Despite the avalanche of criticism targeting House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the San Francisco liberal remains in good spirits. In an interview with CBS’s Rita Braver, Pelosi proudly reflected on her accomplishments as the first female speaker of the House of Representatives.
Of her notable political acts, she cites the passage of the healthcare law as perhaps one of her greatest.
“We took an idea that was very popular, and if we shoved it down anybody’s throat it was the insurance companies,” Pelosi remarked.
Ironically, what Pelosi considers her “crowning achievement” may very well be the downfall of the Democratic Party in November.
Chairman of the Republican National Committee, Michael Steele, commented on Pelosi’s role in the passage of the healthcare law: “She’s been very effective at ramming through an agenda that the American people do not want.”
Clearly attempting to show the softer side of Madam Speaker, Braver did little probing in her interview, instead lightly covering a variety of Pelosi’s personal as well as political achievements.
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For example, Braver writes, “Nancy Pelosi says her most treasured job is not Speaker, but grandmother of eight. She proudly shows off two-year-old Isabella at a Washington event, and says her political career is based on making life better for America’s children.”
Similarly, Braver celebrated Pelosi’s overcoming of challenges such as the “marble ceiling” created by male Democrats who did not initially see her full potential.
According to Braver, “In the end, male Congressmen were won over by Pelosi’s fundraising and campaign skills. Here’s a startling number. Since 2002, she’s raised more than $217 million for Democrats. She’s credited with bringing order and discipline to what can be an unruly Democratic side of the aisle.”
CBS touted a variety of Pelosi highlights, including:
• “She is the highest female elected official in U.S. history, second in the line of presidential succession, behind the vice-president.”
• “Married to her college sweetheart, wealthy businessmen Paul Pelosi, she concentrated on honing her mothering skills.”
• “She’s well-schooled in the workings of the men’s club that once dominated American politics.”
• “As the first woman Speaker of the House she not only changed the political landscape, but also the furniture in the Speaker’s office.”
Yet, despite Braver’s favorable and friendly interview, little can be done to overcome the 14-percent approval rating currently plaguing Nancy Pelosi.
To boot, the Republican National Committee has spearheaded a nationwide “Fire Pelosi” bus tour led by Steele. Those on the bus tour have targeted the Speaker as a “tax-and-spend liberal.” One rider blatantly stated, “Pelosi is evil.”
Rider Wyatt Kenoly contends, “I think she’s probably the worst American since Benedict Arnold.”
When asked about the “Fire Pelosi” bus tour, Pelosi jokingly responded, “I want to get a tow truck and tow it away, just as we had to get a tow truck to pull the economy of our country out of the ditch that the Republicans drove us into.”
Angered by Pelosi’s backdoor dealings, hypocrisy, and notorious liberal agenda, voters anxiously await a change of the guard in November.
Sensing Pelosi’s Icarusian collapse, some Democrats are trying to distance themselves from the Speaker prior to the midterm elections, like Democratic Representative Joe Donnelly in Indiana and Georgia’s Democratic Representative Jim Marshall.
Despite the harsh criticism, however, Pelosi maintains a brave front. When Braver asked if she is worried about becoming a footnote in history, Pelosi responded, “I’m not a footnote; I’m the first woman Speaker of the House and we passed the most comprehensive health insurance reform.”
Smiling, she added,” I didn’t come here about me. I came here about policy and the issues. Are you saying, would I rather not have passed the health care bill so I could keep this office? Never. Never.”
Photo: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of Calif. gestures during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Sept. 24, 2010.: AP Images
