Who is the Democrat in the following sentence

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fl - 23 Jul 2009 21:17 GMT

Hi,
I am reading an article on Obama on web. I don't know who is the
moderate Democrat in the following sentence. Mr. Jim Cooper is a Rep.
Who is "a moderate Democrat" ?

Thanks in advance

................

But it's the negative trend in polls that worries his supporters, and
some want the president to be even more forceful and visible in
pushing his top domestic priority.

"He's the great communicator," said Rep. Jim Cooper of Tennessee, a
moderate Democrat who wants lower costs but supports the overall
thrust of Obama's efforts. "If anybody can explain this, he can."

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Peter Duncanson (BrE) - 23 Jul 2009 21:25 GMT

>Hi,
>I am reading an article on Obama on web. I don't know who is the
>moderate Democrat in the following sentence. Mr. Jim Cooper is a Rep.
>Who is "a moderate Democrat" ?

Rep. is the abbreviation for Representative.

Representative Jim Cooper is the "moderate Democrat".
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Cooper

>Thanks in advance
>
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
>moderate Democrat who wants lower costs but supports the overall
>thrust of Obama's efforts. "If anybody can explain this, he can."

Signature

Peter Duncanson, UK
(in alt.usage.english)

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fl - 23 Jul 2009 21:49 GMT

On Jul 23, 4:25 pm, "Peter Duncanson (BrE)" <m...@peterduncanson.net>
wrote:

> >Hi,
> >I am reading an article on Obama on web. I don't know who is the
[quoted text clipped - 22 lines]
>
> - Show quoted text -

Thanks. I supposed Jim is a Republican when I asked the question. Rep.
is the same abbreviation for Representative and republican?

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Lars Eighner - 23 Jul 2009 22:10 GMT

In our last episode,
<8c7b37d5-d6f3-4f3e-a951-25369b75da52@s15g2000yqs.googlegroups.com>,
the lovely and talented fl
broadcast on alt.usage.english:

> On Jul 23, 4:25 pm, "Peter Duncanson (BrE)" <m...@peterduncanson.net>
> wrote:
[quoted text clipped - 24 lines]
>>
>> - Show quoted text -

> Thanks. I supposed Jim is a Republican when I asked the question. Rep.
> is the same abbreviation for Representative and republican?

In news stories it is usually (R),(D), or (I) after the name for party
affiliation, evidently thought unnecessary in this story where it is stated
explicitly.

Signature

Lars Eighner <http://larseighner.com/> September 5805, 1993
184 days since Rick Warren prayed over Bush's third term.
Obama: No hope, no change, more of the same. Yes, he can, but no, he won't.

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Peter Duncanson (BrE) - 23 Jul 2009 22:23 GMT

>On Jul 23, 4:25 pm, "Peter Duncanson (BrE)" <m...@peterduncanson.net>
>wrote:
[quoted text clipped - 27 lines]
>Thanks. I supposed Jim is a Republican when I asked the question. Rep.
>is the same abbreviation for Representative and republican?

I am not an American but I understand that the usual way to show whether
a US Representative or US Senator is a Republican or Democrat is to use
(R) or (D) after the name. The name of the State is often put in the
brackets as in these examples:

Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.)
Rep. Mike Doyle (D-Pa.)

"Sen." and "Rep." are the abbreviations for Senator and Representative.
"Okla." and "Pa." are abbreviations for Oklahoma and Pennsylvania.

Signature

Peter Duncanson, UK
(in alt.usage.english)

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John O'Flaherty - 23 Jul 2009 21:35 GMT

>Hi,
>I am reading an article on Obama on web. I don't know who is the
[quoted text clipped - 12 lines]
>moderate Democrat who wants lower costs but supports the overall
>thrust of Obama's efforts. "If anybody can explain this, he can."

It's Jim Cooper, a Democratic Rep.(-resentative) from Tennessee.

Signature

John

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Don Phillipson - 23 Jul 2009 22:10 GMT

> I am reading an article on Obama on web. . . .
>
> "He's the great communicator," said Rep. Jim Cooper of Tennessee, a
> moderate Democrat who wants lower costs but supports the overall
> thrust of Obama's efforts. "If anybody can explain this, he can."

This is seriously misleading -- but perhaps web sites like this lack
(or do not police) the style books of traditional newspapers. Confusion
between Rep. = Republican and Rep. = Representative is long
familiar to print reporters, who for precisely this reason usually write:
D. or R. to identify Democratic or Republican party members,
and call members of the House of Representatives (lower house
of the bicameral US Congress) Congressman. (Senators are
simply called Senator or Sen.) See for more details the New York
Times or Associated Press style books.

Signature

Don Phillipson
Carlsbad Springs
(Ottawa, Canada)

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tony cooper - 23 Jul 2009 23:59 GMT

>> I am reading an article on Obama on web. . . .
>>
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>
>This is seriously misleading

To whom? Not to the average American reader.

-- but perhaps web sites like this lack

>(or do not police) the style books of traditional newspapers. Confusion
>between Rep. = Republican and Rep. = Representative is long
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
>simply called Senator or Sen.) See for more details the New York
>Times or Associated Press style books.

We do not normally write "D. or R.". The periods are normally
omitted: (D) or (R)

Signature

Tony Cooper - Orlando, Florida

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Steve Hayes - 24 Jul 2009 02:56 GMT

>>> I am reading an article on Obama on web. . . .
>>>
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
>
>To whom? Not to the average American reader.

So it depends on whether it is intended to be read by the average American
reader (in a local newspaper, for example) or by anyone.

Signature

Steve Hayes from Tshwane, South Africa
Web: http://hayesfam.bravehost.com/stevesig.htm
Blog: http://methodius.blogspot.com
E-mail - see web page, or parse: shayes at dunelm full stop org full stop uk

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Discussion Groups / English Usage / July 2009

Who is the Democrat in the following sentence