That Truman quote

Margie’s mentioned this quote to me a couple of times recently, so I went and looked it up.

“I’ve seen it happen time after time. When the Democratic candidate allows himself to be put on the defensive and starts apologizing for the New Deal and the Fair Deal, and says he really doesn’t believe in them, he is sure to lose. The people don’t want a phony Democrat. If it’s a choice between a genuine Republican, and a Republican in Democratic clothing, the people will choose the genuine article, every time; that is, they will take a Republican before they will a phony Democrat, and I don’t want any phony Democratic candidates in this campaign.”

— Harry S Truman (1884-1972) US President (1945-1953)
Address, Americans for Democratic Action Convention (17 May 1952)

It’s worth noting that of the 46 members of the House Democratic Blue Dog Coalition — the ones who were constantly on the fence for many of the key debates in Congress this year, demanding compromise after compromise in order to deliver their votes — 23 lost their seats in last night’s election. That a far higher proportion than the Democrats in general.

I don’t want the Democrats to be as ideologically purist as the GOP voters have driven them to be this cycle, nor as “step out of line and we’ll cut your throat” as their leadership over the last few years. But there are consequences to being consistently “independent” of the party, and taking advantage of it to extract concessions.

Or, for those of a more Biblical bent:

I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.

— Revelations 3:15-16

Something the remaining Dems in Congress might want to consider in the coming months. Fleeing to the center and away from the party and past positions — trying to be more like a Republican — is not going to help you practically (as a political matter).  You might as well stand up for your avowed principles.