Nancy Pelosi Quotes (upd: tells UAW we’re back & up to the fight)
We’re coming back. – January 20, 2011 talking to United Auto Workers
Are you up for the fight? – January 20, 2011 talking to United Auto Workers discussing the battle to support health care reform
America’s auto industry is key to keeping America number one,” Pelosi said. “We took initiatives to help rescue the auto industry. People would say to me, ‘Why are you doing things for this company or that company?’ It’s not about a company – it’s about an industry, it’s about jobs, it’s about their suppliers. – January 20, 2011 talking to United Auto Workers
We’re talking about addressing the disparity 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. – October 19, 2010 United Steel Workers rally
In this June 24, 2010, file photo, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., answers questions during the Netroots Nation convention in Las Vegas. The big political bull's-eye on Pelosi's back isn't keeping her from campaigning for Democratic candidates in several states, even if she avoids some of the most conservative regions. (AP Photo/Louie Traub)
Pelosi’s official statement on Ground Zero mosque attempting to clarify her statement to investigate the opposition: 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 ADL 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.’
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. 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. – August 17, 2010 on San Francisco’s KCBS radio, regarding the mosque being built near Ground Zero (audio below)
A bill can be bipartisan without bipartisan votes. – February 28, 2010
It (unemployment) injects demand into the economy. It creates jobs faster than almost any other initiative you can name….It’s impossible to think of a situation where we would have a country that would say we’re not going to have unemployment benefits. – July 1, 2010
(Unemployment) is also a job creator…(at the 34 second mark) CSPAN – Video below July 1, 2010
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., speaks to reporters following a meeting with economic advisers, Tuesday, May 4, 2010, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Harry Hamburg)
It’s not a question of blame — no one will be deprived of anything,” she said. “I don’t think we have walked away from any of the priorities that we want to achieve. We will achieve them in time. Some are more urgent than others. – May 28, 2010 as Congress did not pass a bill extending unemployment benefits.
With the unemployment rate at a five-year high, it is clear that we must take immediate action to strengthen our economy. The New Direction Congress will soon act on a second economic stimulus package and a comprehensive energy plan that will create new American jobs, invest in renewables, increase domestic production, make America more energy independent, and break free of the failed Bush economic policies that John McCain and Republicans in Congress have rubber-stamped for far too long. – September 2008
But we have to pass the bill so that you can find out what is in it, away from the fog of the controversy. – speaking at the 2010 Legislative Conference for National Association of Counties, March 9, 2010
The fact is that President Bush’s misguided economic policies have failed to create jobs. Since President Bush took office, the country has lost 3.2 million jobs, the worst record since President Hoover. And today we learned that in July nearly half a million people gave up looking for a job. Job losses are taking a real toll on the financial security of American families. While Democrats are fighting for opportunity, jobs, and economic security for working families, Republicans continue to focus on helping those who need help the least. According to today’s survey, while the national unemployment rate dropped slightly, it still stands at a near record high. In addition, the unemployment rate for African Americans was still over 11 percent in July, and the unemployment rate for Hispanics was 8.2 percent in July. – Nancy Pelosi August 2003
You go through the gate. If the gate’s closed, you go over the fence. If the fence is too high, we’ll pole-vault in. If that doesn’t work, we’ll parachute in. But we’re going to get health care reform passed for the American people. – on getting health care reform passed at any cost
Whatever happens in Massachusetts, we will have quality, affordable health care for all Americans, and it will be soon. This will happen. – Nancy Pelosi after Scott Brown’s victory broke up the Democratic super-majority
CNSNews.com: “Madam Speaker, where specifically does the Constitution grant Congress the authority to enact an individual health insurance mandate?”
Pelosi: “Are you serious? Are you serious?” CNSNews.com: “Yes, yes I am.” Pelosi then shook her head before taking a question from another reporter. Pelosi’s spokesperson (Nadeam Elshami) responded with “You can put this on the record. That is not a serious question. That is not a serious question.” — November, 2009
America must be a light to the world, not just a missile – responding to President Bush’s 2004 State of the Union address
I don’t reject the concept of preemptive war. I’m a mother of five. I have five grandchildren. And I always say: Think of a lioness. Think of a mother bear. You come anywhere near our cubs, you’re dead. And so, in terms of any threat to our country, people have to know we’ll be there to preemptively strike. But what the president did was, on the basis of no real intelligence for an imminent threat to our country, chose to go into a war for reasons that are still unknown to us. – March 30, 2006 “Online Newshour”
America will be far safer if we reduce the chances of a terrorist attack in one of our cities than if we diminish the civil liberties of our own people.
Saddam Hussein has been engaged in the development of weapons of mass destruction technology which is a threat to countries in the region and he has made a mockery of the weapons inspection process.
I have absolutely no regret about my vote against this war. The same questions remain. The cost in human lives, the cost to our budget, probably 100 billion. We could have probably brought down that statue for a lot less.
The president led us into the Iraq war on the basis of unproven assertions without evidence; he embraced a radical doctrine of pre-emptive war unprecedented in our history; and he failed to build a true international coalition.
Promise of no pork in Stimulus (with Wolf Blitzer):
Social Security has never failed to pay promised benefits, and Democrats will fight to make sure that Republicans do not turn a guaranteed benefit into a guaranteed gamble.
Investigation is the requirement of Congress. It’s about checks and balances. – Meet the Press, May 7, 2006
Nancy’s Favorite word is “The Word” – May 6, 2010 watch here:
