Pelosi May Strike Back – At Her Own Party

Democrats in Congress who are playing up their opposition to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in an effort to save their seats might see the move backfire. That’s because if enough of them succeed, allowing Democrats to maintain control of Congress, they may be in for a spanking from the tough-minded Pelosi after the election, Politico reports.

She could even take away committee chairmanships after the election, though most experts say the punishment won’t be that severe. But she’s already stanching the flow of campaign dollars to Democratic colleagues using her as a piñata.

“She uses her power deftly in ways a 21st-century speaker does. This is a powerful speaker who can impact how many campaign dollars you can get,” Chris Lehane, a Democratic consultant who served in the Clinton White House as communications counsel, told Politico. Associates of Pelosi say she has a long memory and won’t forgive disloyalty easily.