Why The Resurgence Of Conservative Dems Is A Good Thing
They’ll help keep the liberals like Pelosi in check:
Eighteen members of the Blue Dog Coalition, a group of conservative House Democrats, wrote Speaker-to-be Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) Thursday imploring her to choose Rep. Jane Harman (D-Calif.) to chair the House Intelligence Committee next year.
Congresswoman Harman has served as Ranking Member of the Intelligence Committee with skill and distinction. … She has helped lead the bipartisan reorganization and reform of our intelligence community and has served as a strong voice for Congressional oversight of the Administration and its national security policies,” wrote Reps. Melissa Bean (D-Ill.), Mike Ross (D-Ark.), Stephanie Herseth (D-S.D.), Steve Israel (D-N.Y.) and others. “Both our Caucus and Party have counted on Congresswoman Harman to answer forcefully and credibly to partisan critics who have questioned Democrats’ commitment to protecting our nation.”
…The letter came just hours after the caucus issued a stinging rebuke to Pelosi in the race for House majority leader. Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) beat Pelosi’s candidate Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.) decisively, drawing on the support of many centrists such as the Blue Dogs.
…Pelosi alone decides who will chair the Intelligence Committee unlike with most other panels where she must seek the approval of her caucus. Reps. Alcee Hastings (D-Fla.) and Rep. Silvestre Reyes (D-Texas) are potential alternate choices for the job. Both are more liberal in general than Harman.
Hastings’ candidacy may soon get a boost from the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC). At a luncheon Wednesday, the CBC voted to back Hastings for the post. The group is drafting a letter to send to Pelosi, an aide said.
The dueling letters will likely raise the stakes for the Speaker-to-be. Coming on the heels of a divisive race for majority leader, her decision has the potential to alienate one of two powerful groups: the 44-member Blue Dog Coalition or the 43-member Black Caucus.
I still don’t think this is a fight the good guys will win…but Pelosi is learning quickly that at least some Democrats will not be an automatic rubber stamp. Good…that’s the way it should be, regardless of your party affiliation…
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