‘Outright disrespectful’: Four House women struggle as Pelosi isolates them

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/polit...62s?li=BBnb7Kz
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi admonished Democrats for personally attacking one another, warning in a closed-door meeting Wednesday that the party’s fracturing was jeopardizing its majority.

Without naming names, her target was clear: the four liberal freshmen known as “the Squad.”
“You got a complaint? You come and talk to me about it. But do not tweet about our members and expect us to think that that is just okay,” Pelosi (D-Calif.) told Democrats.
But “the Squad” — Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (N.Y.), Ilhan Omar (Minn.), Rashida Tlaib (Mich.) and Ayanna Pressley (Mass.) — is convinced it is Pelosi who is being the bully.


The four are struggling with the speaker’s moves to isolate them in recent weeks, according to interviews with the lawmakers, congressional aides and allies. Pelosi has made at least half a dozen remarks dismissing the group or their far-left proposals on the environment and health care. More recently she scorned their lonely opposition to the party’s emergency border bill last month.

And she defended those comments Wednesday, saying, “I have no regrets about anything. Regrets is not what I do,” doubling down on her claim that the group has little power in the House.
“When these comments first started, I kind of thought that she was keeping the progressive flank at more of an arm’s distance in order to protect more moderate members, which I understood,” Ocasio-Cortez told The Washington Post. “But the persistent singling out . . . it got to a point where it was just outright disrespectful . . . the explicit singling out of newly elected women of color.”
The four women are trying to figure out how to respond, texting one another and weighing whether to confront Pelosi to ask her to stop. But for now, they are focused on their congressional duties, even as they defend their votes in the House that have drawn Pelosi’s ire.
“Thank God my mother gave me broad shoulders and a strong back. I can handle it. I’m not worried about me,” said Pressley, who called Pelosi’s comments “demoralizing.” “I am worried about the signal that it sends to people I speak to and for, who sent me here with a mandate, and how it affects them.”
The tensions underscore the political and generational divide between the most powerful woman in American politics, who has led House Democrats for more than 16 years, and the new band of liberals clamoring for change and trying to push the party left. Pelosi has spent more than 30 years perfecting an inside game to secure wins for her party, most notably the Affordable Care Act in 2010. The four freshmen lawmakers, by contrast, have built a massive online following and leveraged their power on the outside, including in the 2020 presidential race.
Their ability to work together — or refusal to — will have major implications for Democrats as they seek to oust President Trump and retain their majority in next year’s election. Pelosi knows that fate of her majority rests with the moderate Democrats who captured Republican-held seats in last year’s midterm elections.
“A majority is a fragile thing,” she said, according to two people present for the remarks, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe the private meeting, adding that members should show “some level of respect and sensitivity” to more moderate colleagues: “You make me the target, but don’t make our [moderates] the target in all of this, because we have important fish to fry.”
The speaker’s allies say concerns about the next election is driving her moves to isolate these four women.
“Sometimes a leader’s got to take positions to keep the team [united],” said Rep. Gregory W. Meeks (D-N.Y.). “She knows what got us here and what’s going to keep us here.”
Pelosi suggested to New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd in an opinion piece published Saturday that “the Squad” had a limited following inside the House. She specifically pointed to the example of the House-passed Democratic border bill in late June, which the group opposed.
“All these people have their public whatever and their Twitter world,” Pelosi said in the New York Times interview. “But they didn’t have any following. They’re four people and that’s how many votes they got.”
Several in the caucus were uncomfortable with Pelosi’s comments. Congressional Progressive Caucus leaders are expected to talk to Pelosi about her comments, according to two officials familiar with the plan. Other women of color in the House have similarly expressed concerns.
“I can’t tell the speaker to apologize, but I was taken aback by it. Because we’re all here to work together,” said Rep. Jahana Hayes (D-Conn.), the first black woman to represent her state in Congress.
Notably, Hayes, Ocasio-Cortez and Omar appeared together with Pelosi smiling on the cover of Rolling Stone in a photo taken in January.
While some of the four enjoy more diplomatic relationships with Pelosi, Ocasio-Cortez’s relationship with the speaker has been chilly from the start. After she upset Rep. Joseph Crowley (N.Y.) in the Democratic primary, Pelosi moved to immediately downplay her victory, saying it was a one-off event.
Still, Pelosi tried to create a bridge with the New Yorker: During their first face-to-face meeting just before the midterm elections, Pelosi spent nearly two hours trying to convince the liberal that she was just like her, touting her background. It was around that time that Ocasio-Cortez agreed to not only back Pelosi as speaker but also vocally defend her against rebels trying to keep her from the gavel.
Now, half a year later, virtually all communication between the two women has ceased. The two have not spoken one-on-one since February when Ocasio-
Cortez declined Pelosi’s personal request that she join her select committee on climate change, according to individuals who know both lawmakers.
Just days after, during a private Progressive Caucus meeting, Pelosi singled out Ocasio-Cortez in front of her colleagues, calling her out for rejecting the select committee offer. Ocasio-Cortez had publicly criticized leadership for refusing to give the committee the power to directly draft legislation.
Since then, Pelosi has made several dismissive remarks about Ocasio-Cortez, calling her Green New Deal “the Green Dream or whatever,” and suggesting that a “glass of water” running as a Democrat could win in districts as liberal as hers.
“The third and fourth time [she insulted me], it was like, ‘This is unnecessary, but I’m not going to pick a fight over it. Whatever, I’ll be the punching bag if that’s what they want me to be,’ ” Ocasio-
Cortez said. But now people are telling the freshman to talk to Pelosi. She doesn’t want to, however.
“There hasn’t really been a relationship, to be frank,” she said. “It’s difficult.”
Omar, according to people close to her, has been similarly disappointed. The lawmaker from Minnesota looks up to Pelosi and has enjoyed a positive relationship with the speaker, despite her criticisms of Israel that caused a major stir in the party. Even then, however, Pelosi gave Omar a heads-up before chiding her publicly.
In one of her first conversations with Pelosi after she won her primary, Omar told Pelosi that she couldn’t vote on the floor because of a headwear ban in the House. Pelosi promised to change the rules so she could wear her hijab in the Capitol.
For Tlaib, Pelosi’s latest comment amounted to a mixed message — one that seemed to contradict the advice Pelosi gave in a meeting early in her tenure. “Represent your district,” Tlaib recalled Pelosi telling her. “And that’s exactly what I’m doing.”
Hours after her primary win in August, Tlaib ruffled feathers by saying in a CNN interview that she would “probably not” support Pelosi for speaker. But Pelosi, directly and through intermediaries, worked through the ensuing months to keep her mind open, and Tlaib ultimately voted for her.
Tlaib then won a seat on the Financial Services Committee, a plum assignment for a freshman in a safely Democratic district. And even as she garnered outsize media attention, Pelosi appeared to have her back: When Tlaib was filmed telling a crowd of supporters in vulgar terms that lawmakers would impeach President Trump, Pelosi delivered only faint public criticism.
“Whatever is she saying is not going to impact my work,” Tlaib said of Pelosi’s comments over the weekend. “I'm going to continue to introduce legislation and policy.”
Yet some lawmakers and aides believe Pelosi’s treatment of the group is having a quiet effect on them. Many activists thought the group would band together to form a type of Freedom Caucus to deliver wins for the left, but they haven’t done so and appear almost on the defensive when Pelosi criticizes them.
They also have not tried to whip votes against a major leadership priority such as the border bill, nor muscled House support for impeachment, an idea Pelosi rejects. And they have declined to call Pelosi out by name as she sidelines liberal policy priorities such as Medicare-for-all and the Green New Deal, dismissing them publicly as “enthusiasms” and “exuberances” rather than viable policy prescriptions.
“She chooses her words carefully. She does not misspeak,” said Rep. Anna G. Eshoo (D-Calif.), a close friend of Pelosi. “There's a big difference between being an advocate and being a legislator.”
Asked about why she hasn’t confronted Pelosi, Ocasio-Cortez said she wasn’t sure what to do.
“I do find it a little curious that leadership doesn’t want us to try to have any sort of conversation about even messaging — but we’re just freshmen, right?” she said.



OH, The poor, Poor, Fab Four - they do not get their way so they are Bullied!!!
Yet, after all - they are "Just Freshmen"!!!!
Snowflakes wailing - and using the wromng Progressive Socialist gender identity words, to Boot!
No sense of personal responsibility whatsoever.

It will be interesting to see which of the four idiots are re-elected in 2020.

Seems we have a dearth of DPST posters - due to similar behavior issues, IMHO.



SR and Agrarian - where are You???? Let's hear a cogent counter point.

I said a while ago -- Freshmen Representatives should sit back and learn. The "Fab Four" are not helping for the most part. Pelosi is correct in trying to get them to tone down the rhetoric for the good of the Democratic party.

This was covered in the forum before: AOC and others were hired by Soros outfits to act as "disruptors" and move to the Democratic Socialist way of thinking. They and others, especially The Young Turks, have admitted to it and there's more than a little document to confirm it. AOC has specifically confirmed it.

Hopefully, they'll be voted out of office next elections. Hopefully, in Pelosi's eyes.

Speedy, walk into the 21st Century with us. This ain't your father's Democratic party anymore. Look around. I'll admit it ain't my father's Republican party either. The Democratic Senators are a corrupt joke.

^^^ yup ^^^

This was covered in the forum before: AOC and others were hired by Soros outfits to act as "disruptors" and move to the Democratic Socialist way of thinking. They and others, especially The Young Turks, have admitted to it and there's more than a little document to confirm it. AOC has specifically confirmed it.

Hopefully, they'll be voted out of office next elections. Hopefully, in Pelosi's eyes.

Speedy, walk into the 21st Century with us. This ain't your father's Democratic party anymore. Look around. I'll admit it ain't my father's Republican party either. The Democratic Senators are a corrupt joke. Originally Posted by gnadfly

IF you remember, it is only recently that I have moved from supporting Republicans to supporting Democrats. I voted for Obama, the first Democrat I ever voted for for a federal office, in 2008 because I had lost 25% of my 401k and I trusted Obama more than McCain/Palin to bring back the economy. Whether responsible for the stock market revival or not, I made a great deal of money in Obama's first term and voted for him again in 2012. In 2016 I most definitely did not like Hillary Clinton but I liked Donald Trump less. Had the Republican's nominated John Kasich the odds are I would have voted for him.

IF you remember, it is only recently that I have moved from supporting Republicans to supporting Democrats. I voted for Obama, the first Democrat I ever voted for for a federal office, in 2008 because I had lost 25% of my 401k and I trusted Obama more than McCain/Palin to bring back the economy. Whether responsible for the stock market revival or not, I made a great deal of money in Obama's first term and voted for him again in 2012. In 2016 I most definitely did not like Hillary Clinton but I liked Donald Trump less. Had the Republican's nominated John Kasich the odds are I would have voted for him. Originally Posted by SpeedRacerXXX

arya ... liking your 401k now?

arya ... liking your 401k now? Originally Posted by The_Waco_Kid

In 2013 when I, for the most part, retired I moved almost all of my money out of the stock market. Couldn't care less if the market goes up or down. Doesn't impact me at all.

Don't like AOC. She and bernie like communism a bit too much for my blood.

Power comes a bit these days from popularity,
unfortunately, these days, unless of course they get in the news for unfavorable things as Rep King from Iowa has.
Because of Twitter, everyone knows AOC and the others. A skirt chaser from Texas shouldn't know of a bartender turn legislator from New York.

AOC, a freshman congresswoman, as an example, stopped the behemoth sized Amazon from setting up shop. Amazon who certainly employs lobbiests far more seasoned and savy, and had plenty of favor with all the right politicians, lost because of AOC.

She has one vote in Congress. Her voice is very loud. Pelosi shouldn't discount her. Hope AOC's district resolves the issue next year in the booth.

IF you remember, it is only recently that I have moved from supporting Republicans to supporting Democrats. I voted for Obama, the first Democrat I ever voted for for a federal office, in 2008 because I had lost 25% of my 401k and I trusted Obama more than McCain/Palin to bring back the economy. Whether responsible for the stock market revival or not, I made a great deal of money in Obama's first term and voted for him again in 2012. In 2016 I most definitely did not like Hillary Clinton but I liked Donald Trump less. Had the Republican's nominated John Kasich the odds are I would have voted for him. Originally Posted by SpeedRacerXXX

So you voted for Obama because Barney Frank crashed the housing market? Shrewd!!!!! BTW, the Fed policies had more to do with the market growth in those years than any of Obama’s policies. Qe1-2.

IF you remember, it is only recently that I have moved from supporting Republicans to supporting Democrats. I voted for Obama, the first Democrat I ever voted for for a federal office, in 2008 because I had lost 25% of my 401k and I trusted Obama more than McCain/Palin to bring back the economy. Whether responsible for the stock market revival or not, I made a great deal of money in Obama's first term and voted for him again in 2012. In 2016 I most definitely did not like Hillary Clinton but I liked Donald Trump less. Had the Republican's nominated John Kasich the odds are I would have voted for him. Originally Posted by SpeedRacerXXX

Funny speed how you "trusted" obummer and had nothing to basis it on...you earn trust it's not give.How many people have you not voted for because you didn't like them...I vote for someone that shares my political ideology whether I like them or not is irrelevant.

As I have ask the left on here, what ideology is it that the left has that will keep this country the greatest and help it prosper for generations to come. The field of candidates are all about as far left as any communist can be and this doesn't breed prosperity.

Medicare for all, open borders, student loan forgiveness, abortion on demand, living wages, jobs for all and massive amount of money spent on "climate change"...are these the new ideas that you embrace since you are no longer a Republican??

None of these issues are going to win over the majority of the country...the great economy and low unemployment are not something that the left can campaign against...only that Trump is(pick any pejorative you like).

All these candidates are in full pander mode.All the white males running ALL apologize for being "privileged" and "white males" WTF is that, I guess "Spartacus" being black is inoculated against this??

So speed I guess the winning theme here is vote for me...I'm not Trump...it will be a first.
P.S. Let me know speed what is the ideology of the left drove you to them...please share.

Funny speed how you "trusted" obummer and had nothing to basis it on...you earn trust it's not give.How many people have you not voted for because you didn't like them...I vote for someone that shares my political ideology whether I like them or not is irrelevant.

As I have ask the left on here, what ideology is it that the left has that will keep this country the greatest and help it prosper for generations to come. The field of candidates are all about as far left as any communist can be and this doesn't breed prosperity.

Medicare for all, open borders, student loan forgiveness, abortion on demand, living wages, jobs for all and massive amount of money spent on "climate change"...are these the new ideas that you embrace since you are no longer a Republican??

None of these issues are going to win over the majority of the country...the great economy and low unemployment are not something that the left can campaign against...only that Trump is(pick any pejorative you like).

All these candidates are in full pander mode.All the white males running ALL apologize for being "privileged" and "white males" WTF is that, I guess "Spartacus" being black is inoculated against this??

So speed I guess the winning theme here is vote for me...I'm not Trump...it will be a first.
P.S. Let me know speed what is the ideology of the left drove you to them...please share. Originally Posted by bb1961

I already responded to your question. I was a one issue person in 2008. I was anticipating retirement and just saw my 401k lose 25% of its net worth. I looked at the McCain/Palin ticket and saw nothing. Sarah Palin happened to be, in my opinion, the dumbest person to run for President/Vice President in my lifetime. Imagining her being a heartbeat away from being POTUS was beyond comprehension.

As for the issues:

NO ONE is proposing open borders. NO ONE. Got it?

Two candidates, Sanders and Warren, are proposing Medicare for All. JUST TWO.

NO ONE is proposing massive amounts of money being spent on climate change.

Again I ask you to FOCUS on the primary issues important to voters in 2020. Republicans have offered NOTHING on health care, the number one issue among voters. Immigration is #2 and thus far Trump has had little success. But there is opportunity on this issue. The economy is #3 and that is the one area where Trump can claim a level of success. However, if the economy falters in the next 16 months . . .

What you seem to not understand is that I am hardly alone in my dislike for Trump. Many people voted against him in 2016 based solely on his character and I predict many more will vote against him in 2020 for that reason alone. Then you add in what I perceive to be a horrible track record thus far on political issues and you will realize why I will not vote for him in 2020.

My guess is that your "political ideology" has had you voting Republican all your life. That is fine. Just don't pretend to be an open-minded voter when you enter the voting booth. It is obvious you consider any Democrat to be a far left Socialist/Communist.

So you voted for Obama because Barney Frank crashed the housing market? Shrewd!!!!! BTW, the Fed policies had more to do with the market growth in those years than any of Obama’s policies. Qe1-2. Originally Posted by bambino

Who caused the market crash is irrelevant to me. It happened. So I had to choose which candidate would help the stock market rebound and I chose Obama over McCain. First time I voted for a Democrat for POTUS. I'm not going to argue who to give credit to for the stock market recovery. Again, it happened. Every investor was very happy with the results.

Who caused the market crash is irrelevant to me. It happened. So I had to choose which candidate would help the stock market rebound and I chose Obama over McCain. First time I voted for a Democrat for POTUS. I'm not going to argue who to give credit to for the stock market recovery. Again, it happened. Every investor was very happy with the results. Originally Posted by SpeedRacerXXX

As they are today with another record and without artificial help.

I already responded to your question. I was a one issue person in 2008. I was anticipating retirement and just saw my 401k lose 25% of its net worth. I looked at the McCain/Palin ticket and saw nothing. Sarah Palin happened to be, in my opinion, the dumbest person to run for President/Vice President in my lifetime. Imagining her being a heartbeat away from being POTUS was beyond comprehension.

As for the issues:

NO ONE is proposing open borders. NO ONE. Got it?

Two candidates, Sanders and Warren, are proposing Medicare for All. JUST TWO.

NO ONE is proposing massive amounts of money being spent on climate change.

Again I ask you to FOCUS on the primary issues important to voters in 2020. Republicans have offered NOTHING on health care, the number one issue among voters. Immigration is #2 and thus far Trump has had little success. But there is opportunity on this issue. The economy is #3 and that is the one area where Trump can claim a level of success. However, if the economy falters in the next 16 months . . .

What you seem to not understand is that I am hardly alone in my dislike for Trump. Many people voted against him in 2016 based solely on his character and I predict many more will vote against him in 2020 for that reason alone. Then you add in what I perceive to be a horrible track record thus far on political issues and you will realize why I will not vote for him in 2020.

My guess is that your "political ideology" has had you voting Republican all your life. That is fine. Just don't pretend to be an open-minded voter when you enter the voting booth. It is obvious you consider any Democrat to be a far left Socialist/Communist. Originally Posted by SpeedRacerXXX

You sound conflicted. Also, inconsistent.

You don't consider much of the Democratic party has moved to the left? You don't consider Joe Biden one heartbeart away from the Presidency scary? Obama had a supermajority for almost two years and "my insurance premium isn't the size of my monthly cellphone bill." Wake up.

Also, please stay on topic.

You sound conflicted. Also, inconsistent.

You don't consider much of the Democratic party has moved to the left? You don't consider Joe Biden one heartbeart away from the Presidency scary? Obama had a supermajority for almost two years and "my insurance premium isn't the size of my monthly cellphone bill." Wake up.

Also, please stay on topic. Originally Posted by gnadfly

Speedy sounds just like the party he voted for! he's only concerned with one person himself! just like they are only concerned with staying in power and fuck everybody else!