Hoyer's Win Bruises New Speaker
House Democrats managed to turn their first week after 12 years out of power into a divisive brawl over who would be the party's No. 2 leader.
Speaker-elect Nancy Pelosi's surprising and gutsy move this week to put her chips on her old friend Rep. John Murtha did not pay off. Murtha, the Vietnam vet who ran Pelosi's leadership campaign and was credited for shifting the debate on the war in Iraq when he called for troop redeployments this year, lost to Rep. Steny Hoyer, the party's current whip, in the race for majority leader Thursday.
Murtha, who faced increasing questions this week about dubious ethics on earmarks and the 25-year-old investigation into the Abscam bribery scandal, lost to Hoyer by a vote of 149 to 86 during the Democrats' leadership elections. Hoyer had long-established roots within the party that were just too difficult to overcome.
"It was a stunning victory for him," Pelosi said after the election. "We've had our debates, we've had our disagreements in that room, but now that is over. I said to my colleagues: 'As we say in church, let there be peace on Earth, and let it begin with us.' Let the healing begin."
Murtha struggled to win over the newly elected freshman congressmen; Hoyer had campaigned for them, working closely with Rep. Rahm Emanuel and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, and helped raise money for their campaigns. Hoyer had worked hard to win the support of the old liberal bulls who will run many of the most powerful committees, like Rep. Henry Waxman of California, who will take over the House Government Reform Committee.
"We have had differences, Jack and I," Hoyer said, "but Jack Murtha will continue to be one of the most significant leaders in Congress."
Democrats took pains to portray the election in the best light possible.
"It's one thing to vote Steny as majority leader, but there is no question that Nancy is the unanimous choice to be speaker," said Rep. James Moran of Virginia, who managed Murtha's campaign. Added Rep. Jerrold Nadler of New York: "I don't think in January there will be any infighting. I don't think anyone will remember."
That may be true, but Pelosi was certainly bruised in her first leadership test. And once Congress takes up the most important issue of all–the war in Iraq–all eyes will be on who takes up the mantle of change. Pelosi wanted antiwar Murtha in the leadership. And some Murtha supporters expect him to be crafting Iraq policy even with his loss.
"He is the face of redeployment, and I think he'll continue to be," said Rep. Kendrick Meek of Florida.
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