” - - - “Even so, 11 Democrats sided with Republicans - - - “
What are the names of the 11 Democrats who broke ranks with Bottleneck Reid, and the former foreign student from Harvard Law School?
The demorats that voted against it knew it wouldn’t pass so they were allowed to vote with the Republicans. This happens every time a pol needs to bolster his image with the home folks. He/she will not buck Reid if the vote was really close.
Jay Inslee was an eastern wash dem. representative who voted against the Brady Bill. The Dems had 41 vote advantage so they let 40 of their guys vote against it. Vote wasn’t as close as it appeared.
Inslee lost his seat anyway to the current Republican, Doc Hastings. Inslee went to the liberal Seattle area and got elected. Now he’s running for Govenor as Gregoire has screwed things up so bad she probably couldn’t get a third term.
The 11 did not "break ranks". It had been decided by Reid and the Dem caucus that is was O.K. for these to vote "for" because it would not change the outcome. I suspect (but haven't looked it up) that these 11 are running for re-election in most cases and they need the voters in their state. Reid is/was aware of this so they were told to go ahead and vote for it.
They were: Baucus, Begich, Casey, Conrad, Hagan, Landrieu, Manchin, McCaskil, Pryor, Tester, Webb
you can't read too much into the 11, since the dems had enough to stop the vote. Several were likely given 'permission' by the party to break ranks due to election concerns.