Rep. Chris Van Hollen �- the Democrat tasked with maintaining control of the House -� says it is a sign of his party�s strength that several Democrats are touting their opposition to President Obama ahead of the midterm elections.
�We’re proud of the fact that we have an ideologically diverse caucus. We have a whole range of different political viewers. What they’re talking about is their independence on certain issues,� Van Hollen, the chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, told CNN�s Candy Crowley on State of The Union.

�Issues where they stood with the speaker and the president, and the issues where they opposed the speaker and the president. That’s their job,� Van Hollen, of Maryland, continued.

The comments came in response to a string of Democrats -� many from conservative-leaning districts �- who have repeatedly promoted their votes against some of Obama�s signature pieces of legislation, including health care and the stimulus bill.

Van Hollen also contrasted the diverse views in his party with those of the GOP:
�No room for pragmatists in the Republican Party. We have a big tent, and we’re problem solvers. And that is, I think, what voters are looking for.�

Responding to Van Hollen, National Republican Congressional Committee spokesman Paul Lindsay said, “Van Hollen knows full well that his party doesn�t have an ideologically diverse caucus, but rather a collection of candidates who are trying anything they can to save their political careers.”

�It doesn�t take a rocket scientist to understand that vulnerable Democrats are unsuccessfully attempting to distance themselves from their party�s job-killing agenda, every facet of which has been rejected by the American people,” Lindsay said.

(Source: CNN)