Pelosi Supports Murtha for House Majority Leader

Thank you for your letter requesting my support for your candidacy for Majority Leader in the 110^th Congress.

As you know so well, for the past 24 months I have done nothing but focus on winning the House, working weekends, morning, noon and night, traveling to dozens of states and cities on behalf of our candidates to assure we had the resources to implement the excellent plan Rahm Emanuel developed.

Working with all the groups in our Caucus over the past two years, we focused the national debate around issues that clearly differentiated Democrats and from Republicans, and put us squarely on the side of the American people. We challenged President Bush on his unsound scheme to privatize Social Security, and we prevailed on behalf of America's seniors. We repudiated the Republican "culture of corruption" that has turned the People's House into an auction house for special interests. And of course, we challenged President Bush and the Republicans on the Iraq war.

With respect to Iraq in particular, I salute your courageous leadership that changed the national debate and helped make Iraq the central issue of this historic election. It was surely a dark day for the Bush Administration when you spoke truth to power. Your leadership gave so many Americans, including respected military leaders, the encouragement to voice their own disapproval at a failed policy that weakens our military and makes stability in that region even more difficult to achieve. The enthusiastic response of Americans all across this nation gave an enormous lift to our Democratic efforts, and your unsurpassed personal solicitations produced millions of dollars which were new to the effort. Those resources made a huge difference and particularly for the candidates on whose behalf you campaigned.

Your strong voice for national security, the war on terror and Iraq provides genuine leadership for our party, and I count on you to continue to lead on these vital issues. For this and for all you have done for Democrats in the past and especially this last year, I am pleased to support your candidacy for Majority Leader for the 110^th Congress. As we move forward and work together on the urgent questions of Iraq, the war on terrorism, strengthening our military to meet 21^st century challenges, improving our national security and rebuilding our international relations, and honoring our commitment to our veterans, your presence in the leadership of our party would add a knowledgeable and respected voice to our Democratic team.