Vodka Nan quietly turfed out? Decision to replace Nancy Pelosi made in September following 'secret' meeting

Jon Dougherty
Conservative Brief
Sat, 05 Nov 2022 17:33 UTC

© Getty

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi could be on her way out of the Democratic Party's leadership role, according to a Friday report.

Politico reported that the battle to succeed her actually began Sept. 1 during a "secret" meeting between Reps. Hakeem Jeffries of New York and House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn of South Carolina.

"Jeffries, the fifth-ranking House Democrat who aspires to be the first-ranking House Democrat in the next Congress, was picking up heightened chatter from colleagues about California Rep. Adam Schiff's outreach expressing his own interest in the top caucus job," the report noted.

Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D- NY)

"The 52-year-old Jeffries was concerned enough that he offered to fly to South Carolina to seek the counsel of the 82-year-old Clyburn. The younger lawmaker wanted to gently make sure his elder in the Congressional Black Caucus knew of Schiff's quiet campaign — and to even more gently warn Clyburn about the risk of splitting votes between them and opening a path for the ambitious Californian," Politico noted further, adding that Jeffries had no cause for concern.

"There's nothing I would ever do to impede the progress of our up-and-coming young Democrats, and I see him as an up-and-coming young Democrat," Clyburn said in an interview regarding Jeffries. "He knows that, I didn't have to tell him that — but I did."

© Graeme Jennings/POOL/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-SC)

Asked if he would serve in a sort of advisory role in leadership, Clyburn responded that he is is "willing to do anything the caucus thinks is to their benefit," adding that the New York Democrat has "referred to me as a mentor."

In September, amid rumors that Pelosi would retire if the Democrats lose control of the House, the Washington Post reported that Schiff's efforts to take over the party's leadership have "focused on consolidating support among his home base" in California, but that he "has not made an explicit ask for endorsements."

Instead, the Post says Schiff "is gauging members' interest and planting the seed that leading the caucus is his goal."

The outlet adds that Schiff has reached out to progressive and minority-led congressional groups but that the response to some of that outreach has been "tepid."

Other Democrats reportedly gunning to lead the House Democratic Caucus if Pelosi steps back include Democrat Reps. Steny Hoyer, James Clyburn, and Hakeem Jeffries.

A report from CNN, titled, "Pelosi won't say if she wants to stay in charge. But will House Democrats let her?" suggests that Pelosi may be pushed out:

In interviews with more than two dozen House Democrats, a consensus is emerging: If they lose the majority, there would be overwhelming pressure for Pelosi to go, a prospect that Democratic sources say the powerful House speaker is keenly aware of.

But with polls and fresh momentum giving House Democrats some sparks of optimism about the midterm elections, multiple members say they are also starting to see how, if they do hold control, it could lead to Pelosi extending her time in power. Yet Democrats are split about that possibility, with a sizable contingent eager for new leadership regardless of the outcome, even if she'd be the heavy favorite to hold onto the gavel.

Several Democrats told CNN that they believe it's time for new leadership no matter what happens in November's midterm elections.

"It's time for generational diversity of our leadership ranks — regardless of the outcome of the election. That doesn't change my perspective that it's time for a new generation," said Minnesota Democrat Rep. Dean Phillips.

That said, Clyburn's enthusiastic endorsement of Jefferies all but assures the latter will seek his party's post-Pelosi leadership role.

Jeffries declined to comment to Politico, while a spokesperson for Schiff, Cate Hurley, said his "time and energy" are on helping colleagues to "retain the House Democratic majority."

Both men have deferred to Pelosi in public and have chosen not to discuss their future political ambitions regarding a potential leadership bid, "but only mentioned their aspirations to other lawmakers in private meetings or subsequent phone calls," noted Politico.

"Even then, the two have tried to be careful not to explicitly state that they're running for her job or make firm requests for support," the report added.

Comment: A bit more from the Politico article on Schifty Schiff's delusional Speaker ambitions:

Another longer-serving lawmaker could not believe he had to inform Schiff of what should have been obvious. "The fact he didn't know I was for Hakeem tells you how out of touch he is," said this lawmaker. "I'm part of Hakeem's whip operation."

To Schiff's detriment, it's not only that he's playing catch up, it's that it's obvious he's playing catch up. More focused on raising his media profile than cultivating colleagues during the Trump years — and seen in the caucus as capable but aloof — his outreach has prompted some lawmakers to privately ridicule him for only texting them for the first time when he became interested in the leadershi

In private, Schiff has expressed confidence that the 42-member delegation of California Democrats could vault him into contention.

But that bloc is hardly unified around him. "Should there be a change in leadership I think Hakeem would be a strong, unifying leader," said Rep. Ami Bera of California, who's eyeing the DCCC chairmanship.

Another one of Schiff's California colleagues said Schiff should avoid the near certainty of losing a leadership race when lawmakers return to Washington after the midterms. "If he played his cards right, he'd say, 'I'm not going to do this, I need your help for the Senate,'" said this lawmaker.

With over $21 million on hand in his House campaign account, money that could be rolled over to a Senate bid, he could be formidable in California's TV-driven statewide politics.

That is, however, assuming there's a race at all.

Should Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein vacate the seat before her term expires in 2025, Newsom has said he'll name a Black woman as senator.

This same attentiveness to the Democratic coalition is what ultimately may pose the biggest challenge to Schiff's House ambitions.

It's not just the symbolism of tapping a white man rather than elevating the first Black leader to succeed the first female speaker. It's that Jeffries is poised to ascend with a pair of well-liked deputies, Reps. Katherine Clark of Massachusetts and Pete Aguilar of California, who together reflect the makeup of their party — a Black man, a white woman and a Latino.

Few Democrats more fully grasp the power of the party's diversity than Clyburn, the man whose eleventh-hour endorsement helped revive President Biden's campaign in the first primary state with a large share of Black voters.

The caucus' commitment to diverse leaders is "what this country is all about," he said.

And, he added, that "bodes well for Hakeem."