Conservatives are taking Gwen Graham, the Democrat who beat U.S. Rep. Steve Southerland, R-Fla., earlier this month, to task for saying she would not vote for U.S. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., but failing to oppose her on Tuesday.
Reports came out of Washington, D.C., on Tuesday that no member of the Democratic caucus opposed Pelosis selection to lead them for another two years.
Graham had pledged to oppose Pelosi during her bid against Southerland. ButGraham said on Tuesday that she did not vote for Pelosi and will vote for another member of the House to be speaker -- even if reports indicate not a single Democrat actually spoke up. Graham indicated that she did not back Pelosi on Tuesday, remaining silent in terms of supporting her or opposing her.
We need new leadership in both parties to move forward, and thats why I didnt give my support to Nancy Pelosi today," Graham said in a statement sent to Sunshine State News. "When the vote for leadership happens in January, I will support someone who I believe can bring people together to solve problems.
Conservatives pointed to reports showing Pelosi had been elected to lead Democrats without any opposition.
Gwen Graham has just arrived to prepare for her seat in Congress, but it appears shes already gone Washington, the Congressional Leadership Fund emailed the media on Tuesday. This morning, House Democrats unanimously re-elected Nancy Pelosi as their leader with no nays audible in the room,' including from Gwen Graham.
North Florida voters are already seeing the real Gwen Graham: good at giving her word, not so good at keeping it, CLF added.
Graham, the daughter of former Gov. and U.S. Sen. Bob Graham, D-Fla., was elected by stressing she would bring North Florida values to Congress and insisting she was an outsider despite having worked as a key aide for her father, former Gov. Howard Dean, D-Vt., and then-U.S. Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., during the 2004 presidential campaign.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or follow him on Twitter: @KevinDerbySSN
