The blue dog Democrat who has apparently won the special election in Pennsylvania’s 18th district is coming out of the fate calling for the sacking of the party’s House leader, Nancy Pelosi.
Conor Lamb, who at last count is leading the special election over Rick Saccone with under a thousand votes, is calling for new leadership of the Democratic Party.
“I have said and I continue to say that I think we need new leadership at the top of both parties in the House,” Lamb said during an appearance on MSNBC Wednesday morning. “And so, I’d like to see someone besides Nancy Pelosi run and that’s who I would support, but I definitely would like to see different leader than Paul Ryan on the other side.”
“It’s nothing personal” against Pelosi, Lamb continued. “I just think that the leadership of both parties have presided over a time when we’ve had more and more gridlock and fewer and fewer important things getting done. And I always learn that responsibility starts at the top. So, I think we need to sweep some new people in there.”
Here is a transcript of the exchange:
GEIST: “Conor, it’s Willie Geist. Congratulations on your apparent win which we are calling here at NBC. You made the case on the campaign trail over the last several months. There needs to be new leadership in Washington. And you said so at the top of both parties. You said it wasn’t personal toward Nancy Pelosi, but you believe it was a new day in Washington. So when you arrive in Washington, assume you do win this election, do you think Nancy Pelosi should go?”
LAMB: “Well, I don’t know that we are there yet. I mean, my understanding is there wouldn’t be a leadership vote this year and in this year of all years we’ve got a couple more elections to go for me before we ever get there. However, yes, I have said and I continue to say that I think we need new leadership at the top of both parties in the House. And so, I’d like to see someone besides Nancy Pelosi run and that’s who I would support, but I definitely would like to see different leader than Paul Ryan on the other side.”
GEIST: “What is it about Nancy Pelosi specifically that you believe makes her unqualified to do the job or that at least she should go?”
LAMB: “Well it’s nothing personal. I just think that the leadership of both parties have presided over a time when we’ve had more and more gridlock and fewer and fewer important things getting done. And I always learn that responsibility starts at the top. So, I think we need to sweep some new people in there.”
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