Carnahan got high marks from Democratic insiders for his work pushing progressive candidates on the Nov. 7 ballot. That and Carnahan’s increasingly diverse (and black) base in the near South Side of St. Louis, where he also lives, encouraged the EYE to pull Carnahan’s coat and get his take on the upcoming session in Congress.
Carnahan said he expects the bipartisan commission to present some real options to “staying the course” in Iraq. He looks forward to being part of a Congress that acts like its own branch of federal government rather than a “rubber stamp” for the executive branch. He expects the International Relations Committee, on which he serves, to “make it a priority to rebuild the image of this country around the world.”
On the increasing diversity of his base, he said, “The real future of our city and our country is to recognize the strength of our diversity.” He wants to see reauthorization and proper funding for the children’s health insurance program, saying “insuring all the kids is a basic place to start” in reforming health insurance. He also wants to see No Child Left Behind reauthorized, properly funded “and given the flexibility for local districts to meet those goals.”
Yet, he was realistic in pointing out that Democrats won the Congress by electing centrist candidates in swing or Republican-leaning districts. Progressives still face that stark reality. He said, “We still have to work from the political center to be productive and get past the pen of the president.”