💙CNN - Pelosi "I want women to see that you do not get pushed around. You don't run from the fight"
Our series returns after a midterm election that delivered historic numbers of women to Congress.
Their energy, perspective and determination will reshape one of the power centers in a man's town.
These are the stories of Badass Women all around Washington.
Dana Bash, Bridget Nolan, Rachel Smolkin & Abigail Crutchfield )
(CNN) In many ways, Nancy Pelosi is the original Badass Woman of Washington.
There are the obvious reasons, not the least of which is her place in the history books as the first female House speaker.
But it is more than that. It is how she got there -- excelling in a man's world and playing in what was traditionally a boy's club of politics -- as well as, and often better than, her male counterparts.
For all the interviews Pelosi does, she doesn't talk often about her struggles and challenges as a woman. But here, she spoke quite candidly about it all.
"I get some names called, because if you're effective as a woman, then they have to undermine you, because that's a real threat," Pelosi told us in an interview.
"I'm probably more of a target than anybody, except for somebody who runs for president," she said.
Talk about an understatement. For years Pelosi has been the ultimate Republican boogeyman -- or boogeywoman, as it were. She's a frequent target of Republican ire for being too far to the left -- and she's also a target among progressives for not being far left enough.
Some fellow Democrats are now distancing themselves from Pelosi, promising not to vote for her as House speaker again even though her party has won a majority in the House of Representatives in the midterm elections and shifted the power dynamics in President Donald Trump's Washington.
As she was telling me how qualified she is to be House speaker again, it struck me how unusual it is to hear a woman talk so confidently about how uniquely qualified she is for a job or position she is seeking.
Though I am no shrinking violet, it is often hard for me to toot my own horn that way, something I admitted in the moment to Pelosi.
"For most women, frankly, myself included, it is hard to say those words, 'I am uniquely qualified. I deserve this. I earned this. I can do this better than anyone else,'" I told Pelosi.
"You know why I do it? I do it, because I want women to see that you do not get pushed around. You don't run away from the fight," she responded.
SNIP
Not long ago, Democratic men didn't think much of women in leadership
Right now, a historic 102 women are set to be sworn into the House, and that number could rise even more as a handful of outstanding races are decided.
When Pelosi got to the House in 1987, there were only 26 women serving. She says having five older brothers came in handy.
"Growing up in a family of boys helped me, because I was unimpressed," she said.
When she first ran for House leadership 18 years ago, her male Democratic colleagues didn't get it.
"When people came to me and said, 'You should run for leadership,' and I agreed to look at it, then some of the men said, 'Who said she could run?' That was a real motivator."
She also remembers the men being told that "a lot of the women are supporting Nancy to run."
The men responded by saying, "'Well, why? Do the women have a list of things they want us to do? Why don't they just make a list and give us the list?' This is the Democratic Party in the year 2000," Pelosi recalls, a tone of disbelief still in her voice.
How does she wield power differently than a man?
Pelosi says that after meetings, people ask her, "Do you understand how different that meeting would have been if a man were conducting it?
MORE of this candid side of Speaker Pelosi & the struggles she faced against a male dominated field, as she achieved the Speaker position she holds today.
https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2018/11/13/politics/nancy-pelosi-badass-women-washington/index.html
A bravo read & interview at Link
She isn't playing 'the women's card', she never did in all her days having to play 'the man's game' & those that accuse her of such, is the biggest insult to how she came to be so respected, effective & feared.
Never allow anyone to dismiss Pelosi's success as insulting as simply "playing the woman's card"
Me.
(35,454 posts)A Vote Against Pelosi is a vote for the Cons, because they want and need her out.
Bfd
(1,406 posts)Yet not one of her small limited minded accusers had the creds she earned.
Women like Hillary, Pelosi, are the the women, the ones who walked thru the boys' clubhouse, removed the "no girlz allowed" sign and made their place in history WITHOUT playing the "Women's Card", because had they dared tried that back then, they would have been mocked out of the room.
The respect & open door the new women entering congress today build upon, came by the sheer determination & belief of purpose like Clinton, Pelosi, Feinstein, Boxer.
They just blazed that trail & we all won because of it.
George II
(67,782 posts)....saying things like "Step up, or step aside"!
Those three could eat other Representatives' lunch.
Me.
(35,454 posts)and the arrogance of newbies built on one win. They'll be schooled. And how many of them are there?
And ps. they aren't there to create divisiveness. Quite the contrary.
Bfd
(1,406 posts)Justice Democrats is an American progressive political action committee founded on January 23, 2017 by Cenk Uygur of The Young Turks,
Cenk has never been for the Democratic Party in his life.
He's always had an agenda against our Democratic Party platform.
Wonder why he chose the title of his new pac, Justice Democrats, when he was never one.
We'll see how his new group fares in voting against the Dem Leadership.
He also backed Sarsour & Mallory in the women's march, & only recently we find out who they REALLY ARE.
Celebrating the bigotry & anti semitism of Farrankahn as his groupies.
Cenk & the allies of Farrankahn do not support the Democratic platform of 'all created equal'.
So what's the agenda of Justice Democrats again?
Its clear as day.
Cenk's history is pretty anti Democratic. So what gives here?
George II
(67,782 posts)...or dictating to Democrats.
They endorsed five Governor candidates - all five lost
They endorsed on Lt. Governor candidate - lost
They endorsed four Senate candidates - all four lost in their primaries
They endorsed 68 Congressional candidates - 7 won (one was unopposed) and four are going to a runoff
Cenk was forced to resign in December 2017 from the organization that he founded about 10 months earlier because of "racist and sexist" blog posts he made several years earlier.
Bfd
(1,406 posts)big tell as to what his agenda always was in running hard against the Democratic Party.
Nothing the Justice Democrats proposed is outside the basic tenats of the Dem Party.
His Pac was formed with a personal agenda and we'll see just how far it goes before they are revealed to be exactly as we know them to be.
And be damned sure they will not be allowed to hide behind a catchy label
We'll be watching just how this group fares in voting for the Dem Congressional Platform. We have some serious powerhouse Dem leaders that will have no problem addressing Cenk's democrats.
Cenk's a Republican racist & his Justice pac became an anti Demicratic agenda
Hortensis
(58,785 posts)both major groundbreakers for equality.
Yet no respect, no admiration for their great battles and achievements, only denigration and hostility.
I believe that is every bit as telling about who the Cenk types are as voting for Trump/Republicans was for those angry white working men who resented the Democratic Party's commitment to advancing women and minorities. In fact, we don't know that the Cenk types didn't also. I've been suspecting they're really just a variation on the type.
Bfd
(1,406 posts)Cenk's a Republican racist & his Justice pac became an anti-Democratic agenda.
And again the fools followed it over the cliff
Hortensis
(58,785 posts)Populists movements are typically full of the type of troublemaking social conservative who wants progressive social programs for people like them. In fact, it's been argued that this combination is so common that it is integral to populist movements.
Those who emphasize social hates tended to vote for Trump, and some who were more engaged by need for progressive programs, like healthcare, migrated to Sanders. But they're basically the same. And given Cenk's conservatism, progressivism, populism, and hostility to Democrats in general, and women and minority leaders in particular, I think I know what to think of him.
Now, I'm going to ignore that whole group again because their pretend left-wing hypocrisy makes me want to spit. They make trumpsters look honest.
Bfd
(1,406 posts)They already have their agenda in order as to restoring dignity & fairness to our House.
Cenk's groupies can dance around the cameras for attention, the heavy lifting will be done by our powerful Democratic Leaders come January.
Watching them work in unison will be our Country & our Party's grand & proudest moment in history.
We restore Democracy for all citizens and strengthen our eternal allies around the world.
We are the proud strong Democratic Party ~
Think its a good time to put a few words & names that want nothing but to suck the air outta the room, on ignore & block
Hortensis
(58,785 posts)I belatedly really understood and became very proud of the role we've played in forming, advancing and protecting our nation's great experiment. We'd none of us dream of putting our thoughts on the internet now without ourselves, even if allowed.
Speaking of contribution, it should be noted that conservative progressives, who outnumber their radical counterparts on the left, have also played a role in making progressive advances possible. And we'll need their support to use the government toolbox in the future.
Speaking of, Sanders tried to create coalition of radical left progressives and social conservatives drawn away from Trump, and made no secret of it, of course. What would have happened had he succeeded I don't know. Would he have have managed to keep the Cenks loyal, and how?
Gothmog
(143,999 posts)I stop paying attention to Cenk and TYT a long time ago. Cenk hates the party and wants to hurt the party
Gothmog
(143,999 posts)A vote against Pelosi is a vote for trump and the GOP
Me.
(35,454 posts)and anyone who doesn't care for it can take a flying leap.
George II
(67,782 posts)100% correct - she's just being the LEADER that true Democrats expect of our Minority Leader and soon Speaker of the House.
Response to Bfd (Original post)
Name removed Message auto-removed
Bfd
(1,406 posts)That one-liner needs to be called out for the biased lie it is.
Because it is not the truth of why she was given little choice.
But, hey did you hear how she's now playing the "woman's card"?
Another lie of a one-liner pushed out there & repeated to demean & diminish the worth of this person.
How do the newly elected Justice democrats women feel about that "woman's card" label used against Speaker Pelosi?
How does Cenk feel about tossing out a demeaning useless one-liner like that one?
Just curious.
George II
(67,782 posts)NurseJackie
(42,862 posts)That user is skating on very thin ice. All I'm saying is that people who continue to take risks will end up getting very wet and very cold.
"Hey, Dad! Watch this!"
(Oh lighten up! He survives... wet, cold, embarrassed.)
(Some people never learn.)
(Looks like fun! Let's see if it's strong enough for TWO! ... Nope!)
(Oooo! Almost! So close!)
(With friends like this... get new friends!)
Bfd
(1,406 posts)mcar
(42,210 posts)Bfd
(1,406 posts)handels that gavel.
mcar
(42,210 posts)but they should have done their homework.
The Polack MSgt
(13,159 posts)That we hear Trumpsters' non-stop brain diarrhea about the she devils Hilary Clinton, Diane Feinstein and Nancy Pelosi every gottdamm day.
Then come onto this (and other) supposedly Democratic discussion boards only to listen to "Democrats" echo all the hate - But with a fresh lemony "Liberal" slant
"How dare they not do impossible things whenever I demand they do so! Harumph!"
"Weak corporate tools!"
"They should be more like (insert current heartthrob of the left).
Why even (Current Flashy Political mancrush with a penis but without a history of accomplishment) would never let this shit stand!!"
Look if you want useless grandstanding and political kabuki, re-watch the fucking Benghazi hearings - It's a twofer, it's useless theater and it bashes a famous Democrat as well.
It's a fucking win win for alla yin's
Bfd
(1,406 posts)Thanks.
Spot on post.
NurseJackie
(42,862 posts)Eliot Rosewater
(31,097 posts)The Polack MSgt
(13,159 posts)I wish you had not accurately predicted all this Gówno
Eliot Rosewater
(31,097 posts)Me.
(35,454 posts)is a vote for Comrade Trump & the GOP
Bfd
(1,406 posts)We have a pattern coming into clear view here...
The Polack MSgt
(13,159 posts)Listen to an actual Democratic Party powerhouse and living legend instead:
Elijah Cummings urges Dems to NOT vote against Pelosi for Speaker.
"That will only play into the hands of House Republicans and President Trump. Our new members promised their constituents to bring stability and common-sense to a dysfunctional Washington,"
Me.
(35,454 posts)but I've copied and pasted your post and will be using it over and over as there seems to be so many posts knocking her being speaker.
The Polack MSgt
(13,159 posts)Had I hit the lotto, I'd Put it on billboards broadcast it over every radio.
Elijah Cummings is a bad man and needs to be heard
George II
(67,782 posts)brer cat
(24,401 posts)Cha
(295,903 posts)Bfd
(1,406 posts)callously eyed & mocked as a woman, all the years she has worked for a better society thru govt.
I have the highest regard for women of her generation, who saw many changes in society & yet this old patriarchial attitudes are still so prevalant.
Bless her for her courage thru all her years as a public servant.
Proud to have always been on her side & believed in her judgement.
Can't wait to see all she accomplishes with a Dem majority behind her.
brer cat
(24,401 posts)she never whines! When you need an adult in the room, Pelosi is the go-to.