Hoyer In – Murtha Out
by Pamela LeaveySteny Hoyer is in — Jack Murtha is out:
House Democrats chose Representative Steny H. Hoyer of Maryland as their majority leader today after a bruising fight that cast a cloud over the party’s post-election celebration.
The election of Steny Hoyer over Jack Murtha, by a vote of 149 to 86, was an awkward step back for Nancy Pelosi of California, who is poised to the first Madame Speaker of the House. Pelosi had backed Mr. Murtha. The step back quickly reversed into a showering of praise for each other between Pelosi and Hoyer, as well it should. Democrats have got to come together…
After the vote, Ms. Pelosi smiled broadly and offered “great congratulations” to Mr. Hoyer. “I look forward to working with him in a very unified way to bring our country to a new direction for all Americans, not just the privileged few,” Ms. Pelosi said.
“We’ve had our debates,” she said. “We’ve had our disagreements in that room, and now that is over. As I said to my colleagues, as we say in church, let there be peace on Earth, and let it begin with us. Let the healing begin.”
The healing may take some time, in view of the bare-knuckles nature of the battle. But Mr. Hoyer lavished praise on Ms. Pelosi. “I have three daughters, I have two granddaughters, and I have one 14-day-old great-granddaughter,” Mr. Hoyer said. “And those young women are going to be extraordinarily proud of the fact that Nancy Pelosi has been selected to lead the Congress, the House of Representatives, not just the Democratic Party, but the House of Representatives, as the first woman speaker.
“But she is not the first speaker because she’s a woman,” Mr. Hoyer went on. “She is the first woman speaker because she is a person of deep values, keen intellect and extraordinary political ability.”
Filed under: Democrats, House Of Reps, In The News, Politics | Get Permalink or trackback |
So much for the Democrats squabbling so soon after the got back in control. Of course there will be challenges and disagreements. At least it is transparent enough to be responded to by other members of the party. Maybe they didn’t listen as far as the choice, but perhaps Hoyer will be smart enough not to get his hands dirty.
I think Shultz said it best today, inferring that there ARE going to be disagreements within the Dem party, that’s what makes us different(and the party of the big tent, etc.). The last thing anyone wants is lockstep like the Bush-run GOP. Hopefully through things like this our people will keep their eye on the ball.