"They're not voting against health care, they're voting against Barack Obama"
by Jonathan Tilove - Times-Picayune (excerpt)

Rep. Charlie Melancon Finds Health Care Debate A Two-Edged Sword

In what promises to be a no-holds-barred hunt for votes by the Democratic leadership in the next few days, Melancon seems safely beyond their reach. He recently relinquished his seat on the Budget Committee, citing the demands on his time of his assignment on the Energy and Commerce Committee, though the Louisiana Republican Party accused him of giving up a strategic spot from which he could have worked to block the health care bill from coming to a vote. Democrats understand that a candidate for Senate in Louisiana can hardly be expected to vote "yes." "A 'yes' vote (for health care reform) for Melancon would be a death blow," said Baton Rouge pollster Bernie Pinsonat. "A 'no' vote would definitely keep him alive to fight." But, Pinsonat added, the congressman faces "serious misery either way." "If I were him I would have not wanted to vote on this thing again," said Robert Mann, a longtime Democratic political practitioner who now teaches mass communications at LSU. "This is pretty high stakes," said Mann. "This is an issue that the Democratic base cares about." And, Mann added, for African-American voters in Louisiana, who are the largest part of the base, the issue takes on special significance because President Obama has so much riding on it. "They're not voting against health care, they're voting against Barack Obama," said Carl Galmon, a longtime activist in New Orleans' black community, who was angered by Melancon's opposition.