Poor John Boehner; Nancy Pelosi hurt his feelings today:
WASHINGTON - Several Republican members of Congress said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., had torpedoed any spirit of bipartisanship that surrounded a $700 billion bailout of the financial system with her scathing speech near the close of the debate that blamed Bush’s policies for the economic turmoil.
"We could have gotten there today had it not been for the partisan speech that the speaker gave on the floor of the House," House Minority Leader John Boehner said. Pelosi’s words, the Ohio Republican said, "poisoned our conference, caused a number of members that we thought we could get, to go south."
Rep. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., the whip, estimated that Pelosi’s speech changed the minds of a dozen Republicans who might otherwise have supported the plan.
Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., scoffed at the explanation.
"Well if that stopped people from voting, then shame on them," he said. "If people’s feelings were hurt because of a speech and that led them to vote differently than what they thought the national interest (requires), then they really don’t belong here. They’re not tough enough."
Nancy's sin of course was to point out where blame for this whole fiasco lies:
In her speech, Pelosi had assailed Bush and his administration for reckless economic policies.
"They claim to be free market advocates when it’s really an anything-goes mentality: No regulation, no supervision, no discipline. And if you fail, you will have a golden parachute and the taxpayer will bail you out. Those days are over. The party is over," Pelosi said.
"Democrats believe in a free market," she said. "But in this case, in its unbridled form, as encouraged, supported, by the Republicans — some in the Republican Party, not all — it has created not jobs, not capital. It has created chaos."
A pretty mild rebuke if you ask Spot.
By the way, boys and girls, that's über weasel Eric Cantor, Republican of Virginia, peeking cautiously over Boehner's right shoulder.
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