Staff Reports
In a recent NPR interview, Rep. Nancy Pelosi, the self-proclaimed “master tactician” of the Democratic Party, found herself dancing around a question about President Joe Biden’s decision to step down. This revelation came as a surprise to precisely no one who has been observing the Democrats’ shifting narrative in recent months. With her new book titled The Art of Power: My Story as America’s First Woman Speaker of the House, Pelosi clearly has plenty to say. Still, it seems the former House Speaker is not keen on clarifying just how much influence she believes she wields in the Biden administration.
During a segment on MSNBC’s Morning Joe back in July, Pelosi dropped a not-so-subtle hint that Biden’s tenure was hanging in the balance when she remarked that it was up to him to decide if he was going to run again. Despite Biden confidently proclaiming, “I’m in. I’m running. Case closed,” Pelosi suggested otherwise. This statement opened up a Pandora’s box of speculation as to whether her remarks triggered any second-guessing in the White House. In typical fashion, she failed to acknowledge any responsibility, instead focusing on praising Biden as one of the most consequential presidents in history—arguably a perspective only shared by a handful of Democrats and a vast majority of fact-checkers who might disagree.
Nancy Pelosi just said that Joe Biden belongs on Mount Rushmore.
This comment doesn't seem so odd once you consider that Pelosi has been continuously drunk longer than you've been alive. pic.twitter.com/E8jLrGSO5y
— Axiomatic Enemy of the State (@DeTocqueville14) August 4, 2024
Pelosi’s attempts to pivot the conversation from her previous comments led to a spectacular display of political gymnastics. She seemed more interested in excusing her presence during the NATO summit than addressing the implications of her comments. Rather than owning up to her role in what many Democrats believe was a causative factor in Biden’s ultimate decision, she flicked the question aside like a pesky fly on a summer day, insisting her main concern was ensuring Donald Trump “never set foot in the White House again.” What could be more important than obsessing over the former president’s presence?
When confronted with claims that she had the clout to sway Biden’s decision-making process, Pelosi resorted to classic bureaucratic jargon, declaring that contrary to rampant media speculation, she hadn’t “called one person” to alter Biden’s fate. Instead, she claimed it was all the other way around—people were calling her. This statement raises eyebrows; anyone familiar with the inner workings of Congress knows that if Pelosi was fielding calls from anyone, it was likely to strategize on damage control.
Despite painting herself as a mere participant in the unfolding drama, Pelosi maintained that she had not spoken with Biden since he publicly announced his withdrawal. This declaration is more telling than a gossip column reveals; if she had no direct line to the man she claims to admire, it suggests the disconnect in the Democratic Party is even deeper than anticipated. The fact that she claimed to be unperturbed by her absence from Biden’s decision-making table only adds another layer of intrigue to the Democrats’ story arc as they juggle the realities of leadership and dwindling public support. As always, the only thing clearer than Pelosi’s intricate verbal dodges is that the 2024 election season is gearing up to be one colossal spectacle.
