Nancy Pelosi in a Lott of Trouble

"What Pelosi's done is worse that what Lott did," says a member of the Congressional Black Caucus. "She said she was with us, then stabbed us in the back. I believe Lott when he says his mistake was of the mind not the heart. But I look at Pelosi's error and I know it was made by both. I really believe that. She had a conscious choice and she made the one that hurt us. Aside from losing the majority, this is the saddest chapter in my time in the House."

He's referring to House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi's decision -- made public earlier this week at the height of the Trent Lott drama on the other side of Capitol Hill -- to place longtime liberal ally Robert Matsui in charge of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. In that role, Matsui will be the key Democrat in the House to recruit candidates, fundraise for the party and help shape the party's message in the 2004 election cycle.

A member of the California delegation, Matsui never campaigned for the leadership post, was never mentioned as a candidate and has never served in leadership in a congressional career that many inside his party consider marginal.

Pelosi's decision to elevate Matsui shocked Black Caucus members, who had been privately assured by Pelosi lieutenants that their candidate for the DCCC job, Bill Jefferson of Louisiana, was a serious contender for the job.

"There is no evidence that they ever seriously considered Bill," says the Black Caucus member. "If our leadership doesn't think we have juice to make their lives hard, then they are wrong."

Jefferson, himself a relatively unknown Democrat, had in the past two election cycles shown a willingness and talent for fundraising and campaigning for his House colleagues. But early in his announced candidacy for the DCCC post, rivals pushed a story that Jefferson had failed to repay past campaign debts. Many suspect Pelosi operatives of making the leak in an attempt to diminish his chances, thus making her decision easier. But allies of Jefferson say he proved his mettle by playing a key role in the re-election of Sen. Mary Landrieu.

"He campaigned tirelessly for her in that final week," says a House member who supported Jefferson. "When Landrieu needed the African-American vote more than ever, Jefferson was one of the men who pulled it out for her. He deserved better than he got."

Pelosi's decision to elevate Matsui surprised many in the party, and raised new concerns about her leadership. "She had an opportunity to show America our party was the real big tent, that we could see past color and recognize talent and hard work. She failed. Matsui is nothing but a liberal from California, a crony," says the Jefferson supporter. "I hate to say it, but the Black Caucus is probably right. Given the times, the circumstances, Pelosi's actions are probably worse than Lott's."

More troubling to more moderate House members, though, was Pelosi's seeming uninterest in listening to her caucus's concerns. "She just ignored everything we were telling her, and just rewarded a pal," says the Jefferson backer. "When you are in the majority and on top, you can do that. We don't have that luxury. Maybe she's been listening too much to her old pal Willie Brown."

Brown, who is black, is currently mayor of San Francisco and has long been a political ally of Pelosi. "That's what makes this whole thing so stunningly embarrassing for her," says a Pelosi staffer. "It's not like she isn't aware of how important it would be to elevate an African-American into the leadership. She's seen examples of that importance throughout her career, and she still made this decision."

According to Pelosi supporters, she considered Jefferson, but ruled him out early in the process. "He just wasn't the right man for the job," says a Democratic leadership staffer. "We're in crisis mode. We needed someone in the slot who understood Pelosi, and who understood the party needs. I don't think anyone thought Jefferson was right for the job. In this environment, we just couldn't say it."

But is Matsui any more qualified than Jefferson? "I don't know," says the leadership staffer. "But if the Black Caucus is complaining about Pelosi not picking a person of color, and that seems to be their only complaint, they're being just as closed-minded as they claim Pelosi is. I mean, Matsui is a person of color."

Leading up to Pelosi's pick of Matsui, several candidates were rumored: Jefferson, Massachusetts Rep. Ed Markey and Rep. Martin Frost. Frost, who lost out to Pelosi in the race for party leader, and who is far more moderate politically, had previously served as DCCC chair and is considered one of the House's best fundraisers. Moderates and some Pelosi allies had pushed her to bring Frost on board to help heal the rift between the liberal and moderate wings of the party.

But Pelosi passed on Frost, and Markey removed himself from contention early in the process, which left Jefferson as the only announced candidate seeking the post. Despite her limited options, Pelosi took a pass on Jefferson as well to go with one of her California friends.

"Now she's saying the party will find some other way to get us into leadership," says the Black Caucus member. "But we know that's just talk. You know, we didn't get along well with [Republican Rep. J.C.] Watts. But I'll say this for the Republicans: they gave him a leadership position without blinking. My party can't say that, and it saddens me."

Compounding Pelosi's apparently impolitic behavior -- and further angering the Black Caucus -- was her decision to announce the Matsui selection at the height of the Trent Lott controversy. "Look, if Bush can make controversial or negative announcements during big-news periods that distract the American public, we can too," says the Democratic leadership staffer. "I just don't think any of us saw the irony in what we did."

Democrats need their votes but will NEVER elevate blacks with in their party.

How can you say that? Look at Joycelyn Elders! Her reward to somebody was certainly rewarded... for a while, at least.

And then, there's, um, Ron Brown. Yeah. Ask Ron Brown the rewards that await the African-American Democratic faithful.

What's that, you say? Oh... Perfectly round and .38" in diameter? Must've been the racist Republicans. Oh... Clinton...

Well, anyway, there's one thing for sure. With those damn racist Republicans, you'll never see any African-Americans in important positions in the government, or having the ear of the President. What's that, you say? Oh. Well, um, never mind...

< snip >

The Liberal 'RATS don't have a clue. They are lost !

My, my, my........didn't Hillary just say that the GOP's constant exploitation of race was very bad? And Terry McAuliffe says so too...but what have we here, the Black Caucus is threatening Pelosi because she didn’t appoint a black American? "If our leadership doesn't think we have juice to make their lives hard, then they are wrong." My, my, my...threatening and racist at the same time. Umm!Umm!

Most of what is being said by the Black caucus is to pressure the Democratic leadership. The Democrats can never win an election if they lose the black vote.

The Democrats fought against ending slavery; they fought against ending Jim Crow. They finaly figured out a way to keep blacks "in their place and in service".....by convincing blacks to place themselves on the auction block, for sale to the highest bidder. The black caucus is just letting Democrats know the bidding isn't looking very attractive at the moment.

All the Republicans have ever wanted is that blacks enjoy full citizenship rights including access to economic opportunities. As equal human beings. Not as slaves nor as servants selling their loyalties.

Most of what is being said by the Black caucus is to pressure the Democratic leadership. The Democrats can never win an election if they lose the black vote.

Good post.

Another reason that Rep. Jefferson was passed over for the DCCC position is that he is very interested in fundamental tax reform -- he holds a Masters degree in Tax -- and is not as hard left liberal as Pelosi and Matsui.

We can't have any "outside the Marxist box" thinking in the Leadership, don't you know!

Matsui and Pelosi are committed Marxists, and they will purge (or prevent elevation to a leadership position) the Democrat House Membership of any and all who are not committed to their Marxist agenda.

We must remember that the first order of business for any new dictator is to shoot all potential competitors.

Which is good news for those of us who favor fundamental tax reform.

Wonder if there are any Democrat House Members who will change parties, now that the new leadership has begun to show its true colors?

WASHINGTON, DC - Today Congressman Matsui joined incoming Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi and other Democratic leaders to call on Congress to pass an extension of unemployment benefits. 800,000 jobless workers nationwide will exhaust their benefits on December 28th.

I don’t know whether this bill passed or not, however, isn’t this typical of socialist/liberal thinking...give a person more so he is obliged to do less.

.."The democrat party survives by keeping African-Americans in perpetual servitude. It's that simple."...

It is truly puzzeling why Blacks vote straight democratic ticket decade after decade....no matter what the issue or who the candidate. They never, ever question why they get no return favors for their votes.

Are they simply stupid?

This is the message to deliver over and over again.

Did someone turn on a light bulb here?

"Wonder if there are any Democrat House Members who will change parties, now that the new leadership has begun to show its true colors?"

I hope not. I don't won't anymore libs in the republican party. We've got enough already. Besides, watching the back stabbing and infighting is too much fun.

BTW, I think Pelosi is a Hillary Clinton clone. They're both the queen of mean, power hungry and driven to their Marxist cause. It's a scary thought to consider that we are an election away from having these two in the majority.

democrats have been doing this for years upon years. let's list all the blacks who have been kept down by the democrats.

First off, clinton pal terry macauliffe was picked as dnc chair over maynard jackson, the former mayor of atlanta. Then Terry goes out and screws up the 2002 eection for the dems. nice choice there.

Carl McCall wins the Dem primary for Gov. in New York, a very heated primary with former Clinton cabinet member Andrew "the son" Coo-mo. The dems then basically bail on McCall and offer him up like a sacrifice to the Pataki re-election campaign.

Harold Ford Jr. from Tennessee, a young, intelligent congressman who has represented the party hundreds of times on cable news shows, and would have been a terrific choice to lead the party, is passed over in favor of that crazy broad from the left coast.

Democrats have not elevated minorities to substantial leadership positions, compare this to J.C. Watts, a Republican who served in the leadership of his party before retiring this year.

Add the fact that Dems have not had a single black candidate for the Senate in recent memory (i think), and the senate campaigns of republicans like Alan Keyes in Maryland (he lost to Sen. Paul Sarbanes D-MD in 1988 and Sen. Barbara Mikulski D-MD in 1992).

Also, George W. Bush instead has elevated two very intelligent and charismatic minorities, Powell and Rice, to leadership posts in his administration. In the meantime, Clinton nominated some people to his cabinet, but Elders and Espy did not last long on the cabinet, and Clinton held Ron Brown in such high regard that he laughed at the man's funeral. I dont even need to get into what happened to Vince Foster. It seems to me that these were token appointments, while in Bush's case, all the minorities he has picked, right down to Labor Sec. Elaine Chao, have been qualified and competent in their jobs.

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