Pelosi's Infamous Bailout Speech Was Not Partisan!
A week ago, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi delivered a short speech just before the first House vote was taken on the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008.
That first House vote failed by a slim margin because, in part, a handful of Republicans whined that Pelosi's speech was "partisan" and supposedly offended their fragile sensibilities.
("Because someone hurt their feelings, they decided to hurt their country?" mocked Barney Frank, Chair of the House Financial Services committee.)
After a close reading of Pelosi's remarks, I can find exactly one sentence that might be construed as "partisan," but certainly not inflammatory:
"Democrats believe in the free market, which can and does create jobs, wealth, and capital. But left to its own devices, it has created chaos."
In fact, Pelosi's speech brilliantly, and quite objectively, summarized the obvious causes of the U.S. fiscal crisis, as well as why this exorbitant bill had inevitably to be passed by a reluctant Congress.
Take a couple minutes to read Speaker Nancy Pelosi's Controversial Bailout Speech. I think you'll agree with me.
(Photo taken as Speaker Pelosi signed the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 on Oct 3, 2008: Mark Wilson/Getty Images)
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Comments
Her speech may not have been that partisan but it sure was stupid.
“Democrats believe in the free market, which can and does create jobs, wealth, and capital. But left to its own devices, it has created chaos.”
What does that even mean? “I believe in the free market, except I don’t.” What a joke. Besides, Deborah, shouldn’t you be thanking that Republicans for voting ‘nay’ on the bill, since you wrote that it was larceny? And, remind me, whose been in charge of Congress for the past two years? I guess the Dems were too busy *not* doing anything about the War in Iraq to *not* do anything about the economic crisis that many Republicans were warning them about.
http://www.tampabay.com/opinion/editorials/article735638.ece
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MGT_cSi7Rs