Leading The News
Rep. Pelosi responds to boos on war
By Jonathan E. Kaplan and Sam Youngman
June 21, 2007
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) yesterday reaffirmed her commitment to end the war in Iraq, but her words were greeted with skepticism and some boos by anti-war liberal activists.
Addressing the liberal pressure group Campaign for America’s Future, Pelosi called the war in Iraq a “tragedy” and a “grotesque mistake,” but her words elicited catcalls for her to do more.
Pelosi acknowledged the protesters and even challenged them.
At one point in her remarks, she told the protesters, “The best preparation for combat is combat.”
When someone shouted a question about Darfur, Pelosi segued into a discussion about her visit to Sudan last year. But she then pivoted and with a smile asked, “Just getting back to the war now, if I may. Do you mind if I do that?”
At the end of her remarks, she said, “Instead of fighting with us, which is your right to do, let’s work together.”
The Democratic-led Congress has taken a pounding in recent opinion polls, with many Democratic voters unhappy that lawmakers have not been able to change President Bush’s policies in Iraq. Noting that Bush vetoed legislation setting a timeline for withdrawal last month, Pelosi explained to the audience why the Democrats cannot enact stringent benchmarks or set a date to begin withdrawing U.S. troops.
“We don’t have 60 votes in the Senate or the president’s signature … those are facts and obstacles,” Pelosi said.
“Those are facts, those are obstacles; we have to overcome them and we cannot wait until November 2008 to do so,” she added. “Your impatience with the war is totally justified.” ...
Even Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.), a leading anti-war Democrat and close Pelosi ally, did not escape the taunting as he introduced Pelosi.
“She’s worked tirelessly to end” this war, Murtha said.
“No she hasn’t,” shouted a woman in the crowd. ...
http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/rep.-pelosi-responds-to-boos-on-war-2007-06-21.html
Typical Madame Squeaker, she got testy with the group she addressed: “Just getting back to the war now, if I may. Do you mind if I do that?”