Murtha v Hoyer?

June 9, 2006

Obviously, the midterm elections are still five months away, but since there’s at least a real possibility that Democrats will take back the House, it’s only natural for there to be some behind-the-scenes jockeying for leadership roles — just in case.

Last week, there were some rumors that DCCC Chairman Rahm Emanuel could make a run for Speaker, or if the party fell short of the majority, Minority Leader, but Emanuel dismissed the talk and the caucus continues to support Nancy Pelosi. But what about the #2 job? Subscription-only Roll Call reports a surprising development this afternoon.

In a move that figures to throw the Democratic Caucus into a contentious and volatile leadership battle just as the mid-term election season is heating up, Rep. [tag]John Murtha[/tag] (D-Pa.) has announced his plans to run for [tag]Majority Leader[/tag] if the Democrats reclaim the House this fall.

“Our goal is to win the House back and if there’s an open seat, I’m the candidate,” the 73-year-old Pennsylvanian said in a statement.

Minority Whip [tag]Steny Hoyer[/tag]’s (D-Md.) office confirmed to TNR’s Michael Crowley that [tag]Hoyer[/tag], whom everyone has assumed would move up if the midterms went the party’s way, would also run for Majority Leader. A senior Democratic aide also told Crowley that [tag]Murtha[/tag]’s announcement could become a “huge diversion” and that the party shouldn’t get “distracted with a leadership race” right now.

I realize that if Murtha is going to mount a serious challenge, he’ll need to start lining up support early on, but it’d be a shame if House Dems spent the next several months squabbling over leadership posts that might not even be available if they don’t focus on reclaiming the majority.

Crowley concluded, “This could get ugly.” I think that’s a safe bet.

i know that these things require lead time and advance work, but really this fight looks bad to non-political-junkie voters since we haven’t won the majority yet.

besides, to the extent i believe in karma, i think this premature chicken counting is just asking for bad results. and these folk are all experienced enough to know better.

here’s my suggestion: whoever can best control these overanxious clowns gets to be majority leader. (its either that or we have ’em play “rock, paper, scissors”)

  • Well, I’m glad the House Democrats are confident about November, because I can’t seem to muster anything more than cautious optimism at best, but even that’s fleeting.

    What’s causing this unwarranted and overly sunny outlook? This is the Democratic Party, and they do have a history of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. The last Congressional seat they contested (Tuesday) was a loss. That’s hardly a reason to start thinking about office assignments and leadership posts.

  • In wake of the VA’s identity theft scandal and the systematic erosion of the military and reserves, Murtha is no doubt very pissed.

    At age 73 Murtha, the former Marine, sees one last mission. The mission has three parts: 1) Regain the House for the Democrats; 2) Restore the Congress as an equal branch of government; and 3) Investigate the abuses of power by the Bush Administration.

    The “Fightin’ Dems” are going to take back the hill–Capitol Hill, that is.

  • I agree that Steny Whore needs to go away. But this is hardly the time. Win the election first, for pete’s sake.

  • Also:

    Don’t be surprised if John Murtha goes around the country and campaigns for “Fightin’ Dems.” Then, if the Democrats take back the House, Murtha takes over as Majority Leader. Though, Murtha’s first concern is restoring the military.

  • Nope,

    I think Murtha is right to announce now.

    All the Republican’t propaganda is this election season is going to be about how terrible it will be to put the Democrats in charge of the House. Well, Murtha is not terrible! He undercuts the whole argument.

    Besides he raises the feeling that there is still democracy in the Democratic party.

  • November 2006 should be a referendum on the war, on the politics of contrast (as Kos says: Lincoln 1860), a repudiation of DLC Democratic date-rape bipartisan beaten-wife syndrome and kowtowing to their Repug and corporate masters, and replaced with a resurgence of Democrats who are proud to be Democrats. Murtha’s candidacy for Majority Leader commits the party to that– or at least commits US, out here in the grassroots, the people who will be campaigning and voting and donating money, to that.

    No More Mr. Nice Democrat. Time to fucking kick ass. I’m tired of Hoyer and his pandering to corporations and milquetoasty appeasement of the Repugs. We need ballsy fighters in the Democratic leadership, and Murtha has got that in spades.

  • Hoyer’s a bag of crap. I guess it’s arguable whether or not Murtha’s timing was ideal, but I’m glad he wants it and I hope he wins. I also have no doubt that he did this with Pelosi’s full knowledge and backing; she’s never been a fan of Hoyer. This makes me like Pelosi a bit better too.

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