House Democrats Tell Pelosi What They Really Think

Hail the Secret Ballot!

The House Democrats got to vote not only their conscious but common sense in rejecting Nancy Pelosi’s choice of John Murtha as their majority leader. Instead they selected Representative Steny Hoyer and avoided a sure drubbing in the 2008 elections.

John Murtha, described by Jules Crittenden as “an extreme anti-war zealot with a "Kick Me" sign taped on his back”, would have been a bane to the Democratic Party. Republicans would have relished his foot-in-mouth punditry; one can be sure he would have figured prominently in 2008 campaign ads.

So the Republicans missed out in having Murtha drag his party down the tube, but the upside is that Nancy Pelosi lost a lot of political capital. She flexed her muscles to coerce fellow Democrats to tow the line but the 149-86 vote wasn’t close. This is a rebuke that may portend she will have a difficult time moving left-wing legislation.