WASHINGTON — House Democrats elected Rep. Nancy Pelosi as minority leader Wednesday, turning to the once-powerful speaker to oversee a shrunken and demoralized caucus.
After two days of closed- door meetings in which they rehashed the election and argued about who was to blame, the Democrats remain uncertain of the political path forward. Speaking to reporters after the vote, California’s Pelosi and her leadership team did not offer ideas for rebuilding the party ranks that were decimated by defeats in moderate and conservative districts, leaving behind the smallest group of House Democrats since the Truman administration.
“This is an experienced, diverse leadership team that is very strong,” Pelosi said. “It is a team that took us to victory in ’05 and ’06 and will take us to victory again. In the meantime, I would say to the American people: We extend a hand of friendship to the Republicans; we look forward to hearing their ideas on job creation and deficit reduction.”
While Republicans unanimously nominated Rep. John Boehner of Ohio on Wednesday as the next House speaker, Pelosi faced a surprisingly strong rebellion against her hold on power. Her 150-43 victory revealed a schism, with many Democrats — including some who voted for her — upset to see the leadership remain intact.
The 2011 Democratic leaders are familiar faces. Rep. Steny Hoyer of Maryland, currently Pelosi’s No. 2, was elected to the No. 2 job of minority whip. Rep. James Clyburn of South Carolina, currently Pelosi’s No. 3, won the third-ranking position of assistant leader.
“So far there hasn’t been the optical sign that people are looking for — that they get it,” complained Rep. Bill Pascrell of New Jersey, one of 68 Democrats who tried to put off the leadership vote until Dec. 8 so that members could have more time to consider their options.
Pascrell ended up voting for Pelosi. But he did not seem enthusiastic. Electing the “same old, same old” leaders, he said, sent a signal that Democrats have no intention of tempering their ambitious and partisan policy agenda. “We’re not just electing people. We’re electing a path to the future.”
In her remarks after Wednesday’s vote, Pelosi rejected that opinion and attributed the party’s steep midterm losses to the sluggish economy and a $75 million GOP ad campaign that vilified her.
Many of the House Democrats who opposed Pelosi were members of the Blue Dog Coalition, a bloc of fiscal conservatives whose ranks were sharply cut Nov. 2.
