Their only reason? “We promised to change the status quo, and we intend to deliver on that promise.”
Democratic U.S. Congressman Seth Moulton of Massachusetts, a center-left liberal, is trying hard to make sure House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi does not become Speaker Pelosi once again.
Sadly, Rep. Moulton isn’t playing fair.
In his quest to thwart the only declared candidate for Speaker, the only House Democrat with experience as Speaker, and the most effective Speaker of the House – from either party – in probably a century, Moulton is tossing out false claims, like this one:
“This election was a call for change,” Moulton told reporters after Monday night’s town hall during which his own Democratic constituents actually protested his efforts to deny Pelosi the Speaker’s gavel, as Politico reported.
“I think if our party answers that call, that call for change with the amazing victories we had across this country, by just saying we’re going to reinstall the same status quo leadership we’ve had since 2006, for over 10 years, I don’t think we’re answering the call of the American people.”
The “call for change” was mostly a call to take power away from Republicans, not to handicap Democrats.
But it was this provably false claim Moulton made Monday night, which he has made several times in recent days, that is unacceptable.
“The majority of Democrats want this change,” meaning, anybody but Pelosi should be Speaker.
And while the numbers don’t look great, they don’t say what Congressman Moulton claims.
23% of Democrats support Pelosi as Speaker. 36% would prefer “someone else.” And 41% have no opinion, as The Washington Post reported from a new poll by Monmouth University.
Moulton’s claim that the majority of Democrats want anyone but Pelosi is just plain false.
Meanwhile, 16 House Democrats (photos above), including some who were just elected for the first time, have signed on to Moulton’s letter opposing Pelosi for Speaker.
The letter does not offer a single reason Leader Pelosi should not be Speaker Pelosi, other than, “We promised to change the status quo, and we intend to deliver on that promise.”
That’s literally their only reason.
ABC News’ Chief Political Analyst Matthew Dowd, a former Republican, offered this wisdom on Pelosi:
This pointless partisan infighting is exactly what Democrats don’t need in this precious time before they officially take control of the House in January. Rather than fighting against the most effective Speaker, and first woman Speaker in American history, Democrats should be standing united on this issue and determining a gameplay to lead, provide oversight of the Trump administration, and figuring out how to retake the White House in 2020.
Here’s the list of the 16 House Democrats trying to stop Pelosi:
Anthony Brindisi (NY)
Jim Cooper (TN)
Joe Cunningham (SC)
Bill Foster (IL)
Brian Higgins (NY)
Stephen Lynch (MA)
Ben McAdams (UT)
Seth Moulton (MA)
Ed Perlmutter (CO)
Kathleen Rice (NY)
Max Rose (NY)
Tim Ryan (OH)
Kurt Schrader (OR)
Linda Sanchez (CA)
Jeff Van Drew (NJ)
Filemon Vela (TX)
Image: DoD Photo by U.S. Army Sgt. James K. McCann via Flickr and a CC license