No Labels, the supposedly bipartisan group of corporate shills and political has-beens that's propping up the "Problem Solvers" caucus in the House, really seems to have a problem with Nancy Pelosi. More of a problem with Pelosi, in fact, than with the unindicted co-conspirator occupying the Oval Office.
The Daily Beast obtained internal communications for the group held prior to the election in which they "contemplated a plan to kneecap Pelosi's political standing," which included a discussion from "a top official with the group" who was contemplating "the pros and cons of turning the California Democrat into a bogeyman.'" Who needs Republicans when you've got No Labels?
In public, No Labels has been making conciliatory noises about how maybe it's time for Democrats to consider a leadership change, and talking up all the reforms their pet Democrats want to make sure Republicans still have power to create chaos and prevent progress in the House. Their dislike of Pelosi is so deep that even though she endorsed one of their Problem Solvers, Rep. Dan Lipinski (D-IL) in his primary race, they still contemplated a personal attack on Pelosi. In an email with the subject line "Pelosi as bogeyman," one official wrote "Nancy, I have been thinking about our using Pelosi as the chief bogeyman in our messaging post-Lipinski."
"Nancy" is Nancy Jacobson, a founder of No Labels (and, maybe coincidentally Third Way, though that group is disavowing any connection). The Daily Beast's source told them "Nancy Jacobson's immediate answer was, 'I want to make Pelosi the bogeyman.’' She wanted to make it all about Nancy Pelosi and how she was going after incumbent Democrats. None of that was true." Jacobson's plans for attacking Pelosi were apparently derailed by No Labels chief strategist Ryan Clancy, who said it was "in effect, declaring war on Pelosi" in a memo responding to the idea. "No Labels has never identified a party leader as 'the enemy' before. We didn't do it with Obama or Trump. We haven't done it with Schumer, Ryan or McConnell. If we do this, we should consider some very real downsides." He suggested instead that they make the enemy Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), which they did, calling him "a perfectly good villain."
Their disdain for Pelosi should be considered a reflection of both her effectiveness and her progressive credibility on what matters. No Labels is just another front for a bunch of billionaires who have been trying to destroy Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid for years.
With Trump in office, doing all of the things to flout the constitution and cement a fascistic, racist government for the nation, they think Nancy Pelosi is their biggest threat. They seem to be doubling down on their 2016 endorsement of Trump as a "Problem Solver." That was after his racist rants about Mexicans and his vow to ban Muslims from entering the U.S.
No Labels seem to have found their label: Racist Republican.