Democrats Pick Hakeem Jeffries as Caucus Chair

[RandySF]

Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) was elected Democratic Caucus chairman Wednesday, defeating Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) for the No. 5 leadership post in a 123-113 vote, Politico reports.

Jeffries, 48, has been in Congress for only six years but is already often mentioned by younger members as a future party leader.



https://politicalwire.com/2018/11/28/democrats-pick-jeffries-as-caucus-chair/

[Hermit-The-Prog]

1. i must be old

He doesn't look old enough to be 48.

From the politico story linked from politicalwire:

"He was a lead architect of House Democrats’ messaging strategy during the campaign as co-chair of the caucus’ communications committee."

That messaging strategy seemed to be somewhat successful. May he continue.

[Hortensis]

6. "We had a messaging strategy"? Who'd know?

I have an image of Jeffries, his team and their staffs calling hundreds of candidates to chat about what worked and didn't and to remind them to be sure to hit preexisting conditions hard, besides devoting big time to other local issues.

It's far more complex than that, of course, and I'd love to read about how they did it in 2018. Good job, though, and 240 seats has to look real good on his resume, as well as many others'.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

8. the horse race was prominent

Except for a couple of interviews of Nancy Pelosi, tv seemed unaware that there was a party message.

(Disclaimer: I avoided most of tv during the lead-up to the election. There might have been more coverage that I missed).

[Hortensis]

9. Horse0race and controversy, trumped-up if nothing

worth reporting was available. Which was most of the time.

Today I watched Andrea Mitchell to see how she'd handle Pelosi's win. Not bad, admitted competence, but had to push the idea that we still had to figure out our "priorities," as if Nancy and all the rest hadn't decided on those looong ago. Apparently losing bad on healthcare kept even her from saying we had no issues.

[octoberlib]

2. He was interviewed on MSNBC a couple days ago. Very impressive.

I also like Barbara Lee, though.

[oasis]

3. Hakeem has been impressive in the interviews I've seen. Much to like.

[Hortensis]

4. He was in the NY State legislature for several years

before that, and an attorney in private practice before that.

Good grief. Political Wire is finding a way to push the media's "young rebellion" theme in spite of Jeffries' age by saying it's "younger" members who see him as a possible future top leader? Silly stuff. The average age (just looked it up) of his colleagues is just short of 58, and they are all people who will be deciding who advances to top leadership when.

[libdem4life]

5. Got to think that "other" caucus may have elbowed their way

right down to the bottom of list.

[WeekiWater]

7. Why Joe Crowley's Loss Could Be Good News for Hakeem Jeffries

“Hakeem is one of the rising stars of the Democratic Party,” Senator Chuck Schumer, the Senate Democratic leader, said in an interview. “All I can tell you is, he’s got a great future. He’s got limitless possibilities — national, state, local, you name it.”

With Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s stunning defeat of Representative Joseph Crowley of Queens last month, the House Democratic leadership will have a glaring vacancy. And in a fractious conference where race, geography, seniority and ideology all can loom large, an ambitious young New Yorker like Mr. Jeffries could be ascendant.

NYT

Power Shift

Article is from July.