Big news folks. From
Roll Call:
Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), in line to become Speaker in January, is throwing her support to Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.) in the race for Majority Leader, a move that will be an early test of her influence and will weigh heavily on Murtha's contest with Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) for the post.
What to make of this on the flip.
UPDATE: Josh has the full text of Pelosi's letter.
UPDATE 9:25 EST: Michael Crowley at TNR (yeah, yeah, I know) writes:
a milder interpretation from someone sympathetic to Hoyer: Given her tight relationship with Murtha, Pelosi's declaration was not a surprise. Expressed in writing, it has much less impact than would a press conference. Her letter does not include an exhortation for other members to follow suit and makes clear she is responding to a request from Murtha to take a position. That said, I notice the letter offers glowing praise for Murtha, including for his role on the campaign trail--an area in which Hoyer's camp has been claiming a big advantage over its Pennsylvania rival.
"Nancy told me some time ago that she would personally support Jack," Hoyer said in a statement. "I respect her decision as the two are very close.
<snip>
Pelosi, with critical support from Murtha, defeated Hoyer in a race for Minority Whip in 2001, and sources close to the California Democrat said she wants to reward Murtha for his loyalty by backing him in the Majority Leader race.
Sounds like there's not too too much animosity there, although there's long been tension between Pelosi and Hoyer.
Of course Murtha deserves our admiration and support for his courageous stand against the war. At the same time, there is a role for Hoyer and we need to have everyone in the role best suited to them. I'll be curious to see if people here think that Murtha will go over well as Majority Leader, or if he would have been better suited on the Appropriations committee, or if that latter role might not have been the best place for an "old bull" not adverse to Pentagon pork-barrels.