The Home Front

Did Nancy Pelosi's Speech Sink the Bailout?

By Luke Mullins

Posted: September 30, 2008

Republicans say a speech by Speaker Nancy Pelosi caused the House of Representatives' surprising rejection of the $700 billion financial bailout bill Monday.

From the Associated Press:

Republicans blamed Pelosi's scathing speech near the close of the debate—which attacked Bush's economic policies and a "right-wing ideology of anything goes, no supervision, no discipline, no regulation" of financial markets—for the vote's failure.

"We could have gotten there today had it not been for the partisan speech that the speaker gave on the floor of the House," Minority Leader John Boehner said. Pelosi's words, the Ohio Republican said, "poisoned our conference, caused a number of members that we thought we could get, to go south."

Rep. Roy Blunt of Missouri, the GOP whip, estimated that Pelosi's speech changed the minds of a dozen Republicans who might otherwise have supported the plan.

So how inflammatory was the speech? See for yourself:

Nancy Pelosi

Privledged from day one, in politics from day one.

This woman is among the wealthiest in politics and has been in politics all her life. She is an elitest, militant Dem who cannot be unbiased or bi-partisan on any issue. How it serves the country that she is Speaker of the House is beyond explanation.

dave of GA @ Oct 02, 2008 19:23:11 PM

Bailout Bill

Dear Speaker Pelosi,

You are unfit to be the speaker of the House and you should resign. You give lip service to bipartisanism but your speech to the house was extrely partisan which is not the role of a speaker. Get the facts straight. Former Democratic President Clinton pressured banks to give subprime loans to poorer people and he was a great advocate of the free market along with the Ferderal Reserve Chairman Greenspan. President Bush is also to blame with his free market mentality with non regulation of the banks. However, the Democrats were in charge of both houses of Congress the last two years and did nothing. So there is plenty of blame to go around. Only 12 votes needed to be changed to get the bill passed. While Representative Barney Franks did much to have the bill passed, there were 37 Democrats on the House Banking Committee and 12 Democrats voted against the bill.

I noticed tonight that both Senator Dodd and Senator Obama praised many people (Democrats and Republicans) but your name was conspiculously absent. I think that you were being sent a subtle message by your own party and that you are on a certain list that is not complimentary.

Also while I was going through your web sites I noticed that your PAC gave $100,000 to your husband's firm. You should resign alone for being such a hypocrite. People like you don't deserve to be in the House much less being its spokesman. Ceasar's wife needs to be above suspicion and you are not.

Frederic W. Haeussler of FL @ Oct 01, 2008 23:00:00 PM

Ms. Pelosi - what she had to say

There is much truth in what Ms. Pelosi has to say, but I recognize that Republicans are not entirely to blame for the current credit crisis. Most, if not all, on Capitol Hill are quilty of taking money from corporations with shady accounting practices (e.g. Enron) and institutions like Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac that lobby with an agenda. Statistics confirm that the inequity in the distribution of wealth in the U.S. is greater than any other industrial nation in the world, but the real problem is human nature, particularly greed. I find it amazing that a country that somewhat arrogantly espouses its Judeo-Christian values, with ideals embracing compassion and giving, supports a corporate culture with a historical addiction for cheap labor and an immoral lust for wealth and power. But, if greed is the downfall of unbridled Capitalism than too, sloth is the curse of Socialism.

I ask that my Jewish brothers and sisters, particularly my sisters, seriously consider the meaning of 'gimel' and 'gemul' this holiday season. I hail Nancy Pelosi for her passion. Only when women unite and collectively impregnate the minds of men will a new world order be born.

T. Osman of NC @ Oct 01, 2008 20:21:34 PM

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