Transcript of Press Availability Following House Democratic Leadership Elections

Leader Pelosi.  Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.  Congratulations to you.  And congratulations to Congresswoman, now Vice Chair Linda Sánchez, as you mentioned.  With great pride, we receive her as the first woman of color to serve as an elected leader of the House Democratic Caucus – well, any House caucus.

In any event, I'm honored to stand here with our distinguished Whip, Mr. Steny Hoyer, with our Assistant Leader, Mr. Clyburn and to welcome John Yarmuth as the Ranking Member on the Budget Committee.  He brings with him his values as he has served on the committee already and his ability to communicate those values to the public.

I associated myself with the remarks of our distinguished Chairman.  I think he gave a great presentation of where we are.  And where we are is a place of urgency for the American people.  We have a responsibility to stand with them, to engage when we can, to oppose when we cannot engage, and also, the opportunity to do great things for the American people.

So, it is with great pride that I accept the privilege extended to me by my colleagues.  Some of us have had a chance to talk already about that.  But I just want to focus on one of the items in Mr. Chairman's agenda of concerns that we have.  Every single day that goes by, the Republicans are making more inroads into undermining Medicare.  It is their budget, their budget calls for it.  It is a part of their agenda to take away the guarantee of Medicare for the American people.  They want to voucherize it.  And the President-elect has named a person to the Cabinet, a Secretary of HHS to is committed to doing just that.

So, our call to action to the American people is to tell the Republicans in the Congress and the White House, "Keep your hands off our Medicare."  That's a message that people like to chant.  It's never been more urgent than now.

I wanted to also commend Tim Ryan for the race that he made for Leader.  He's an enthusiastic advocate for his point of view, which is shared by a number of Members in our caucus.  I thank him for his courtesies extended to me, and I look forward to working with him.

It is my honor now to yield to our distinguished Democratic Whip, Mr. Hoyer.

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Q:  Leader Pelosi, in 2010 when you ran against Heath Shuler, he had 43 votes – he picked up 43 votes.  This time there were 63 votes for Tim Ryan.  What accounts, in your view for your loss of support in your Caucus – the one-third of voters of your Caucus voting for Tim Ryan?

Leader Pelosi.  Well, I've always said for anybody who pays attention that I would have two-thirds.  And with all due respect to previous opponents that I've had, none of them has waged an aggressive campaign in the public arena as you have seen and with the thought of the prospect of winning.  I feel very confident about the vote that I received and I quite frankly feel more liberated than I ever have after a vote after such a hard-charging campaign.  You can't [compare] somebody filing and running against you versus a very aggressive campaign.  Having said that, I commend Tim Ryan for his race.  I look forward to working with all of our Members as we go forward, and I couldn't be prouder and happier about the responsibility our colleagues have given me.

Q:  Madam Leader, do you see this as kind of a war of attrition – I mean the idea that you were prepared to come in and serve as Leader, people didn't expect a challenge.  Mr. Ryan did vote for a vote – I know we can talk about 43 votes versus 63 votes.  But at the end of the day, doesn't that make your job, the manager of this, harder and the idea that there is less support in the aggregate when you consider the size of the group? 

Leader Pelosi.  No, and in fact, I think I answered that question.  And I want to go on to the fact that the Republicans are trying to end the guarantee of Medicare.  How many votes I get in the Caucus is about the least important item that we could be discussing when we have so much at risk in this election.  I have respect for regional support that Members have, friendships that Members have, and that's how people make their votes.  I don't take much of that as a personal offense to me.  And we are a kaleidoscope:  one day we are some of us together in support of a bill or an idea and another day we turn that wheel and there are different participants in that kaleidoscope.

But I am exhilarated by the support that I have received after such a hard-charging campaign.  But now it's time for us to go forward and the fact is – I will just tell you as friends – that the fact is, we have the fate of our nation, the greatness of America, the character of our country has been under assault and we have to act to allay the fears that some people have, communicate more firmly with those whose economic stability is essential and important to our nation's stability and important to us as a priority, and not spend our time figuring out whether if you go on TV you get more votes than if you don't go on TV, and how do you feel about that?  I feel great.  Thank you.

Q:  One of the changes or the things people were discussing today is not actually about your position but other positions under you and the need to have more truly elected positions where Members are not appointed and then affirmed into posts.  And I understand the Rules discussion is happening tomorrow.  Can you speak to why the system has been the way it is and whether you're open to making it more elective than appointed then confirmed?

Leader Pelosi.  You know what?  That's lovely.  We're going to have a caucus.  We're very proud of our new Chairman.  He manages all of the – I won't say "business" but – the business of the caucus very well.  And we will be dealing with that tomorrow.

We have called for an expansion of those who are participating in the leadership and the caucus is the ruling body of the House Democrats, and we will be working out how we go forward.  But this is not about vision.  This is about bringing people together.