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‘This is what the Republicans are saying’: Audience boos anti-Pelosi Democrat at town hall

Seth Moulton was accused of "acting like a Tea Party Republican."

Seth Moulton at a town hall in Amesbury, Massachuetts on November 19, 2018. (Screengrab/WBZ)
Seth Moulton at a town hall in Amesbury, Massachuetts on November 19, 2018. (Screengrab/WBZ)

Rep. Seth Moulton (D-MA), the most outspoken Democratic opponent of House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi’s (D-CA) bid to become Speaker of the House for the second time, held a town hall in his district on Monday.

The two-term congressman faced pointed questions in Amesbury, Massachusetts over his push to demote Pelosi, the leader of House Democrats since 2003, and compared her to conservative icon Margaret Thatcher at one point.

After Moulton claimed his movement was backed by the “majority” of both Democrats and Americans, the town hall attendees in the Bay State’s 6th congressional district erupted in disbelief.

The relentless questioning started early and focused on his opposition to the California congresswoman.

Moulton later compared Pelosi to Thatcher, the former conservative prime minister of Britain.

Democratic strategist Geoff Garin pointed out that the Massachusetts congressman’s historical analogy wasn’t actually historical.

Moulton also claimed the recent birth of his daughter had impacted his decision to oppose Pelosi. However, the Washington Post’s Matt Viser, who covered the Massachusetts lawmaker while with the Boston Globe, noted that seemed unlikely.

The standing-room only event was filled with pro-Pelosi protesters, many of whom claimed to have been Moulton supporters, per HuffPost’s Kevin Robillard.

The town hall occurred hours after the release of the long-rumored letter of Democratic opposition to Pelosi, who has served in Congress since 1987, which was signed by Moulton and 15 House colleagues.

After the rowdy event in Amesbury, the Massachusetts congressman claimed more Democrats support the effort, but “didn’t want to face contentious town halls.”

Moulton has backed Rep. Marcia Fudge (D-OH), one of the two House Democrats who hasn’t co-sponsored the Equality Act, which would offer “civil rights protections for sexual orientation and gender identity,” as the alternative Speaker option. However, Fudge didn’t sign the anti-Pelosi letter and apparently still isn’t sure if she wants the job.

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Rep. Kathleen Rice (D-NY), another Democrat who signed the letter of opposition to Pelosi’s leadership, has claimed the Democratic Party’s biggest House gains since Watergate, which could still reach 40 seat flips, were “not as successful as some hoped it would be.”

Of the 11 incumbent Democrats who signed Monday’s letter, only Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-CA) has voted with President Donald Trump less often than Pelosi.

A Mother Jones study recently ranked Pelosi one of the most progressive members of the House. She has been endorsed by MoveOn, Indivisible, and over 100 LGBTQ leaders and advocates.

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Winning the role of House Speaker requires the support of the majority of the chamber’s 435 members. Though a few races remain too close to call, the Democratic majority is expected to number around 235, which means Pelosi could only afford to lose the support of 17 colleagues.

However, this is made more complicated by the fact that Republicans have indicated they could back Pelosi’s bid. Rep. Tom Reed (R-NY) told The Hill “there are ongoing discussions about having a handful of Republicans supply Pelosi with votes for Speaker if she agrees to rules changes.” Trump has also endorsed Pelosi and hinted at GOP support in multiple tweets.

The California congresswoman remains the highest-ranking woman in the history of American government after serving as Speaker, which is second in the line of presidential succession after the vice president, from 2007 to 2011.

Before the midterms, Moulton, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who was elected to Congress in 2014 after upsetting nine-term Rep. John Tierney (D-MA) in the Democratic primary, reportedly expected a disappointing showing from his party due to Pelosi.