Progressives Threaten to Target Dem Lawmakers Who Oppose Pelosi

[DonViejo]

Democrats and some outside groups are frustrated with members who, they believe, don’t reflect the party’s more progressive and more female makeup.

Gideon Resnick, Andrew Desiderio
11.19.18 9:53 PM ET

Progressive groups backing Rep. Nancy Pelosi’s (D-CA) bid to reclaim the House speaker’s gavel in the next Congress issued a sharp warning on Monday to the group of Democratic lawmakers seeking to deny her the requisite votes: do so at your own political peril.

“If right-wing Democrats end up helping Republicans by voting against Nancy Pelosi as speaker, they can expect to face serious backlash from the same energized and mobilized base of progressive voters that just brought Democrats a majority in the House. Which certainly could extend to primaries,” Karthik Ganapathy, a spokesman for the progressive bulwark MoveOn, told The Daily Beast.

The warning was the latest in an increasingly aggressive exchange of salvos between Pelosi’s detractors and a larger group of supporters. It came just hours after 16 Democrats went public in their vow to oppose her candidacy to lead their caucus—a total that could seriously complicate Pelosi’s ability to corral the 218 votes she needs on the House floor come January.

The question between now and then is whether Pelosi can convince those 11 incumbent Democrats and five incoming freshmen lawmakers who signed onto the letter to reverse their position. An implicit threat from liberal groups—that those lawmakers may face a primary challenger in 2020 if they don’t—could potentially help.

On Monday, Daily Kos—the massive online progressive community that raised more than $8.7 million for Democratic candidates throughout the 2018 midterm cycle—threw its weight behind Pelosi. The group plans to remain heavily involved in the 2020 election cycle, too, and officials left the door open to backing Democrats who challenge Pelosi’s detractors in the primaries.

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https://www.thedailybeast.com/progressives-threaten-to-target-dem-lawmakers-who-oppose-pelosi?ref=home

[hlthe2b]

1. No, we don't get to vote on House Speaker, but to say we have NO VOICE, NO INFLUENCE...

and that those of us who argue the contrary "need a civics lesson", well here is an important lesson as well.

[Demsrule86]

7. I don't want a right leaning speaker first of all...and Nancy Pelosi is a great speaker.

[hlthe2b]

9. Indeed and the gang of five DINO men leading the charge will move the caucus to the right.

Given at least one of their followers (Kathleen Rice) was, until fairly recently, a registered Republic... there is every reason to believe there is an intentional effort to do so.

[Demsrule86]

10. That is what I think...misogynistic and a plan to kowtow to Trump...who knows how loyal

these folks are.

[Demsrule86]

11. Let me add that Marcia Fudge is in general pretty decent. She is my Congresswoman...think she

is being used. I did call her office and warned her that I (and others) will not hesitate to work for a primary opponent if she keeps it up. I said," it is progressives like me who put Ms. Fudge in office. If you think, that she can win primaries without us ...think again."

[hlthe2b]

12. I agree that she is being exploited.

[Demsrule86]

13. I think so too...and it hurts her in our district which is quite progressive.

[Honeycombe8]

22. That's an insult to the female politician, IMO. She has a brain.

She can't be exploited, but she can agree with a different position.

[hlthe2b]

24. One can be exploited through no effort of one's own.

The world is full of opportunists fully willing to exploit others.

[Honeycombe8]

25. How about Ryan, who expresses an interest in becoming speaker? Is he being exploited, too? nt

[hlthe2b]

27. He has NOT thrown his hat in the ring. His long vendetta toward Pelosi is on display, however.

[erronis]

26. Huh? She has a brain and she can't be exploited. Everyone has a brain (of varying capabilities)

and everyone can be exploited.

Even DU'rs.

[hlthe2b]

29. Opportunists can exploit situations, other persons' decisions, or timing.

That doesn't mean a person being exploited (or their decision) has entered into a willing agreement to be exploited.

[Honeycombe8]

23. She's got this. She's experienced and popular. It's not a big deal, or a real threat, IMO.

A pundit on tv said this is really about getting committee assignments. Personally, I don't know. But this is making Pelosi only more popular, as we can see.

I think she's got this hand over fist. She's not worried. I think she's the right person for the job, and I'm not worried. There is no one else who could muster the votes to get elected Speaker.

[saidsimplesimon]

31. I am not worried. Thank you

It is fodder for the lazy MSM who wish to profit from sowing discord and promoting "fist fights" within the party. imo

[Squinch]

2. Why do groups that identify as progressive always jump to

threats against Democrats as their first resort? I support urging the defectors back into the fold, but why do those who call themselves progressives always resort to the club before anything else?

[samnsara]

3. i always thought of myself as progressive but these guys make me think twice!

[Demsrule86]

6. These anti-Pelosi actavists are mostly men...only two women. I gave Marcia Fudge's office a piece of

my mind a couple of times. They risk our majority and could ...worst case scenario usher in McCarthy as speaker. If they don't knock it off and vote present if they must and stop opposing the most effective speaker in our history because she is a woman in my opinion, they deserve a primary. And you know I am against primarying sitting Democrats. Marcia Fudge is in my district.

[octoberlib]

18. It's not just because Pelosi is a woman, it's because they want the more fiscally conservative

New Democratic Caucus in control of the House to block any progressive legislation. And ambition.

[Demsrule86]

19. I think it is both...and I don't want fiscally conservative Democrats in power anyway.

The GOP broke the bank and these sort of Democrats help the GOP target things like social security...no thanks. And male members have been left alone...so it is both.

[Demsrule86]

5. We can't allow the right leaning Democrats to destroy an effective leader...I am against

primarying sitting Democrats as many know, but these folks injure our party, and if they help the GOP by voting against Nancy and possibly putting in McCarthy as speaker, they need to face a primary.

[Cary]

8. That's politics I guess?

Power plays.

[octoberlib]

17. Moulton was asked what would happen if McCarthy became Speaker as a result of

his actions and he said he'd be fine with that. This is completely unacceptable.

[wryter2000]

32. Just call him

Susan Sarandon

[Tom Rinaldo]

37. It wasn't the first resort

Women's groups, Organized Labor, MoveOn, Indivisible, leading members of the Congressional Black Caucus etc. etc. all came out backing Pelosi. That sent a strong message. It seems the message wasn't strong though enough because this cabal chose to issue a manifesto to oppose Pelosi after all of those messages were "sent" to them. It seems they need a stronger message.

[manor321]

4. The anti-Pelosi's still need one more vote to block her

The news media should mention that. I think some of then will crumble anyway.

Even the loathsome Seth Moulton said he "didn't write the letter". LOL.

[Demsrule86]

14. Moulton is done if he votes against Speaker Pelosi.

[getagrip_already]

21. moulton is done either way......

I'm sick of this guy even though I'm not in his district. I'm donating to whoever primaries him.

[LiberalFighter]

16. Just read where he had a town meeting and attendees laid into him about it.

[Fullduplexxx]

15. Gop plan .. run cons as dems to water down the wave

[getagrip_already]

20. It's only a threat if......

you don't follow through. Right now it's a plan, not a threat.

We will have a few new freshman next cycle. Hopefully we won't lose the seats, but they are empty anyway.

[Cal Tek]

28. New Blood is Needed ONLY when Old Blood has Lost Its Effectiveness

Nancy Pelosi can still punt asses into the Potomac!

[Duppers]

36. "Pelosi can still punt asses into the Potomac!" Excellent!

She sure can!

#puntAssestoPotomac!

[DFW]

30. The anti-Pelosi crowd reminds me of a few failed tour operators

They would buy up rooms on cruises and in hotels, but offered such lousy conditions and/or destinations that only three people booked the trips, and they had contracted for accommodations for fifty or more. A tiny bit of common sense would have told them to find out if there was a market for what they were offering before they bet their fortunes on it.

[mastermind]

33. this conspiracy sounds like something you would find on drudge

i don't believe a word of it.

[mastermind]

34. there are very few sites on my list of trusted

and thedailybeast isn't one.

[Duppers]

35. Very good point!

[Duppers]

38. Did ya see this thread?

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100211453614