LETTER FROM WASHINGTON:

Titus separates herself from the pack

White House invitations show the Nevadan is not your ordinary freshman

COURTESY OF DINA TITUS' OFFICE

Among the whirlwind of experiences in her first 100 days in Congress, Dina Titus got to meet U2 frontman Bono along with other first-term Democrats on April 1.

By Lisa Mascaro (contact)

Sunday, April 12, 2009 | 2 a.m.

Politics: The Early Line

Sun stories about politics

Washington — Moments after being sworn in at the Capitol as Nevada’s newest congresswoman three months ago, Dina Titus briskly made the quarter-mile walk back to her office in unexpected discomfort.

Marble halls are not kind on tired feet, especially those in dressy multi-inch heels.

She hustled down the long corridor, past other lawmakers and their families on that festive day. Dozens of guests were waiting to celebrate at her office.

The scene brought to mind another ever-witty Democratic politician with a distinguished Southern drawl: Ann Richards, the former governor of Texas, who joked about women doing everything men do — but, as Ginger Rogers showed, backwards and in high heels.

In the nearly 100-day sprint since, Titus accomplished what she often taught her political science students at the UNLV was impossible for a freshman lawmaker in Washington: She has been noticed.

Titus has been invited to the White House (twice), emerged as spokeswoman for her party on educational issues, had muffins with Bono.

Part of the attention comes with the territory. Titus knocked off the Republican who held the suburban Henderson seat since it was created. She was hand-picked by party leaders in desperate need of a credible candidate and became, as she tells it, election guru Rahm Emanuel’s “personal project.”

(Which helps now — she has the White House chief of staff’s number. He invites her to the West Wing.)

But being the chosen one lasts only so long. At some point you have to show what you were chosen to do.

“Once you’re given a chance you have to earn it,” Titus said one recent Friday before boarding a plane to Nevada. “I’m not taking any of that lightly.”

Titus arrives at an important moment in the nation’s history and as Nevada suffers through the recession.

President Barack Obama’s own 100-day dash astounds Washington. Not since Ronald Reagan or even FDR has a president sought to so transform the nation.

Lawmakers have kept pace passing landmark legislation — an expansion of children’s health care, equal pay protection for women, the massive economic recovery package to prevent a deeper recession.

All easy votes, Titus said.

Only Obama’s budget plan to reduce tax deductions for the wealthy elicited her opposition. But that protest also was smart politics. It separates her slightly from the president, helping to shield her from the rubber-stamp label that plagued her predecessor during the Bush administration.

Eventually she gave Obama her vote there, too.

“People in my district don’t want ‘no,’ ” Titus said. “They want to see us do something that can help, and I think we are. It’s slow, but the little economic signs we’re looking at now seem to maybe suggest things are starting to have a chance to turn around.”

Opposition researchers at Republican campaign headquarters are using nearly every vote to mount an attack. She has been surprised at how quickly she must again raise money needed to win reelection.

People wonder why she gave up being the state Senate leader for a lowly freshman congressional seat.

The days and nights have been long. Those early weeks, staff answered 100 constituent letters daily, Titus taking a red pen to each before it went out.

Now this might sound corny. But Titus’ response comes in the Mary Tyler Moore look on her face, as if she’s ready to toss a hat in the air.

“I just can’t think of a place I’d rather be,” Titus said. “I came back here to work hard and get things done and, boy, we’ve done it in the first 100 days.”

Discussion: 21 comments so far…

By jfnance32

4/12/09 at 2:09 a.m.

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OMG!

This is so sad.

This can't be a newspaper.

Where is the cheerleader outfit for Lisa?

Some facts to add to your "news" article.

Titus did not get a top tier committee assignment even though 2 Republican Nevadans have done so in their freshmen year.

One of the very first bills that Titus voted for was a tax increase that also increased taxes on the very poorest of Americans.

Opps.....sorry to interfere with Rah..Rah...section.
By neiman1

4/12/09 at 4:05 a.m.

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The national media sealed its doom by turning into press agents for the Candidate Obama. The Las Vegas Sun seems determined to follow them into financial disaster by doing the same.
By 2zero

4/12/09 at 6:25 a.m.

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Have a nice Easter.....it will be a glorious day.

To my fear mongering friends, the name calling "isums" spewing toxic venom. Good day for you to buy a gun, hide under a rock and kiss your a55 goodbye.

We get it; "you" are afraid. Go to church, pray, pay your tithe...yes it is a tax.
By gmag39

4/12/09 at 8:59 a.m.

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WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT???
That the Bobbsy Twins of Gloom & Doom,
Nance & Neiman, God love em' on Easter Sunday,
would be THE VERY FIRST 2 IN LINE! to bash Dina
Titus. WOW! Must have sent them running for the cellar when they saw the pic of Dina & Bono!
You guys can come out now, it'll be ok....there there now, here's a pill & some nice warm milk.
By Purgatory

4/12/09 at 9:31 a.m.

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I am happy Ms Titus is enjoying her new found fame...maybe she can take a cue from Ms Obama and hire a full-time make up artist...money is certainly of no concern to our elected royalty...too bad she and her cohorts left our collective coffers about $192 Billion (yes, billion) short for March 2009...sure wish 'a pill and some nice warm milk' would work...seems that most of the unwashed masses have taken to the 'head in the sand' and/or the 'rose colored glasses' approach...equally as ineffective...thankfully, it is a beautiful Sunday...
By That_Anonymous_Guy

4/12/09 at 10:17 a.m.

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Forget Dina's political views (though I certainly like those... I make no secret of my progressivism).

In the three months since her inauguration, I've seen Dina out and about in the district at least three times. She's energetic, engaged, and she wants to meet the people of CD3 and hear their views on the issues.

In the six years I lived in the district prior to Dina, I never saw Jon Porter. Not once.

Dina Titus is far and away the most engaged member of Congress I've ever known. That counts a LOT for me. Hope she keeps it up.
By LVPaco

4/12/09 at 10:39 a.m.

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Dina Titus is a good progressive and I am glad she is there representing Southern Nevada with Shelley. She is a much needed improvement from John Porter who was a DISASTER for Nevada. Keep up the good work Dina!
By MichaelGreen

4/12/09 at 11:42 a.m.

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That I support Dina is not actually the issue here. I used to work at a newspaper, still write for publications, and think I know a little about journalism. I don't want rah-rah articles or attack pieces. I want to know what is going on. This article tells me something about my representative. I want to know about her, just as I wanted to know about Jon Porter when he was my representative because I try to be an informed citizen. That also means reading what I disagree with and learning from it.

What our right-wing friends here want is not journalism, but confirmation of their hatreds and fears. I don't think that is any better than people on the left doing the same thing. But if that's what our right-wing friends want, it begs the question: why not just read the Review-Journal? It gives you what you want.
By Purgatory

4/12/09 at 12:16 p.m.

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...ya know kids, there is nothing "right wing" about irresponsible governance...it is without question that both parties (yes folks, both) are out-of-touch economically...to reduce that argument to right wing / left wing / I hate Bush / I hate Obama is as I stated earlier, the head in the sand approach...it reminds me of one of my favorite quotes from Dr. Leonard Peikoff...I parapharse..."if reality alone, without the help of others, is not enough to convince someone of the self-evident, then that person has abdicated reason and need not be dealt with any further"...my honestly humble suggestion is that all y'all consider facts, history, economic truths, et al in your evaluations...enjoy your Sunday...
By skemp311

4/12/09 at 6:26 p.m.

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Keep up the great work Dina! Finally we see some progression.

I wonder what the Do Nothing Party will do now...

neiman any thoughts? Mommy said you can come out of the basement for awhile!!
By dave202

4/12/09 at 8:57 p.m.

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I have to admit that Dina is out there. I've seen her several times while Porter was kind of absent. But it sounds like the Sun is buying into her press releases. An invite to the White House? I think Porter got a ton of those and didn't announce it because it's expected.

Sun, give me some proof that she's actually doing her job, and I might respect her. But I got a letter from her about her votes in favor of abortion and it is not my view. She's going to have to a lllllooooooooonnnnnnnnngggggg way before she gets my vote.
By firedawg2000

4/12/09 at 11:28 p.m.

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She gets invited to the white house and that's the best outfit she can dig out of her closet?

Funny how libs give credibility to left-wing politicians who rub elbows with celebrities. As if that makes them a better representative of your district or state.
By POWERPLAY

4/13/09 at 12:15 a.m.

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Now that she,s had her picture taken with BONO she must be even that much smarter then before the election. next is that big cabinet job. YEA RIGHT
By rumrunner

4/13/09 at 9:56 a.m.

Comment removed by staff.
By ksand99

4/13/09 at 11:12 a.m.

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Sheesh! What's up with all the catty republican women critiquing Dina's fashion sense?

Tell me, firedawg2000, could you pick up your copy of Vogue or Glamour and tell us what's IN this season?
By Angry_Reader

4/13/09 at 2:43 p.m.

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Ok I am so ripping off this quote for future use...

"if reality alone, without the help of others, is not enough to convince someone of the self-evident, then that person has abdicated reason and need not be dealt with any further".

Reminds me of (paraphrasing from memory) "Never argue with a fool, because a casual observer won't be able to tell whch one of you is the idiot".
By jfnance32

4/13/09 at 3:04 p.m.

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Bono looks worry in the picture.

Her outfit is kinda freaky.
By anewkindofpolitics

4/13/09 at 3:06 p.m.

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get a life jfnance32 - you really do have way too much time on your hands. You comment more than once on every article that doesn't bash democrats...time to get a job, or if you have one start doing it rather than spending hours spewing hatred on blogs..
By Scott

4/13/09 at 6:13 p.m.

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Wonderful, a senator from the used to be conservative state of Nevada posing with one of the poster children for world peace.

I can't wait to see her voting record in a year or two.
By llanquihue

4/13/09 at 7:33 p.m.

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Dina, enjoy your progressive lovefest while it lasts. You are going to be voted back to the university where you can continue to indoctrinate our pioneer youth. Dina is a typical ivory tower politician who hawks that "feel good" utopia; alas, he is an empty suit; her policies bring neither peace or prosperity. Many of us are sick of Republicans and Democrats wasting our tax dollars. Cut spending as well as personal and business taxes and you will have a chance to return to the House in 2010!
By afveteran

4/13/09 at 8:38 p.m.

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Dina's a representative and yes, she is doing a good job. Her predecessor wouldn't vote for anything positive, and subsequently lost to Dina.

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