Stephanopoulos Twice Refers to Nancy Pelosi as “Speaker”

On Sunday's This Week, George Stephanopoulos not once but twice, referred to Democratic House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi as “Speaker,” a title she would presumably get if Democrats win back the House this fall. So, a Freudian slip by Stephanopoulos, a one-time staff member for the Democratic House leadership himself when they were in the majority? Before signing aboard the Clinton campaign in 1991, Stephanopoulos was a floor assistant to then-House Majority Leader Dick Gephardt.

Interviewing Congressman Tom DeLay, the former House Majority Leader who suggested that if Democrats win control of the House they will pursue impeachment, Stephanopoulos countered: “Democrats are also coming forward with another agenda, Speaker, ah perhaps Speaker Pelosi , she's certainly not the Speaker right now, the Democratic leader Pelosi says...” Then with DNC Chairman Howard Dean, Stephanopoulos asserted to Dean's delight: "You talked about an ethics legislation coming forward in the first hundred days, that was not one of the top four pieces of legislation that Speaker Pelo -- uh, excuse me, I don't know why I've got that stuck in my head today-" Dean chortled: "I'm glad. I like the sound of that George, I like the sound of that!"

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The two slip ups by Stephanopoulos on the May 7 This Week:

To Tom DeLay, after DeLay noted how if Democrats win the House John Conyers will take over the Judiciary Committee and he has promised to launch impeachment hearings:

“He has raised the prospect of impeachment, but the Democrats are also coming forward with another agenda, Speaker, ah perhaps Speaker Pelosi , she's certainly not the Speaker right now, the Democratic leader Pelosi says the Democrats' agenda is going to be four parts and I want to show it.” (On screen: raise minimum wage, prescription drug price control, implement 9/11 Commission recommendations and paying for tax cuts and spending increases.)

To Howard Dean:

“You talked about an ethics legislation coming forward in the first hundred days, that was not one of the top four pieces of legislation that Speaker Pelo -- uh, excuse me, I don't know why I've got that stuck in my head today. Must be reading the current polls-”

Dean, over Stephanopoulos: “I'm glad. I like the sound of that George, I like the sound of that!”

Stephanopoulos: “I'm sure you do, but it's not the case. She is just the Democratic leader. Excuse me.”