Liberal Democrats Not Backing Murtha For Majority Leader

[wyldwolf]

Liberal House Democrats are not lining up behind Rep. Jack Murtha’s (D-Pa.) leadership candidacy in the numbers he had hoped despite his outspoken stance against the Iraq war.

Rep. Jim Moran (D-Va.), a friend of Murtha who has been helping him with the race, said tepid support among some progressives was a worry to him. “It does concern you when people you think are going to be with you turn out not to be. Some of that’s cultural issues, guns and abortion,” he said. “But we still have the votes.”

Some liberals believe Murtha’s record on social issues is too conservative, especially on such topics as gun rights, gay marriage and abortion. Others avow that they are happy with Hoyer’s performance as minority whip and want to maintain the status quo in their leadership.

Liberal Rep. Mike Capuano (D-Mass.), a Murtha backer, said he thought the “majority of the Progressive Caucus” would end up supporting Murtha, as would, he said, “a majority of the Blue Dogs” and “a majority of the New Democrats,” two groups of moderates.

http://www.hillnews.com/thehill/export/TheHill/News/Frontpage/092806/news1.html

[AndyA]

1. Good grief! This is so premature. We need to WIN the House first.

And the Constitution is taking a beating today by the GOP, and the Dems aren't doing much to stop it.

I want to know why a Dem didn't put a secret hold on this bill before it got to the floor!

They're worrying about November, and our democracy is about to end and become a dictatorship...TODAY.

[Divine Discontent]

2. :( you're right. n/t

[AtomicKitten]

6. I agree BUT

this can't be a surprise when Murtha's record is viewed in totality.

[SharonAnn]

3. And I don't think Democratic women would take kindly to this.

Nancy Pelosi has done a great job keeping a fragmented group together. And to shove her aside so that after all the work she's done the role can be handed over to a man would send a strong, wrong message. And we'll hear it. We're tired of this kind of thing.

I have great respect for Murtha and think he'd be excellent in many positions, but this isn't one of them.

[davidwparker]

5. "Nancy Pelosi has done a great job "

Do elaborate.

[lapfog_1]

8. Ummm....

Speaker of the House Pelosi. If we win in November.

Not exactly being shoved aside.

Oh, and if we can win BIG in November... President Pelosi after Bush and Cheney are impeached, convicted, and
turned over to the World Court to face war crime charges.

[Totally Committed]

4. On everything but the war, he is extremely conservative...

and HE IS NOT PRO-CHOICE. I don't believe Democratic women, in particular, would see his election to that post as a sign that things will be a-changin' back for us any time soon.

TC

[elperromagico]

9. On most issues, he's far more conservative than Lieberman,

who gets damned daily as a DINO in DU circles. It goes to show how important the Iraq war has become in a great many people's minds.

[FrenchieCat]

7. "The Hill: Figures!", fanning the flames....again!

We may not have "majority" positions to argue over if we take this giant ass orange and Black glowing BAIT!

Tssk, Tssk!

[KoKo]

10. Lovely! Report from the "Hill News." Amazing isn't it?

Who would have guessed? :eyes: