March 22, 2009 02:23 AM UTC

In Defense Of Mark Udall

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• by: redstateblues

During the past week, a lot of…ahem…commotion was stirred up in the local blogosphere over the decision by both of our US Senators to join the so-called Moderate Dems Working Group–better known as the Moderate Caucus Thingy. Though their decision caused some head-scratching here, and some guillotine sharpening elsewhere, the move shouldn’t be that surprising; at least from the perspective of Mark Udall, and considering the tone of his 2008 US Senate campaign.

Let’s step into the wayback machine to late last summer when the campaign was in full swing, and some insiders were wondering why Udall didn’t seem to be sealing the deal. While some have seen Udall’s decision as a purely political move, or one out of character with his reputation as a “Boulder Liberal”, I believe he’s only trying to fulfill some of his most important campaign promises.

Here’s a Udall for Colorado ad from 2008:

Was I the only one watching TV during the campaign? Mark Udall is doing exactly what he said he would, and the last time I checked that wasn’t a bad thing. One of the main reasons we wanted him instead of Bob Schaffer was because of his desire to seek bipartisan solutions, as Udall emphasized in this ad:

Being a part of a group of moderate Democrats who share his views, along with his counterpart Michael Bennet, is one of the best ways for Senator Udall to make good on his promises. If only all of our elected officials were honest enough to be themselves–despite what they might lose politically by doing so. Whatever factors ended up putting him in office (Scandal-matic Schaffer, bad year for the GOP brand, people like denim shirts, etc.) he did make the promise, and just like any other promise, he should be held to it.

Some Democrats can wring their hands and stomp their feet all they want on this issue, but it’s obviously not going to change Udall’s mind. They might shout the loudest, or use the sharpest rhetoric, but they aren’t the majority.

If they don’t like it, they can always run a primary campaign in 2014.