Post-Gazette Editorial – 11/28/06

This page was last updated on November 28, 2006.

In with the new: The Democrats have the challenge of change; Editorial; Pittsburgh Post-Gazette; November 28, 2006.

Below is a detailed critique of the subject editorial.

“The new Congress, which will begin its work in January, is in an awkward position. It is faced with the hopes and the agenda of those who elected it, but it has no power yet and is in a position only to prepare itself for the challenges and opportunities that will come in the new year.

“So far, apart from the minutia of finding offices and lodgings in the capital, Democrats and Republicans alike have concentrated on choosing their leadership and allocating committee and subcommittee assignments.

“This has led to some unwarranted criticism of new House Speaker-to-be Nancy Pelosi of California. Her sin, according to detractors, was to support for the post of majority leader her deputy, Rep. John Murtha of Johnstown, as opposed to the Democrat eventually elected by the caucus for the job, Rep. Steny Hoyer of Maryland.

“Perhaps Ms. Pelosi should not have backed any candidate, but the hail that rained down on her for supporting Mr. Murtha was as bad as the GOP’s portrayal of her during the campaign season as an ultra-liberal San Francisco shrew. In fact, jostling for positions in leadership and on committees is a normal part of congressional reorganization, and none of this calls into question Ms. Pelosi’s ability to lead. Her problems will lie elsewhere -- with the administration in the hands of President Bush until January 2009.”

[RWC] I don’t know if Ms. Pelosi is a “shrew” or not, but she is an “ultra-liberal.” On the other hand, perhaps Ms. Pelosi is just representative of Democrat leadership.

In any case, Ms. Pelosi must have problems if the PG is already trying to provide cover for her. Lest we forget, Ms. Pelosi constantly recited the “culture of corruption” talking point while saying “You must drain the swamp if you are going to govern for the people” and “It takes a woman to clean House.” And what was Ms. Pelosi’s first action to combat the “culture of corruption,” “drain the swamp,” and “clean House?” Why to nominate an unindicted co-conspirator in the Abscam scandal, of course.

Further, it’s been reported in the press Ms. Pelosi favors Rep. Alcee Hastings (D-FL) to chair the House Intelligence Committee instead of current ranking Democrat Jane Harman (D-CA). In case you’re not familiar with Rep. Hastings, The Washington Post reports “Hastings was stripped of his position as a federal judge -- impeached by the House in which he now serves and convicted by the Senate -- for conspiring to extort a $150,000 bribe in a case before him, repeatedly lying about it under oath and manufacturing evidence at his trial.” Lest you think Rep. Hastings’ conviction was politically motivated, his impeachment and conviction took place in 1989 when Democrats held solid majorities in both houses of Congress.

Despite these huge initial examples of incredibly poor judgment, the PG wants us to believe “none of this calls into question Ms. Pelosi’s ability to lead.”

Another reason the PG came to Ms. Pelosi’s defense is the PG endorsed Mr. Murtha both in the election and in his bid to become Senate Majority Leader.

“The Republicans, for their part, made a nearly inexplicable decision by choosing Trent Lott of Mississippi as their second-ranking leader in the Senate. Mr. Lott was pushed out of leadership in 2002 by his own caucus for having expressed at a birthday party for the late Sen. Strom Thurmond support for Mr. Thurmond’s one-time racist views.”

[RWC] I believe this statement completely misrepresents Sen. Lott’s comments. I covered this in a letter critique.

“This occurred just after the GOP made a new bid for support from African Americans by putting forth some prominent black candidates, including Lynn Swann for governor of Pennsylvania and Ken Blackwell for governor of Ohio. It’s difficult to see what they would gain on that front by resuscitating Sen. Lott and placing him in a prominent leadership post.”

[RWC] There are two problems with this paragraph.

First, the PG apparently accuses Republicans of running black candidates as a way to buy black votes. How insulting to a bunch of groups. It insults blacks because the PG apparently believes skin color trumps all for black voters. The comment insults Republicans by implying “buying” votes is the only reason Republicans would have black candidates. Finally, the comment insults the candidates themselves.

Ken Blackwell has been in politics and held both elected and appointed positions since at least the 1970s and most recently was Ohio’s Secretary of State. Michael Steele, who ran for U.S. senator from Maryland, most recently was Lt. Governor. Mr. Steele’s been a Republican since his youth and has been politically active ever since. Those Republican bigots even elected Mr. Steele chairman of the Maryland Republican Party in 2000. The only political newcomer of the three was Lynn Swann.

Second, my problem with Sen. Lott has nothing to do with his Thurmond comment. My problem with Sen. Lott is he doesn’t know how to lead. Here’s what I mean. In early 2001 when the Senate was split 50/51 between Democrats and Republicans, Mr. Lott proposed and implemented a power sharing arrangement in which Democrats got as many committee assignments as Republicans as well as other privileges the minority party doesn’t usually get. Further, Sen. Lott also didn’t handle the Thurmond mess correctly. Rather than handle the situation well, Mr. Lott went on a groveling tour. Both of these incidents indicate a poor leader.

“As to the Democratic majority, Americans hope that between now and January it will develop a coherent approach to some of the problems left unresolved by the Republicans and which turned Republicans out of office. These include bringing the Iraq war to an end, dealing with soaring costs of health insurance, developing a long-range energy strategy, curbing America’s burgeoning debt and eliminating the trade deficit.”

[RWC] “Americans hope that between now and January it will develop a coherent approach?” This sounds like an admission the Democrat platform was nothing more than “I’m not a Republican.” The PG really needs to hire proofreaders that can read with a critical eye.

“There is plenty for the Congress to do. Voters will become impatient if instead of tackling these issues, the new leaders and members become pawns of lobbyists, spend time wrangling over caucus positions or obsess over the next presidential sweepstakes.

“If that occurs, Americans will be ready to say goodbye to even more of them in 2008.”