Backbencher

She's a first-term backbencher from exurban Minneapolis who says the Lord told her to run for Congress. ❋ Unknown (2008)

He's called a backbencher because anytime someone on these pages says anything nice or positive about a Republican it must be tempered with a slap. ❋ Unknown (2009)

If he was an abject failure or what Mark Levin calls a backbencher, nobody would give Rush a second look. ❋ Unknown (2009)

But back at home, the ex-PM is doing something that would be unimaginable for an ex-POTUS: He's still in Parliament as a "backbencher," repping his old district, a string of small mining communities in the southern part of Scotland. ❋ The Reliable Source (2010)

Now iRoy reminds us that Benn isn't just Britain's longest-serving parliamentarian -- he's also an inventor, the creator of the "backbencher" ( "a rucksack with stool attached") as well as a car-mounted easy-chair, a totally bad-ass pocket-protector, a briefcase that turns into a lectern, a magnetic map for logging your parking spot, and the "seat-case," a suitcase that turns into a chair. ❋ Unknown (2008)

Anon - in the last year, I've earned twice as much as a councillor as a 'backbencher' by virtue of being a portfolio holder. ❋ Stephen Tall (2007)

Often, the press focused on Dole's "first woman" status, giving the impression that she was a "backbencher," not the seasoned political operative she in fact was. ❋ Unknown (2008)

He and Ryder anticipated a different kind of backbencher, less loyal to the leadership and dogmatically opposed to Europe. ❋ Bothroyd, Betty (1988)

Tory Euro-sceptics such as backbencher Richard Shepherd insisted that having promised the people a vote, he must go ahead regardless and party chairman Eric Pickles caused surprise by stating it was likely the party would be able "to name the day of the referendum during the election campaign" as the ratification process would not be complete.

During the 2007 presidential campaign, Mr. Strauss-Kahn lost the party's presidential primaries to a backbencher, Ségolène Royal, who went on to lose to Nicolas Sarkozy in the election. ❋ David Gauthier-Villars (2011)

Hogan and I went to the same small, close-knit college and I have long heard he was in line for the Speaker's gavel, but this demonstrates he is unfit to be even a backbencher. ❋ Unknown (2009)

The paper says that between September 2005 and August 2006, the Labour backbencher claimed £1,175 a month in interest on his Westminster flat. ❋ Alan Smart (2009)

They hold the key to how the healthcare reform debate procedes from here, and if this is how a self-described low-key backbencher reacts, it will scare the hell out of independent voters in favor of the President. ❋ Unknown (2009)

By all means, follow backbencher Joe Wilson, "Truth-Bomb Thrower." ❋ Unknown (2009)

The prime minister's other big society relaunch initiatives have included the appointment of Charlotte Leslie, a Tory backbencher, and Shaun Bailey, a youth worker and former Tory candidate, as big society ambassadors. ❋ Unknown (2011)

Elected in 1992, Brandreth began as a government backbencher. ❋ Unknown (2009)

But the pressure on Clarke was highlighted when a senior Liberal Democrat backbencher questioned whether it would be right to apply the discount plan to rapists. ❋ Unknown (2011)