Articles
Associated Press: Pelosi brings Dems together in biggest win as speaker
04/14/2007
By Erica
Werner
Nancy
Pelosi won her biggest victory in her first 100 days as speaker of the House of
Representatives by making peace among her own Democrats. Mollifying moderates
and staving off liberal defections, she narrowly wrung passage of legislation
setting a troop withdrawal deadline from
The
Key tests
lie ahead when House members return from their April recess in the coming week.
The
But even
opponents concede that Pelosi's kept her agenda, and herself, firmly in the
spotlight since her history-making swearing-in Jan. 4.
"I
have a great serenity about it because I understand why people have to do what
they have to do, both Democrats and Republicans," Pelosi told The
Associated Press in an interview as she prepared to mark the 100-day milestone
Saturday. "And the challenge is a positive challenge."
Democrats
noted the 100-day mark in their weekly radio address Saturday. "Our work
is not done," said Rep. Rahm Emanuel of
Public
approval of Pelosi has waned slightly since her initial honeymoon, according to
an AP-Ipsos poll conducted April 2-4. Overall, 46 percent said they approved of
how Pelosi was handling her job, compared with 51 percent in mid-January, while
44 percent disapproved, compared with 35 percent in mid-January.
There
have been controversies. A recent trip to
Other
disputes have served to show off Pelosi's backbone. When Vice President Dick
Cheney argued that Democrats' war approach would "validate the al-Qaida
strategy," she unleashed a furious retort. The comment was "beneath
the dignity of the debate we're engaged in," Pelosi said.
"She
is not easily intimidated, and I think that when you deal with the White House
and Karl Rove's people you cannot be a shrinking violet," said
Pelosi, a
liberal Democrat from
That
happened with the legislation to pull combat troops from
Her more
liberal allies complained the final product did not go far enough because it
continued to fund the wars in
Many
liberals said they recognize the political realities Pelosi confronts as she
aims to keep Democrats in power in the Congress. Key victories the party won in
November were in more conservative districts, and Pelosi must take care to
protect those moderate incumbents.
"My
guess is that she's far more pacifist than the majority of our caucus, but I
think she also understands that she's got to pass legislation," said Rep.
Pete Stark, a California Democrat.
Pelosi's
ability to do just that will be tested as she and Senate Majority Leader Harry
Reid head toward confrontation with the White House over the
Other
upcoming priorities for House action include lobbying, ethics and election
reform bills and legislation to fund more teachers and simplify tax-paying.
Pelosi hopes to have a global warming bill ready before the 4th of July.
Some of
the thorniest issues confronting Congress are not scheduled for quick action,
including immigration reform and health care changes. It is in part a
recognition that Pelosi is aiming to set goals she can deliver.
"I
want to demonstrate that Democrats are ready to lead," she said.