Speaker Pelosi creates new leadership position for Barbara Lee

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Politico:

Rep. Barbara Lee will be joining the House Democratic leadership team, filling a key void for the caucus after its elections earlier this week left the group without a woman of color in the top ranks.

Lee is expected to fill a new position being created by Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi to oversee the Steering and Policy Committee, the panel that determines committee assignments for Democrats. Pelosi’s decision expands leadership of the panel from two co-chairs to three.

“The leaders and members of the Steering and Policy Committee reflect the diversity, dynamism and integrity of our historic new House Democratic Majority,” Pelosi said in a statement obtained by POLITICO Friday evening.

“As a leading African American woman with a place at the decision table, the appointment of Congresswoman Lee is even more meaningful as we mark the birthday of her friend: the trailblazing Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm.”

Link to tweet

[Wounded Bear]

1. Good news!

While I like some of the fresh blood coming up, she was another of those old hands you like to keep around to mentor some of the young congresscritters we just elected.

[Kurt V.]

2. K&R!

[BigmanPigman]

3. Lee is fantastic...Pelosi knows what she's doing, as usual.

[suffragette]

4. Very good news, indeed!

[lunatica]

5. That makes me happy!

Before I came to New Mexico earlier this year Barbara Lee was my Congresswoman. I love her!

[Hortensis]

6. I'm glad. This was Lee's second run for #4, caucus chair.

She lost to fellow Black Caucus member Hakeem Jeffries, a younger male rising star, by a narrow margin and was just stating a rather bitter truth when she said she lost to ageism and sexism (also to Jeffries' abilities as Black Caucus whip and Jim Clyburn's endorsement).

At least ageism is uncontested since he ran overtly on ageism with a "new blood" dog whistle. That despite the fact that Lee will finally be the first black woman in congressional leadership in American history, making her definitely new blood. But bigotry based on age is still considered acceptable in public, even if certain exercises are now illegal, while racism and sexism are frowned on, though both relatively newly.

Note which breakthrough came first, btw. Lee's celebration of Shirley Chisholm's life is particularly poignant in this context. I remember once hearing Ms. Chisholm, a major warrior for equality, say that of being black and female she felt being female was the greater handicap.

Congratulations, Ms. Lee, and Ms. Pelosi.

[Progressive Jones]

7. K & R

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8. kick

[malaise]

9. Wonderful

Barbara stood up against Bush the younger and his illegal invasion and occupation

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10. she is the embodiment of unbowed progressivism

...her service to the nation a powerful legacy of her mentor, Shirley Chisholm.

[malaise]

11. +1,000

[mcar]

12. Pelosi is a great leader