It seems that with the unfolding of another election year, book tours are often a major campaigning tool. Democratic Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi (CA) was invited on CBS Mornings as a key guest for the morning show. Yet just as Dr. Jill Biden, and Chelsea Clinton have done in the past, what started out as an interview quickly became CBS and Pelosi’s chance to campaign.
It’s worth noting the attitude with which CBS approached the interview and the very clear bias from the beginning. Nancy Pelosi was not an apolitical figure but the face of the Democratic Party as she was speaker of the House for eight years and was in Congress for nearly 40.
The excitement shown by co-host Gayle King betrayed any idea of the interaction being anything other than glorification:
We’ve got some powerful voices coming up in our 8:00 hour, including former Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi. She just arrived. Her new book takes readers inside her remarkable life in politics. We’ll also get her thoughts on this crucial moment in the presidential race. My guess is, she’s got some thoughts.
As the interview commenced, not only was Pelosi given many softball questions, but was able to preach uninterruptedly against Conservatism, berating former President Trump, and praising Vice President Kamala Harris (click expand):
KING: But why do you think that he finally decided to make the decision to step down? It seemed to take a minute.
PELOSI: Well, you really have to ask him, but I think it was very important that he did so. His legacy is one of the greatest. It’s hard to think of any president in a two-year period, one-term have the most accomplishments that. He is consequential. Much of that is threatened by a Republican victory because they want to undermine. For example, what’s his name said he asked a billion dollars in the fossil fuel industry —
KING: Yes.
PELOSI: — and he would go undermine what we’ve done to protect climate, pharma; what we did to lower the price of prescription drugs, and that’s more to come. What we’ve done in so many ways. Joe Biden, 16 — almost 16 million jobs created. The other guy, the worst job creation record since Herbert Hoover, a job loser.
When finally asked a more challenging question, regarding the inclination of Americans to choose Trump when it came to financial leadership, Pelosi went again on an uninterrupted monologue for over two minutes (2:10) (click expand):
JERICKA DUNCAN: When you talk about issues at our kitchen table, you have chapters dedicated to health care and the economy, which are big when you look at the surveys and voters and what their issues are. Most recently, CBS News reported in a poll that voters find that they would be more financially better off if Trump was in office. How do you change that perception as a Democratic Party? How do you change that perception?
PELOSI: Well, thank you for the question, because Joe Biden has done so much, and now Biden-Harris administration has done so much, and now we have to protect that as we go forward. The — again, job creation, lower unemployment and the rest, we have to message it more directly to them as to where it came from. Some people just — no, they think that certain things came from Trump that didn’t. We have to make that clear, and that’s the burden is on us to do that. We haven’t been as successful. If they think of a guy who lost all the jobs that he did, the mess that he caused with COVID — denial, delay, loss of life, loss of jobs and the rest and so again, it behooves us to make that case in a stronger way than it has been, and that’s part of the legacy. That’s part of our legacy in the House and the Senate as well, because our members had to take some tough votes to do what we did for the rescue package, for the unemployed — the infrastructure bill, for the CHIPS and Science Bill. We had very few, well, practically no Republican votes, 13 for infrastructure, 24 for CHIPS and Science, but the one that gets me, and I want anybody — any woman, who are watching this and their families, you want — I understand about people having a different view about the abortion and Roe v. Wade and the rest of that. I come from an Italian Catholic family, has a little more conservative view on that subject than I do, but that’s their view, and this is mine, but the question we put on the floor, Kathy Manning of North Carolina had a bill, women have a right to contraception; 203 Republicans voted on the bill. Eight voted yes women have a right to contraception, 195 voted no, women do not have a right to contraception, so think about that. Think about that when you’re thinking about what does this mean to me?
It was no surprise that CBS went out of its way to praise the former Speaker of the House, this attitude toward Pelosi was natural for most networks. The hypocrisy which surrounds the media however, was never more prevalent than in these situations. There was nothing the Liberal Media loved more than a politician bashing the Republican Party. The problem was that this wasn't journalism.
The transcript is below. Click "expand" to read:
CBS Mornings
08/06/24
7:18:16 AM EST
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi]
VLADIMIR DUTHIERS: Still ahead this morning, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi will be here to talk about her new book, the growing threat of political violence, and how she sees the presidential race shaping up.
(....)
7:43:45 AM EST
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi]
GAYLE KING: We’ve got some powerful voices coming up in our 8:00 hour, including former Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi. She just arrived. Her new book takes readers inside her remarkable life in politics. We’ll also get her thoughts on this crucial moment in the presidential race. My guess is, she’s got some thoughts.
(....)
7:55:38 AM EST
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi]
DUTHIERS: Still ahead, a visit from former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, she’ll talk about her new book, the presidential race, and the violent attack against her husband. That’s coming up next.
(....)
8:00:07 AM EST
KING: Coming up in this 8:00 hour, a legend in politics. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is who we’re talking about. Her new book reveals what she’s learned over decades in Washington. We’ll also get her thoughts on the presidential race.
(....)
8:05:22 AM EST
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi]
JERICKA DUNCAN: Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is with us this morning. Coming up, we’ll talk about her new memoir, The Art of Power and get her take on the presidential race.
(....)
8:11:52 AM EST
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Rep. Nancy Pelosi Live: Former House Speaker On New Book, Presidential Race and Legacy]
KING: One of the Democratic Party’s most powerful leaders is with us at the table today. House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi has spent nearly 40 years in Congress. You heard me right, 40 years in Congress. She is the only woman ever elected Speaker of the House. She held that position for four terms during the Bush, Obama, Trump, and Biden administrations. She stepped down from House leadership last year, but continues to represent San Francisco’s 11th congressional district. Her new book, it’s called The Art of Power: My Story as America’s First Woman Speaker of the House. Look at this cover. I love the cover. It tells the stories behind the biggest political battles of her speakerships. Congresswoman, we’re so glad to have you here. Madam Speaker, always good to have you at the table.
CONGRESSWOMAN NANCY PELOSI (D-CA): My pleasure to be here. Thank you.
KING: You know, in your book, you say running for office is not for faint of heart. Page 7, sometimes you have to take a punch, sometimes you have to throw a punch. I want you to think about the best punch you’ve ever thrown. I’ll give you a second to think about that, but I want to start with news today, because everybody knows we’re expecting a decision momentarily from Kamala Harris about who will be her running mate. I know it’s her decision and hers alone. I know that even if you knew, you wouldn’t tell us. So my question is this, if you were her, who would you pick today? She’s got all good candidates. Who would you pick?
PELOSI: Well, I think that she has a wonderful array of choices.
KING: She does.
PELOSI: And any one of them would be a cause for celebration. So again, she has attracted people of the highest caliber to want to serve with her, but it’s her decision alone and I have — as Speaker, as leader and that never been informed by the candidate of the — except right before, like a few minutes before, but no collaboration. It’s always their own decision to make, so it would be interesting to see, obviously. We’re all waiting to hear.
KING: Yes, we’re all —
PELOSI: But everyone and I could make a case for any one of the six people that we know about, that she was considering.
KING: — well, we’re at this place because President Biden decided to step down. What do you think it finally took? Many people say you were very involved in that. I know that you said you didn’t make any calls, you didn’t pressure anybody, but it’s been reported that you said we can do this the easy way or the hard way. I don’t know if that’s true, if you said that or not. Did you say that?
PELOSI: I say it all the time, but I didn’t say in relationship to this.
KING: But why do you think that he finally decided to make the decision to step down? It seemed to take a minute.
PELOSI: Well, you really have to ask him, but I think it was very important that he did so. His legacy is one of the greatest. It’s hard to think of any president in a two-year period, one-term have the most accomplishments that. He is consequential. Much of that is threatened by a Republican victory because they want to undermine. For example, what’s his name said he asked a billion dollars in the fossil fuel industry —
KING: Yes.
PELOSI: — and he would go undermine what we’ve done to protect climate, pharma; what we did to lower the price of prescription drugs, and that’s more to come. What we’ve done in so many ways. Joe Biden, 16 — almost 16 million jobs created. The other guy, the worst job creation record since Herbert Hoover, a job loser.
KING: But the other guy — but now we’re here with the other guy, and Harris is clearly the choice. Why do you think she gives Democrats the best chance of winning?
PELOSI: Well, I think —
KING: In a sentence, yes.
PELOSI: — its fresh and new, and we’re very excited about what she will bring to the table. I know people are excited about a woman, a woman of color and that, but it’s about what a difference she will make in people’s lives, at their kitchen table, jobs, education, protecting the environment, against gun violence, as well as other threats to the water and air that people — children drink and breathe, and the list goes on.
KING: And uniquely qualified.
PELOSI: And a woman’s right to choose, that’s a democratic freedom principle. It’s also an economic principle for people at their kitchen table, the size, timing and if they would have a family, the list goes on.
DUNCAN: When you talk about issues at our kitchen table, you have chapters dedicated to health care and the economy, which are big when you look at the surveys and voters and what their issues are. Most recently, CBS News reported in a poll that voters find that they would be more financially better off if Trump was in office. How do you change that perception as a Democratic Party? How do you change that perception?
PELOSI: Well, thank you for the question, because Joe Biden has done so much, and now Biden-Harris administration has done so much, and now we have to protect that as we go forward. The — again, job creation, lower unemployment and the rest, we have to message it more directly to them as to where it came from. Some people just — no, they think that certain things came from Trump that didn’t. We have to make that clear, and that’s the burden is on us to do that. We haven’t been as successful. If they think of a guy who lost all the jobs that he did, the mess that he caused with COVID — denial, delay, loss of life, loss of jobs and the rest and so again, it behooves us to make that case in a stronger way than it has been, and that’s part of the legacy. That’s part of our legacy in the House and the Senate as well, because our members had to take some tough votes to do what we did for the rescue package, for the unemployed — the infrastructure bill, for the CHIPS and Science Bill. We had very few, well, practically no Republican votes, 13 for infrastructure, 24 for CHIPS and Science, but the one that gets me, and I want anybody — any woman, who are watching this and their families, you want — I understand about people having a different view about the abortion and Roe v. Wade and the rest of that. I come from an Italian Catholic family, has a little more conservative view on that subject than I do, but that’s their view, and this is mine, but the question we put on the floor, Kathy Manning of North Carolina had a bill, women have a right to contraception; 203 Republicans voted on the bill. Eight voted yes women have a right to contraception, 195 voted no, women do not have a right to contraception, so think about that. Think about that when you’re thinking about what does this mean to me?
DUTHIERS: Congresswoman, let me ask you about the book. You start the book by recounting the violent, politically motivated attack on your husband, Paul. How concerned are you about the possibility of political violence as we approach this election? And it’s not just your husband. It’s Gabby Giffords. It’s Congressman Scalise. It’s the attempted assassination on the former president. Why are we here? And what can we do to avoid it getting worse?
PELOSI: Well, we have to avoid it getting worse, because this is a democracy. We want people to participate and especially more women, minorities — more diversity into our leadership and our participation in government, but I will say in my case that it was a culmination of years of Republicans demonizing me, cloven feed horns, a devil, a demon.
KING: Crazy Nancy was your nickname.
PELOSI: All of that, and it contributed to it and they have to stop that. It’s an indication of the bankruptcy of their ideas, because they don’t have anything to talk about —
KING: How is your husband, Paul, today?
PELOSI: — so they have to have the politics of what they call personal destruction.
KING: Can you just say how Paul is doing today?
PELOSI: You’re nice to ask, thank you. He’s coming along. He’s coming along, but getting hit on the head is — it has its after effects. But thank you for asking. People have been so generous with their prayers and their love and their thoughts from all over the world. Unfortunately, on the Republican side, they made a joke of it, made a joke of it and that is not — that’s not — that’s not civilized.
KING: That’s not okay.
DUTHIERS: Thank you, Congresswoman. Thank you very much. The Art of Power is on sale right now.
