Grade cards show polarized Congress
Most congressmen get an ‘A’ or ‘F’ from interest groups.
The chamber’s political arm has been among the outside groups that have poured more than $6 million into ads criticizing Brown in the run-up to his November race against Ohio Treasurer Josh Mandel.
In 2008, the average score for Republicans on the chamber scorecard was nearly 85. The average for Democrats was nearly 61. In 2010, the average score for Republicans was 96, and the average score for Democrats was just under 27.
Eidshaug, though, said the group’s parameters have not changed. He said the lifetime score is ultimately more telling, because Congress votes on different issues depending on the year.
Larry Hart, director of government relations for the American Conservative Union, said he’s seen grades become increasingly polarized in the past few years. He said the switch has occurred as northeast Republicans and southern Democrats — both groups that veered toward moderation — have become more conservative and liberal, respectively. In 2010, for example, two Blue Dog Democrats — moderate party members — lost their primaries.
“You could not win a Democratic primary as a moderate,” he said. “And it’s much tougher to win a Republican primary as a moderate.”
Jim Backlin, the legislative director of the Christian Coalition of America, agrees. In 2011, for example, LaTourette was the only Ohio Republican to fall short of a 100 percent rating. He got a 90. Ohio Democrats, meanwhile, either got a 10 or a 0 on the coalition’s scorecard.
Backlin said the group hasn’t changed the kinds of issues it prioritizes.
“It’s just the composition of the Congress is different,” he said. “It’s a more divided country and you see that.”
Jordan agrees that the scores reflect a divided nation. And he says maybe the death of the “C” lawmaker isn’t a bad thing.
“I’m not necessarily one who says, ‘oh, we gotta come together and work,’” he said. “We should do what’s best for the country, but what’s best for the country is not compromising with liberals.”