Pelosi's Downfall

by John M. Curtis
(310) 204-8700

Copyright March 11, 2010
All Rights Reserved.                                

            House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) finds herself in quicksand over the unwelcome probe of ex-Rep. Eric Massa’s (D-N.Y.) abrupt resignation for allegations of sexual misconduct with staff members.  House Democrats quashed an ethical investigation into when the Speaker’s office knew about Massa’s indiscretions.  Republican Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) sought a probe into what the Speaker knew and when did she know it, all relevant questions in light of her promise Jan. 4, 2007 to “clean house,” becoming the first woman House Speaker in U.S. history.  Massa resigned in disgrace March 7, after conflicting statements about whether he “groped” staff members.  Democrats relentlessly pursued Rep. Mark Foley (R-Fl.) for sending sexually explicit e-mails to former congressional pages.   Boehner wanted to find out when Pelosi knew of Massa’s problems.

            When Pelosi came to power in 2007, she promised a new atmosphere of openness after years of ethical breaches under the GOP, culminating in the Sept. 28, 2005 resignation of former House Speaker Minority Leader Tom Delay (R-Texas), the beginning of the end to Republican House dominance.  Boehner, a rabid GOP partisan, sought to embarrass Democrats en route to next November’s midterm elections.  “I asked my staff, I said. ‘Have there been any rumors about any of this before?’  There had been a rumor, but just that, no formal notification to our office,” said Pelosi, admitting that she had some knowledge about Massa’s behavior.  Boehner wanted a full investigation of when Pelosi first heard about Massa’s indiscretions, letting voters know the extent of any cover-up.  Pelosi’s reluctance to get out the facts suggests a calculated damage control strategy.

            Denying that she knew the groping allegation, Pelosi said it wasn’t reported to her “because, you know, what?  This is a rumor city.  Every single day there are rumors.  I have a job to do and not to be the receiver of rumors,” admitting that she knew more than first revealed.  Pelosi’s vocal condemnation of former House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) during the Bush administration indicates she’s not prepared to accept responsibility for House members under her direction.  While no one expects Pelosi to take responsibility for lose cannons, it’s reasonable to expect openness about how, what and when she knew of allegations against Massa.  House leadership knew last year that the 50-year-old, first-term, former career Navy congressman lived with five staff members in a Washington townhouse.  Pelosi’s office was informed by a Massa aid that they asked the congressman to move out.

            Massa’s ethical problems, and Democrats attempt to stop an investigation, piled on top of swirling ethical lapses, forcing veteran Bronx Rep. Charley Rangel (D-N.Y.), Chairman of the powerful tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee, to step down March 4.  Giving the Democratic Party a black eye, Pelosi’s leadership comes directly into question, allowing ethical breaches to dominate the headlines only three short years after Democrats regained control of Congress Nov. 4, 2006.  Rangel’s ethical problems were also known to Pelosi for some time, hoping his problems would eventually disappear.  When they didn’t, it also reflected on her leadership, to the extent that she promised to “clean House” after so many embarrassing lapses during the Bush years.  Rangel’s loss was especially devastating to Pelosi’s leadership during a critical time for the Obama administration.

            Pelosi has been largely responsible for the Democrats’ stubborn push toward health care reform.  Despite polls showing opposition to President Obama’s plan, Pelosi ordered House leadership to continue pushing the issue.  Despite the sluggish economy, Barack has suffered more in the polls because of his support for Pelosi’s legislative agenda, no matter how unpopular.  Pelosi, one of former President George W. Bush’s most vociferous critics, faces more criticism from the GOP, unwilling to endorse her liberal agenda.  She’s mired in congressional gridlock, in part because she’s viewed as so partisan.  Now that she’s blocked an investigation into when her and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer’s (D-Md.) knew of Massa’s ethical breaches, Pelosi has lost credibility with House leadership.  Given the mess she finds the Democratic House, it’s time for her to step aside.

            No one should blame Pelosi entirely for Democrats’ ethical lapses, giving the Party a black eye before the midterm elections.  But she’s given Obama bad advice regarding what to do with health care reform.  Her insistence on pushing for a House vote indicates she has an obsessive focus on health care reform, regardless of the political consequences to the White House.  When you add up all Pelosi’s failures and miscalculations, Obama deserves a fresh start with new House leadership.  Pelosi allowed her extreme partisanship to sabotage the Obama legislative agenda, pushing her own whims at all costs.  Instead of fulfilling Barack’s promise of more bipartisanship, Pelosi tried to dominate the legislative agenda and exceeded the bitter partisanship seen during the Bush years.  Given all her recent problems, she needs to seriously consider handing the reins to someone else.

About the Author

John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He's editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.