Dozens of House Democrats bucked their party on Saturday's health care vote. But how about those who might have taken a political risk by siding with their party?
Let's look at the Democrats from Republican-leaning districts who voted for the bill and Republicans from Democratic-friendly districts who opposed it.
Of the 49 House Democrats that represent districts that John McCain won in 2008, 18 of them voted for the bill.
The Democrat from the most pro-McCain district who voted for the health care bill was Marion Berry of Arkansas, who's in his seventh term representing an area that gave McCain 59 percent of the vote. Of the 15 Democrats from the most pro-McCain districts who voted for the measure, Berry was the only "yes" vote. Also voting yes were West Virginia Reps. Alan B. Mollohan and Nick J. Rahall Jr., whose districts gave McCain 57 percent and 56 percent respectively.
President Obama, speaking at the National Archives, defended and reaffirmed his pledge to close the Guantanamo Bay detainee facility, saying that the prison "has weakened American national security." The president argued that harsh interrogation methods such as waterboarding hindered rather than aided anti-terrorism efforts. He stated that detainees can be securely held in U.S. maximum security prisons and that no detainees who would endanger Americans will be released. He outlined a five-category classification system for dealing with remaining detainees. The president also defended his decisions to declassify Bush administration interrogation memos and to withhold photographs of detainees' abuse by members of the U.S. military.
Former Vice President Dick Cheney defended Bush Administration interrogation methods of terrorist suspects and prisoner treatment at the Guantanamo Bay detainee facility. He maintained that Bush administration actions prevented terrorist attacks subsequent to September 11, 2001. He criticized recent Obama administration moves to change Bush administration interrogation policies.
MONTGOMERY — The Alabama Supreme Court on Friday allowed the Governor's Task Force on Illegal Gambling to keep machines and money seized in a raid last month on a White Hall gambling center and cleared the way for another raid if the task force chooses. In a 6-3 decision, the Supreme Court granted Gov. Bob Riley's request to stay an order issued in the Lowndes County case by retired Justice Mark Kennedy. Kennedy's order had required the governor's task force to return more than 100 machines and more than $500,000 seized in a raid March 19. Kennedy had also shielded the White Hall Resort and Entertainment Center from another raid, pending the outcome of the case. Gov. Bob Riley said the Supreme Court righted a wrong.
The President addresses the people of North Dakota, South Dakota, and Minnesota as they face down disastrous flooding. He speaks of what the government is doing, but also stresses that times of crisis like this are reminders of the need and opportunity Americans have to keep their dedication to service.
