House Democratic leaders urged rank-and-file lawmakers against an intraparty war, especially on Twitter, apparently aiming their advice at the ultra-progressive freshman wing led by Alexandria-Ocasio Cortez, D-New York.
“As much as we need a prosperous economy, we also need a prosperity of kindness and decency,” Pelosi told the caucus during a closed-door meeting on Wednesday, according to a source. “That civility is something that this caucus should be leading the way on.”
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Pelosi added a stern warning: “So, again, you got a complaint? You come and talk to me about it. But do not tweet about our members and expect us to think that that is just OK.”
Pelosi and Majority Leader Steny Hoyer told the caucus Wednesday that they needed to remain unified, even if they do not agree every bill that comes up for a vote.
The stern warning from the Maryland Democrat, and Pelosi, came after Ocasio-Cortez and three other freshmen progressive lawmakers led an effort to get the caucus to vote against a $4.6 billion bipartisan border funding bill that excluded some progressive provisions they believe would protect illegal immigrant children.
The four lawmakers were also the only Democrats to vote against the House version of the border funding bill because they oppose providing any additional funding to border officials.
The bill caused a deep rift within the Democratic Caucus.
[Read more: Pelosi not backing down on AOC feud: ‘I have no regrets about anything’]
Progressives blamed moderates for using their voting bloc leverage to force Pelosi to accept the more moderate bipartisan Senate border funding bill.
Rep. Marc Pocan, D-Wisconsin, for example, took to Twitter to call the moderate Problem Solvers Caucus “the Child Abuse Caucus.”
Pelosi also warned progressive Democrats to stop their plans to primary some of the moderate Democrats with more progressive candidates.
Those swing-district lawmakers are a major reason Democrats took back the majority in 2018. They won seats formerly held by Republicans in districts that are not likely to back a progressive agenda.
“You make me the target,” Pelosi urged the progressives. “But don’t make our Blue Dogs and our New Dems the target in all of this, because we have important fish to fry.”
The House Blue Dog Coalition and New Democrat Coalition are made up of a few dozen moderate Democrats.
Pelosi called on progressives to make her the target, not moderates, whose victory in 2020 may determine whether Democrats hold onto the House gavel.
“So, if some of you have some unease about the voting records of other people as they represent their districts and you represent your districts, understand the value of the majority,” Pelosi said. “It’s the complete difference.”
Pelosi warned lawmakers that a fractured caucus will make the GOP more powerful at the negotiating table.
“Without that unity, we are playing completely into the hands of the other people,” she said.
