Departing Dem Knocks Pelosi: You Have to Know When to Leave

Earlier this week on CSPAN, outgoing Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY) was asked about the “freshness of the leadership team” in light of Democrats choosing to reelect 74-year-old Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) as their caucus leader in the latest leadership vote.

“I think they are equipped but I think that we have a lot of talented younger members,” McCarthy said. “It is not just Mrs. Pelosi, by the way. I think she’s been a great leader, and she is really good at raising money. That is not one of my fortes. I was never good at that. But they have to start training younger people and bring younger people into the caucus to become the future leaders. One of the things that I certainly believe with all of my heart and soul, you have to know when to leave. And Nancy does not feel this is the time to leave.” 

“Many of us thought she might stay, for maybe this coming year,” she continued. “And then hopefully turn the reins over to someone else. But when I look around, is anybody really ready to replace her? It is a hard job. And I give her a lot of credit for what she has been able to do. But I think it is time that the leaders start looking at who’s going to fill my spot? We are all replaceable. There might be some bumps in the road, but I do always believe that it is time for younger people to take our spots with ideas and new ways of doing things.”

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