The calls from Democrats for Nancy Pelosi to step aside because she is "toxic" are multiplying exponentially but the are falling on deaf ears as Pelosi polls Democrats to ask if they agree with those asking to delay a vote as she shows intentions to proceed with a vote so she can win the top House minority leadership role for 2011.At least 15 Democrats have said publicly that they have lost faith in her ability to lead — a number backed up by as many as two dozen more who are indicating the same thing privately, while others haven’t yet taken sides.
Liberal Reps. Peter DeFazio (Ore.) and Marcy Kaptur (Ohio) sent a letter to colleagues asking them to support a plan to forestall leadership elections until December — a clear effort to give the anti-Pelosi forces time to coalesce. Democratic leaders plan to go forward with the leadership contests Nov. 17, according to sources familiar with a Wednesday afternoon conference call.
"Elections matter, and the messages they send matter," Kaptur told POLITICO Wednesday — though she declined to say whether she would vote for or against Pelosi.
Fellow Ohio Rep. Tim Ryan, a longtime Pelosi ally and protege of former Pelosi confidant Rep. John P. Murtha, told the Youngstown Business Journal that he's not sure how long he needs to be loyal to the outgoing speaker.
"We had some really good, substantive things to talk about that we didn't talk about and there's plenty of blame to go around. She's obviously in charge so she needs to take the brunt of the responsibility for it," he said. "I was brought up to be loyal to people who helped you and I want to be — but at the expense of what? I think we have to sit down as a Democratic Caucus in D.C. and ask what direction are we going in."
Republicans are celebrating Pelosi's tone deafness to the meaning and message behind the worst rout Democrats have suffered in over 70 years, all presided over by Nancy Pelosi as Speaker of the House.
But now that Pelosi is officially running for Minority Leader in the House and the GOP has gained control of the House, Republicans seem to think it's in their best interest for her to remain in control.
"With the elections past, the Republican National Committee has changed a central campaign message," a statement from the RNC said. "No longer will we be pushing a Fire Pelosi message … the RNC has a new message targeted to Congressional Democrats – HIRE PELOSI!"
In fact, the new sign that replaced the "Fire Pelosi" sign now reads "Hire Pelosi."
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