Davis Tops List of Most Cowardly Democrats in Congress

Glynn Wilson

Rep. Artur Davis

Birmingham Congressman and Alabama gubernatorial candidate Artur Davis made number one on Salon.com magazine’s list of the most cowardly Democrats in Congress on the vote for health-care reform.

We don’t know whether to laugh, or cry…

Alabama’s Artur Davis has the most Democratic-leaning district of any no vote. His 7th District gave Barack Obama nearly 73 percent of the vote in 2008. Davis, who ousted an incumbent Democrat (Earl Hilliard) in a primary in 2002, has spent the last few years as the least liberal member of the Congressional Black Caucus. But his departures from the party line have intensified this year as he runs for governor of Alabama — a much tougher task than running in his safely Democratic district. Whether voting no will help him with his state’s electorate remains to be seen.

The Ten Most Cowardly

(Democrats from the most Democratic-friendly districts who voted no; member name and each district’s PVI rating are listed)

1. Artur Davis (Ala.-07); D+18
2. Stephen Lynch (Mass.-09); D+11
3. Dan Lipinski (Ill.-03); D+11
4. John Barrow (Ga.-12); D+1
5. John Adler (N.J.-03); R+1
6. Larry Kissell (N.C.-08); R+2
7. Mike Arcuri (N.Y.-24); R+2
8. Mike McMahon (N.Y.-13); R+4
9. Glenn Nye (Va.-02); R+5
10. Allen Boyd (Fla.-02); R+6

The Ten Most Courageous

(Democrats from GOP-friendly districts who voted yes; member name and each district’s PVI rating are listed)

1. Bart Gordon (Tenn.-06); R+13

2. Earl Pomeroy (N.D.-at-large); R+10

3. Alan Mollohan (W.Va.-01); R+9

4. Chris Carney (Pa.-10 ); R+8

5. Brad Ellsworth (Ind.-08); R+8

6. John Spratt (S.C.-05); R+7

7. Nick Rahall (W.Va.-03); R+6

8. Baron Hill (Ind.-09); R+6

9. Ann Kirkpatrick (Ariz.-01; R+6

10. Allen Boyd (Fla.-02); R+6