POLITICO.COM : Majority Whip Jim Clyburn likened the advancement of the health care law at the expense of House seats to the achievements of the Civil Rights Act of 1964-65, which also cost Democrats at the ballot box - Why Democrats don't dump Nancy Pelosi

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Historcal Note :

U.S. House election 1966 : this occurred in the middle of President Lyndon Johnson's second term. As the Vietnam War continued to escalate and race riots exploded in cities across the country, Johnson's popularity had fallen, and the opposition Republican Party was able to gain a net of 47 seats from Johnson's Democratic Party, which nonetheless maintained a clear majority in the House.

The Vietnam War was a factor in the Republican Gains but probably the Civil Rights Act and Social Legislations of Lyndon Baines Johnson during 1964 and 1965 and the Race Riots were a very important factor against Democrats, 47 seats lost are no small matter.


POLITICO.COM
Why Democrats don't dump Nancy Pelosi
By JONATHAN ALLEN & JOHN F. HARRIS
November 17, 2010

Why Democrats don't dump Nancy Pelosi


Some excerpts :

Many House Democrats view the last two years as a permanent gain for progressive values, particularly when it comes to a health care law that ensures nearly every American will be insured. They believe it would discredit these achievements to humiliate the House leader most responsible for these gains.

Many of these Democrats believe that the gains for progressives are worth spilling blood over, and so they are not holding election losses against Pelosi.

During a closed-door caucus meeting on Tuesday, Majority Whip Jim Clyburn likened the advancement of the health care law at the expense of House seats to the achievements of the Civil Rights movement, which also cost Democrats at the ballot box.

"I don't think it was wrong to pass the Voting Rights Act of 1965," noting that most of the black and Hispanic members wouldn't be members of Congress if not for the legislation. "I don't think it was wrong to pass the health care bill.

"Sometimes doing the right thing will cause you to pay dearly," Clyburn argued, according to a source in the room. "What's good for the American people sometimes is not good for a few of the high and mighty."

This is a view shared by many liberals in the caucus, particularly those who represent underserved minority communities, where Pelosi has strong support.

There's no one else

Even lawmakers who wish Pelosi had made a different choice about remaining in leadership know you can't beat someone with no one. And by definition, anyone who would run against Pelosi right now is not a legitimate threat. The No. 2 force in Democratic ranks, Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, chose not to mount a campaign against her. He has the only truly independent power base outside of Pelosi – but his convincing victory over Murtha was fueled in part by people who would vote for Pelosi over him in a heartbeat.

If Pelosi does not emerge from Wednesday's meeting as the new minority leader, this surprise outcome would be because of a vote of no confidence in her -- not because there is any credible challenger on her right or left flanks.

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