House Speaker Nancy Pelosi angered members of her Democratic base after she said that there ought to be “a big, strong Republican Party” during an event over the weekend.
The California Democrat made her remarks in a video clip posted online by The Hill that went viral and drew immediate pushback from her party’s left-wing supporters.
“I say to my Republican friends, take back your party. The country needs a big, strong Republican Party. And I say that as a leader in the Democratic Party,” Pelosi said last week at an event at Smith College in Northampton, Mass.
“Don’t have it be a cult of personality on the extreme, extreme, extreme right,” she added, a possible reference to supporters of former President Donald Trump. “This isn’t about liberal or conservative, it’s about radical…uh…shall we say, they don’t believe in governance.”
Speaker Pelosi: "I say to my Republican friends, take back your party. The country needs a big, strong Republican Party. And I say that as a leader in the Democratic Party… Don't have it be a cult of personality on the extreme, extreme, extreme right." pic.twitter.com/dpfDI6xy9U
— The Hill (@thehill) September 10, 2021
Pelosi went on to say that Americans who oppose “the science” of COVID restrictions and mandates like mask-wearing don’t believe in “governance.”
But it was her comments about a “strong” GOP that earned her the enmity of her political base.
“Pelosi says this every few months because she means it. She values ‘reasonable’ Republicans as a way to tamp down lefties in her caucus,” Emma Vigeland, formerly with The Young Turks, a far-left news and commentary program, wrote on Twitter. “Without a GOP to work with, who would pump the brakes on meaningful progress that might cut into profits or wealthy pockets… including hers?”
Pelosi says this every few months because she means it. She values “reasonable” Republicans as a way to tamp down lefties in her caucus. Without a GOP to work with, who would pump the brakes on meaningful progress that might cut into profits or wealthy pockets… including hers? https://t.co/yEa28VVzZ1
— Emma Vigeland (@EmmaVigeland) September 10, 2021
“Just bizarre,” added liberal journalist Oliver Willis.
“Why would anyone support this lmao,” tweeted Jake Flores, host of “Pod Damn America.”
Same as it ever was pic.twitter.com/x2xXBUh4tE
— curtis (@curtain_flower) September 10, 2021
in her head, I’m sure “the country needs a big, strong Republican Party. And I say that as a leader in the Democratic Party” sounds really good.
It’s wrong. It’s very wrong.
But I’m sure it sounded good to her, esp. since she won’t have to live with the consequences.— DWATG (@dwatg) September 10, 2021
Why does she keep calling for a “big, strong” Party to oppose women’s right and voting rights? Why is this a good thing we’re supposed to want?
— Bad John Brown (@BadJohnBrown) September 10, 2021
Boy I dunno if “We need the other party to be better so that when we lose or cave to them, the consequences aren’t so bad” is a winning message
— Mass for Shut-ins (Podcast) (@edburmila) September 10, 2021
Nice sentiment, but tell me again why we need a strong Republican Party, or any Republican Party at all?
— Bruce never-forget-Dems-are-the-majority Feldman (@BruceRFeldman) September 10, 2021
“Please make our job appear more difficult so we can make excuses about bipartisanship on why we can’t get things done”
— Savvy☭ (@sleepisocialist) September 10, 2021
A strong republican party is a cash cow for the Democratic Party
They love fundraising off of gridlock
— Nick is a Fred Hampton Leftist 🥋 (@SocialistMMA) September 10, 2021
The Republican Party is already so strong that they’re in control even though the Dems control both houses and the White House. How much stronger do you want them to be, Nancy?
— Anomaly (@spatialanomaly2) September 10, 2021
In other remarks, Pelosi talked with the Smith College audience about voting rights, climate change, and combatting misinformation, among other topics, including that she agreed with President Joe Biden’s decision to withdraw from Afghanistan.
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