Hodes: My 98 percent solidarity with Nancy Pelosi shows that I’m independent
Back in 2006, candidate Paul Hodes attacked Rep. Charles Bass for voting with George W. Bush roughly 85 percent of the time. He said that made Bass a “rubber stamp” for Bush. The Washington Post calculated this week that Hodes has voted with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi 98 percent of the time. I asked Hodes this morning if this made him a “rubber stamp” for Nancy Pelosi. He said that on the contrary, he is an “independent voice for New Hampshire.”
“You know, the issue in 2006 was about change,” Hodes said. “I was sent to Congress to make sure there was a 180 degree change from the policies of George Bush. So if the policies are right I’ll vote with the policies. I stand as an independent voice for New Hampshire. If you take a look at my votes on the important issues: the rescue plan, standing up for New Hampshire homeowners, small business owners and taxpayers, you know, the vote on FISA, a number of other votes, I stand up for New Hampshire with independent judgment. That’s my job and that’s what I’ve done. When my party is right I’ll vote with them. When they’re not, I won’t vote with them.”
And evidently he thinks his party is right 98 percent of the time. That’s fine. But that’s about as much of a rubber stamp as you can get.
But now Hodes is essentially saying that, well, it’s not important to be independent of your party after all. What’s important is to be opposed to Bush. And then he makes a point of saying he’s independent. So, I’m not really sure what he’s saying. Except that yes he voted 98 percent of the time with Nancy Pelosi, and by gosh he’s politically independent. How that voting record makes him “an independent voice for New Hampshire” is anyone’s guess. If you can figure that one out, let me know.
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