Nancy Pelosi - Record and Controversies

Nancy Pelosi

Political Career

Pelosi interned for Senator Daniel Brewster (D-MD) alongside future House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer.

After moving to San Francisco from New York, Pelosi worked her way up in Democratic politics. She became a friend of one of the leaders of the California Democratic Party, 5th District Congressman Phillip Burton.

In 1976, Pelosi was elected as a Democratic National Committee member from California, a position she would hold until 1996.

She was elected as party chairwoman for Northern California on January 30, 1977.

In 1981, Pelosi was elected chair of the California Democratic Party, which she held until 1983.

In 1985, she was appointed Finance Chair of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, the campaign arm of the U.S. Senate Democrats. That same year, she ran to succeed Chuck Manatt as chair of the Democratic National Committee, but lost to then DNC Treasurer Paul Kirk.

Pelosi left her post as DSCC finance chair in 1986.

In 1987, after her youngest child became a high school senior, Pelosi ran for the seat vacated upon the death of Phillip Burton's wife Sala Burton, who had assumed her husband's seat when he passed away in 1983.

Congressional Career

Phillip Burton died in 1983 and was succeeded by his wife, Sala. In late 1986, Sala became ill with cancer and decided not to run for reelection in 1988. She picked Nancy Pelosi as her designated successor, guaranteeing her the support of the Burtons' contacts. Sala died on February 1, 1987, just a month after being sworn in for a second full term. Pelosi won the special election to succeed her, narrowly defeating San Francisco Supervisor Harry Britt on April 7, 1987, then easily defeating Republican candidate Harriet Ross on June 2, 1987; Pelosi took office a week later. Pelosi represents one of the safest Democratic districts in the country. Democrats have held the seat since 1949 and Republicans, who currently make up only 13 percent of registered voters in the district, have not made a serious bid for the seat since the early 1960s. Pelosi has kept this tradition going. She won the seat in her own right in 1988 and has been reelected 10 more times with no substantive opposition, winning by an average of 75 percent of the vote. She has not participated in candidates' debates since her 1987 race against Harriet Ross. She has the distinction of contributing the most among members of Congress to other congressional campaigns because she is in a safe district and does not need the campaign funds.

In the House, she served on the Appropriations and Intelligence Committees and was the ranking Democrat on the Intelligence Committee until her election as Minority Leader.

In 2001, Pelosi was elected the House Minority Whip, second-in-command to Minority Leader Dick Gephardt of Missouri. She was the first woman in U.S. history to hold that post.

In 2002, after Gephardt resigned as minority leader to seek the Democratic nomination in the 2004 presidential election, Pelosi was elected to replace him, becoming the first woman to lead a major party in the House.

Democratic Nomination and Election as Speaker

On November 16, 2006, Nancy Pelosi was unanimously chosen by her caucus as the Democratic candidate for Speaker of the House, effectively making her Speaker-elect. While the Speaker is elected by the full House membership, in modern practice the election is a formality, since the Speaker always comes from the majority party.

Pelosi supported her long time friend, John Murtha of Pennsylvania, for the position of House Majority Leader, the second-ranking post in the House Democratic Caucus. His competitor was House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer of Maryland, who had been Pelosi's second-in-command since 2003. Pelosi and Hoyer had a somewhat diffident relationship dating back to 2001, when they ran against each other for minority whip. Hoyer was elected as House Majority Leader over Murtha by a margin of 149-86 within the caucus.

On January 3, 2007, Pelosi defeated Republican John Boehner of Ohio with 233 votes compared to his 202 votes in the election for Speaker of the House. She was nominated by Rahm Emanuel of Illinois, the incoming chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, and sworn in by her long time friend, John Dingell of Michigan, as the longest-serving member of the House traditionally does.

With her election, Pelosi became the first woman, the first Californian and the first Italian-American to hold the Speakership. She is also the second Speaker from a state west of the Rocky Mountains. The first was Washington's Tom Foley, the last Democrat to hold the post before Pelosi.

In her speech to Congress she stated:

"I accept this gavel in the spirit of partnership, not partisanship, and look forward to working with you on behalf of the American people. In this House, we may belong to different parties, but we serve one country."

During her speech, she discussed the historical importance of being the first female to hold the position of Speaker:

"This is a historic moment — for the Congress, and for the women of this country. It is a moment for which we have waited more than 200 years. Never losing faith, we waited through the many years of struggle to achieve our rights. But women weren't just waiting; women were working. Never losing faith, we worked to redeem the promise of America, that all men and women are created equal. For our daughters and granddaughters, today, we have broken the marble ceiling. For our daughters and our granddaughters, the sky is the limit, anything is possible for them."

She also spoke on Iraq as the major issue facing the 110th Congress while incorporating some Democratic Party beliefs:

"The election of 2006 was a call to change — not merely to change the control of Congress, but for a new direction for our country. Nowhere were the American people more clear about the need for a new direction than in Iraq. The American people rejected an open-ended obligation to a war without end."

As Speaker, Pelosi is still the leader of the House Democrats; the Speaker is deemed the leader of his or her House caucus. However, by tradition, she does not normally participate in debate (though she has the right to do so), and almost never votes on the floor. She is also not a member of any House committees.

Pelosi was re-elected Speaker in 2009.

The "Hundred Hours"

The 100 Hour Plan

Nancy Pelosi announced a plan of action just before the 2006 mid-term elections entitled the "first hundred hours." She claimed that if she was elected, she and the newly-empowered Democratic caucus would pass most of their programs and goals during the first one hundred hours of the 110th Congress' term.

The title of her plan is a play on words derived from former President Franklin D. Roosevelt's (a Democrat) promise for quick action on the part of government (to combat the Great Depression) during his "first hundred days" in office. Newt Gingrich, the former Speaker of the House, had a similar 100-day agenda to implement the Contract with America.

2008 Democratic National Convention

Pelosi was named Permanent Chair of the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado.

Foreign Policy

2007 Trip to Israel and Syria

Pelosi was one of seven American lawmakers to participate in a 2007 Mideast tour with Keith Ellison (D-MN), Henry Waxman (D-CA), Tom Lantos (D-CA), Louise Slaughter (D-NY), Nick Rahall (D-WV) and David Hobson (R-OH) — that included stops in Israel, Syria, the Palestinian territories, Lebanon and Saudi Arabia. Three Republican congressmen — Frank Wolf, Joe Pitts and Robert Aderholt, met with Syrian President Bashar Assad earlier. Pelosi had the opportunity to address the Israeli Knesset where she expressed concern "that the new (Hamas-Fatah) Palestinian government and some of the people in their government, continue to remain committed to the existence of Israel." An Israeli spokeswoman said Pelosi would convey "that Israel is willing to talk if they (Syria) would openly take steps to stop supporting terrorism" in order to be "a partner for negotiations." The delegation talked extensively with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert about a relaunched 2002 Saudi peace plan with Israel, which Olmert welcomed as a "new way of thinking, the willingness to recognize Israel as an established fact and to debate the conditions of the future solution," but expressed reservations over the plan and invited Arab leaders to discuss them. The delegation met with the families of the three kidnapped Israeli soldiers during the visit and Pelosi said she planned to raise the issue when she met with Assad.

At a press conference after her meeting with Assad, Pelosi said that she had conveyed a message from Olmert to Syrian President Assad saying that Olmert was ready to negotiate for peace. Olmert's office later clarified what he had actually told Pelosi, saying that "although Israel is interested in peace with Syria, that country continues to be part of the axis of evil and a force that encourages terror in the entire Middle East." Sources at the Israeli Prime Minister's Office at the time said that, "Pelosi took part of the things that were said in the meeting and used what suited her."

The Bush Administration disapproved of Syria's backing of Hamas and Hezbollah, and said Syria was destabilizing Lebanon's government as well as fueling Iraq's violence by allowing Sunni insurgents to operate from its territory. Syrian officials have been implicated in the 2005 assassination of former Lebanese Premier Rafik Hariri in Beirut and the U.S. subsequently withdrew its ambassador. Pelosi still holds out hope for a peaceful solution, stating that "the road to Damascus is a road to peace. All they need are a few Starbucks on the way."

Later, in Saudi Arabia, Pelosi met with King Abdullah. Pelosi visited the Shura Council, the kingdom's unelected advisory council, and raised with Saudi officials the issue of Saudi Arabia's lack of female politicians.

People's Republic of China

On March 21, 2008, Nancy Pelosi criticized the People's Republic of China for its handling of the unrest in Tibet and called on "freedom-loving people" worldwide to denounce China. She proclaimed, "The situation in Tibet is a challenge to the conscience of the world," while addressing a crowd of thousands of Tibetans in Dharamsala, India. However, she did not call for a boycott of the 2008 Summer Olympics that were held in Beijing.

On October 24, 2008, Pelosi commended the European Parliament for its "bold decision" to award the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought to Chinese dissident and human rights activist Hu Jia. Pelosi's statement read, "I call on the Chinese government to immediately and unconditionally release Hu Jia from prison and to respect the fundamental freedoms of all the people in China."

Colombia

The President of Columbia, Alvaro Uribe, was chastised by Nancy Pelosi during the course of Uribe's American state trip in May of 2007. A statement was released by Pelosi and other members of Congress after her meeting with Uribe, citing that they had "expressed growing concerns about the serious allegations" of links between Paramilitary groups and Colombian government officials. Pelosi also came out against the Colombian free trade agreement.

Cuba

Pelosi voted in favor of keeping the travel restrictions on American citizens to Cuba. HR 2590: Stop enforcing travel restrictions on US citizens to Cuba, only after the president has certified that Cuba has released all political prisoners and extradited all individuals sought by the US on charges of air piracy, drug trafficking and murder.

Iran

In a February 15, 2007, interview, Pelosi noted that Bush consistently said he supports a diplomatic resolution to differences with Iran "and I take him at his word." At the same time she said, "I do believe that Congress should assert itself, though, and make it very clear that there is no previous authority for the president, any president, to go into Iran." On January 12, 2007, Congressman Walter Jones of North Carolina introduced a resolution requiring that absent a national emergency created by an attack or a demonstrably imminent attack by Iran upon the United States or its armed forces, the President must consult with Congress and receive specific authorization prior to initiating any use of military force against Iran. This resolution was removed from a military spending bill for the war in Iraq by Pelosi on March 13, 2007.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi spoke on the House floor on the evening of June 24, 2010, in support of H.R. 2194, the joint House-Senate conference report on the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability and Divestment Act, which passed the House by a vote of 408 to 8. The Senate passed the conference report earlier today and the legislation now goes to the President for his signature into law. Pelosi's remarks on the Act can be viewed here... Pelosi stated, "This is the strongest Iran sanctions legislation ever passed by the Congress."

Armenian Genocide - Turkey

In mid-October 2007, after the House Foreign Affairs Committee passed a resolution to label the 1915 killing of Armenians by Ottoman Turks as genocide, Pelosi pledged to bring the measure to a vote. The draft resolution prompted warnings from President Bush and fierce criticism from Turkey, with Turkey's prime minister saying that approval of the resolution would endanger U.S.-Turkey relations. After House support eroded, the measure's sponsors dropped their call for a vote, and in late October Pelosi agreed to set the matter aside.

Turkey has recalled its ambassador to Washington after the Foreign Affairs Committee of the US House of Representatives passed a resolution on Mar. 4th, 2010 that described the mass murders of Armenians during World War I as the “Armenian genocide.”

“We condemn this resolution accusing Turkey of a crime that it had not committed,” the Turkish Prime Minister's office said in a written statement. “Our Ambassador to Washington Namik Tan was recalled tonight to Ankara for consultations after the development," the statement said.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi has not said whether the genocide resolution will go to the full House of Representatives for a vote.

Use of Government Aircraft

In March 2009, the New York Post wrote that the conservative watchdog group Judicial Watch obtained emails sent by Pelosi's staff which requested that the United States Air Force (USAF) provide a Boeing 757 aircraft for Pelosi to use for taxpayer-funded travel. Pelosi responded that the policy was initiated by President Bush due to post-9/11 security concerns (Pelosi is second in line for presidential succession) and was initially provided for the previous Speaker, Dennis Hastert. The Sergeant at Arms requested, for security reasons, that the plane provided be capable of non-stop flight, requiring a larger aircraft. The Pentagon said "no one has rendered judgment" that Pelosi's use of aircraft "is excessive."

Pelosi and members of her family and staff took 85 tax-paid trips on military aircraft between March 2, 2009, and June 7, 2010, according to new documents uncovered by Judicial Watch. Judicial Watch obtained the documents as a result of a January 25, 2009, Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request.

From The Washington Examiner:

Previous documents received by the non-profit watchdog group revealed that Pelosi's travel "cost the United States Air Force $2,100,744.59 over a two-year period — $101,429.14 of which was for in-flight expenses, including food and alcohol," according to Judicial Watch.

"For example, purchases for one Pelosi-led congressional delegation traveling from Washington, D.C., through Tel Aviv, Israel to Baghdad, Iraq May 15-20, 2008 included: Johnny Walker Red scotch, Grey Goose vodka, E&J brandy, Bailey’s Irish Crème, Maker’s Mark whiskey, Courvoisier cognac, Bacardi Light rum, Jim Beam whiskey, Beefeater gin, Dewar’s scotch, Bombay Sapphire gin, Jack Daniels whiskey, Corona beer and several bottles of wine."

“Pelosi’s abusive use of military aircraft demonstrates a shocking lack of regard for the American taxpayer and the men and women who serve in the U.S. Air Force. Speaker Pelosi may have a frequent flyer record for taxpayer-financed luxury jet travel,” said Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton.

Popularity as Speaker

Nancy Pelosi is one of the most unpopular politicians in the history of the United States. She shares this dubious honor with her comrades Harry Reid, Barney Frank, Chris Dodd, Joe Biden and Barack Obama, along with a host of Progressive Liberals holding office. As a result of the financial crises and the largest power grab since the Great Depression (the New, New Deal), her Marxist political, social and religious moves have plummeted her popularity polls into the low teens. According to a March, 2010 Rasmussen poll, 64% of voters view the speaker unfavorably, 47% of which view her very unfavorably. Only 29% of voters have a favorable opinion of Pelosi. A CBS News poll conducted in March, 2010 showed that only 11% of registered voters have a favorable opinion of the speaker, well below that of Congress as a whole. She is widely viewed as an arrogant elitist and as a Progressive Marxist.

Political Positions and Voting Record

Pelosi was a founding member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, but left in 2003 after being elected Minority Leader. Her longtime friend, Jim McDermott of Washington, told Newsweek that he and other left-leaning Democratic congressmen sometimes wish that "she would tilt a little more our way from time to time." As Speaker, Pelosi has tried to focus more on economic than social issues. But her actions as Speaker, and as a politician in general, are viewed as Progressive/Marxist in the extreme.

In San Francisco, Pelosi has experienced conflicts with anti-war activists. Nonetheless, she has never faced a serious challenger in the Democratic primary or from the Green Party, which is competitive in local elections.

On September 2, 2008, she visited Hiroshima, Japan, for a G8 summit meeting of lower house speakers and offered flowers in Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park for the victims of the 1945 atomic bombing. While many world leaders have visited Hiroshima over the years, she is the highest-ever sitting U.S. official to pay her respects.

Abortion

Nancy Pelosi, though a proclaimed Catholic, by all accounts is pro-abortion. Pelosi voted against the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003 and earlier attempts at similar bans. She also voted against the criminalization of certain situations where a minor is transported across state lines for an abortion (HR 748, passed).

She has voted in favor of lifting the ban on privately funded abortions at U.S. military facilities overseas (HA 209, rejected), in favor of an amendment that would repeal a provision that forbids service women and dependents from getting an abortion in overseas military hospitals (HA 722, rejected), and she voted in favor of stripping the prohibition of funding for organizations working overseas that uses its own funds to provide abortion services or engage in advocacy related to abortion services (HA 997, rejected). She also voted in favor of the 1998 Abortion Funding Amendment, which would have allowed the use of district funds to promote abortion-related activities, but would have prohibited the use of federal funds.

In February 2009, Pelosi met with her bishop, Archbishop George Niederauer of San Francisco, and with Pope Benedict XVI to discuss her position on abortion.

Pelosi is considered the main proponent for the new Healthcare legislation passed in the US in 2010. Though President Barack Obama claimed no abortions would be paid for by the new Healthcare mandate, they have been federally funded so far in three states: Pennsylvania, New Mexico and Virginia. More are expected to follow...

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-CA, center, reaches out to Rep. Barney Frank, D-MA, after the passing of the most sweeping financial regulation in American History since The Great Depression.

Budget, Taxes and Monetary Policy

Nancy Pelosi voted against the 1995 Balanced Budget Proposed Constitutional Amendment, which was passed by the House by a 300-132 vote. The amendment fell two votes short of the 2/3 supermajority required in the senate (with 65 out of 100 Senators voting in favor).

Pelosi released the following statement on July 21, 2010, after the House voted 378 to 43 to pass H.R. 4380, the U.S. Manufacturing Enhancement Act – part of Democrats' national manufacturing strategy. This miscellaneous tariffs bill will allegedly help American manufacturers compete by temporarily suspending or reducing duties on materials these companies use that are made abroad or are opposed by domestic producers:

"Today, the House voted for more jobs for our workers, a stronger economy for our manufacturers, and greater American competitiveness and innovation. In passing the U.S. Manufacturing Enhancement Act, we acted to level the playing field for U.S. firms, cut the cost of doing business, support tens of thousands of jobs, and boost our gross domestic product.

"Congress is committed to creating good-paying American jobs and helping lay the foundation for growth now and in the future. We want to restore the words 'made in America' to the center of our economic prosperity.

"I commend my colleagues – on both sides of the aisle – who voted on behalf of American manufacturers and set partisan politics aside to support our working families."

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was instrumental in passing the most sweeping financial regulation in American History since The Great Depression. The regulation was signed into law on July 21st, 2010, by President Barack Obama who pushed heavily for its passage. Pelosi, along with Barney Frank and Chris Dodd, were the primary proponents behind this sweeping overhaul of the American financial structure. This is such a broad and massive amount of regulation it threatens to strangle the American economy and virtually assures the decline of America as a world power. It claims that it aims to protect consumers and ensure economic stability from Main Street to Wall Street, however, it will have the opposite effect - restricting financing on a mass basis, tremendously increasing the need to report financial transactions and suppressing most of the small businesses that America was built upon. It is a brazen Marxist move to control finances and assets within America; a power grab not seen since President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Though the President claimed this would end bailouts, in reality, it creates a bottomless pool for such bailouts to continue into perpetuity with virtually no oversight. The law ignores the role mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac played in the economic crisis that flared in 2008, sinking the country's economy into recession. The new law gives the US government the ability to seize any financial firm deemed 'too big to fail,' and the power to decide what is the definition of a business that should be taken over by the government. The new law was strongly supported by the unions and especially the AFL-CIO.

Civil Liberties

The ACLU's Congressional Scorecard has given Pelosi a lifetime rating of 91% for her voting record on civil liberties. In 2001, she voted in favor of the USA Patriot Act, but voted against re-authorization of certain provisions in 2005. She voted against a Constitutional amendment banning flag-burning and against a Congressional resolution supporting the display of the Ten Commandments in courtrooms.

Congressional Progressive Caucus

In 1998, Nancy Pelosi was listed as a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus. In fact, Pelosi was a founding member.

In 2002, Nancy Pelosi was a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus Executive Committee. Pelosi left the Congressional Progressive Caucus in 2003 after being elected Minority Leader.

The following were members listed with Nancy Pelosi in 1998 as members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus by state and district:

• Earl Hilliard (AL-07)
• Eni Faleomavaega (AS-AL)
• Ed Pastor (AZ-02)
• Lynn Woolsey (CA-06)
• George Miller (CA-07)
• Nancy Pelosi (CA-08)
• Pete Stark (CA-13)
• Henry Waxman (CA-29)
• Xavier Becerra (CA-30)
• Julian Dixon (CA-32)
• Esteban Edward Torres (CA-34)
• Maxine Waters (CA-35)
• George E. Brown (CA-42)
• Bob Filner (CA-50)
• Diane DeGette (CO-01)
• Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-AL)
• Corrine Brown (FL-03)
• Carrie Meek (FL-17)
• Alcee Hastings (FL-23)
• Cynthia McKinney (GA-04)
• John Lewis (GA-05)
• Neil Abercrombie (HI-01)
• Patsy Mink (HI-02)
• Jesse Jackson (IL-02)
• Luis Gutierrez (IL-04)
• Danny Davis (IL-07)
• Lane Evans (IL-17)
• Julia Carson (IN-10)
• John Olver (MA-01)
• Jim McGovern (MA-03)
• Barney Frank (MA-04)
• John Tierney (MA-06)
• David Bonior (MI-10)
• Lynn Rivers (MI-13)
• John Conyers (MI-14)
• Bennie G. Thompson (MS-02)
• Melvin L. Watt (NC-12)
• Donald Payne (NJ-10)
• Jerrold Nadler (NY-08)
• Major Owens (NY-11)
• Nydia Velazquez (NY-12)
• Charles Rangel (NY-15)
• Maurice Hinchey (NY-26)
• John LaFalce (NY-29)
• Marcy Kaptur (OH-09)
• Dennis Kucinich (OH-10)
• Louis Stokes (OH-11)
• Sherrod Brown (OH-13)
• Elizabeth Furse (OR-01)
• Peter DeFazio (OR-04)
• Chaka Fattah (PA-02)
• William Coyne (PA-14)
• Carlos Romero-Barcelo (PR-AL)
• Robert C. Scott (VA-03)
• Bernie Sanders (VT-AL)
• Jim McDermott (WA-07)

Contraception

In a January 25, 2009 interview with George Stephanopoulos on ABC News, Pelosi said, "Well, the family planning services reduce cost. They reduce cost. The states are in terrible fiscal budget crises now and part of what we do for children's health, education and some of those elements are to help the states meet their financial needs. One of those - one of the initiatives you mentioned, the contraception, will reduce costs to the states and to the federal government."

Pelosi also received $1,000 in lobbying funds from Planned Parenthood in 2008.

Cordoba House

Pelosi Calls for Investigation of Ground Zero Mosque Opposition - Air date: 08-17-10

On August 17th, Pelosi called for an investigation into those who stood against the Cordoba House, a 13 story Islamic cultural center and mosque, being built at Ground Zero in Manhattan:

"There is no question there is a concerted effort to make this a political issue by some. And I join those who have called for looking into how is this opposition to the mosque is being funded," she said. "How is this being ginned up that here we are talking about Treasure Island, something we've been working on for decades, something of great interest to our community as we go forward to an election about the future of our country and two of the first three questions are about a zoning issue in New York City."

Nancy Pelosi also released a statement on July 18th, 2010, concerning her comments on the Cordoba House:

“The freedom of religion is a Constitutional right. Where a place of worship is located is a local decision.

“I support the statement made by the Interfaith Alliance that ‘We agree with the Anti-Defamation League that there is a need for transparency about who is funding the effort to build this Islamic center. At the same time, we should also ask who is funding the attacks against the construction of the center.’

“For all of those expressing concern about the 9/11 families, we call upon them to join us in support of the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act when Congress returns in September.”

Education

Pelosi voted for the No Child Left Behind Act, which instituted testing to track students' progress and authorized an increase in overall education spending.

El Salvador Conflict

El Salvador Resolution

In 1989, the following measures were introduced into congress supporting the Communist efforts in El Salvador:

• House Concurrent Resolution 1 to slash military aid to El Salvador.

• Concurrent Resolution 48 "Expressing the Sense of the Congress that the United States Should Pursue a Negotiated Settlement to the Civil War in EI Salvador." This was introduced by Nancy Pelosi (CA) just as the Salvadoran Communists had started a new call for negotiations and demands that the 1989 Presidential election be postponed.

• Joint Resolution 54, introduced by Robert Kastenmeier, to ban military aid to El Salvador completely.

Employment

In July of 2010, with a current unemployment rate of 9.5% (and an actual unemployment rate north of 20%), Pelosi stated that jobless benefits provide the biggest possible stimulus to the economy that Congress can create. Notable quotes on the issue from Pelosi:

• “This is one of the biggest stimuluses to our economy.”

• “It injects demand into the economy.”

• “It creates jobs faster than almost any other initiative.”

• “It’s impossible to think of a situation where we would have a country without unemployment benefits.”

Environment and Energy

Nancy Pelosi is a strong proponent of Cap and Trade legislation. She vigorously supports the development of new technologies that could be used to reduce America's dependence on foreign oil. Pelosi is an avid environmentalist and conservationist. She is almost militant in her belief in eliminating the effects of burning fossil fuels on the environment. She supports conservation programs and movements and is highly supportive of energy research. She has also voted to remove an amendment that would allow for oil and gas exploration in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

Pelosi has repeatedly blocked efforts to revive offshore oil drilling in protected areas, reasoning that offshore drilling could lead to an increase in dependence on fossil fuels.

Fairness Doctrine

Pelosi has been a rabid advocate for the Fairness Doctrine throughout her political career.

From Discover The Networks:

Quoth the Speaker, when asked if she would allow Congressman Mike Pence’s Broadcaster Freedom Act (BFA - H.R. 2905) -- the bill that would kill once and for all the Fairness Doctrine -- out of jail in committee, to which she had exiled it, she answered unhesitatingly, “No.”

Pelosi went on to say that in fact “the interest in my caucus is the reverse” and that New York Democratic Rep. “Louise Slaughter has been active behind this (revival of the Fairness Doctrine) for a while now.” When asked if she herself supported the return of the Doctrine, she, again without hesitation, said “Yes.”

As of 2010, the Fairness Doctrine has failed to be implemented. But it is alive and well in Congress and on the punch list of the Democratic majority. Pelosi, along with Media Diversity Czar Mark Lloyd, Regulatory Czar Cass Sunstein and Copyright Czar Victoria Espinel, have made it abundantly clear that they wish to revive the Fairness Doctrine under another name, but in the same suppressive spirit of its previous incarnation. This Doctrine will be used not only to silence conservative talk radio, but conservative bloggers and talk show hosts. Using fundamental Marxist regulation, it will silence the First Amendment Freedom of Speech guaranteed by the Constitution.

Health Care

Nancy Pelosi is Asked Where the Constitution States that Congress has the Power to Provide Universal Health Insurance - Air date: 12-02-09

From The Politico:

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is “the mother of health care,” Vice President Joe Biden proclaimed Monday.

Speaking at a campaign event in Philadelphia for congressional candidate Bryan Lentz, Biden reworked a line of praise from Rep. Allyson Schwartz, who said Pelosi was the most powerful woman in American politics.

“I would rephrase that: the most powerful person in American politics with the exception of the President of the United States,” Biden said, according to the pool report. “The single most successful, the single most persuasive, the single most strategic leader I have ever worked with is Nancy Pelosi.”

In December 2009, Pelosi was asked where specifically does the Constitution grant Congress the authority to enact an individual health insurance mandate?" She responded: "Are you serious? Are you serious?"

Illegal Immigration

Pelosi voted against the Secure Fence Act of 2006.

On May 20th 2007, Pelosi issued a series of criticisms regarding the Senate's immigration bill. Specifically, she mentioned the 'point system' of the guest worker program and that it was anti-family. She stated, "the family unification principles which had been fundamental to American immigration are disrupted by what is in there now."

And in 2009, Pelosi stated that work site raids were un-American:

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi recently told a group of both legal and illegal immigrants and their families that enforcement of existing immigration laws, as currently practiced, is "un-American."

The speaker, condemning raids by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, referred to the immigrants she was addressing as "very, very patriotic."

"Who in this country would not want to change a policy of kicking in doors in the middle of the night and sending a parent away from their families?" Pelosi told a mostly Hispanic gathering at St. Anthony's Church in San Francisco.

"It must be stopped....What value system is that? I think it's un-American. I think it's un-American."

Pelosi has voted in favor of giving illegal aliens further rewards and other incentives such as in-state tuition, educational benefits, welfare and health care services. She has also voted for increases in permanent and temporary foreign work visas such as the H1-B.

Pelosi has one of the worst records on immigration in all of Congress. She received a 0% rating from the Federation for American Immigration Reform for her support of illegal immigration

Iraq War

In 2002, Pelosi opposed the Iraq Resolution authorizing President Bush to use military force against Iraq, while stating that Iraq, like "other countries of concern," had WMD's. In explaining her opposition to the resolution, Pelosi noted that CIA Director George Tenet had told Congress that the likelihood of Iraq's Saddam Hussein launching an attack on the U.S. using weapons of mass destruction was low. "This is about the Constitution," Pelosi said. "It is about this Congress asserting its right to declare war when we are fully aware what the challenges are to us. It is about respecting the United Nations and a multilateral approach, which is safer for our troops." Despite Pelosi's opposition, Congress still passed a resolution authorizing President Bush to use the Armed Forces of the United States against Iraq.

Opposition to Iraq War Troop Surge of 2007

On January 5, 2007, reacting to suggestions from President Bush's confidantes that he would increase troop levels in Iraq (which he announced in a speech a few days later), Pelosi joined with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to condemn the plan. They sent Bush a letter saying,

"[T]here is no purely military solution in Iraq. There is only a political solution. Adding more combat troops will only endanger more Americans and stretch our military to the breaking point for no strategic gain. ... Rather than deploy additional forces to Iraq, we believe the way forward is to begin the phased redeployment of our forces in the next four to six months, while shifting the principal mission of our forces there from combat to training, logistics, force protection and counter-terror."

Israel

Pelosi has stated that, "America and Israel share an unbreakable bond: in peace and war; and in prosperity and in hardship." She emphasized that, "a strong relationship between the United States and Israel has long been supported by both Democrats and Republicans. America's commitment to the safety and security of the State of Israel is unwavering,...[h]owever, the war in Iraq has made both America and Israel less safe." Pelosi's voting record seems to indicate support for Israel. Prior to the 2006 elections in the Palestinian Authority, she voted for a Congressional initiative disapproving of participation in the elections by Hamas and other organizations defined as terrorist by the legislation. Pelosi is a proponent of the current U.S. stance in support of land-for-peace. She has applauded Israeli "hopeful signs" of offering land, while criticizing Palestinian "threats" of not demonstrating peace in turn. She states, "If the Palestinians agree to coordinate with Israel on the evacuation, establish the rule of law, and demonstrate a capacity to govern, the world may be convinced that finally there is a real partner for peace."

During the 2006 Lebanon War, Pelosi voted in favor of Resolution 921 on the count that "the seizure of Israeli soldiers by Hezbollah terrorists was an unprovoked attack and Israel has the right, and indeed the obligation, to respond." She argues that organizations and political bodies in the Mideast like Hamas and Hezbollah: "have a greater interest in maintaining a state of hostility with Israel than in improving the lives of the people they claim to represent." Pelosi puts forth that civilians on both sides of the border "have been put at risk by the aggression of Hamas and Hezbollah" in part for their use of "civilians as shields by concealing weapons in civilian areas."

In September of 2008, Pelosi hosted a reception in Washington with Israeli Knesset speaker Dalia Itzik, along with 20 members of Congress, where they toasted the "strong friendship" between Israel and the United States. During the ceremony, Pelosi held up the replica dog tags of the three Israeli soldiers captured by Hezbollah and Hamas in 2006 and stated that she keeps them as a "symbol of the sacrifices made, sacrifices far too great by the people of the state of Israel."

Although, her record indicates support for Israel, Pelosi is quick to apply heavy diplomacy with the Middle East, as her trip to Syria in 2007 would seem to showcase.

Kuwait and the Gulf War

Pelosi strongly opposed U.S. intervention in the 1991 Gulf War.

Marriage and Sexual Orientation

The Human Rights Campaign for the 107th, 108th and 109th session of Congress gave Pelosi a 100% rating. This indicates that she voted in favor of the HRC's slate of pro-gay legislative issues every time. She voted against the Defense of Marriage Act in 1996. She also voted against the proposed Federal Marriage Amendment in 2004 and 2006. This amendment would have amended the Constitution to define marriage federally as being between one man and one woman, thereby overriding states' individual rights to legalize gay marriage. When the Supreme Court of California overturned the state's ban on same-sex marriage, Pelosi released a statement welcoming the "historic decision." She voiced her opposition to Proposition 8, the successful ballot initiative, which defined marriage in California as a union between one man and one woman.

Marijuana Legalization

Pelosi supports reform in marijuana laws and use of medical marijuana.

Military Draft

Pelosi does not support Rep. Charles Rangel's (D-NY) plan to introduce legislation that would reinstate the draft.

Minimum Wage

Nancy Pelosi led the fight for the Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2007. It was a key part of her 100-Hour Plan. The Act raises the minimum wage in the United States and the territories of the Northern Marianas Islands and American Samoa. American Samoa was initially absent from the act, but as part of HR 2206 it was included. One Republican congressman who voted against the initial bill accused Pelosi of unethically benefiting Del Monte Foods (headquartered in her district) by the exclusion of the territory, where Del Monte's StarKist Tuna brand is a major employer. Pelosi co-sponsored legislation that omitted American Samoa from a raise in the minimum wage as early as 1999, prior to Del Monte's acquisition of StarKist Tuna in 2002. As of the 2002, 2004, and 2006 election cycles, Del Monte has not contributed to Democratic candidates.

Nicaraguan Conflict

"Congressional Pink Caucus"

In October 1989, the Nicaraguan Sandinista Government announced that they would no longer comply with the 19 month-old cease-fire agreement with the Contras. This had been considered a prime step forward for the "peace process" that was progressing slowly as part of the Arias Peace Plan.

A resolution was introduced in Congress deploring the Sandinistas' action. The Senate voted unanimously in favor, but in the House the vote was 379-29. All of the 29 Congressmen voting against the resolution were Democrats.

The Council for Inter-American Security dubbed these 29 people the "Congressional Pink Caucus":

• Jim Bates (CA)
• Barbara Boxer (CA)
• William Lacy Clay, Sr. (MO)
• George Crockett (MI)
• Cardiss Collins (IL)
• Peter DeFazio (OR)
• Ron Dellums (CA)
• Mervyn Dymally (CA)
• Don Edwards (CA)
• Lane Evans (IL)
• Floyd Flake (NY)
• Henry Gonzalez (TX)
• Charles Hayes (IL)
• Joseph Kennedy (MA)
• Pete Kostmayer (PA)
• Robert Kastenmeier (WI)
• John Lewis (GA)
• Major Owens (NY)
• Nancy Pelosi (CA)
• Charles Rangel (NY)
• Gus Savage (IL)
• Louis Stokes (OH)
• Gerry Studds (MA)
• Esteban Torres (CA)
• Edolphus Towns (NY)
• Jolene Unsoeld (WA)
• Ted Weiss (NY)
• Alan Wheat (MO)
• Ron Wyden (OR)

Voted Against Support for "Contras"

The Congressional Record of February 3, 1988 shows that the following leading Democratic Party Congressmen/women voted against aid to the Nicaraguan Freedom Fighters - the "Contras" - then fighting against the Marxist-Leninist Sandinista government of Nicaragua:

• Les Aspin
• Les AuCoin
• Ed Boland
• David Bonior
• Don Bonker
• Barbara Boxer
• George Brown
• John Conyers
• George Crockett
• Ron Dellums
• Tom Downey
• Mervyn Dymally
• Don Edwards
• Mike Espy
• Barney Frank
• Sam Gejdenson
• Richard Gephardt
• William Gray
• Lee Hamilton
• Charles Hayes
• Robert Kastenmeier
• Joseph Kennedy
• Pete Kostmayer
• James Leach
• Ed Markey
• Nancy Pelosi
• J. J. Pickle
• Charles Rangel
• Peter Rodino
• Dan Rostenkowski
• Gus Savage
• Patricia Schroeder
• Steven Solarz
• Gerry Studds
• Morris Udall
• Ted Weiss
• Howard Wolpe
• Sidney Yates

President Bush

Blocking of Impeachment Proceedings Against President Bush

After President Bush was reelected in 2004, a number of Democrats wanted to pursue impeachment proceedings against the President. They leveled charges that he had lied about weapons of mass destruction in the Iraq War and that he had been instrumental in violating civil liberties of Americans by authorizing illegal wiretaps without the use of warrants.

In May 2006, with an eye on the upcoming congressional elections – which offered the possibility of Democrats taking back control of the House for the first time since 1994 – Pelosi told colleagues that, while the Democrats would conduct vigorous oversight of Bush administration policy, an impeachment investigation was "off the table." (A week earlier, she had told the Washington Post that, although Democrats would not set out to impeach the president, "you never know where" investigations might lead.)

After becoming Speaker of the House in 2007, Pelosi stood firm against impeachment even in the face of strong pressure from her constituents. In the November 2008 election, Pelosi withstood a challenge for her seat by anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan, who ran as an independent primarily because of Pelosi's refusal to pursue impeachment.

Social Security

One of President Bush's goals in his second term agenda was to propose reforming Social Security by allowing workers to redirect a portion of their Social Security withholding into stock and bond investments. Pelosi vociferously opposed the plan, claiming there was no crisis and she applied tremendous party pressure on her caucus forcing a near unanimous opposition to the plan. It was subsequently defeated.

Pelosi in Damascus, Syria sporting a hijab, the head covering traditionally worn by Muslim women. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

Syria

Pelosi: Tea Parties Are Not Grass Roots - Air date: 04-15-09

Pelosi supports the Syria Accountability Act and Iran Freedom and Support Act. In a speech at the AIPAC 2005 annual conference, Pelosi said that "for too long, leaders from both parties haven't done enough" to put pressure on Russia and China who are providing Iran with technological information on nuclear issues and missiles. "If evidence of participation by other nations in Iran's nuclear program is discovered, I will insist that the Administration use, rather than ignore, the evidence in determining how the U.S. deals with that nation or nations on other issues."

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, holding the gavel used to pass the Medicare overhaul in 1965, walks to the Capitol with Democratic Reps. (from left) Steny Hoyer of Maryland, John Lewis of Georgia and John Larson of Connecticut after the passage of sweeping health care legislation. The procession took place through a throng of thousands of Tea Party activists protesting American Marxism and the passage of health care.

Tea Party

Nancy Pelosi does not believe Tea Party protests are genuine or an organic grassroots movement. Pelosi said they are a deliberate astroturf campaign organized by two well-funded right-wing think tanks intent on obstructing the Obama agenda:

What they want is a continuation of the failed economic policies of President George Bush which got us in the situation we are in now. What we want is a new direction. … This [tea party] initiative is funded by the high end — we call it astroturf, it’s not really a grassroots movement. It’s astroturf by some of the wealthiest people in America to keep the focus on tax cuts for the rich instead of for the great middle class.

Pelosi was referring to Freedom Works and Americans for Prosperity, two conservative groups that are for smaller, anti-progressive government.

In an interview on ABC News (Feb. 28, 2010) with correspondent Elizabeth Vargas, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi simultaneously claimed to share views with the Tea Party Movement while attacking the same for "astroturfing" once again. Pelosi claimed to be against special interests just as the Tea Party is, which is at odds with her political track record and all she stands for.

Treasure Island

While calling for an investigation on who was financially contributing to the protest against the Cordoba House Mosque at Ground Zero, Nancy Pelosi raised the ghost of the Treasure Island issue:

“There is no question there is a concerted effort to make this a political issue by some. And I join those who have called for looking into how is this opposition to the mosque being funded,” she said. “How is this being ginned up that here we are talking about Treasure Island, something we’ve been working on for decades, something of great interest to our community as we go forward to an election about the future of our country and two of the first three questions are about a zoning issue in New York City.”

Pelosi is of course referring to the Treasure Island land deal:

The deal has been signed to transfer man-made Treasure Island in the middle of San Francisco Bay from the Navy to San Francisco.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Mayor Gavin Newsom and Navy Secretary Ray Mabus signed the transfer agreement on Tuesday. It includes a section of neighboring Yerba Buena Island.

Payments to the Navy could rise to $105 million, funded by private companies and revenue from developing the former Navy base into a model 21st century neighborhood.

Michelle Malkin points out that this deal has been riddled with corruption since its inception. Evidently, Pelosi tried to get the land at no cost from the military but failed with her strong-arm techniques.

From the Washington Times:

…Treasure Island is not a case of a small town that has relied on a local military base for its livelihood for decades. It is a land grab by politicians for well-connected developers. Tony Hall, the former executive director of the Treasure Island Development Authority, told us the city’s effort to develop the island is a “den of corruption.” Treasure Island Community Development, the prospective developer for Treasure Island, was granted a no-bid contract by the city.

At the core of Treasure Island Community Development are high-powered California Democratic lobbyist Darius Anderson and supermarket magnate Ronald W. Burkle. Both are well-known financial backers of San Francisco’s Democratic Mayor Gavin Newsom…

…A proposed Treasure Island development plan slates 90 percent of the developed acreage for residential use, 7 percent for commercial property and 3 percent for parking. An illustration shows about a dozen high-rise blocks of shoreline condominiums with stunning views of the city, plus 300 acres of park and recreation land. This would hardly be “affordable housing,” the $5 billion investment that Mrs. Pelosi claims would have to be recouped by the developer. The only long-term jobs created from this plan would be for maids and doormen for the high rollers privileged enough to live there.

The Navy merits praise for holding the line in defense of a market-based transfer of Treasure Island. Cloaking this land grab under a measure to help local communities suffering the disruption of military base closure is disgraceful.

From Fog City Journal:

After some very serious wrangling over control (see “more info” below), the fate of Treasure Island rests mainly with TIDA: the Treasure Island Development Authority. Just as with the Presidio Trust, the people who comprise TIDA are awfully critical. It is they who decide what gets developed and who gets to develop it – and profit thereby.

Likewise, the person who appoints the people on TIDA and similar boards is also a key player, for he or she must be guided to select members who can be trusted to vote favorably to one’s interests. That’s the entitlement portion of the Big Three: garnering approvals that entitle one to development and maximize profits by upzoning the land. (Upzoning means changing the rules to allow more profitable development than would otherwise be allowed.).

That’s why forming relationships between would-be developers and appointing officials is crucial. Lobbyists like Platinum’s Darius Anderson and Jay Wallace specialize in building those relationships, sometimes by finding sources of cash reserves for campaign contributions, or occasionally hosting key fundraisers. Wallace was at one time Pelosi’s campaign manager.

When Anderson held a fundraiser a couple of years ago to retire Mayor Newsom’s campaign debt, it raised eyebrows, but it is what lobbyists do. They specialize in creating access for themselves and for clients with the people who make appointments, sign or promote legislation, and grant entitlements to develop – all of which have big profit implications.

+ + +

It’s easy to conclude that clients are getting their money’s worth from Platinum and friends – especially when the client is Platinum itself. TIDA has granted to Platinum the uncontested contract to be the sole developer of Treasure Island. Or, to be exact, that exclusive contract has been granted to Platinum’s new entity, Treasure Island Community Developers, with the master plan component going to Anderson’s other company, Kenwood Investments…

…Considering the grand, incestuous family that is politics, maybe it’s no surprise that Platinum’s development entity has been handed the Treasure Island bounty. Given the Pelosi and Newsom history of enthusiasm for developing the Presidio, we should hope it’s not too late to keep a close watch and short leash on Treasure Island developments. Unfortunately, this means paying attention to the entire family. That would include even the new president on the Commission on the Environment, Paul Pelosi, Jr., who is Nancy Pelosi’s son and Gavin Newsom’s cousin. As for TIDA itself, all the members are appointed by the mayor; all but one is a City Hall official.

Who else will benefit from the arrangement? Certainly Lennar Corporation will. They are a partner with Platinum’s Treasure Island Community Developers. Lennar has experience developing former military bases, and is one of the country’s largest residential housing builders.

By what could solicitously be called a coincidence, Laurence Pelosi was president of acquisitions for Lennar. He is Nancy Pelosi’s nephew, and currently works as executive director of Morgan Stanley’s real estate division…

Waterboarding and CIA Controversy

Pelosi has stated that she opposes waterboarding as an interrogation technique. According to the CIA, while Pelosi was the ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee, she was told about enhanced interrogation techniques, including waterboarding authorized for a captured terrorist, Abu Zubaydah. She was told this in a briefing in 2002. After the briefing, Pelosi said she "was assured by lawyers with the CIA and the Department of Justice that the methods were legal." Two unnamed former Bush Administration officials say that the briefing was detailed and graphic, and at the time she didn't raise substantial objections. One unnamed U.S. official present during the early briefings said, "In fairness, the environment was different then because we were closer to September 11 and people were still in a panic. But there was no objecting, no hand-wringing. The attitude was, 'We don't care what you do to those guys as long as you get the information you need to protect the American people.'"

However, a number of top Democratic lawmakers in the House signed a letter on June 26, 2009, alleging that CIA Director Leon Panetta had asserted that the CIA misled Congress for a "number of years" spanning back to 2001, casting more clouds on the controversy. Neither letter, lawmakers or the CIA provided details and the murky circumstances surrounding the allegations make it hard to assess the claims and counterclaims of both sides.

Officials in Congress say her ability to challenge the practices was hampered by strict rules of secrecy that prohibited her from being able to take notes or consult legal experts or members of her own staffs. In an April 2009 press conference, Pelosi stated, "In that or any other briefing…we were not, and I repeat, were not told that waterboarding or any of these other enhanced interrogation techniques were used. What they did tell us is that they had some legislative counsel -- the Office of Legislative Counsel opinions that they could be used, but not that they would. And they further -- further, the point was that if and when they would be used, they would brief Congress at that time." Pelosi's office stated that she later protested the technique and that she concurred with objections raised by Democratic colleague Jane Harman in a letter to the CIA in early 2003.

Wealth Redistribution

On Oct. 18th, 2010, Pelosi spoke in front of the United Steelworkers' Union. She addressed jobs and the middle class in America. She spoke on the subject of income disparity concerning wages, equity and fairness. Pelosi railed against the wealthy and income inequality in America.

From The Blaze:

We’re talking about addressing the disparity in our country of income, where the wealthy people continue to get wealthier, and some other people are falling out of the middle class when we want to bring many more people into the middle class. But that disparity is not just about wages alone. That disparity is about ownership and equity. It’s all about fairness in our country.

This is a Marxist ideal of collectivism - a redistribution of wealth for all but the very elite. It goes beyond wages and directly addresses all ownership of land and assets. Communism in 'fairness' clothing. This won't create a broad middle class, it will create a broad lower class and a very elite class of the wealthy and powerful.

Welfare Reform

Pelosi opposed the welfare reform proposed by President Bush as well as reforms proposed and passed under President Clinton.

Further Reading

• Dabbous, Y., Ladley, A. (2010), "A spine of steel and a heart of gold: Newspaper coverage of the first female speaker of the house," Journal of Gender Studies 19 (2), pp. 181-194
• Schweizer, Rochelle (2010), "She's The Boss"

External Links

• ABC News
• ACLU
• Adolphus Towns
• AFL-CIO
• Alan Wheat
• Alcee Hastings
• Allyson Schwartz
• Americans for Prosperity
• Anti-Defamation League
• Archbishop George Niederauer
• Barack Obama
• Barney Frank
• Barbara Boxer
• Bennie G. Thompson
• Bernie Sanders
• Bob Filner
• Bryan Lentz
• California
• Cardiss Collins
• Carlos Romero-Barcelo
• Carrie Meek
• Cass Sunstein
• CBS News
• Chaka Fattah
• Charles Rangel
• Chris Dodd
• CIA
• Cindy Sheehan
• Congressional Progressive Caucus
• Corrine Brown
• Cynthia McKinney
• Dalia Itzik
• Danny Davis
• David Bonior
• Del Monte
• Dennis Hastert
• Dennis Kucinich
• Diane DeGette
• Discover The Networks
• Don Bonker
• Donald Payne
• Earl Hilliard
• Ed Markey
• Ed Pastor
• Eleanor Holmes Norton
• Elizabeth Furse
• Eni Faleomavaega
• Esteban Edward Torres
• Fannie Mae
• Federation for American Immigration Reform
• Floyd Flake
• Fog City Journal
• Frank Wolf
• Freddie Mac
• Freedom Works
• Gavin Newsome
• George Miller
• George Stephanopoulos
• Gerry Studds
• Green Party
• Gus Savage
• Harry Reid
• Henry Gonzalez
• Henry Waxman
• House of Representatives
• Howard Wolpe
• Human Rights Campaign
• Interfaith Alliance
• Israeli Parliament
• Israeli Prime Minister
• Jane Harman
• Jerrold Nadler
• Jesse Jackson
• Jim McDermott
• Jim McGovern
• Joe Biden
• Joe Pitts
• John Boehner
• John Conyers
• John Dingell
• John LaFalce
• John Larson
• John Lewis
• John Olver
• John Tierney
• Jolene Unsoeld
• Judicial Watch
• Julia Carson
• Keith Ellison
• King Abdullah
• Lane Evans
• Les AuCoin
• Louis Stokes
• Louise Slaughter
• Luis Gutierrez
• Lynn Rivers
• Lynn Woolsey
• Major Owens
• Marcy Kaptur
• Mark Lloyd
• Maurice Hinchey
• Maxine Waters
• Melvin L. Watt
• Mervyn Dymally
• Michelle Malkin
• Mike Espy
• Mike Pence
• Morgan Stanley
• Morris Udall
• Neil Abercrombie
• Newt Gingrich
• Nick Rahall
• Nydia Velazquez
• Office of the Majority Leader
• Patsy Mink
• Pelosi's website with the House of Representatives
• Pete Stark
• Peter DeFazio
• Planned Parenthood
• Pope Benedict XVI
• Presidio Trust
• Rahm Emanuel
• Rasmussen
• Ray Mabus
• Richard Gephardt
• Robert Aderholt
• Robert C. Scott
• Robert Kastenmeier
• Ron Wyden
• Sam Gejdenson
• San Francisco
• Sherrod Brown
• Sidney Yates
• Social Security Administration
• Speaker of the House
• St. Anthony's Church
• StarKist Tuna
• Steny Hoyer
• Supreme Court of California
• The Blaze
• The California Democratic Party
• The Democratic Party
• The European Parliment
• The Gavel - Nancy Pelosi's Blog
• The Politico
• The Washington Examiner
• The Washington Post
• The Washington Times
• The White House
• Tom Foley
• Treasure Island
• United States Department of Health and Human Services
• United Steelworkers of America
• US Immigration and Customs Enforcement
• Victoria Espinel
• Walter Jones
• William Coyne
• William Lacy Clay, Sr.
• Xavier Becerra

References

Template:Reflist