I’m a great admirer of Nancy Pelosi. I loved her as Minority Leader, as Speaker, and as Minority Leader again. And I’d love to see her as Majority Leader. These times, though, demand unprecedented, bold moves, and that’s why I’d like to see the Democrats do what the Constitution allows, and elect a Speaker who is not currently a member of the House: Beto O’Rourke.
For some time I was a Beto skeptic, but I think now it’s obvious to everyone that he’s emerged as one of our clearest expositors of Democratic values, while setting himself above the impasses of endless culture war strife. He’s shown extraordinary judgment and integrity, not least in foregoing PAC money and negative ads in his Senate campaign. As Speaker, Beto would command an autonomous national platform befitting the official second in line for the Presidency, and do so as a leader in whom a broad range of people want to believe.
Doing this job well would take Beto out of the running in the Presidential race, but I it would also help the Party regroup and reboot ahead of 2020. Beto’s time for a Presidential run will come, but I think his moment to shine as a national leader may actually be now. Who agrees?