On a weekend day after he sent a letter to President Bush asking for tough answers to questions on Iraq, Joe Donnelly spent time in downtown Logansport hearing tough questions from constituents.

Donnelly was in Logansport Saturday afternoon to meet with Mayor Mike Fincher and voters at the Boardwalk Cafe.

Afterward, he said he is proud to be part of the moderate Democrat group known as the Blue Dogs. The group has taken its name from a phrase that moderate Democrats are as unusual as blue dogs. Donnelly, D-South Bend, said he is one of 44 members of the group along with fellow Indiana freshmen Democrats Brad Ellsworth and Baron Hill.

“What it is about is a group that wants to pursue moderate policies in Washington — have a balanced budget, be supportive of the military, but ask tough questions.”

Its purpose, Donnelly said, is to “have people in this country realize what Democrats can stand for which is common sense policies that stand up for families, that create jobs.”

The national debt is one of those issues, he added.

“The children at Logansport High School right now don’t deserve to have the debts that we’re piling up.”

Blue Dogs can bring both the president and the Democratic Party closer to the political middle, he said.

Among Blue Dogs from other states are Rep. Colin Peterson of Minnesota, the new House Ag Committee chair.

In a letter to Bush Donnelly released to the media, he said he supports the course the president is taking in changing strategy in Iraq, but wants to know, within 30 days, what will happen if the Iraqis do not take control of security by November. He termed that Bush goal “ambiguous.”

Donnelly said Saturday Bush has outlined a plan to have 400 to 600 troops in each of the nine zones, but he wants to know the administration’s measures of success in three months and six months.

“I’d just like to get some answers so when I come home I can tell people we have a plan. The plan is for a conclusion for this with a stable Iraq and we are making progress. Our soldiers deserve that.”

Donnelly also said he has been named to a House Ag subcommittee on ethanol and farm credit.

“I thought it was important to the economy of Cass County, to Carroll County and these other areas,” he said.

Although he did not carry Cass, Carroll or Fulton counties in November, Donnelly said he wants to maintain a congressional office here that serves the need of the community.

“I’ve tried in a very plain way to say how important Logansport and Cass County are.”

Donnelly said he has made contacts with all congressmen surrounding the 2nd District except Rep. Steve Buyer of Monticello who is recovering from leg surgery after a skiing accident.

“What I’m trying to do is have a delegation from Indiana that comes together as much as possible to help our state,” he said.

Dave Kitchell may be contacted at (574) 732-5150, or via e-mail at david.kitchell@pharostribune.com