Leaders need to know when to leave By: Editorial Posted: 7:00 PM CST Friday, Dec. 14, 2018

Opinion

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This article was published 13/12/2018 (2107 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It’s almost certain that Nancy Pelosi has never heard of Greg Selinger.

But she could learn a thing or two by studying the errors in judgment made by the former Manitoba premier.

Ms. Pelosi is, of course, one of the leading voices of the Democratic Party. For 30 years, she has sat in the United States House of Representatives, where she has served as House Minority Leader, House Minority Whip and, from 2007 to 2011, as the 52nd speaker of the House.

However, she has also become a polarizing figure. Republicans, many of whom seemingly cannot abide a strong woman in a position of power, have demonized her.

Ms. Pelosi didn’t become one of the most powerful women in American politics by shrinking in the face of opposition

So ruthless are the Republican attacks that some Democratic candidates have actually campaigned on a pledge to remove her from the party’s congressional leadership.

However, Ms. Pelosi didn’t become one of the most powerful women in American politics by shrinking in the face of opposition.

After the midterm elections gave the Democrats a majority in the House, Ms. Pelosi, 78, served notice she would once again seek the coveted speaker’s chair. Her bid set off a civil war within Democratic ranks.

Unperturbed, Ms. Pelosi began making deals to stay in power. She agreed to serve no more than four years as speaker, to implement procedural changes aimed at promoting more bipartisan legislation and also promised to fast-track legislation on issues embraced by the new generation of Democrats.

It appears these 11th-hour deals will help Ms. Pelosi prevail in an early January vote. However, that has not settled the issue of whether Ms. Pelosi is right in clinging to power.

This is where Ms. Pelosi could take a lesson from Mr. Selinger.

After taking over in 2009 from extremely popular New Democratic premier Gary Doer, Mr. Selinger went on to win an election and secure yet another majority mandate. However, inside the party, things were coming unglued.

A series of unwise policy decisions and a penchant for spending first and asking questions later eroded support within his own party. Eventually, five cabinet ministers publicly asked him to step down. He endured a leadership challenge from one of the dissidents, Theresa Oswald, and survived by a razor-thin margin.

Like Ms. Pelosi, Mr. Selinger made deals to stay in power. He won the battle for leadership but lost the war; he and his party were trounced by the Progressive Conservatives in the 2016 election.

What lessons could Ms. Pelosi draw from Mr. Selinger? First and foremost, that one of the most important decisions leaders have to make is recognizing when it’s time to stop leading.

Ms. Pelosi is a pioneer and role model for women in politics

Ms. Pelosi is a pioneer and role model for women in politics. She has fought valiantly for her party, and her principles, in the face of President Donald Trump’s unprecedented attacks on the foundations of American democracy. However, as a leader, she has also failed to unite the Democrats and now, perhaps unjustly, she has become a lightning rod for the enemies of her party.

Thanks to the midterm results, there has arrived a new generation of women in Ms. Pelosi’s party who are ready to lead.

Denying Ms. Pelosi another term as speaker might be seen as a profound injustice, given her enormous contributions to politics.

However, leaders must always ask themselves if their ambitions serve the broader interests of party and country, or their own goals. Mr. Selinger never got around to asking himself that question.

If Ms. Pelosi does, she will see that it is time to step down.