Playing the absolute moral authority card. Via the WaPo:
House Speaker-to-be Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) endorsed Rep. John P. Murtha (D-Pa.) yesterday as the next House majority leader, thereby stepping into a contentious intraparty fight between Murtha and her current deputy, Maryland’s Steny H. Hoyer.
The unexpected move signaled the sizable value Pelosi gives to personal loyalty and personality preferences. Hoyer competed with her in 2001 for the post of House minority whip, while Murtha managed her winning campaign. Pelosi has also all but decided she will not name the ranking Democrat on the House intelligence committee, Rep. Jane Harman (D-Calif.) to chair that panel next year, a decision pregnant with personal animus.
Pelosi had been outspoken about her frustration with Murtha’s declaration that he would challenge Hoyer, currently the House minority whip, for the majority leader post long before Democrats had secured the majority. Many believed she would remain on the sidelines, just as Speaker J. Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) did earlier this year when three Republicans vied for the post of House majority leader.
But in her first real decision as the incoming speaker, Pelosi said she was swayed by Murtha’s early stance for a withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq. Her letter of endorsement yesterday made clear that she sees Iraq as the central issue of the next Congress and that she believes a decorated Marine combat veteran at the helm of the House caucus would provide Democrats ammunition in their fight against congressional Republicans and President Bush on the issue.
“I salute your courageous leadership that changed the national debate and helped make Iraq the central issue of this historic election. It was surely a dark day for the Bush Administration when you spoke truth to power,” she wrote. “Your strong voice for national security, the war on terror and Iraq provides genuine leadership for our party, and I count on you to lead on these vital issues.”
Murtha responded, “I am deeply gratified to receive the support of Speaker Pelosi, a tireless advocate for change and a true leader for our Party and our country.”
Pelosi’s decision could be a significant blow to Hoyer, who has worked for years to move up in the Democratic leadership. Political handicappers had regarded Hoyer to be the strong favorite when House Democrats meet Thursday to choose a majority leader for the 110th Congress. Although Murtha’s stance on Iraq has made him a hero among many grass-roots party activists, his positions against abortion and gun control have pushed many House liberals into Hoyer’s camp, including the leader of the Out of Iraq Caucus, Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.).
Here’s a refresher on the man Pelosi’s just lent her support to:
- Murtha slimes our troops: “…it looks like it’s the policy of our troops to do something like this.”
- Rep. John Murtha: A fountain of misinformation
- Murtha: 9 lies in 90 seconds
- Dem House Representative calls for immediate troop withdrawal
Read more via Allah, Kim Priestap, Don Surber, BCB, Dave Kopel, Rick Moran, Outside The Beltway
Related: Consider this post by AJ Strata on where the war on terror is headed with Dems in charge today’s must read.
Hey, that’s just great. Pelosi looks fair to be an inept Speaker, and she’s not even holding the job yet.
I believe the noun you seek is ‘cronyism’; why bother selecting those who may be qualified for a given post when there are so many personal loyalists to reward?
Let’s hope Pelosi continues in this vein; let’s hope Waxman, Rangel, and all the rest show their true colors early and often. They’ll lose the centrist vote handily in 2008…
Comment by Eric Jacobson @ 11/13/2006 - 10:09 am
- Pelosi’s problem is Hoyer has the votes. Time to make some popcorn, and sit back and watch the Dem clown car act.
- Bang
Comment by Big Bang Hunter @ 11/13/2006 - 11:12 am
Other than his position on the war (a position the voters apparently supported), John Murtha is fairly conservative for a House Democrat. He’s pro-life and opposes gun control, as two main examples.
We hammered him hard for his cut-and-”redeploy” position on the war, as we should have, but the simple fact is that the American people have approved the idea that the Democrats will force different policies on Iraq. This is, in the end, a democracy, and the will of the people has to rule.
Comment by Dana @ 11/13/2006 - 3:42 pm
No one is complaining about democracy, Dana, just disappointed in the choices. We all support democracy, but supporting it does not mean being happy or content with the outcome.
Comment by Sister Toldjah @ 11/13/2006 - 3:49 pm
Wonder if Murtha still has his “I survived ABSCAM!” and “I offered to take bribes and all I got was this lousy t-shirt” shirts?
Culture of corruption anyone?
Comment by Severian @ 11/13/2006 - 4:40 pm
Yeah Sev, its a big culture of corruption but if you’re a dem it doesn’t matter, the lame stream media will take you under their big umbrella of protection, but it you a Conservative you get hung out to dry.
God help us thru this time of trouble.
Comment by Drewsmom @ 11/13/2006 - 5:13 pm
Ahh..replacing one culture of corruption with another I see.
Yep…lots of progress made in the midterms.
Comment by TedintheShed @ 11/13/2006 - 6:20 pm
but the simple fact is that the American people have approved the idea that the Democrats will force different policies on Iraq.
It’s also a simple fact that the dems claimed to have a new plan for Iraq, and it’s obvious that they dont’. They will simply complain to the White House that they need a “new direction” yet have no idea what that direction is.
Comment by NC Cop @ 11/13/2006 - 7:43 pm