The Hill - Blue Dogs Back Harman - Black Caucus Backs Hastings

[OzarkDem]

From their Email this evening; why is it hard for them to understand why Dems object to Harman doing so little re major intelligence problems during GoP control?

The Tipsheet for November 17th, 2006


Blue Dogs Back Harman for Intel Panel Chair

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."

Harman currently serves as the top Democrat on the panel. Yet, Pelosi has all but said she will select another member as chair.

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.

Many of those same centrist feel that Harman, a Blue Dog herself, has served admirably on the committee and deserves to continue. But some progressives believe Harman has been too compliant with the Republican chairman, Rep. Peter Hoekstra (R-Mich.).

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.

--Josephine Hearn

[IndianaGreen]

1. Pelosi is right about Harman, she is a nitwit and an enabler of Bush's crimes

Harman has known about torture for years, yet chose to remain silent. Harman is prowar, and still is unrepentant about IWR.

[OzarkDem]

2. Agree, she's done nothing

she used to speak out, years ago, but she became silent. This should be no mystery to anyone on the Hill - that Bush has abused his authority and we can't stand idly by any longer.

[Ninja Jordan]

3. I'm against Hastings because of ethics questions.

[AlCzervik]

4. i heard somewhere that she was going to pick another member on that committee

he was referred to as "The hispanic member" not by Pelosi btw but my the media.

[Orangepeel]

5. Sylvester Reyes?

I've heard his name mentioned, too, but I don't know how seriously.

[AlCzervik]

6. thats him, thanks.

[bemildred]

7. Why is this in the MSM?

Why are these internal caucus issues being aired in public? Did we get play by play on the Republican power struggles? No. So why are these Dems washing their laundry in public?

They want to petition Pelosi, fine. Do it in private. Why are they telling us about in the MSM?