New DCCC Chair Chris Van Hollen (D-MD8)? Who?

From Rahm Emanuel:

I am pleased to announce that Congressman Chris Van Hollen of Maryland will be taking over as Chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee for the 2008 election cycle. Chris came to Congress in 2002 by upsetting one of the most entrenched House Republicans in one of the most Republican election years in memory, defeating Connie Morella in the Washington, D.C. suburbs.

Well thats nice but who the heck is this guy. Someone, supposedly, tapped by DLC Rahm gets me a little worried. After looking at this guys record I am impressed. Van Hollen (D-MD 8) is ranked as a Liberal Populist by Issues 2000 and a Rank and File Democrat by Gov Track. This move should partially put to rest the meme that Election '06 was a move to the center. We will have to see if Van Hollen and Dean can play nice, something Rahm and the DNC chair couldn't seem to do. During the 109th Congress Van Hollen served on the Committee on Education and the Workforce, Committee on Government Reform, Committee on the Judiciary. Looking at the district he captured in 2002, a historically red one, and his fundraising work this is a guy who can bring in the bucks for '08

Here is a sample of Van Hollen's record from Issues 2000:

Rated 100% by NARAL, indicating a pro-choice voting record.
Voted NO on restricting bankruptcy rules. (Jan 2004)
Voted NO on making the PATRIOT Act permanent. (Dec 2005)
Voted NO on Constitutional Amendment banning same-sex marriage. (Sep 2004)
Rated 33% by the US COC, indicating an anti-business voting record. (Dec 2003)
Rated 100% by the NEA, indicating pro-public education votes. (Dec 2003)
Rated 100% by the LCV, indicating pro-environment votes. (Dec 2003)
Rated 8% by the Christian Coalition: an anti-family voting record. (Dec 2003)
Rated 100% by APHA, indicating a pro-public health record. (Dec 2003)
Rated 100% by SANE, indicating a pro-peace voting record. (Dec 2003)
Rated 87% by the AFL-CIO, indicating a pro-union voting record. (Dec 2003)
Rated 100% by the ARA, indicating a pro-senior voting record. (Dec 2003)
Voted YES on providing $70 million for Section 8 Housing vouchers. (Jun 2006)