The New Democrat Dynamic Duo of Obstructionism

Republican National Committee ^ | January 31, 2005

[RWR8189]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Brian Jones
202-863-8614

“Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid’s obstructionist remarks today were full of pessimism and personal attacks but lacked any vision for winning the War on Terror or preserving Social Security for future generations. While President Bush is looking to work with Democrats in confronting the challenges facing our nation, the Democrat leaders’ attacks on a speech that has not even been delivered are a sad reminder of their determination to score partisan political points even at the cost of accomplishing the business of the American people.”  -Brian Jones, RNC Communications Director

 

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Pelosi’s Record: Obstruction, Pessimism And Inflammatory Remarks

Pelosi Voted Against Use Of Force In Iraq. (H. J. Res. 114, CQ Vote #455: Passed 296-133: R 215-6; D 81-126; I 0-1, 10/10/02, Pelosi Voted Nay)

• Pelosi Fought To Water Down Support For War And President. “The debate over the wording [of the House resolution to support the troops and President Bush] was much more contentious in the House, where Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi … unsuccessfully fought into the late evening to tone down support for Bush and delete other passages opposed by antiwar Democrats, congressional sources said.” (Jim VandeHei, “Hill Resolutions Supporting Bush, Troops Are Approved,” The Washington Post, 3/21/03) 
•  Inability To Stop War One Of Pelosi’s “Great Disappointments.” “‘I consider it one of the great disappointments of my public life that I couldn’t use my influence to stop this war,’ Pelosi said somberly as the first wave of shock and awe began …” (Marc Sandalow, “Pelosi Picks Her Way Through Brambles Of War,” The San Francisco Chronicle, 3/30/03) 
• Pelosi Called Resolution To Support Troops “Bitter Pill.” (Sheryl Gay Stolberg, “With Democrats Divided On War, Pelosi Faces Leadership Test,” The New York Times, 4/1/03)

Pelosi Voted Against Creation Of Homeland Security Department. (H.R. 5005, CQ Vote #367: Passed 295-132: R 207-10; D 88-120; I 0-2, 7/26/02, Pelosi Voted Nay) 

• Pelosi Said Homeland Security Legislation Took “Giant Step Backwards” And Was “Exercise In Futility.” (“Partisan Tone Is Struck At Homeland Security Markup,” National Journal’s CongressDaily, 7/19/02)
• Pelosi Does Not Consider War On Terror A Real War. “‘I don’t really consider ourselves at war,’ Pelosi said. ‘We’re in a struggle against terrorism throughout the world, and we stand with the president in that fight.’ But that does not bestow ‘some kind of mantle on the president that he can’t be subject to criticism.’” (Miles Benson, “Democrats Show Greater Audacity In Criticizing Bush,” Newhouse News Service, 5/6/02)

Pelosi Said President Bush “Is An Incompetent Leader. In Fact, He’s Not A Leader” And “Has On His Shoulders The Deaths Of Many More Troops.” ("Pelosi Criticizes Bush on Iraq Policies," The Associated Press, 5/20/04)

Pelosi Said The Bush Administration Pursues Policies Of “Fear And Terror.” (Rep. Nancy Pelosi, “You Have Re-Ignited The Democratic Party,” Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee E-Mail, 7/1/04)

Pelosi Said That If America Is Attacked “It Will Be Because This President Was So Focused On Iraq.” (Spencer S. Hsu And Dana Milbank, “Kerry Rips Cheney Statement,” The Washington Post, 9/9/04)

Pelosi Said President “Has Failed In How He Has Tried To Protect America.” (ABC’s “This Week,” 10/31/04)

Reid’s Record: The “One-Man Filibuster” Promises To “Screw Things Up”

“In The Last Congress, [Reid] Conducted A One-Man Filibuster Of Nearly Nine Hours -- Sipping Sparingly On Water So He Wouldn’t Have To Leave The Senate Floor For The Restroom – To Upset A Republican Talkathon To Blast Democratic Delaying Tactics.” (Bob Dart, “Harry Reid: Breaking The Democratic Mold,” Cox News Service, 11/19/04)

Reid Has Promised To “Screw Things Up” For Senate Republicans. “If they, for whatever reason, decide to do this [change Senate rules on filibusters], it’s not only wrong, they will rue the day they did it, because we will do whatever we can do to strike back … I know procedures around here. And I know that there will still be senate business conducted. But I will, for lack of a better word, screw things up.” (Helen Dewar And Mike Allen, “GOP May Target Use Of Filibuster,” The Washington Post, 12/13/04)

 “Indeed, As Daschle’s Whip, Reid Helped Orchestrate An Unprecedented Filibuster Of Some Of President Bush’s More Conservative Judicial Nominees.” (Allison Stevens, “Senate Democrats Set A Daschle-Like Tone For 2005,” Congressional Quarterly, 11/16/04)

In The 108th Congress Reid Voted Against Cloture On Judicial Nominees Twenty Times. (CQ Vote #40: Motion Rejected 55-44: R 51-0; D 4-43; I 0-1, 3/6/03, Reid Voted Nay; Vote #53: Motion Rejected 55-42: R 51-0; D 4-41; I 0-1, 3/13/03, Reid Voted Nay; CQ Vote #56: Motion Rejected 55-45: R 51-0; D 4-44; I 0-1, 3/18/03, Reid Voted Nay; CQ Vote #114: Motion Rejected 55-44: R 51-0; D 4-43; I 0-1, 4/2/03, Reid Voted Nay; CQ Vote #137: Motion Rejected 52-44: R 50-0; D 2-43; I 0-1, 5/1/03, Reid Voted Nay; CQ Vote #140: Motion Rejected 52-39: R 49-0; D 3-38; I 0-1, 5/5/03, Reid Voted Nay; CQ Vote #143: Motion Rejected 54-43: R 50-0; D 4-42; I 0-1, 5/8/03, Reid Voted Nay; CQ Vote #144: Motion Rejected 52-45: R 50-0; D 2-44; I 0-1, 5/8/03, Reid Voted Nay; CQ Vote #308: Motion Rejected 53-43: R 51-0; D 2-42; I 0-1, 7/29/03, Reid Voted Nay; CQ Vote #312: Motion Rejected 55-43: R 51-0; D 4-42; I 0-1, 7/30/03, Reid Voted Nay; CQ Vote #316: Motion Rejected 53-44: R 51-0; D 2-44; I 0-0, 7/31/03, Reid Voted Nay; CQ Vote #419: Motion Rejected 54-43: R 51-0; D 2-43; I 1-0, 10/30/03, Reid Voted Nay; CQ Vote #441: Motion Rejected 51-43: R 49-0; D 2-42; I 0-1, 11/6/03, Reid Voted Nay; CQ Vote #450: Motion Rejected 53-42: R 51-0; D 2-41; I 0-1, 11/14/03, Reid Voted Nay; CQ Vote #451: Motion Rejected 53-43: R 51-0; D 2-42; I 0-1, 11/14/03, Reid Voted Nay; CQ Vote #452: Motion Rejected 53-43: R 51-0; D 2-42; I 0-1, 11/14/03, Reid Voted Nay; CQ Vote #158: Motion Rejected 53-44: R 51-0; D 2-43; I 0-1, 7/20/04, Reid Voted Nay; CQ Vote #160: Motion Rejected 52-46: R 51-0; D 1-45; I 0-1, 7/22/04, Reid Voted Nay; CQ Vote #158: Motion Rejected 54-44: R 51-0; D 3-43; I 0-1, 7/22/04, Reid Voted Nay; CQ Vote #162: Motion Rejected 53-44: R 50-0; D 3-43; I 0-1, 7/22/04, Reid Voted Nay)

Reid Voted To Block Medical Liability Reform At Least Twelve Times. (H.R. 956, CQ Vote #140: Motion Agreed To 65-35: R 24-30; D 41-5, 5/2/95, Reid Voted Yea; H.R. 956, CQ Vote #141: Motion Agreed To 56-44: R 13-41; D 43-3, 5/2/95, Reid Voted Yea; H.R. 956, CQ Vote #144: Passed 53-47: R 48-6; D 5-41, 5/2/95, Reid Voted Nay; H.R. 956, CQ Vote #151: Motion Rejected 46-53: R 44-10; D 2-43; I 0-0, 5/4/95, Reid Voted Nay; H.R. 956, CQ Vote #152: Motion Rejected 47-52: R 45-9; D 2-43; I 0-0, 5/4/95, Reid Voted Nay; H.R. 956, CQ Vote #160: Motion Agreed To 54-44:: R 46-7; D 8-37, 5/10/95, Reid Voted Nay; H.R. 956, CQ Vote #161: Passed 61-37: R 46-7; D 15-30, 5/10/95, Reid Voted Nay; S. 1052, CQ Vote #212: Motion Agreed To 52-46: R 2-45; D 49-1; I 1-0, 6/29/01, Reid Voted Yea; S. 812, CQ Vote #197: Motion Agreed To 57-42: R 6-42; D 50-0; I 1-0, 7/30/02, Reid Voted Yea; S. 11, CQ Vote #264: Motion Rejected 49-48: R 49-2; D 0-45; I 0-1, 7/9/03, Reid Voted Nay; S. 2061, CQ Vote #15: Motion Rejected 48-45: R 47-3; D 1-41; I 0-1, 2/24/04, Reid Voted Nay; S. 2207, CQ Vote #66: Motion Rejected 49-48: R 48-3; D 1-44; I 0-1, 4/7/04, Reid Voted Nay)

Reid Led The Fight Against President Bush’s Department Of Homeland Security. (H.R. 5005, CQ Vote #218: Motion Rejected 50-49: R 0-48; D 49-1; I 1-0, 9/19/02, Reid Voted Yea; H.R. 5005, CQ Vote #225: Motion Rejected 49-49: R 1-47; D 47-2; I 1-0, 9/25/02, Reid Voted Yea; H.R. 5005, CQ Vote #226: Motion Rejected 50-49: R 1-48; D 48-1; I 1-0, 9/26/02, Reid Voted Yea; H.R. 5005, CQ Vote #227: Motion Rejected 44-53: R 1-46; D 42-7; I 1-0, 9/26/02, Reid Voted Yea; H.R. 5005, CQ Vote #228: Motion Rejected 45-52: R 2-46; D 42-6; I 1-0, 10/1/02, Reid Voted Yea; H.R. 5005, CQ Vote #241: Motion Agreed To 50-47: R 48-0; D 1-46; I 1-1, 11/13/02, Reid Voted Nay)

• Senate Dems Stalled Homeland Security For 112 Days. (H.R. 5005, Received In The Senate 7/30/02; H.R. 5005, CQ Vote #249: Passed 90-9: R 48-0; D 41-8; I 1-1, 11/19/02, Reid Voted Yea)

[RWR8189]

[bpjam]

Harry, can you see the smoke in the distance? That is the brush fire we set behind you in Nevada. There is no going back now. You ARE Washington D.C. You are no longer a Nevadan. You have been assimilated and in 5 1/2 more years you will be joining Tom Daschle in the dustbin of history alongside Jim Wright, Tom Foley and Dickless Gephardt.

[Alia]

Nancy Pelosi is a terrible role model for females aspiring to politics: She can't get her guy; so she's rumor-mongering about the chick he likes. ick.

[BenLurkin]

I pity the fools.

[Aetius]

Well lets just hope that Frist's threats to use the so-called 'nuclear option' aren't empty. He should do whatever is necessary, but sadly that might include having to drag some Republicans like McCain and Hagel along.

[Common Tator]

The house is a majority run organization. There is nothing Nancy can do except b*tch.

Hastert will do what every he wants. He has the majority. He was the votes. He will pass what the President wants passed.

Reid has a real problem in the senate. Reid, Kerry, Kennedy and Boxer have taken the wrong side of a very important isssue. Events have proved them wrong. The pictures of Iraqi voters have proved them wrong.

What the poor and senseless obstructionism and constant attacks on President Buah has accomplished over the last 4 years is fewer seats in the House and SEnate for Democrats.

Bush and Rove have acquired seven Senate seats that Democrats once occupied.

Toda there are seven or eight Democratic Senators who wake up every day afraid that Bush and Rove will get them defeated in 06 or 08. The Bush political machine is the first political organization created by a president that is designed to be very effective after the President leaves office.

There are several Democrats who understand their ability to hold on to their job depends on the Rove and Bush deciding not to put up an effective candidate that may very well defeat them. The way to prevent their own defeat or at least avoid the fight of their life, is to vote for cloture on the Bush agenda and Bush court nominees.

I will not be the least bit surprised if several Democrats make a deal with Bush and Rove.

Reid and company even Dean in the DNC can't reelect or defeat these Democrats. Bush and Rove can do either. They will tell Reid they can't make his filibuster plans work. As a result the Reid will announce he is taking the high road and will not filibuster the Bush agenda. But that will just be CMA bull. If Reid has the votes he will filibuster.

I don't think he can get them.

[maine-iac7]

Will someone pleas explain why these demorats get both a PREbuttal and a rebuttal?

This is a bad precedent - it should not be allowed - either one or the other, but not both.

[zbigreddogz]

He'd already be toast if Jim Gibbons had run.

[Paladin2]

Give Reid a bigger shovel and let him keep digging.