House Democrats take a hard left

Paul Clinton

Rep. Nancy Pelosi’s appointment to the Democrats’ top leadership

post in the House should lead to a more polarized political

atmosphere in Washington, D.C., Newport Beach’s congressman said.

Pelosi, who took over as House Minority Leader from Rep. Dick

Gephardt on Thursday, was one of the few federal lawmakers to oppose

the creation of a homeland security agency and war with Iraq.

Her appointment, by a 177 to 29 vote, represents a shift from the

more conservative Gephardt to the liberal Pelosi, who represents most

of San Francisco.

“In Congress, we have gone from black to white in the Democratic

leadership,” Cox said. “Minority Leader Gephardt supported the

response to Sept. 11.”

Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, who represents Costa Mesa, could not be

reached for comment.

Republicans on Tuesday appointed Rep. Tom DeLay (R-Texas), the

hawkish conservative who has led the calls for military action

against Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.

Pelosi promised to return to prominence a party that has lost

ground since Republicans retook the White House and Senate in 2000.

Republicans have held a majority in the House for a decade.

“We will work with the Republicans on [combating] terrorism and we

shall seek common ground on domestic issues and on the economy,”

Pelosi said on her Web site. “But where we cannot find common ground,

we will stand our ground.”

Democrats regained the Senate by a slim margin in 2001 when

Vermont Sen. Jim Jeffords defected. The victory was short-lived.

Last week, the Republicans picked up two seats in the Senate and a

handful of seats in the House.

Of the 435 House seats, Republicans now hold 228 to the Democrats’

204. Two seats are still undecided, awaiting runoffs, and one seat is

held by Vermont Independent Rep. Bernie Sanders.

In recent months, critics have said the Democratic Party has

abandoned its traditional role as an anti-war protester and supporter

of disenfranchised groups.

Cox offered a list of Democrats at the helm in wartime.

“During Vietnam, they were the anti-war party,” Cox said. “But we

had Democratic leadership in World War I, [World War] II and Korea.”

Pelosi said she was disappointed by the low turnout for the Nov. 5

election.

“We need to increase our efforts to connect to the grass roots and

increase turnout,” Pelosi said. “This will require leadership with

results.”