House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi on Thursday said she would not bow to pressure to step aside as some Democrats have argued that Pelosi's image may be hurting Democratic candidates. "Well, I'm a master legislator".
"The issue I think strategically is that Trump energizes their base and Leader Pelosi energizes their base", said Rep. Tim Ryan, D-Ohio, who was unsuccessful previous year in trying to unseat Pelosi. "My leadership is recognized by many around the country, and that is why I'm able to attract the [financial] support that I do, which is essential to our elections".
But Pelosi taunted Rice and others urging her to step down, issuing what sounded like a warning on Thursday, saying, "when it comes to personal ambition and having fun on TV, have your fun". Vela's comments come after he and several Democratic colleagues met privately Thursday afternoon to discuss ousting the house minority leader.
Ryan told MSNBC's Hardball Wednesday morning following millennial Democrat Jon Ossoff's defeat to Republican Karen Handel in the Georgia special congressional election to occupy the seat vacated by Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price that that loss as well as others is indicative of the Democratic Party's perception among some as a "toxic national brand".
All the races were on GOP-friendly terrain. Democrats have to pick up 24 House seats to get back into power.
Several Democratic lawmakers have said Pelosi's position as a prominent face of the Democratic Party will continue to make winning elections hard.
Just hours before the news conference, moderate Democratic Rep. Kathleen Rice of NY reiterated her call that it was time for Pelosi to step aside.
President Donald Trump earlier Thursday even tweeted he'd like her to stick around.
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"Of course I'm open to a meeting" with Pelosi", Moulton said. "That would be very bad for the Republican Party - and please let Cryin' Chuck stay!" And they always want to choose our leaders.
In fact Pelosi, 77, has emerged as a favorite GOP bogeyman and was the target of a barrage of negative advertising in the Georgia House race, mocking her as a San Francisco liberal and tying her to Ossoff. They just don't know how to make it happen.
Pelosi also has a long history of holding her party together through hard votes - enabling former President Barack Obama to shepherd into law a series of Democratic-backed measures in 2009 and 2010 and later forcing Republicans to grapple with the politically damaging divisions within their own ranks. Rosen is a likely candidate for Senate against the most endangered GOP Senate incumbent, Dean Heller of Nevada.
"As long as Leader Pelosi is perceived as the leader of the House Democratic Caucus", Vela said, "Republicans are going to continue to spend millions and millions of dollars in those swing districts to convince those swing voters, those independent voters - those Republican voters who might go our way - not to vote for our Democratic candidate because of Leader Pelosi".
Pelosi:"I'm worth the trouble".
Rice's criticisms have been joined by a couple other Democrats.
None of that suggests that Pelosi faces an immediate challenge to her leadership. Democrats have been chafing in the minority since they were thrust there in 2010 after risky votes in favor of President Barack Obama's initiatives including the Affordable Care Act.
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