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Dem Rep: 'Many of Our Members Are Furious' With Pelosi's DACA Speech

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February 8, 2018

An anonymous House Democrat told a reporter on Wednesday that many members of their caucus were not pleased with Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi's (D., Calif.) recent marathon speech.

Pelosi spoke for hours on the House floor Wednesday urging lawmakers to reject any spending compromise that didn't protect former recipients of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, an Obama-era directive protecting illegal immigrants brought to the country as children.

The speech was well-received by many liberals, but one Democrat told Bloomberg's Sahil Kupar that there was significant dissent within the ranks.

"Many of our members are furious," the member said. "We have spent the last three weeks insisting that we don't want to shut the government down over DACA, and she essentially made the whole thing about it."

"Virtually everyone trying to win seats outside of California feels she has hurt their chances," the House Democrat concluded.

Politico likewise reported that Pelosi's speech left Democrats "underwhelmed," pleasing neither staunch immigration advocates or centrists.

"There’s all kinds of ways, I assure you, that leadership exercises its influence — the least of which is a floor speech," said Rep. Luis Gutiérrez (Ill.), who has threatened to leave the party if the DACA fix doesn't pass.

"This stunt ... had nothing to do with protecting vulnerable members who have to take a difficult vote. Working out this deal and then saying she’s not going to vote for it? Come on. She was at the table," said an anonymous moderate Democratic lawmaker, referring to the latest funding deal. The deal was promoted Wednesday, in contrast to Pelosi, by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.