Jules Witcover: What new Democratic direction?

Much more surprising than Rep. Steny Hoyer?s easy victory over Rep. John Murtha in the vote for new House Majority Leader was speaker-to-be Nancy Pelosi?s suicidal backing of the sure loser.

The prospective speaker said she had endorsed Murtha “because I thought that would be the best way to bring an end to the war in Iraq. I know that he will continue to take the lead on that issue for our caucus, for this Congress, for our country.” She thanked him “for his courage for stepping forward one year ago to speak truth to power, to change the debate in this country in a way that gave us this majority this November.”