Washington: Democrats embraced Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi as the first woman House speaker in history, then quickly snubbed her, selecting a rival as her lieutenant against her wishes.
Congressman Sten Hoyer of Maryland was chosen as the House majority leader yesterday in a 149-86 secret-ballot vote. Pelosi had pushed for Congressman John Murtha of Pennsylvania for the No. 2 post in the House.
The balloting marked a personal triumph for Hoyer, but also a snub to Pelosi, moments after the rank and file unanimously selected her to become speaker, or leader, of the House of Representatives when it convenes in January.
"Let the healing begin," Pelosi said after Hoyer had eased past Murtha, who is a prominent opponent of the war in Iraq.
Added Hoyer, a 25-year veteran of Congress "The Republicans need to know, the president needs to know and the country needs to know our caucus is unified today."
Hyer received a congratulatory call from President George W Bush, who was traveling in Asia, press secretary Tony Snow told reporters on Air Force One.
Hoyer, Murtha and several other Democrats predicted there would be no lingering effects from the bruising leadership campaign as the party looks ahead to taking control of the House in January after a dozen years in the minority.
Not everyone sounded convinced, though. "It created these tensions that we now have to work on," said Congressman Jose Serrano, a Hoyer supporter.
Comments
0 comment