The Daily Background

Smart bloggers and blog readers know that…

… Just because something was the case yesterday doesn’t mean that it’s still the case today.

For example, the fact that the House leadership “battle” (Steny Hoyer vs John Murtha for Majority Leader) wasn’t that interesting or important yesterday, it doesn’t mean that it’s still not that interesting or important.

It just got about 11 times more interesting and important, because of this must-read article from The Hill (page may not load, but keep trying a few times until you get it). As you already know, Pelosi is backing Murtha (who is the underdog in this race), but until yesterday it seemed like she was not going to get all that involved in the election. Not anymore though. Quoth said article:

House Speaker-to-be Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) will ensure that Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.) wins his race for majority leader, a key Murtha ally said Monday night.

“She will ensure that they [the Murtha camp] win. This is hard-ball politics,” said Rep. Jim Moran (D-Va.), a longtime Murtha supporter. “We are entering an era where when the Speaker instructs you what to do, you do it.”

[…]
Pelosi’s move was deliberate, Moran said, and she was already leaning on her colleagues to affect the outcome.

“Yes, she’s making calls to people. She is contacting people and letting them know that it’s an unequivocal letter,” Moran said.

Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-N.J.) said some members had already abandoned Hoyer for Murtha in the wake of Pelosi’s endorsement, a claim the Hoyer camp vigorously denies.

“Some people have already changed,” Pascrell said.

Conventional wisdom says Pelosi’s move was a dangerous one, because she’ll look weak and it’ll look bad if Murtha loses (now that Pelosi is actively trying to help him, instead of just sending a letter at his request). Democrats do not need division right now, and the sooner this whole thing is over, the better. Electing Murtha will send a public signal that Dems are extremely serious about getting Americans out of Iraq, and set a centerist tone on other issues. Electing Hoyer won’t do either of these things.

We’ll see what happens, I understand that a vote is scheduled for later this week.

Filed under: oh six midterm Elections, Z-TDB Blog