House Democrats Avert Leadership Struggle By Accommodating Steny Hoyer & James Clyburn

WASHINGTON — House Democrats averted a messy leadership struggle, clearing the way for Maryland Rep. Steny Hoyer to become second in command of their new minority without a challenge from South Carolina Rep. James Clyburn.

Under an arrangement worked out in private, officials said late Friday that Clyburn would instead receive a new position, title unknown and duties undescribed, explicitly labeled the third-ranking post in leadership.

The maneuvering was described by Democratic officials after Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., issued a vaguely worded statement saying she intends to nominate Clyburn to a new No. 3 post. The statement made no mention of Hoyer, and officials who filled in the details did so on condition of anonymity, saying they were not permitted to speak publicly about the matter.

Pelosi is assured of remaining Democratic party leader when the new Congress convenes in January under a Republican majority. She has drawn no opposition for the post even though several members of the rank and file have said they would prefer she step aside after historic election losses. The GOP gained at least 60 seats in midterm elections, more than enough to return to power after a four-year absence.

A race between Hoyer, D-Md., and Clyburn, D-S.C., for the post of party whip took shape in the days following the election and quickly took on racial overtones. Clyburn is the most powerful African-American in Congress, and he drew a formal endorsement from the Congressional Black Caucus. But he failed to generate enough additional support to overcome Hoyer's strength among liberals and conservatives alike, and it appeared his only options were to run against Hoyer and lose or else concede the obvious and step aside.

"Over the past four years, Congressman Clyburn's effective leadership in the Whip's Office was crucial to our passage of historic legislation on jobs, health care, veterans and Wall Street reform on behalf of the American people," Pelosi said in her written statement.

Clyburn's office declined to comment on the developments.

The leadership posts will be filled formally next week during a closed-door meeting of the Democratic rank and file.

Comments

[CybrrCat]

03:23 PM on 11/17/2010

Brilliant, how she brings everyone to the table and makes them all feel like pulling together. Nancy Pelosi is the strength of the Democratic party. She got more legislation, and good stuff at that, passed in the House during her time as speaker than any other leader.

Hooray that she kept the trust and support of her peers. Let the House now reconvene and let us support our team over the next two years.

[steve11407]

10:09 PM on 11/14/2010

In typical Democrat fashion they create a new giveaway to keep the minorities happy and muffled.

[Bostontru2u]

12:29 AM on 11/15/2010

And you have the nerve to display a US Government seal as an avatar. You are truly a hypocrite! Poster steve11407.

[steve11407]

10:27 AM on 11/15/2010

You should give a little thought to your comments before hitting the post button. Below is a description of the symbolism of the Great Seal of the United States. In what way does my comment reflect on my use it as an avatar?

The Escutcheon is composed of the chief & pale, the two most honorable ordinaries. The Pieces, paly, represent the several states all joined in one solid compact entire, supporting a Chief, which unites the whole & represents Congress. The Motto alludes to this union. The pales in the arms are kept closely united by the chief and the Chief depends upon that union & the strength resulting from it for its support, to denote the Confederacy of the United States of America & the preservation of their union through Congress.
The colours of the pales are those used in the flag of the United States of America; White signifies purity and innocence, Red, hardiness & valor, and Blue, the colour of the Chief signifies vigilance, perseverance & justice. The Olive branch and arrows denote the power of peace & war which is exclusively vested in Congress. The Constellation denotes a new State taking its place and rank among other sovereign powers. The Escutcheon is born on the breast of an American Eagle without any other supporters to denote that the United States of America ought to rely on their own Virtue.

[ObamAtomic]

12:36 PM on 11/15/2010

You are a confederate fan,the civil war is over and done.

[Roach Coach]

10:05 PM on 11/14/2010

Both of them are the reason why there should be term limits.

[MadAs]

07:32 PM on 11/14/2010

This whole debacle amounts to a tempest in a teapot, so let's not turn it into the wild antics of a Tea Party waving enthusiastically deprecating placards of sick mirth.

[JuanCarlosysofia]

06:03 PM on 11/14/2010

clyburn ison the carpet for having voted for bailouts.he brags about how much pork he brings home.

[masanf]

01:48 PM on 11/14/2010

That is some high quality leadership. Instead of making a decision, Pelosi just creates a new leadership post. Of course, that makes sense when you consider it involves the party whose motto seems to be "when in doubt, just expand the size of the government". The Democratic Party's obsession with skin color once agains shows itself. Of course, this is be expected when one of the parties involved in the dispute has a deck full of nothing but race cards.

[Bostontru2u]

03:41 PM on 11/14/2010

It was a smart thing to do. It makes her stronger. See, Democrats think. Repugs just put down a woman who wanted to lead, It's a wonder they didn't stomp on her head.

[VoteThemAllOut]

12:43 PM on 11/14/2010

I find it amazing that this guy was re-elected:

Congressman Charles Rangel, whose ethics trial starts tomorrow, appears to have improperly used political-action committee money to pay for his defense.

Rangel tapped his National Leadership PAC for $293,000 to pay his main legal-defense team this year. He took another $100,000 from the PAC in 2009 to pay lawyer Lanny Davis.

Two legal experts told The Post such spending is against House rules.

"It's a breach of congressional ethics," one campaign-finance lawyer said.

Washington, DC, political lawyer Cleta Mitchell said there is "no authority for a member to use leadership PAC funds as a slush fund to pay for personal or official expenses."



Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/manhattan/rangel_raided_pacs_for_ZlQ9s68r9cadmFBXvTeq1K#ixzz15HOgc8VM

[ObamAtomic]

01:04 PM on 11/14/2010

Yeah boy,,Rick Scott a Republican was elected governor of Florida,his record,,,
The biggest Medicare fraudster besides if you want to know crooks,check below,,,,,,

http://www.republicanoffenders.com/

[antmousie]

05:32 PM on 11/14/2010

Yea. Way to go Fla.

[2warvet]

01:34 AM on 11/15/2010

Ah yes the old "I have no defense so I am going to deflect" arguement.

Rangel is on the national stage, plus he was the chair for the House Ways and Means commitee. Then there is Maxine Waters, more ethics charges, etc.... There are just as many Dems in trouble as Republicans. The main difference is the Republicans usually get rid of those who are in trouble and the Dems keep re-electing them.

[MadAs]

04:05 PM on 11/14/2010

Plenty of these congressional gotchas to go around, but since you're into this sort of thing:

Read (or see) this: "Fair Game"

Then give us your report.

[Duppy]

12:17 PM on 11/14/2010

I am not sure why they are fighting about this. They are both Dems. Lets move on boys !

[BocaMom]

12:04 PM on 11/14/2010

Sad. We need to replace Pelosi! If she stays, we will lose the Senate and White House in 2012.

[MadAs]

03:56 PM on 11/14/2010

Have you been smokin the wackie tobaccie Limbaugh has been peddling? If you have to smoke it, best do it in private and don't inhale.

[oscartucker]

04:42 PM on 11/14/2010

What's sad are your com ments.

[Dunkleberger Karl]

11:20 AM on 11/14/2010

John Bonher is taking too long to get us jobs , call his office @ [phone]. Let him know Its been a week, where are the jobs

[intolleft]

10:43 AM on 11/15/2010

Actually it's been nearly two weeks and the power in DC will not shift for another two months.

[Beau2]

10:15 AM on 11/14/2010

It is mildly amusing that the dems believe that the same leadership that marched them into an epic ambush is going to lead them to victory over the next two years.

Need they be reminded that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing and expecting a different result?

I honestly expected that it would primarily be the repubs that would be hoping the dems would not change leadership. I am somewhat surprised by the dems decision. I wonder if they will do the same if they get another shellacking in 2012?

[den1953]

10:25 AM on 11/14/2010

What will be more amusing will be watching the GOP hold down the Tea party and try to find the jobs they are promising Americans while all along having the American jobs go to India and China, the fact that the republican promise things they can't deliver is amusing!

[DUSAA-1775]

09:34 PM on 11/14/2010

I see. And how long have you believed that with the Democrats in control of the White House and the Senate, the Republicans have the power to stop jobs from going over seas?

[freshie]

10:50 AM on 11/14/2010

Off year elections yield the same results. We kept the Senate but I admit, it was a fluke due to bad candidates.

Nancy is effective, you guys will learn that again.

[nowpolitics]

09:09 AM on 11/14/2010

Another proof of Pelosi effectiveness as a leader. No wonder the conservatives wants stop her by all means possible.

[frappe]

10:02 AM on 11/14/2010

Exactly. Whenever they focus on or attempt to demonize one of our leaders, it's because they realize that he or she is an asset to the Democratic Party and would prefer to see her or him gone. Nancy is a very effective leader and highly respected among her peers, as she should be. The country is in good hands with her as Minority Leader (and, hopefully, Speaker of the House, again, in 2 years.)

[Richtk]

10:28 AM on 11/14/2010

Nancy... and effective leader and THAT is why she is demonized by the right? You're kidding right?...... I say HIRE HER AGAIN. I would LOVE for her to continue to the face of the Democrats going into 2012. This is AWESOME news!!!

[MadAs]

11:37 AM on 11/14/2010

Frappe, to embellish your point a bit, the more the right puppets scream about Pelosi, the more certain you can be that Rush and FOX are working extra hard to stir up their deionization pot, which they use so well to hypnotize their stooges.

How many stooges can list three factual reasons where Nancy worked against their best interests? (Okay, even one reason.)

[FACTISFACT]

08:54 AM on 11/14/2010

I would say a matured handling of the issue. Deserve thanks for the unity shown. Hope in future all democrats keep united like this.

[Richtk]

10:31 AM on 11/14/2010

"mature handling". How about "indecisive handling".

They treated it just like they treat other government functions.... avoid the hard decisions and just hire another body with "title unknown and duties undescribed". No wonder Dems have a record for tax, spend and government waste. You've just seen another example of it

[Bostontru2u]

03:50 PM on 11/14/2010

I forgot to add; stop subsidizing big tax cuts for business they outsource work that Americans used to have. These are who the Repugs are fighting for no taxes. Not you. It's the Repugs who have the spend and government waste problem. So why don't you be mature and check it out. Poster Richtk

[FACTISFACT]

06:21 PM on 11/14/2010

Hi! My Friend Richtk thank you for your comment on FACTISFACT'S comment.

FACTISFACT has gone through your comment and said he has comment on this particular handling of the issue and not on any other issues, if in future he comments on other indecisive one he surely will not spare blurting pout the truth.

However, thank you once again. Take Care.

[Bostontru2u]

08:24 AM on 11/14/2010

10 years of tax cuts for the ultra rich is enough. Let them expire. I want Massachusetts federal tax dollars to stop subsidizing greedy, hateful Red states and fat Farm subsidies. Give me my money back!

[Richtk]

10:34 AM on 11/14/2010

I let ALL of the tax cuts expire. While we are at it instititue more measures to make sure EVERYONE pays at least some share of income taxes no matter what their income. This county will never survive when 47% of of the population pays NO federal income taxes and are subsidized by the middle-class and above.

[ratsavage]

11:42 AM on 11/14/2010

The problem with this idea is that poor people don't have any money. What are you gonna do, hire tax collectors to take money out of beggar bowls? This is why the federal government's revenues must come principally from a graduated tax system. A relative handful of Americans have all the money. Tax them and you can collect money. The top 10% own 80% of the nation's wealth. The remaining 20% of wealth is spread amongst the middle class and the bottom 47% you mention that are so poor they don't have money that can be taxed.

You can't get blood from a stone, and you can't tax a non-existent paycheck.

[antmousie]

05:51 PM on 11/14/2010

And that 10 years of tax cuts for the wealthiest has done nothing to stabilize the economy. What happened to "tax cuts for the wealthiest will keep everything running since they are the job creators"? It wasn't true then and it's not true now. Oh, I guess if you think about it, they are creating jobs-just not in this country. They are simply sucking up all the money. I agree that we should stop subsidizing the donee states. Send them in benefits exactly what they send into the federal treasury. See how they like not sponging off the rest of the country. Talk about riots in the streets then.

[Bostontru2u]

12:50 AM on 11/15/2010

They are the real welfare SPONGES. Underpopulated Red states, collecting farm subsidies for private non-developed farms. And Agri-businesses collecting farm subsidies, while using illegal labor and overcharging Americans for food. Then you have states like Texas, who get oil royalties, and Blue states tax money, but brag about how they have no State taxes, and that they are considering cutting Medicare and health care and education. These are serious things to look into to shut the greed up. Poster antmousie.

[noudidnt]

08:23 AM on 11/14/2010

Obama will be the last Dem I vote for.

[Katzencats]

10:09 AM on 11/14/2010

Because the alternative is so much better?

[MrsLee]

10:55 AM on 11/14/2010

exactly !

[antmousie]

05:53 PM on 11/14/2010

Exactly. Not a very thoughtful statement. At least the Dems want to keep us from moving backwards.

[MadAs]

11:57 AM on 11/14/2010

I know how you feel, and don't have an answer, but I don't think making the worst of a bad situation is going to make things better.

Try some new venue(s) to express your concerns to Barack and once in a while you might try some remedial reading about his accomplishments as in: whatthef***hasobamadonesofar.com (only put the actual letters in where the asterisks are).