Pelosi Blames Sexism, Rummy for Plane-Gate

NewsBusters ^ | Mark Finkelstein

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Nancy Pelosi has decided to play the gender card. For good measure, she's thrown in a soupcon of Rumsfeld-phobia. MSNBC just aired a clip of Pelosi making the following remarks on the issue of her demand to the Pentagon for a large plane:

"I don't even know the numbers of the planes. So this is something that is really very strange. That the Department of Defense, the Pentagon, which I have been a constant critic of the war in Iraq, and where I understand Mr. Rumsfeld still has a desk, even though he's no longer the Secretary, has decided that they would go public about a conversation on an issue that applied to the previous Speaker. Now, as a woman, as a woman Speaker of the House, I don't want any less opportunity than male speakers have had when they have served here."

View the video of one angry Pelosi here.In to discuss the matter with host Norah O'Donnell were Kelly Dingell, Dem strategist, and Cheri Jacobus, GOP strategist. Cheri actually offered some very sound advice to the Speaker:

"The biggest mistake that Nancy Pelosi can play right now is to try to play a victim. This business that this is happening to her because she's a woman is ridiculous. She's asked for a larger plane, she's asked for something more than what the previous Speaker had. It's ridiculous and naive of her to think that people aren't going to look at this and want to know why. She's talking about this ethical Congress, they're supposed to be big environmentalists. I think it's ridiculous for her to make this about her being a woman, and a huge mistake on her part."

Dingell and O'Donnell emphasized that Pelosi was seeking a plane that could fly her home to California non-stop. But as many readers have pointed out, that in no way justifies the need for the 162-seat behemoth Pelosi has been seeking. There are any number of executive-sized jets with more than enough range to go California dreamin' -- non-stop.

When Dingell suggested there was good reason to suspect that someone "leaked" the story, Jacobus had a telling rebuttal: "I have a problem with the term 'leaked.' It shouldn't be a secret. Is it something [Pelosi] thought should have been kept secret?"

Precisely.

My good-faith two cents of advice to the Speaker: check the screencap. When MSNBC brands the flap "Air Pelosi," you've lost the argument. Cut your losses and move on.

Contact Mark at mark@gunhill.net

[stephenjohnbanker]

She IS a child...............with a husband worth 400 million : )

[stephenjohnbanker]

ROTFLMAO

[CyberAnt]

Good grief .. this woman needs to get over herself.

[GraceCoolidge]

The bathroom is too small says Rosie ODonnel in her defence.

Then why is she demanding to fly non-stop? She can just take the smaller plane and she can get out to use the bathroom when they stop for refueling!

[Trailerpark Badass]

Just listen to this woman...she acts like a middle schooler...he's picking on me because I criticized him...it's because I'm a girl...she's so childish.

And some women wonder why they aren't taken seriously as leaders.

[Texas_shutterbug]

She's making it a "sexism" thing by her bitchy, princess, queen bee attitude. Geesh

[Texas_shutterbug]

According to someone on Fox, there's another plane in the fleet that cabinet members, etc. fly that can easily go coast to coast. It's also about a twelve seater, I think.

Apparently there's a fleet of planes available, but not only did Pelosi want that huge plane, she wanted it strictly for herself and available to no one else.

In other words, she wanted Pelosi One. Her own plane at her beck and call - not to be sullied by some other congress critter.

[Mo1]

I'm surprise she didn't demand to have the president's plane

[jws3sticks]

Broomstick 1 isn't big enough for Nancy's ego.

From recent wind tunnel testing, properly placed, the broom stick can improve the aerodynamics of the air resistance.

Use you imagination on how to place the broom stick to reduce drag (no pun intended). If I typed it, it would be deleted ASAP.

[chiefqc]

Get over yourself, you're acting like a whinny little child. Oh wait I forgot you're a dumb-o-crat so thats to be expected.