USA Today Washington Bureau chief Susan Page has recently released a biography of Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her book tour took her to The Late Show with Stephen Colbert early Thursday morning where she fawned over Pelosi's alleged political skills.
The idea of Pelosi being some kind of political genius actually came up when Colbert asked about the left-wing Speaker's latest controversy, "Are you at all surprised by the, her comments about George Floyd yesterday that got so much criticism? It seemed like, for those who don't know out there, she thanked George Floyd for sacrificing his life for justice and freedom for others and many pointed out murder is not the same thing as a personal sacrifice. That inartful way of saying it, the tone deafness of that, did that surprise you?"
Page agreed, "Yes, inartful is a kind way to put it. Even Nancy Pelosi’s allies, I think, were cringing at that, but the fact is, Nancy Pelosi has never been good at the talking-out-loud part of politics, giving the big speech or doing the Sunday morning TV show."
She then tried to dismiss any criticism, "What she's been good at-- in fact, better at than anybody else in Washington today-- is the inside part of politics where you-- where you cut deals and you stand up to presidents."
Colbert concurred, "And she does do that. We had John Boehner on a couple of weeks ago, and he says that she impresses him, that she clearly can do a job that he couldn't, which is to control the caucus."
The media's narrative of Nancy Pelosi being a political genius who tightly controls her caucus' fringe elements is more narrative than reality. Still, Page contended:
I'll tell you, Politico in a profile about a decade ago described her as an "Iron fist in a Gucci glove." And the fact is she uses both those skills. She can be very skilled and persuasive with people. She can wear a Gucci glove. But if she needs an iron fist, she can pull it out. And any number of Democratic members of Congress, Republicans, presidents of both parties have experienced her when she is at her most ruthless, or her most determined to get done what she wants to get done.
It is hard to imagine any member of the media writing a biograph of a Republican, like Mitch McConnell for example, and praising him for being ruthless in pursuit of what he wants and for standing up to presidents.
This segment was sponsored by McDonald's.
Here is a transcript of the April 22 show:
CBS
The Late Show
12:19 AM ET
STEPHEN COLBERT: Are you at all surprised by the, her comments about George Floyd yesterday that got so much criticism? It seemed like, for those who don't know out there, she thanked George Floyd for sacrificing his life for justice and freedom for others and many pointed out murder is not the same thing as a personal sacrifice. That inartful way of saying it, the tone deafness of that, did that surprise you?
SUSAN PAGE: Yes, inartful is a kind way to put it. Even Nancy Pelosi’s allies, I think, were cringing at that, but the fact is, Nancy Pelosi has never been good at the talking-out-loud part of politics, giving the big speech or doing the Sunday morning TV show. What she's been good at-- in fact, better at than anybody else in Washington today-- is the inside part of politics where you-- where you cut deals and you stand up to presidents.
COLBERT: And she does do that. We had John Boehner on a couple of weeks ago, and he says that she impresses him, that she clearly can do a job that he couldn't, which is to control the caucus. What is she like behind closed doors? How much do the knives come out?
PAGE: She's-- she's pretty tough. But, you know, she's got-- she's got-- I'll tell you, Politico in a profile about a decade ago described her as an "Iron fist in a Gucci glove." And the fact is she uses both those skills. She can be very skilled and persuasive with people. She can wear a Gucci glove. But if she needs an iron fist, she can pull it out. And any number of Democratic members of Congress, Republicans, presidents of both parties have experienced her when she is at her most ruthless, or her most determined to get done what she wants to get done.
