffords (R-VT)
Johnston (D-LA)
Kassebaum (R-KS)
Kempthorne (R-ID)
Kohl (D-WI)
Kyl (R-AZ)
Lautenberg (D-NJ)
Leahy (D-VT)
Levin (D-MI)
Lieberman (D-CT)
Lott (R-MS)
Lugar (R-IN)
Mack (R-FL)
McCain (R-AZ)
McConnell (R-KY)
Mikulski (D-MD)
Murkowski (R-AK)
Murray (D-WA)
Nickles (R-OK)
Nunn (D-GA)
Pressler (R-SD)
Reid (D-NV)
Rockefeller (D-WV)
Roth (R-DE)
Santorum (R-PA)
Sarbanes (D-MD)
Shelby (R-AL)
Simpson (R-WY)
Smith (R-NH)
Snowe (R-ME)
Specter (R-PA)
Stevens (R-AK)
Thomas (R-WY)
Thompson (R-TN)
Thurmond (R-SC)
Warner (R-VA)
Wellstone (D-MN)

NAYs ---14
Akaka (D-HI)
Boxer (D-CA)
Feingold (D-WI)
Feinstein (D-CA)
Inouye (D-HI)
Kennedy (D-MA)
Kerrey (D-NE)
Kerry (D-MA)
Moseley-Braun (D-IL)
Moynihan (D-NY)
Pell (D-RI)
Robb (D-VA)
Simon (D-IL)
Wyden (D-OR)

[DemocratSinceBirth]

53. That Took Courage For A Nebraskan

and Virginian to oppose it.

Thanks for the corrections. If it wasn't for zip codes my letters would never have been delivered.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

54. There's Some DU Heroes On The No List

That should be a must see for every one.

Just as a person doesn't want his life to be characterized by their worst act politicians shouldn't have their career defined by one vote.

[blm]

55. That's why he's letting Dean paint him as a centrist.

Part of the reason that the campaign lets Dean take plenty of shots with few retaliations. Dean is the one who seems like a liberal draw but sports the centrist record, while Kerry seems moderate rhetorically with solid liberal credentials.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

37. Bobby Byrd Has A Lifetime ADA Score of 61

as I thought

[midnitemoleman]

39. Word is he and Hillery in 08

That is if Bush wins (and Lord I hope he does not!!!!!)

[tameszu]

52. I don't think you should diss Bayh *too* much--his wife seems pretty nice

Bayh did OK--just ask Howard Dean, who took her to events as a surrogate first lady of Vermont because his wife is not a big fan of political events. Lucky governors...

I'm not saying this to slam anyone; I just think it's kinda kinky (yeah, I'm a real politics nerd).

Anyway, Bayh has a bit of a DINO streak, but he's not that bad, considering where he's from...