Heath Shuler: If Nancy Pelosi Runs I'll Challenge Her, And Lose

WASHINGTON -- Rep. Heath Shuler (D-N.C.) continued on Sunday to threaten a challenge against Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) should she, as announced, make a play for the post of Minority Leader in the next Congress. But even the North Carolina Democrat acknowledged that his hypothetical bid would be fully quixotic and ultimately fruitless.

"Obviously if she doesn't step aside then I'm fully aware, I'm going to press forward," the former college football star told CNN's State of the Union. "You know, I can add and subtract pretty well. I don't have the numbers to be able to win but I think it's a proven point for moderates and the Democrat party that we have to be a big tent. We have to be all-inclusive. We have to invite everyone into the party. And I don't like the direction in which we are going."

Shuler, who is one of the few Blue Dog members to have survived the 2010 bloodbath, called the idea of another Pelosi term at the helm of the party "unacceptable." But his reasoning was almost purely symbolic. He didn't like the direction the party was heading, he offered, and if Democrats didn't change course, he worried, the lawmakers who were just defeated wouldn't be compelled to attempt to take back their seats.

"We've just come off the largest, devastating loss for the Democratic Party in almost a century and to be able to put Speaker Pelosi as minority leader is truly, it's unacceptable for our party to move our party forward, in a moderate direction to be able to get some of those members of Congress who lost in this 2010 election to get them back available for the 2012 election, we're going to have to go more of a moderate direction and to be able to take the same approach that we have during these last two years is not going to get us where we need to go as a Party."

"We've got to be able to recruit," he added later. We have to go into those moderate areas, those swing districts and be able to get great recruits or get back those members of congress that we lost, be able to have them on the ticket in 2012 to be able to win back the House and I just don't see that path happening if we have her at the top of the leadership."

 

 

Comments

[Scfan2064]

04:10 AM on 11/16/2010

Considering his record in the NFL, all Nancy has to do is to hire the respective defensive coordinators that Heath played against to create a defense for her against him and she'll win hands down.

[colandra]

03:16 PM on 11/17/2010

Flag football coaches could coordinate against Pelosi - she will surely be the demise of the Democratic party and not one Dem. has the brass to challenge her. God help the party!!!!!!

[JazzyJim]

04:39 PM on 11/17/2010

Not at all. She frightens the women leadership on the Right, Boehner, Rand Paul, Mitch McConnell, et. al.

[FMBarr]

01:28 AM on 11/16/2010

For Pelosi to stay as minority leader is basically a gift to the Republicans. With her as the face of the democratic party, the average American who is middle of the road will move to the right in 2012. She is completely out of touch with reality.

[colandra]

03:17 PM on 11/17/2010

correct!

[JazzyJim]

04:49 PM on 11/17/2010

Not as long as Sarah Efin Palin is the face of the GOP. LOL. Mama Grizzlies my furry rabbit behind!

[KrazyJay]

10:45 PM on 11/15/2010

Yes, that's the ticket ... get more moderate. What is this nonsense about the country not wanting Obama's "liberal socialist agenda?" His "agenda" has never been a secret - he RAN on it and won in 2008.

The REAL reason we lost is because Democrats have refused to show leadership and have allowed Republicans to control the conversation ... which has spooked the independents into "changing their mind" once again.

If Obama's agenda has been a surprise to anyone, it's only because they weren't paying attention ... they just went around blindly voting for ABB (anybody but Bush).

But, yes, Congressman Yahoo ... let's get more moderate, translation: more weak-kneed and shiftless. THAT will bring back the indies ... AND the liberals, too (who, I believe, stayed home in large number ... ON PURPOSE).

[colandra]

03:19 PM on 11/17/2010

He didn't deliver what the MAJORITY of people wanted! Obviously - election???

[aonemandog]

08:58 PM on 11/15/2010

Shuler and the rest of the blue-dog democrats were largely responsible for the problems dems have had for the last two years and the loss of this election. Those blue dogs who lost deserved to lose and Shuler should have gone with them. Obstructionists no better than the party of no.

[colandra]

03:24 PM on 11/17/2010

The Democratic party as we knew it is almost non-existent - The party is too diverse and will eventually self-destruct. Sad times!!!!!!! Heath Shuler was re-elected in the midst of controversy - so you base your statement on WHAT????????

[JazzyJim]

04:52 PM on 11/17/2010

The Republican Party is a Cult now. Uneducated Teabagers whom scream Constitution, while shredding the law and Constitution 24/7.

[QKingston Constantine]

08:05 PM on 11/15/2010

Correction:

Who Let the Dogs Out?!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=He82NBjJqf8

[QKingston Constantine]

08:03 PM on 11/15/2010

Who Let the Dogs Out?!
http://www­.youtube.c­om/watch?v­=He82NBjJq­f8

[vonPinto]

07:12 PM on 11/15/2010

Who is this TURN COAT (;boy) who thinks he can challenge Nancy Pelosi?

I have always said that this b;oy is s republiKan Trojan horse masquerading as a Dem. Ask yourself, why did he "survive" when others like him were swept away at the elections?

[ByersL]

05:56 PM on 11/15/2010

Now if this was Tom Brady or Donovan McNabb....I might bite. But sorry Heath, you blew us in DC and we have NO sympathy for you cwying wolf!

[winthegoodfight]

04:20 PM on 11/15/2010

Yes, if only the Democrats were a little more moderate the past two years, then they wouldn't have lost so badly in the past election.

Once a second-strong pro, always a second-string pro.

[buzzbeedc]

04:20 PM on 11/15/2010

What is this DINO talking about? She is the only one that did her job and paid the price. She has my support all the way.

[Puller58]

04:19 PM on 11/15/2010

Quarterback sneak?

[bswell]

03:01 PM on 11/15/2010

Please explain why this guy got so much support from MoveOn. In future, kindly do a little more vetting of these candidates. Just being a Dem does not make him a good guy.

[ByersL]

05:54 PM on 11/15/2010

It's rural NC, and we were trying the 50 state thingy....better than the alternative? I am not so sure.

[JazzyJim]

04:56 PM on 11/17/2010

After dipsticks like Joe Miller (lost to a "write-in"), Christine O'Donnell (the brightest Teabager) and Sharon Angle - how could you risk voting for any of these numbnuzis?

[CANTHATBE]

02:54 PM on 11/15/2010

Another jock that is not that bright,

[GravitonX]

02:37 PM on 11/15/2010

How long do Republican Boehners last? Serious question.

[JazzyJim]

04:56 PM on 11/17/2010

If more than 4 hours, consult your self-proclaimed Teabagin' physician.

[amleth]

02:18 PM on 11/15/2010

Apologies for typo.