WP: Fights Brew As Democratic Rivals Spar Over House Posts

[DeepModem Mom]

Fights Brew Over House Posts
As Democratic Rivals Spar, Some in Party Fear Loss of Unity
By Lois Romano and Jonathan Weisman
Washington Post Staff Writers
Tuesday, October 31, 2006; Page A03

As Democrats enter the final days of their push to take back control of the House in next week's election, two divisive backroom leadership fights are brewing within the party, raising fears that Democratic unity could be fraying even before the first votes are cast.

For some Democrats, the battle between Rep. Steny N. Hoyer (Md.), the minority whip, who had been expected to ascend to majority leader without opposition, and Rep. John Murtha (Pa.), his challenger, threatens the party's efforts to appear ready to govern.

In what could be another high-profile showdown, Rep. Rahm Emanuel (Ill.), the ambitious former White House aide who runs the Democratic campaign arm of the House, may seek the third-ranking post of majority whip, pitting him against Democratic Caucus Chairman Rep. James E. Clyburn (S.C.), the only African American in a leadership position.

This could exacerbate racial strains in the House, since both the Congressional Black Caucus and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus have complained that Emanuel is insensitive to minority concerns. Members of the black caucus accused him of using strong-arm tactics to collect dues for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, and the Hispanic caucus withheld its dues last year until Emanuel hired a Hispanic staffer at the DCCC.

On one point there is no disagreement: If the Democrats win, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (Calif.) will be elected speaker. While she has not taken a public position in the Hoyer-Murtha battle, she is politically and personally much closer to Murtha and has a long-standing rivalry with Hoyer....

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/30/AR2006103000979.html

[yourout]

1. Not buying it........

Does not pass the smell test. Puke propaganda.

[rurallib]

2. Bullllll

crap.

[bemildred]

3. Sounds good to me.

Pelosi will kick all of their asses if they get out of line.

[cally]

4. If anyone has time for inner party fights before the election,

then they don't deserve a leadership post. Make them pay a penalty for this silliness.

[grasswire]

5. this is called "borrowing trouble"

I can't imagine a scenario in which Dems are so individually power hungry that they can't get along now.

[Straight Shooter]

6. On page D01, the article about Pelosi cracking down on lobbyists.

That's newsworthy.

But on page A03, they have this ridiculous nonsense about who is fighting whom. Excuse me, but Murtha is in a tough race and he's concentrating his efforts there, as well as trying to protect the troops.

This type of reporting is designed to obscure the real issues.

[davidinalameda]

7. the Hoyer/Murtha story is old news

and I'm not real impressed with the CBC since they're on record as defending William Jefferson when Pelosi tried to get him to resign his committee assignments

[Fovea]

8. The NeoCons should have such problems

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Just the kind of elephant crap I expect from the WaPo.

[SaveElmer]

9. More Washington Post Bullshit "even handedness"....

No matter how many times or to what degree the Republcans fuck up...the Washington Post always trolls up some lame ass story about the problems Democrats are having....no matter how inconsequential, or just plain false, to make it look like they are being even handed...

They ought to just rename the paper the "Washington Broder" and be done with it...

Katherine Graham must be rolling in her grave!!!

[Hekate]

10. Nancy Pelosi will whip them back into line

Great little gal, that one. In San Francisco she's considered something of a centrist, contrary to the Republican caricature.

Hekate

[w4rma]

11. I'm not concerned. They'll work this out.

I haven't heard anything about that Hoyer guy. His profile has been non-existent. I can't support a majority leader who isn't known outside his district.

I do like what I've seen of Murtha, though.

[truthisfreedom]

12. i love it. the WP making the assumption we're winning and have things

to work out. it's great!

[kurth]

13. Big deal

Politicians are supposed to play politics.