The ‘Left’ Woman For the Job

Representative Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), expected to become the new House minority leader tomorrow, is the perfect cure for an ailing and ill-defined Democratic Party. Blaming the Democrats’ election shortfalls on the terrorism issue belies a greater problem: that, presently, the Democratic Party has no clear agenda or message. There is no political leader currently demonstrating how the party differs from its adversaries across the aisle. Now that the Republicans control both houses and the presidency, Democratic success in 2004 relies on how the party defines its own political agenda.

Pelosi offers the ideal solution to her party’s woes. She is an energetic political figure who is not afraid to stand up against a popular Republican administration and tell them why they’re wrong. A minority leader should not be a moderate consensus builder like Rep. Richard A. Gephardt (D-Mo.) often was. With a stagnant economy and the possibility of war looming, the Democrats need to define their agenda and keep the administration in check.

As the current House minority whip, Pelosi has had no problem taking a public stand on controversial issues. Pelosi was a leader in the fight against the resolution pressed by President Bush to allow the United States to “go after” Saddam Hussein. She supports legalizing gay marriage. She is a proponent of offering needle exchanges as a way to combat the spread of AIDS. As the main spokesperson for the minority party, Pelosi will leave no doubt in the minds of the American public that there are clear differences between the agenda of the current administration and the Democrats.

Some Democrats worry that her liberal views will give Republicans a perfect target to criticize the party. But this concern should not damper support for Pelosi. Former Speaker Thomas P. “Tip” O’Neill was labeled by Republicans as a Massachusetts liberal and proceeded to lead his party into winning back 26 Congressional seats in 1982. And while consensus building across party lines is an important attribute of an effective legislator, defining party lines is also an imperative role of a party leader. Pelosi is a staunch liberal Democrat, but that is exactly why she will be a perfect spokesperson for the Democratic Party. If Pelosi can offer a competing view to the rhetoric from the White House, this “concern” could work to her party’s advantage.

Finally, as the first female party leader in Congress, Pelosi will command huge attention from the public and hopefully draw back many of the female voters the party lost in this past election. She is a source of inspiration for many Congresswomen and female voters alike and will no doubt garner both fundraising and electoral support for this reason.

Nancy Pelosi is emerging as a prominent political figure at a time when real leadership is exactly what is missing from the Democratic Party. While times of national crisis call for consensus building between the parties, Pelosi sustains that “where we do not have our common ground, we must stand our ground.” This attitude will save the party from being overwhelmed by its presently more outspoken opponents. The timing is perfect and the Democrats must seize the opportunity. Congresswoman Pelosi’s charisma, coupled with her tenacity, will no doubt be the change needed to help the Democrats redeem their direction and generate a lively and aggressive comeback in 2004.