(See previous: Murtha Accuses Dems of "Swift Boating" Him)

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How the Democrats "clean house"
Michelle Malkin

My woman-to-woman advice for Nancy Pelosi today: To clean a house, you take the garbage out, not in.

Jan. 12, 2006: Pelosi Announces ‘Clean House Team’ to Address Republican Culture of Corruption

“It is long past time for the Congress to address the systemic Republican culture of corruption that has undermined the American people’s confidence in this institution,” Pelosi said. “I am proud that some of the best minds in our Caucus will be leading the Democratic effort to clean up the corrupt Republican Congress. These great leaders will work to restore truth and trust to the People’s House.”

Oct. 13, 2006: Pelosi: It will take a woman to clean up the House

"Maybe it will take a woman to clean up the House and a new speaker to restore civility," Pelosi said.

Nov. 13, 2006: Pelosi backs Murtha for House Speaker. Pelosi: Pulling out all the stops for Murtha.

Nov. 13, 2006: Pelosi and Hastings

As noted in my column today: ...

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Profiles In Courage, Democrat Leadership Version
Ed Morrissey

Charles Rangel on Monday:

"My kind of politics is, if you do your job, you are supposed to be rewarded ... I think Steny [Hoyer] has done his job. I cannot think of any reason why this [John Murtha's challenge] is happening."

Charles Rangel on Tuesday:

Pelosi called incoming Ways and Means Committee chairman Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.) yesterday morning just hours after he had told the New York Sun, “I think Steny has done his job. I cannot think of any reason why this is happening,” prompting the paper to run the headline “Rangel Backs Hoyer for Leader.”

“I don’t know what article she had seen, but she had thought it was an endorsement of Steny,” Rangel said.

Rangel told her it was not an endorsement but reiterated his earlier statement that “nobody had given me any reason not to support Steny.”

Golly, what will Charles Rangel say today? ...

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Report: Pelosi working the phones for Spanky
Allahpundit

She’s lobbying hard on his behalf, which may be the first case of lobbying done in connection with Murtha that didn’t involve money changing hands. Will it work? Rangel backed off his endorsement of Hoyer after Pelosi had a chat with him, but others are standing firm:

[N]ine other incoming full committee chairmen are supporting Hoyer. Reps. John Dingell (D-Mich.), Barney Frank (D-Mass.), Bart Gordon (D-Tenn.), Jim Oberstar (D-Minn.), Tom Lantos (D-Calif.), John Spratt (D-S.C.), Ike Skelton (D-Mo.), Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) and Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) signed a letter yesterday backing Hoyer…

Another House Democrat supporting Hoyer was incensed that Pelosi was exerting her influence in the caucus, asserting that it will further divide House Democrats. ...

... The member said regardless of who ultimately wins the Thursday election, the effect of Pelosi actively getting involved in the race would reverberate for some time.

“Either way, it’s damaging,” the member said.

Ruth Marcus agrees:

If she gets her way and helps Murtha win a come-from-behind victory against Maryland’s Steny Hoyer in tomorrow’s leadership election, she’s buying herself — and the Democratic caucus — endless news stories about Murtha’s ethics. If, as he says, Hoyer has the votes, Pelosi has made herself look weak within the caucus — not a smart move for any new leader, and certainly not for the first woman in the job.

It’s “lose-lose” now, says Marcus. Or, if you’re a conservative, win-win.

John Fund’s got plenty more, ...

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Pelosi to Dems: Jack Murtha is Jane Roe Jr

(2006-11-15) -- In a last ditch effort to save Rep. Jack Murtha’s floundering candidacy for House Majority Leader, future House Speaker Nancy Pelosi today said Democrats “owe Jack Murtha big time for becoming the embodiment of our progressive defense policy the way Jane Roe became the pro-choice icon in the Supreme Court case Roe v. Wade.” ...

... Rep. Pelosi comforted mainstream Democrats concerned about the Pennsylvania lawmaker’s conservative positions on gun-control and abortion, by saying, “Don’t worry, just like Jane Roe never actually had an abortion, Jack Murtha won’t really be in charge of House Democrats.”