Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi refused to condemn freshman Rep. Rashida Tlaib’s comments about impeaching President Trump.
Pelosi breaks with her own leadership
While other Democrat leaders are condemning Rep. Tlaib’s calling President Trump a “mother******” and open pledge to impeach him, Pelosi took a different tact, perhaps recognizing she needs to balance her support among establishment Democrats and the new class of progressive and socialist members.
Last night, Tlaib made her vile comments at a swearing-in party hosted by a progressive organization:
Rashida Tlaib on Trump: “We’re going to impeach the Motherf***er” https://t.co/cCyKN4mzYk pic.twitter.com/hoFUOsxuQp
— Newsweek (@Newsweek) January 4, 2019
Mature Democrats condemn the remarks
Many members of Democrat leadership were quick to react, calling the comments inappropriate and unproductive. (RELATED: Democrat Leaders Push Back Against Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib’s “Motherf—–” Comments.) House Judiciary Chairman Jerry Nadler, who would lead Trump impeachment efforts, tut-tutted Tlaib for jumping the gun.
House Judiciary Chairman Jerry Nadler on Rashida Tlaib’s vow to impeach Trump: “I don’t really like that kind of language, but more to the point, I disagree with what she said. It is too early to talk about that intelligently. We have to follow the facts” https://t.co/Ctwc5n4hGK pic.twitter.com/OsCOTQnuj2
— CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) January 4, 2019
Rep. Elijah Cummings, another top Democrat, also decried the comments:
Party leaders, including the great Oversight bull @RepCummings, is also pushing back on @RashidaTlaib‘s colorful language: “Those kind of comments do not take us in the right direction.” Yikes.
— Rachael Bade (@rachaelmbade) January 4, 2019
Speaker Pelosi didn’t seem to get the memo. She indicated there was nothing particularly wrong with vowing to impeach the President without cause while also dropping a four-letter word. In fact, she said the remarks were “nothing worse than the President has said.” Here’s what Pelosi said: “I probably have a generational reaction to it. I’m not in the censorship business. I don’t like that language, I wouldn’t use that language, but I wouldn’t establish language standards for my colleagues.”
Nancy Pelosi on Rashida Tlaib’s impeachment comment: “Nothing worse than the President has said” https://t.co/ZFVs5gn7cx pic.twitter.com/BkbdJHTdka
— CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) January 4, 2019
Pelosi set to meet with Trump today
It’s probably no accident Pelosi opted out of condemning the comments. She’s set to meet with Trump later today to hash out a deal to end the partial government shutdown. Ahead of the meeting, Pelosi mocked Trump’s request for $5 billion in border-wall funding, offering only a pittance. (RELATED: Nancy Pelosi Taunts Trump’s Wall Demand, Offers $1 in Funding.)
Clearly, Pelosi isn’t taking Trump’s demands seriously. She’s not even taking the presidency seriously. She’s fine with her members using expletives to describe the President, and is fine with vows of impeachment.
I wouldn’t expect a miracle deal to arise out of today’s meeting.
