Hoyer A Winner Without Pelosi's Support

He'll Be #2 Among House Dems; Key Posts Go To Clyburn, Emanuel

(CBS/AP)  He didn't have the endorsement of incoming Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, but he did have the votes, and when the dust settled, Maryland Rep. Steny Hoyer was elected as the next House Majority Leader.

Pelosi had instead endorsed longtime ally Rep. John Murtha of Pennsylvania, but the vote wasn't even close: Hoyer trounced Murtha by an overwhelming 149 to 86.

Democrats Thursday voting to fill in the blanks for their party's leadership roles when they officially take control of Congress in January selected James Clyburn of South Carolina as Majority Whip, the No. 3 leadership post. Clyburn is the second black in history to rise that high in the party leadership: former Rep. William Gray of Pennsylvania held the same title from 1989-91.

Campaign chairman Rahm Emanuel of Illinois will be chairman of the Democratic Caucus, the No. 4 party leadership position in the House - a reward for his efforts in leading the party back into the majority in his role as chairman of the House Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

Also Thursday, House Republicans, soon to be in the minority for the first time since 1994, met in private to hear presentations from candidates for their party's leadership posts. Their election is set for Friday, with the spotlight on what has evolved into a race between Majority Leader John Boehner and and Rep. Mike Pence, to fill the House GOP leadership role being vacated by Rep. Dennis Hastert.

Among the Democrats, for Hoyer, the vote that will make him House Majority Leader was a personal triumph.

This wasn't really about politics or policy, reports CBS News correspondent Bob Fuss. It was personal, about power and loyalty. Hoyer was the longtime number two, with strong support and had been widely expected to move up. Pelosi nonetheless endorsed Murtha, a leading voice against the Iraq war who has been more loyal to her over the years.

Asked if she regrets the decision to take sides in the leadership race, Pelosi said Thursday: "I am not a person who has regrets."

"Steny [Hoyer] knows that I have to be who I am," she added. "I am a person who is committed to ending this war."

Hoyer meanwhile is expressing his enthusiasm for the road ahead. "Our caucus is unified today," said Hoyer. "I intend to do everything in my power to make Pelosi the most effective Speaker in the history of the Congress."

"Nancy and I have worked together for four years, closely and effectively, and we have created the most unified caucus in the last half century," said Hoyer. "It was not that somebody was rejected today, it was that a team - that had been successful - was asked to continue to do that job."

Wisconsin Rep. Dave Obey, who will chair the Appropriations Committee, said the divisions exposed by the leadership contest will not be a problem for Pelosi.

"There's such universal respect and affection for Nancy. She's gutsy as hell and she's willing to take a chance... push the envelope," said Obey. "It was bitter between the two candidates, I suppose, but it wasn't bitter among the members of the caucus. People get over this stuff."

Murtha, who had been jockeying for position with Hoyer for months, kept his comments at a minimum Thursday, deadpanning that he will now "go back to my small subcommittee."

It's really not that small.

Murtha will chair the powerful defense subcommittee with responsibility for the war in Iraq and the Pentagon budget. "Nancy asked me to set a policy for the Democratic Party, said Murtha, referring to pulling U.S. troops out of Iraq. "Most of the party signed onto it."

[stick130]

When the Pubs got in Newt's pick to be Majority Leader lost also,remember? Tom Delay won. Let's hope we never see the like's of Tom DeLay again.

[chicatibu]

The security of America should never be for sale either in cash or political payoffs.
John Murtha isn%u2019t the kind of man who should be in congress let alone in the leadership.
Not only is Murtha stupid he%u2019s arrogant and stupid.

[getcentered]

ozilot:

Well said!

Quote from above:
"The outcome was foreshadowed last Sunday by a Hoyer supporter, Rep.-elect Baron Hill, who pointed out then that Pelosi - keeping a longstanding promise by endorsing Murtha - did not, in her written statement, ask other Democrats to vote for him."

See Nancy gave Murtha the nomination because of loyalty. She did not press the issue on other Democrats.

The MEDIA keeps saying that there was fighting amongst the Democrats when there really was none.

[flyboy737-2009]

ozilot..Stop making excuses for Nancy Peloci.

[bluestardad]

Biggy Rat has been working for this job for months now behind the curtain.

[joeshields56]

I think what we just saw with the Democrats picking their leadership in the House is very healthy. Governing should not always be about nice and neat consensus. It's a good sign to see our elected officials thinking and arguing and discenting from their leadership. We have seen what happens when they all go along with a leader like a bunch of sheep. Keep up the good work Dems. I expect great things from this Congress.

The fact that it gives political pundits something to get all excited about is just a bonus.

Instead of questioning Pelosi's judgment on national news, it might be fairer for CBS to cover why she decided to back Murtha. Perhaps this was a back-room pay-off she felt obligated to give. Who knows, but talk of her poor judgment with such obvious glee appears mighty biased to me, if not sexist.

[mh4cbs1]

When can we throw BUSH and CHENEY into JAIL where they belong?

They were they ones that LIED us into this needless, horrific War OF Terror. While they and their super-wealthy friends profit, middleclass kids are dying every day. Hundreds of thousands of Iraqi civillians have died. Hundreds of Billions of dollars of OUR money has been spent (handed over to create windfall profits for Haliburton and other defense contractors).

Yes, Bush IS responsible for more innocent dead than Osama and Saddam combined.

When will we put our own War Criminals, BUSH and CHENEY, in JAIL ?? And throw away the key

[wayfedup]

getcentered...

unfortunately, we are ALL victims of Karl ROVE/MARX. Fortunately for Us,OUR Democracy remains strong enough to prevail over the MADNESS of the now LAME DUCK regime of ROVE,BUSH, CHENEY, RUMSFELD, RICE & Co.

[getcentered]

kingjudd:

You are victim of Karl Rove.

Blanket statements and talking points.

If you want to debate then bring some information into the discussion, don't just bash people and point fingers.

Turn the channel, please.

[flyboy737-2009]

kinhjudd...."Could not have said it better myself."

[wayfedup]

kingjudd...
I've always heard that Louisiana places at the Bottom of the academic lists of all schools in the nation; I can see why now! Dig the cotton out of your ears and listen to someone besides Bill O' and your I.Q. will probably jump at LEAST 10 points!

[kingjudd]

Hey DoDo Birds,

Look! So what if Fox News slants to the right of the spectrum, You yourself slant left. Just as ABC, CBS,NBC CNN, MSNBC, CNBC, THE CBC, BBC, the list goes on.
What irritates you more is that their ratings, are better than your ratings or the guys. You all act like your better than everyone else, and now your losing the ratings game, so you now you have to bash Fox every chance you get. You have no substance, you all have no skills in getting news stories.
All you talk about is how dumb Pres. Bush is and we should get out of Iraq, Look none of you ever would have done anything about Saddam's killing of people, nor did you ever do anything about the Sudan, Ethopia, Chad, Somalia or Dafur before Pres. Bush got into office. The liberals "talk the talk" but they can't "walk the walk". They want the US Govenrment to pay for everything except for the military needs.
If liberals are so caring, put your money where your mouth is!!! Go Live in Iraq, Iran, Mexico, any where in Africa, Asia , and South American for more than a year. Also leave your money behind, live as the peasants do if you are so brave. You will really see how the socialist governments work. GET A CLUE!!!!

Justin Hadley
West Monroe, La

[fascistusa]

Vietnam lasted 10 years. The events surrounding Vietnam are almost EXACTLY like what is happening NOW.

Gulf of Tonkin.
9/11.

Commmunists. Muslims.

Nixon. Dictator. Bush. Dictator.

News. Propoganda.

WAKE UP!

[fairandbal]

i laughed at the Bill O'Rielly quote earlier. Anyone quoting that man has has absolutely ZERO credibility in any rational discussion of political events.

[getcentered]

tiddsandbeer:

I hope your wrong, and the fact that you give any credence to what Bill O. from Fox News says, shows me you are probably ill informed.

One thing I agree with you on is that wars do polarize our nation and put leaders in power but like in the last elections, they can take leaders out of power too.

Get Centered Yall!

[bushrocks1]

What? We're still in Iraq? I thought that's why Democrats were elected. To back out. Right away. But now the Democrats that got elected aren't saying anything. What gives? Why aren't we out of Iraq? I'm waiting...

[tiddsanbeer]

NANCY PISLOSI A FIGHTER???!! READ BILL O'REILLYS/FOX NEWS STORY ON SAN FRANCISCO ROTC PROGRAM BEING SHUT DOWN. Make no mistake, there will be another war down the road, and even if you don't agree with this one, the next one will indeed unite America again. Pislosi is too far left for the job, and the dems will be sorry they put her there. It is their first mistake, and it will gaurentee a gop President in 08, thank GOD, pun intended.

The reps deserved to lose this election and if your a honest right winger like me, admit it, don'd defend our parties wrongdoing,and move on. DO NOT be like the left and defend there own wrongdoings at any cost. These things will sort themselves out, and there is plenty of time for the dems to start showing their real colors, and remind us all why we put the gop in the first place.

LET'S STOP THE VENOM.. ON BOTH SIDES OF THE ISLE.

[getcentered]

bushrocks1:

Your comments are off the mark too, way off.

Good job Democrats! Thanks for showing unity!

[getcentered]

Quote:
"Nancy Pelosi really did not help her cause today," "And what has stunned even her supporters is why she would want to wade into this battle where she didn't need to take sides. ... It has raised questions about both her leadership and her judgment."
Says CBS News/Bob Schieffer.

This guy BOB SCHIEFFER is a fire starter. His quote is so off the mark it's amazing. If you just read the story above there are so many quotes from the people who matter that show you Bob's quote is just plain wrong.

Take these quotes for example:

"There's such universal respect and affection for Nancy. She's gutsy as hell and she's willing to take a chance ... push the envelope. "It was bitter between the two candidates, I suppose, but it wasn't bitter among the members of the caucus. People get over this stuff."

"Nancy and I have worked together for four years, closely and effectively, and we have created the most unified caucus in the last half century," Hoyer said after Thursday's vote. "It was not that somebody was rejected today, it was that a team that had been successful was asked to continue to do that job."

GET IT RIGHT BOB, or get out of Washington and go do stories on immigration or something, you know another meaningless sensationalized debate.