By Carl Hulse
Texas Insider Report: WASHINTON D.C. The speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) looked ahead to the new Congress in a Wednesday USA Today op-ed column yet continues to face a small rebellion within her own party about returning as Democratic leader.
In her op-ed Ms. Pelosi said the midterm election results reflected the genuine frustration of the American people who are justifiably angered by the continued high unemployment rate."
While Democrats are also disappointed at the rate of job growth" she wrote it does not diminish what we have accomplished."
On Tuesday two lawmakers Representatives Marcy Kaptur of Ohio and Peter A. DeFazio of Oregon urged that leadership elections scheduled for next week be put off until December to give Democrats more time to consider what went wrong on Election Day. And two Illinois lawmakers from the Chicago area Representatives Mike Quigley a more liberal lawmaker and Daniel Lipinski a moderate joined those who said they would prefer someone else at the helm. That means that more than 15 House Democrats have raised concerns to varying degrees about Ms. Pelosis hanging on to the partys top spot. While not a large number it is surprising given the power Ms. Pelosi has wielded and would wield as minority leader. Allies of Ms. Pelosi said she had retained a strong core of support in the Democratic caucus and would be easily re-elected. Democratic officials say
those who have gone public represent a much broader spectrum of House Democrats who are uneasy about Ms. Pelosis remaining as leader after the crushing losses on Election Day.
Still no one has stepped forward to challenge Ms. Pelosi and the main Democratic leadership fight for the moment continues to be the effort by Representative James E. Clyburn of South Carolina to unseat Steny H. Hoyer of Maryland from the partys No. 2 slot.
Democrats will have about 200 people voting in their party elections counting Congressional delegates meaning that a majority will be just over 100 if all vote.
She also said:
Democrats will continue to put forward innovative ideas engage in entrepreneurial thinking and work to create the jobs for middle-class prosperity. Republicans and Democrats must work together with President Obama to prepare for our nation for the 21st century while creating clean energy and infrastructure jobs. As we go forward we welcome Republican ideas about job creation."
