Let’s take a look at the breakdown of the vote on the health care bill — the people who went against their leadership, or the people whose votes run seemingly counter to their districts’ presidential votes in 2008 — and in some cases, both.
Much has been made of the Democrats who voted no, and the fact that most of them come from districts that voted for John McCain. Thus, a vote against a major Obama policy initiative would certainly seem to be the safe thing to do — just as Rep. Joseph Cao (R-LA) became the only Republican to vote yes, and his district voted 75% for Obama.
The single largest group, however, is one that hasn’t been commented on very much: Republicans from districts that voted for Obama, and who voted no on the bill. There are 32 of them in all: Judy Biggert (IL); Brian Bilbray (CA); Mary Bono Mack (CA); Ken Calvert (CA); Dave Camp (MI); John Campbell (CA); Mike Castle (DE), currently a Senate candidate in an Obama state; Charlie Dent (PA); David Dreier (CA); Randy Forbes (VA); Elton Gallegly (CA); Jim Gerlach (PA); a candidate for governor in an Obama state; Mark Kirk (IL), a Senate candidate in Obama’s home state; Leonard Lance (NJ); Tom Latham (IA), Frank LoBiondo (NJ), Dan Lungren (CA), Donald Manzullo (IL); Thaddeus McCotter (MI); Buck McKeon (CA); Erik Paulsen (MN); Tom Petri (WI); Dave Reichert (WA); Mike Rogers (MI); Peter Roskam (IL); Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (FL); Paul Ryan (WI); Lee Terry (NE); Patrick Tiberi (OH); Fred Upton (MI); Frank Wolf (VA); and Bill Young (FL).
There were 31 Democrats who voted no and came from McCain districts: Jason Altmire (PA); John Boccieri (OH); Dan Boren (OK); Rick Boucher (VA); Allen Boyd (FL); Bobby Bright (AL); Ben Chandler (KY); Travis Childers (MS); Lincoln Davis (TN); Chet Edwards (TX); Bart Gordon (TN); Parker Griffith (AL); Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (SD); Tim Holden (PA); Suzanne Kosmas (FL); Frank Kratovil (MD); Betsy Markey (CO); Eric Massa (NY); Jim Matheson (UT); Mike McIntyre (NC); Michael McMahon (NY); Charlie Melancon (LA), a candidate for Senate; Walt Minnick (ID); Colin Peterson (MN); Mike Ross (AR); Heath Shuler (NC); Ike Skelton (MO); John Tanner (TN); Gene Taylor (MS); and Harry Teague (NM).
There were 18 Democrats who come from McCain districts, but also voted yes on the bill: Marion Berry (AR); Chris Carney (PA); Kathy Dahlkemper (PA); Brad Ellsowrth (IN); Gabrielle Giffords (IN); Baron Hill (IN); Ann Kirkpatrick (AZ); Harry Mitchell (AZ); Allan Mollohan (WV); John Murtha (PA); Tom Perriello (VA); Earl Pomeroy (ND); Nick Rahall (WV); John Salazar (CO); Vic Snyder (AR); Zack Space (OH); John Spratt (SC); and Charlie Wilson (OH).
And here’s another curious bunch — the eight Democrats from Obama districts, who voted no on the bill: John Adler (NJ); Brian Baird (WA); John Barrow (GA); Artur Davis (AL), a candidate for governor in a McCain state; Larry Kissell (NC); Dennis Kucinich (OH); Scott Murphy (NY); and Glenn Nye (VA).
(District vote information was compiled from CQ.)
