Democrats with military background offer support for Pelosi

Nine House Democrats who are also veterans of the military signed a letter released Monday that backs Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) as Speaker, arguing she has a proven record on national security and issues related to veterans.

The letter was spearheaded by Reps. Anthony Brown (Md,), Ted Lieu (Calif.) and Jimmy Panetta (Calif.), and comes as opponents of Pelosi also flex their muscle.

“When Democrats were last poised to be in the majority, then-Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi made national security and the commitment to our veterans her top priority in the ‘Six for ‘06’ agenda,” states the letter.

{mosads}“As we emerge into the 116th Congress, we need a Speaker who has a proven record of serving our veterans and advancing policies that enhance our national security interests. Nancy Pelosi has that record.”

The pressure from Democrats with a military background is important given the fact that a number of the lawmakers pressing for a new leader also have military or national security backgrounds.

They include Rep. Seth Moulton (Mass.), a former Marine Corp. officer who signed a letter released Monday that call for Democrats to back a new Speaker. Rep. Connor Lamb (Pa.) is another former Marine in Congress who has said he will not vote for Pelosi, while Rep.-elect Abigail Spanberger (Va.) is a former CIA officer.

Brown said it was important that Pelosi be elected to a second stint as Speaker because of her experience.

“I support Nancy Pelosi – I’m also a big supporter of Steny Hoyer for Majority Leader, my good friend Jim Clyburn for Majority Whip…we’ve got a lot of important, and will prove to be difficult work to do, so we need our very best, our most experienced,” he said during an appearance on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” on Monday.