Yarmuth credits ideological diversity for Dem majority

The ideological diversity among Democrats in Congress that contributed in part to the impasse over healthcare legislation is part of the party’s strength, one of its centrist members argued Thursday.

Rep. John Yarmuth (D-Ky.), a member of the centrist Blue Dog Democrat coalition, defended his group’s work in the House, even as they come under scrutiny from more liberal quarters for holding up and forcing changes to the healthcare reform bill before Congress.

“We have a very, very diverse party now,” Yarmuth said during an interview on CNBC. “That’s why we’re in the majority, and the Republicans in Congress have a very ideologically stratified party.”

“So we’re going to get differences of opinion,” the Kentucky Democrat added of the inevitable conflicts.

Yarmuth said, though, that he thinks the House’s bill will still include a public option, despite the reluctance by some Blue Dogs.

“I don’t think that any bill that comes out of the House will be without a public option,” he said.