Pelosi Appears to Wrap Up House Leadership Race

Reuters ^ | November 08, 2002 03:43 PM ET | Thomas Ferraro

[Redcloak]

Pelosi Appears to Wrap Up House Leadership Race

November 08, 2002 03:43 PM ET
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By Thomas Ferraro

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Rep. Nancy Pelosi, a California liberal, appeared to wrap up the race to become the new Democratic leader of the House of Representatives on Friday when her main opponent dropped out and backed her.

Rep. Martin Frost, a Texas moderate, wrote in a letter to colleagues that Pelosi had the votes to beat him and succeed Richard Gephardt as the House Democratic minority leader.

Consequently, Frost wrote, "I intend to support her for Democratic Leader in next week's election, and I will work with her to do everything I can to return Democrats to control of the House of Representatives."

Earlier on Friday, Rep. Harold Ford Jr. of Tennessee entered the leadership race, but party officials said he appeared to have little support. He called a news conference for later on Friday.

Pelosi, as House Democratic whip, is already the highest ranking woman ever on Capitol Hill and looks set to rise even higher when the 108th Congress convenes in January.

Gephardt, considering a 2004 White House bid and under fire from some members for Democrats' disappointing showing in Tuesday's congressional elections, announced on Thursday he would not seek another term as leader.

House Democrats, seeking to regroup, will formally elect their new leader on Thursday to be the face and voice of their caucus as they challenge President Bush's conservative agenda.

The contest has been billed as a referendum on the direction of House Democrats, who have seen Republicans control the chamber since 1995.

Pelosi, the highest ranking congressional Democrat to oppose Bush on the Iraqi war-powers resolution, argues Democrats need to more aggressively underscore their differences with Republicans, while Frost had warned that electing a liberal like Pelosi could keep them in the minority.

But Pelosi piled up plenty of support and had been long seen as the front-runner to succeed Gephardt, who has been minority leader since 1995.

"We must draw clear distinctions between our vision of the future and the extreme policies put forward by the Republicans," Pelosi said in a statement on Thursday in formally announcing her candidacy.

"We cannot allow Republicans to pretend they share our values and then legislate against those values without consequences," Pelosi said.

Pelosi called a news conference for later on Friday in her congressional district office in San Francisco.

[Redcloak]

Yes, she's as red as they come, but this is what we want. We want the Dems' new face to be as great a contrast to W as possible. Nothing could be further from W than this loon!

[Stark]

I have never seen anyone intentionally walk into a ambush...

[backhoe]

Take a look:

The Socialists In Congress
The Socialists In Congress Executive Commitee, Staff
Coordinator. Peter DeFazio, D-OR Ron Dellums ...
www.rfcnet.org/archives/socialists.htm - 7k - Cached - Similar pages

. The next minority leader of the Democratic Party claims to "understand America" but she supports every far left philosophy known...

click here

for more on what is sure to be a "Nasty Nancy" for conservatives...

---

Bear in mind, I want Nancy to get this post- she'll become the "New Face" of the Democrat party, and it won't be pretty...

[Redcloak]

I have never seen anyone intentionally walk into a ambush...

Nope... They usually hit that tripwire the same way the Dems are hitting this one. They waltz in like they're on a stroll in the park. The Dems really think that going further to the left will staunch the bleeding.

[AppyPappy]

You notice they didn't have a picture of Ford.

[gunnedah]

This should tell the people in this country where the Demoncrats are headed. But also the election in 2004 will show where America really stands and I believe Conservatives will be shocked if we dont get the vote out.
In South Carolina the liberals are alrerady saying they stayed home and this caused the Demoncrats to lose. The Demoncrats cant hide from this now.

[Enterprise]

I agree. I am happy that she will replace Gebfart. If there is one thing the RATS don't need right now is someone who can constantly remind the people of this nation of California-style leftwing socialists. She will draw constant criticism and may help the RATS to lose even MORE seats in 2004!

[KriegerGeist]

The farther left and socialist they move the better it will look for Louisiana to vote Republican in the run-off election next month.

Plus, you may see some conservative or moderate Democratic Representatives, they might want out and their constituency may back them, if not urge them...

What? It could happen....!

[Williams]

Just a little reality check here. I'm glad the dems are trying to further self destruct, BUT I am thoroughly sick of the media's obvious excessive attention to everything democrat. First, Will the Dems keep the Senate? I would say less than 1% of articles pondered if Republicans would retake it. Now, we are to be obsessed with their idiotic in-the-minority affairs. Did Dennis Hastert, the SPEAKER of the House, ever get 5% of the attention afforded Gephardt?

[End Times Sentinel]

Excellent news!  Thank you Dems for realizing that the reason that you didn't energize the population  was your views simply weren't radical enough! 

 

Abortions on demand? I don't think so, the New Dems will adopt Red China's MANDATORY ABORTION POLICY!  (That ought to sell well to the hay seeds in the "fly over states" eh Nance?)

 

Gay rights?  Not from the New Dems!  How 'bout a full year of homosexual indoctrination in public schools!  (And if Mabel and Ezekiel have some type of problem with that and try to home school, The State can put them into foster care!)

 

Tax break?  Nancy and her comrades know that what John Q. Public really wants is the security of knowing that the government will use it's infinite wisdom to make decisions for all and provide for all!

 

Yes Dems, there's a lot of work to do, and the above is only a start.  Now get dreaming and show us what you're made of in 2004!

 

Owl_Eagle

”Guns Before Butter.”

[copycat]

Pelosi? I didn't think this week could POSSIBLY get any better, but it has...

Whooooo-hoo!!!

[Jagdgewehr]

True. The media angst for the political health and welfare of the Democratic Party further betrays their alliance to the Democrats.

[El Gato]

The Dems really think that going further to the left will staunch the bleeding

It might, after the Blue Dogs jump ship. Of course they will be all but bled out by then, so don't expect much real life out of them. More light night of the living dead.

[Brookhaven]

MSNBC must be running the Democratic party, because this makes about as much sense as hiring Phil Donahue.

Peloski will do the same thing for the Dems Donahue did for MSNBC, drive people away.

Nancy Peloski = The Female Phil Donahue

[rdb3]

You notice they didn't have a picture of Ford.

Yes, I noticed. And it's so very disappointing. I'd hate it if anyone made political hay of this. Yeah, baby!

No mercy.
Coming soon: Tha SYNDICATE.
101 things that the Mozilla browser can do that Internet Explorer cannot.

[GalvestonBeachcomber]

Pelosi Appears to Wrap Up House Leadership Race

Should be: Pelosi Appears to Wrap Up House Losership Race

[RoseofTexas]

MAN! The liberal media WHORES are making this a BIG deal, while the BIGGEST THING that ever EVER happened in US HISTORY is shoved under the rug...ughhhhhhhhhh!!!

[Williams]

I think that because of 9-11 Bush (and the media because they couldn't control the story) began to make people see that the dems are left wing to a degree that is out of touch with reality. Remember Bonior and that other leftist twit in Bagdhad? Well, Bonior was previously a media darling. And there are plenty of scary marxist dems like Maxine Waters who the media have sold as folk heroes.

All this coddling allowed a committed Dem left wing to become entrenched. Gephardt tried to run to the center before the American people could get a good glimpse. "Liberal" has never been a label that polled well in America, let alone "leftist." Now it sounds like the hubris of the lefto's may be their undoing.

[Howlin]

LOL! Did you see that a recount turned the House in NC over to the GOP?

This is the election that just keeps on giving!

[colorado tanker]

"You want this, don't you Democrats? The hate is swelling in you now. Take your Pelosi. Use her. We are unarmed. Strike us down with her. Give in to your anger."