Rep. Peters undecided on Pelosi for minority leader --- same way he was undecided on Obamacare until he voted yes? Laughable

THE HILL'S BLOG BRIEFING ROOM


Rep. Peters undecided on Pelosi for minority leader
By Jordan Fabian - 11/12/10 03:11 PM ET

The chorus of House Democrats expressing reservations regarding Speaker Nancy Pelosi's campaign to serve as minority leader grew again on Friday.

Rep. Gary Peters (D-Mich.) said he has not decided whether to support Pelosi (D-Calif.) for minority leader, adding that he is waiting to see if other candidates jump into the race.

"I'll wait to see what happens when I get in next week," he said during an appearance on WJR Radio. "You know, I think that's just insider politics in Washington. It's never been my focus.

"We'll see who's actually running. Right now, I'm not sure who's going to be running," he added.

So far, 18 House Democrats have gone further than Peters, saying they oppose Pelosi's desire to serve a term as minority leader. But Peters's comments indicate that number could grow.

The freshman Michigan Democrat, who narrowly won reelection last Tuesday, is the second member of the class of 2008 to withhold his support for Pelosi, the other being Connecticut Rep. Jim Himes (D).

No other House Democrat has jumped into the ring against Pelosi, but conservative Blue Dog Rep. Heath Shuler (D-N.C.) has sent strong signals that he intends to run against her.

Pelosi's opponents have blamed her for the Democrats getting swept out of power by a 60-seat GOP wave on Election Day. Republicans tied many Democrats who lost to the unpopular Speaker.

But the San Francisco Democrat defended her Speakership, as well as her bid for minority leader, on Friday, telling NPR she expects to win "with overwhelming support from my caucus, not unanimous support."

"We didn't lose the election because of me," Pelosi added, blaming high unemployment for the Democrats' defeat.

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/128961-rep-peters-undecided-on-pelosi-for-minority-leader