Lauer's PR Nudge to Nancy: Take Smaller Plane and Smile

NewsBusters ^ | Mark Finkelstein

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Message to Nancy Pelosi: when Matt Lauer and David Gregory agree that your quest for a big plane is turning into a PR mess, it's time to fold your wings.

Lauer raised the matter with David Gregory on this morning's "Today": "Let's talk about the size of the plane that Nancy Pelosi has requested from the Pentagon. Depending on the spin you want to believe here, either the Speaker says it's to travel efficiently back to her home district; Republicans are saying it's an abuse of power. Either way, does it just look bad from a PR standpoint?"

View video here.

Gregory agreed: "I think that's the problem. This is a Democratic leader who's promising to clean up Washington. It's worth remembering, post-9/11, the House Speaker gets private air travel by the Air Force to get back to his or her home district. Dennis Hastert went back to Chicago, Nancy Pelosi is going back to San Francisco. She wants the ability to go direct and not have to refuel on the way and have some family members go with her, and none of that is untoward, but the Air Force is saying, the military is saying 'look, we can't guarantee you a 757' which is essentially what she wants, it depends on availability. Republicans are saying 'look, this is more than just efficiency, this is extravagance.'"

That's when Lauer offered unsolicited but no doubt solid advice: "And if you were a PR firm giving guidance to the Speaker, you'd probably say 'take the refueling stop and smile,' right?"

Gregory: "Right, and it's something she's going to have to grapple with in the days to come."

Contact Mark at mark@gunhill.net

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Pelosi-plane ping to Today show list.

[cripplecreek]

Granny deserves her 757. LOL

[Pan_Yans Wife]

She's been told that she can't cart her family back and forth, either.

I find that delicious.

Besides, when she is in DC, performing her duties, shouldn't she be SO busy that she doesn't have much time to devote to family? After all, she is a MODERN woman, and work comes first, right?

[ClearCase_guy]

I love how these things are phrased:

"If you were a PR firm and wanted this Democrat to come off well, you'd just say ..."

"Some Republican insiders admit that the president seems clueless as to ..."

[jmaroneps37]

plastic face is finding learning there are somethings even the ratmedia can't bury. This is so "Animal farm".

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Aside: The flap over Pelosi's plane pales in comparison to the news displayed in the screencap of the 757: due to the heavy lake-effect snows in upstate NY, tonight's bingo at the VFW hall in Fulton has been cancelled ;-)

[CheyennePress]

Oh, how sweet! These guys care so much about our country that they're offering advice to the Speaker of the House!

Just to make her feel better!1!1!1

(oh geez...)

[Riptides]

The arrogance and hypocrisy of Nancy Pelosi is disgusting.
She is a bumbling idiot with a massive ego.

[stockpirate]

I just heard this on Fox News, they replayed an interview with Her Highness Pelosi.

Her Highness stated the following, paraphrased, "She is SECOND in line, this makes her VP am I correct?

I think she is third in line.

And she is concerned about security, well she is playing from both sides, on the one hand we are safe, but on the other she wants to be sure she is safe.

[stockpirate]

It is so she can fly with her TunaGate funders.

[Sir Francis Dashwood]

[Puppage]

and it's something she's going to have to grapple with in the days to come

If only my life were as bad....

[CT-Freeper]

Her Highness stated the following, paraphrased, "She is SECOND in line, this makes her VP am I correct?

I think she is third in line.

I've heard it both ways. I think the correct terminology is second in line for succession

The Vice President is first in line to replace the President, the Speaker of the House is second in line to replace the President.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Stuck with a LearJet, eh? ;-)

[stockpirate]

That makes sense, she is two back from POTUS, three counting him.

I'd always heard that was the third position.

[Puppage]

Yep, just slum'n along at 500mph. LOL

[Suzy Quzy]

Granny has LOTS of Children and Grandchildren and Friends that have to fly with her!!

[proud American in Canada]

Aside: The flap over Pelosi's plane pales in comparison to the news displayed in the screencap of the 757: due to the heavy lake-effect snows in upstate NY, tonight's bingo at the VFW hall in Fulton has been cancelled

LOL! Literally. :)

[verity]

In her case, I would suggest that, although phonetically correct, you misspelled "third."