Stephanie Herseth, South Dakota’s lone representative, claims to be a leader of the Democrat Blue Dogs, but Health Shuler may be educating her on Blue Dogs being pro-life:
The former NFL and University of Tennessee quarterback was sworn into office Thursday as a member of the 110th Congress, joining 41 other freshmen Democrats taking seats in the House during ceremonies in the nation's capital.
Shuler defeated eight-term Republican incumbent Rep. Charles Taylor in November to represent western North Carolina's mountainous 11th District. The win helped Democrats take control of both the House and Senate for the first time in a dozen years.
"This is history in the making," Shuler said after taking his oath of office in the House chamber. "The sky is the limit."
The pro-gun, anti-abortion politician ran on a platform of socially conservative and fiscally liberal values, both of which resonated in a religious district hit hard by the outsourcing of manufacturing jobs.
Shuler has become a member of the Blue Dog Coalition, a group of conservative Democrats who favor a balanced budget and fiscal discipline. He holds some views that starkly contrast those held by newly elected House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Several Republicans cheered when Shuler was sworn in, though he downplayed his differences with Pelosi after meeting with the liberal California Democrat on Thursday.
"I had a good conversation with Speaker Pelosi," Shuler said. "We talked about my conservative views. She's fully aware of the district I represent."
Shuler said he told Pelosi they would disagree on some issues, including gay marriage and abortion. But he said he supported raising the minimum wage and using existing embryos for stem cell research.
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