The National Journal is out with its annual rankings of members of Congress, and North Carolina's senators stand out for not standing out.
Sen. Kay Hagan, a Democrat, ranked 48th most liberal, which put her right in the middle of the Senate and made her one of the least liberal -- or most conservative -- Senate Democrats in 2012. Forty-seven Democrats scored more liberally than Hagan while only five finished to her right.
Sen. Richard Burr, a Republican, ranked the 23rd most conservative (or 77th most liberal), which put him smack in the middle of the 46 Republicans.
This is a ranking Sen. Hagan is likely to embrace, given that she faces reelection next year in a decidedly purple state. According to National Journal, her record in 2012 was decidedly purple itself.
In the 435-member House, Rep. Sue Myrick of Charlotte ranked 32nd most conservative, Rep. Mel Watt ranked 45th most liberal and Rep. Larry Kissell ranked 177th most liberal; only seven Democrats ranked more conservative than him.
(In South Carolina, meanwhile, Republican Sen. Jim DeMint, who has since left for the Heritage Foundation, ranked as the Senate's third most conservative member. Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham ranked 33rd most conservative. That might raise concerns about Graham's vulnerability to a challenge from the right during his reelection campaign next year.)
To see the complete rankings, click here.
-- Taylor Batten
O-pinion»
ReplyDeleteOur vanilla U.S. senators
As a White person, I am offended by your use of the term "vanilla".
I demand you remove that racist connotation immediately.
Hagan has been a constant source of disappointment to me. I'm not sure that I can tell her apart from Mrs Dole, her predecessor. Useless and very sad. I had high expectations. She can retire and I believe that few will miss her lackadaisical efforts. No will power and certainly took no meaningful stands.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteNot sure why anyone would have "high expectations" from Hagan. What would you base that upon, her oil and tobacco money or the fact her husband is a racist? If Hagan were a Republican that's is what you couragous liberals would be calling someone whose husband belonged to an all white country club (that means they did not allow blacks in) up until 1996.
ReplyDeleteDon't worry CO, Hagan is gone next year.