***Pelosi backs Murtha for majority leader***

[whometense]

BREAKING NEWS FROM THE HILL

The Hill <[e-mail]>

show details
7:22 pm (6 minutes ago)
Pelosi backs Murtha for majority leader

By Josephine Hearn

Speaker-in-waiting Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) threw her support behind Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.) for majority leader Sunday, giving a significant boost to Murtha in his race against Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.).

“Your strong voice for national security, the war on terror and Iraq provides genuine leadership for our party, and I count on you to continue to lead on these vital issues,” Pelosi wrote Murtha Sunday in a letter obtained by The Hill. “For this and for all you have done for Democrats in the past and especially this last year, I am pleased to support your candidacy for majority leader for the 110th Congress.”

As the House Democrats’ unchallenged leader, Pelosi has considerable sway over her colleagues. She and Murtha have long been close allies, but until now, she had not interfered in the majority leader race.

Her endorsement has the potential to turn the race,especially if she chooses to campaign on Murtha’s behalf. Pelosi’s decision to back Murtha is the most significant move she has made since Democrats scored a historic victory on Election Day.

--snip--

Edited per DU's copyright policy limiting the use of copyrighted material to 3-4 paragraphs along with the link to the article

Lithos
DU Moderator


LINK: http://www.thehill.com/thehill/export/TheHill/News/Frontpage/110906/pelosi2.html

[Demeter]

1. Yes, Ma'm!

The two of them together have more brains and morals than the entire GOP! Competence! This country needs competence!

[liberalhistorian]

2. Democratic Congress critters need to know that

their constituents support Murtha. Let's let them hear it loud and clear.

[aquart]

3. Pelosi is right.

In the public's mind, Murtha is the first with the courage to speak out. Steny Hoyer may be somebody in Congress, but he has no face to the rest of us.

[Rowdyboy]

4. Pelosi and Hoyer have never been close and the new Speaker needs

a loyal lieutenant like Murtha giving her backup, than an ambitious Hoyer, sniping, and always trying to undercut her. I don't blame Pelosi for taking sides.

[JerseygirlCT]

12. My sentiments exactly nt

[kdpeters]

5. Hmmm. Nothing about CREW's ethics allegations against Murtha

http://www.citizensforethics.org/press/pressclip.php?view=3302

The group accused Murtha of allowing his brother to lobby for him, which is against the rules according to CREW.

Has this all been resolved? Has Murtha been cleared? I'll try to call Nancy Pelosi, my representative, tomorrow and try to get an answer. I haven't yet seen any response to these allegations. It's unacceptable to think we'll just ignore it.

[Polesitter]

68. Yep - WaPo Front Page , just below lead describes her as

already backtracking on ethics vow.

There is still tape out there showing Murtha on ABSCAM - he was unindicted co-conspirator. If he were to win majority leader job, he will be "Delay-ed" on a regular basis. Not exactly the way to start anew.

[bemildred]

6. Bravo Madame Speaker (designate). nt

[rocktivity]

7. There goes the "Dems are soft on security" meme

Smooth move, Nancy!

:headbang:
rocknation

[whometense]

8. You know, I didn't think of that.

D'Oh!

But you're right. Great strategic thinking!!!

[alfredo]

24. Murtha stood up and gave voice to many of us. His stand

may have played a part in our winning this fall.

[The Wielding Truth]

60. Murtha deserves the nod.

[alfredo]

61. Unless ethics concerns could be a drag

[The Wielding Truth]

62. Some quick research says it's a swift-boating. RW is armed with

made up accusations and ready to slime. Put on your rain coat and defend Murtha.

He's worth 10 of those little sneaky character assassins.

[alfredo]

64. I'm not worried about that. Even the media doesn't think

it's worth much. You always have to worry about skeletons in the closet.

[melm00se]

67. i am not so sure that

this qualifies as "swift boating"...it is not the republicans who issued this:
http://www.citizensforethics.org/activities/murtha.html

[dchill]

9. Maybe Steny Hoyer ...

backed Bush once too often.

[Straight Shooter]

10. I don't like Hoyer, but I experienced great disappointment in Murtha this week.

Rep. John Murtha (PA): Likely to chair the Defense Appropriations subcommittee. Murtha's been tagged as a shameless earmarker, spending tens of millions on projects nobody wants to benefit his friends and his district. He's already been caught on tape by the FBI explaining how he works scams, so at least if the Feds pick up his trail again, they'll know what to look for. With massive classified budgets and a long history of wasteful spending, this post is ripe for abuse. The FBI probe into its former chairman, Rep. Jerry Lewis (R-CA), attests to that. Murtha's also making a play for Majority Leader.

http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/
(scroll down a little bit on the page to "We pick our favorite Dems.")

Before anyone gets angry with me for posting this, it's from TPM Muckraker, and it would be difficult to find a more fair forum on behalf of the Democratic Party. Murtha is one of the few Senators to whom I've actually sent a personal handwritten letter, but I'm having serious doubts about Murtha's baggage. We cannot afford the slightest taint. :(

[whometense]

11. I think that's fair.

If we can't ask these questions of dems, then we are no better than the rubber-stamp republicans.

[trumad]

13. I'm not angry with you...

He almost ended up in jail during ABSCAM.

[Straight Shooter]

15. Wow. I didn't know that.

Just goes to show I wasn't paying attention then.

Thank you trumad, and also whometense. I want everyone to look at the Dem leadership as role models for American citizens. I don't want anyone saying, "There's no difference between the parties.

[Stand and Fight]

18. I agree that this should be posted; however...

John Murtha is NOT a senator, he's a member of the House of Representatives.

[Straight Shooter]

34. I stand corrected.

Odd, you know, he has the gravitas of a Senator. ;)

[Vidar]

47. Good for her.

[fujiyama]

41. The truth is important

even if we don't like it.

I hope Murtha's clean. I've heard he's very big on pork, which does make me uncomfortable. Democrats can't afford even the slightest bit of scandal. We have to uphold the promises made that DC would be cleaned up after the DeLay years. I look forward to the reforms Pelosi has introduced and hope they will help.

[zann725]

14. Was this Pelosi's decision, or the Dem's? I think she was perfect for the job.

Much as I respect Murtha's gutsiness and input...I feel we VERY MUCH needed a 'female' integrity as Leader at this point in time. Not another "old boy"...no matter how Dem-loyal.

[Rose Siding]

22. Pelosi has the Speaker position sewn up- Murtha and Hoyer vie for majority *leader*

Different positions.

[zann725]

44. Thanks for clarifying. I get confused with all the new posts available. So many possibilities...

so NEW (to Dems)!

[jobycom]

16. For sake of completeness: Murtha often votes against abortion.

He usually receives a 0 rating from NARAL.

It should also be pointed out that while he was one of the first supporters of the IRaq invasion to turn against it, he was one of the strongest supporters for a while. Unlike Kerry and Clinton, he actively supported it.

I understand what Pelosi is doing, and I'm not sure I disagree. Murtha did help turn the tide on support for the occupation of Iraq. We do owe him a debt. And it does balance the House leadership, putting a conservative (though only on some issues) Dem opposite Pelosi. This would make us appear stronger on national security (though my own belief is that we don't need to appear stronger, we just need to state our position more often).

But for all intents and purposes, we would be putting a pro-lifer in a leadership position in our party. I have mucho trouble with that.

[cassiepriam]

21. I am not happy with this piece, but as they say, politics makes for strange

bedfellows.

And he was the only one with guts to stand up to the repugs
against the war. We need his kind of bravery right now.


And we need to stop the killing, raping, torturing of innocent
Iraqi women and children. I am willing to let go of some issues
to save their lives.

[jobycom]

45. That's not true. A lot of Dems stood up against the war. Murtha got attention

only because he had previously supported it, and then changed his mind.

As for "letting go of some issues to save" lives in Iraq--if it were a choice between accepting Murtha and costing more lives, the choice would be easy. I'd have to see how that choice is the only one, though. Abortion is not just an "issue" to me, it is the heart and soul of what it means to be a Democrat. Not because of the one issue itself, but what it says. Banning abortion is fundamentally undermining the equality between men and women before the law. It is telling a woman what she must do with her body, whereas there is no equivalent restriction on a man. I don't see that as just an issue. It is the essence of how a person views equality.

I'd side with the Devil or Tom DeLay if it would stop the slaughter, but I would prefer to side with someone who opposed the slaughter in the first place, and who I trusted on the other issues he or she would also oversee.

[cassiepriam]

48. I hear you, and I feel very strongly about the abortion issue as

well. But I am haunted day and night by the raping, torturing,
murder of innocent women and children in Iraq in our name
and funded by us.

I think we may not get everything we want right away, and for me the priority is to stop the war, then we move on to other issues.
We also have to restore free elections, free press, etc. And the US is bankrupt, not just morally but financially as well. And the tremendous political corruption is a problem as well.

I don't think it is possible to get everything we want right away.
We are going to have to have some patience and make a priority list. The abortion piece is the major drawback of Murtha I agree.
But he has the credibility with the public and the military piece
that we need right now.

There has been so much damage to our country, where do we even begin? You and I are not the only ones discussing it I am sure.

[jobycom]

50. Agreed, but again, Murtha supported the invasion wholeheartedly

The only reason he got so much attention is because he changed his mind afterwards. Majority Leader isn't a reward for good decisions, it's a leadership post, and frankly, Murtha showed bad leadership at first. I don't see how making him Majority Leader helps stop the occupation any more than making someone else Majority Leader. It could be argued that he adds credibility to the post because of his respectability, and that's a good argument, but then he also adds the same credibility to the anti-choice cause. We may be giving ammo to that movement, for no real gain.

Also, everything I've heard Murtha protest in regards to the war has to do with how many Americans we are losing, not how many innocent people are dying because of us. He supported the invasion, then changed his mind after he saw how many of our troops were dying. Would his solution edanger more Iraqis just to save a few more Americans?

If I thought giving Murtha the job over someone else would speed up the end of this bloody occupation, I'd support him wholeheartedly. I just don't see it.

[cassiepriam]

57. I feel sorry for Pelosi. So much work to do, and not a lot of good choices.

I hear she is above all a pragmatic person,
so I suppose she is picking people that she
thinks will accomplish certain things.
And she has to work with what she has in terms
of personnel. Again she has a tough task ahead of
her. I would not want her job.

And yes everything is a trade off. And yes I understand
the issue is more about American lives than
Iraqi lives. But at this point I guess I have
to take what I can get. Anything beats living
under the evil bush cabal. And I will take
whatever anybody can do to stop the killing.

I hope that all of the issues we hold dear will
come to a good end. At least now we have a chance.

[Zhade]

59. Absolutely not true, indeed!

Kucinich, for one - just one - example, was waaaaaaaaaaaaay out ahead on being right on the war, long before Murtha.

And I agree entirely with your comments on choice. This bothers me, too.

I'd hoped they'd pick someone who wouldn't compromise, or work actively against, issues of equality and liberty. I understand he's pro-school prayer, too?

Is this REALLY the best guy for the job? I hope it doesn't bite us in the ass, though I do concede that his hawk status (unfortunately) plays well with the less-informed.

[Rose Siding]

23. Hoyer gets 100% from NARAL

It's very important to me too, but the war.......

[phiddle]

17. Hoyer's comments are those of a magnanimous winner.

It doesn't sound as if Murtha can pull it out. If that's the case, I hope that Pelosi and Hoyer can work well together. We need this congress to succeed!

[whometense]

19. It's my impression that Pelosi

is above all a pragmatist, and that her eye will always be on how to move from point a to point b with the minimum sturm ung drang. One of my favorite things about her is the way she is not a drama queen.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

31. Hoyer's my rep...He's a good politician

That's why he's been a rep as long as he has. This is a heavily Democratic district; and he knows he'll lose his job if he doesn't watch it. Check out his voting record: http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/members/h000874/
He rarely opposes the majority of Dems, which indicates to me a clear understanding of the need for solidarity within the party.

That said, I'm not wild about his general support for the Iraq war, and his disinterest in legislation that would prevent unauthorized "preventive" attacks.

[cassiepriam]

20. I love it. Wonderful. Strong, military, loyal, popular, knows the congress.

And his courage should be rewarded.

[Pastiche423]

25. We already (will have)

an anti-choice majority leader in the Senate. Do we want an anti-choice majority leader in the House as well?

[Ignacio Upton]

27. The Speaker outranks the Majority Leader

Also, I don't want Murtha either, but because he is pork-friendly and earmark-friendly.

[JoFerret]

40. Just love that Newsweek cover

It must burn his mother's boy soul to know it's true.

[chill_wind]

26. The Smearvets Against Murtha must be apoplectic at the possibility.

I confess the image of that gives me much satisfaction.

That said, I hope he truly is clean enough and can withstand everything they will try to stir up and finance in the way of ethics challenges. If there is even the smallest question or allegation, they will smear him to death. the media will accomodate them. No way can we afford to see them take his head as such a major, major political trophy down the road before the NEXT election.

[Frances]

28. Thanks for the link

DU has been a good educational experience for me on how Congress works.

[Clarkie1]

29. Murtha will be a great majority leader. nt

[Dhalgren]

30. As far as I am concerned, I support Speaker Pelosi's choice. She has

a huge task ahead of her and she needs to be able to have the people in positions of power that she needs. I trust her brains and guts. There is no more liberal member of the House than Peolsi, and she will not forget where she comes from. I have problems with some of Murtha's positions, but if Pelosi wants Murtha, I trust her...

[IndianaGreen]

32. Support Murtha and dump Harman

things are looking good in the House.

[MarkTwain]

33. Damn Awful Move....

..... Murtha is one of the worst abusers of the "earmark" scam that infects Congress.

And this is the woman who pledged to restor dignity to the House by starting with a "clean sweep." Some rather strange broom you have there, Pelosi. Apointing a man named by CREW as one of the most corruptin the Federal Legislature.

Just more of the same old, same old - now being encouraged by our own Democratic "leadership."

Pitiful. Just god damn pitiful.

[goforit]

36. I don't understand. Tell me more.

[MarkTwain]

63. Everything you need to know....

http://www.beyonddelay.org/files/Murtha.pdf

[cali]

49. No kidding.

Not only one of the most corrupt but one of only 4 dems on a list of the 20 most corrupt members of the house. Anti-choice, sponsor of the flag burning amendment and conservative on a whole host of other issues, Beyond that, how is Murtha at the delicate task of rounding up votes? Can he cajole as well as bluster and strong arm? Don't know the answer to that. I also think Murtha is a poor public speaker, but hey it's Pelosi's perrogative to endorse him and it's up to the house members to vote.

Having said all that, watch for relentless media coverage if he gets it, and cries of hypocricy. sadly, the cries of hypocricy are totally legitimate.

[goforit]

35. Hats off to Pelosi!! Great choice!

[happyslug]

37. The day before the Election I received an ad about Abscram

It pointed out Murtha was involved with it, but failed to say why he was NEVER convicted. The problem was when Murtha was in the room with the FBI agents acting as Arabs, he refused the offer of money and instead asked them to invest the money in his district. He was willing to vote for what the alleged Arabs wanted BUT refused the money. This is typical of Murtha he will do anything for his District. On the other hand Murtha will NOT accept a bribe.

As to abortion, Murtha reflects his District, he will be succeeded by a Anti-abortion Democrat for that is what the Majority of people of his district want. Anyway, are the Democrats promising to expand Abortion? The answer is NO. The Democrats are going to leave Abortion the way it is.

As to the Military, Murtha has connection among the Professionals in the Military, what I mean by the Professionals, I mean the people planning operations and seeing what is needed. These are the people who know how many men and supply we need to hold Iraq, but have been forced to keep quite under Bush. When Murtha said what he said about re-deployment, he was reflecting the views of these professionals. i.e. the Present US Army will be destroyed unless we pull out of Iraq. It is Vietnam II, the destruction of an Army by its deterioration do to fighting an unpopular war. Murtha supported the use of Force to overthrow Saddam, but given a choice between holding onto Iraq and saving the Army, Murtha will save the Army over oil.

What Pelosi wants and need is someone with respect in the Military Corps, and no one has more respect than Murtha. Murtha also knows how to BUY votes with earmarks, i.e. get people to vote for Democrats because the Democrats did something for them. The GOP has been doing the same for the last 14 years, and now Voters who Voted Democratic must be rewarded. Murtha will make sure they are for he is the master of Earmarks. Thus Murtha is a good Choice for Pelosi, for her perceived weakness on Defense and earmarks are compensated by Murtha. This gives the Democrats a Left - Right Punch and can keep the GOP off Balance for the next two years and help elect a Democrat for President.

[CountAllVotes]

38. Excellent choice Madam Speaker Pelosi!

Could not be happier! First step in bringing our troops home soon (how about Xmas!) :D !

U.S. OUT OF IRAQ! BRING OUR TROOPS HOME NOW!

:dem: :kick: :dem: :kick:

[yellowcanine]

53. Not sure this was a good move on Pelosi's part because Hoyer might

actually win. I think it is a mistake to personalize these leadership races. Members should be free to vote their conscience, imo. Hopefully there will be no "deal making". That is how the Republicans operate.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

58. I think it's an excellent move...

Hoyer bears no grudge, and respects her loyalty to her friend. I'd like to think that Murtha would feel the same way if Hoyer wins.

I greatly appreciate Murtha's strong anti-war stance; but I have to say I'm not thrilled about his anti-choice voting record. At the same time, Hoyer's been pro-choice all along, but could have been more outspoken against the war.

[UTUSN]

39. Really????????? WOW !!!!!!!1 This is BIG and BALLSY!!11 n/t

[w4rma]

42. Good choice. (nt)

[ConservativeDemocrat]

43. Excellent. A "San Francisco" Democrat and a DLC Democrat.

Both working together for the good of the American people.

It'll also serve to drive a further wedge between the public and their
perception that Democrats are somehow "weak" on national security.

- C.D. Proud Member of the Reality Based Community

[Eurobabe]

46. Good, now EAT THAT Schmidthead!!

[IronLionZion]

51. Well, I don't support my own congressman as majority leader

because while he's da bomb at home, he's also one of the few Democrats who are on the most corrupt congresspeople list: http://www.beyonddelay.org/summaries/murtha.php along with Maxine Waters, Allen Mollohan, and Bill Jefferson.

Unfortunately the lobbyist vultures are aggressively trying to influence many of the Dems now including Pelosi herself. I hope our Dems can stay strong and do the right thing.

I don't know too much about Steny Hoyer, but he says he already has enough votes to win.

[Az_lefty]

52. Good call Nancy, keep up the good work...

:applause:

[madmax]

54. Mega dittos

Sorry, I just couldn't help myself :evilgrin: I'm glad she's backing Murtha. He took a lot of crap for speaking out. I like him. :toast:

[knight_of_the_star]

55. Excellent

Hoyer would have been a huge problem, with him trying to build his own power base behind her back and how ineffective he's been as whip for the past four years in enforcing party discipline.

[Tight_rope]

56. I'm with her...Damn good choice

[w4rma]

65. Good choice. (nt)

[w4rma]

66. Update: I'm beginning to lean towards former-minority whip Steny Hoyer.

In Back Rooms, Murtha Fought Against Reform
http://www.citizensforethics.org/press/pressclip.php?vi...

I would like to see more verification that Rep. Murtha has been doing this, however.