Lauer Pelts Pelosi's Foreign Fling: 'A Lot of People Think She Messed Up

NewsBusters ^ | Mark Finkelstein

[governsleastgovernsbest]

I suppose you could chalk it up to his concern for the Dems' long-term best interests, but there's no denying that on this morning's "Today," Matt Lauer absolutely unloaded on Nancy Pelosi and her ill-conceived venture into foreign policy.

The segment was entitled "Democratic Diplomacy: Has Pelosi Gone Too Far?", virtually answering the question by its very asking. In the set-up piece, David Gregory rolled two telling clips. The first was of VP Cheney's comments on the Rush Limbaugh show yesterday to the effect that Pelosi's statement regarding her trip was"nonsensical." The second was of former congressman Lee Hamilton, warning that if his fellow Dems box in the president on foreign policy, Americans might conclude that the Democrats have gone "too far."

Interviewing Tim Russert at 7:06 AM ET, Lauer came out guns ablazin'.

LAUER: Vice-President Cheney called Nancy Pelosi's trip to Syria "bad behavior," a Washington Post editorial on Thursday called it "counter-productive and foolish," and op-ed in the Wall Street Journal this morning goes a step further and suggests her trip may actually have been a felony, that it may have violated something called the Logan Act. Tim, is this the way the Democrats wanted to get off the mark in terms of foreign affairs?

View video here.

RUSSERT: No, they clearly wanted to distinguish themselves from the president's policies, but you have to be careful, as Congressman Hamilton suggested. One ranking Democrat, Matt, said "we have an alternative Democratic foreign policy." That is going to be very difficult to articulate and put into place when you don't control the White House. On the other hand, Speaker Pelosi issued a statement last night on behalf of the bi-partisan delegation she is leading. Her delegation includes Republican congressmen. She is saying she has done nothing wrong or inconsistent with American foreign policy.

LAUER: Well, that's their side of the story. However, if you look back at the mid-term elections, clearly some voters in this country were unhappy with the administration's foreign policy, specifically in Iraq; it's one of the reasons we think Democrats took control of Congress. But if the Democrats and Speaker Pelosi appear to be acting irresponsibly or incompetently, and let's face it, a lot of people think she messed up on this one, what's the impact for Democrats overall?

RUSSERT: It's considerable. The Democrats have always had a difficulty being competitive with the Republicans in the public voter's mind on national security and foreign policy issues. And if the people perceive missteps, it's going to create and underscore that perceptual problem of Democrats.

LAUER: And let's go back to the point you touched on a second ago. If it's seen . . . what is the bigger and longer-term issue here if a political party is seen as usurping presidential power in designing and implementing foreign policy?

RUSSERT: As we learned in 1994 Matt, when Republicans took control of Congress with the Republican revolution and the Contract With America, people voted for change. But the voters are also willing to turn that around on its head, if they believe people have gone too far. That's why this debate is so important.

Message to Speaker Pelosi: how do you know when you've messed up? When David Gregory and Matt Lauer respectfully cite VP Cheney's criticism of you.

Contact Mark at mark@gunhill.net

[Carolinamom]

That “One ranking Democrat” that Russert did NOT identify and who said “we have an alternative Democratic foreign policy” is California Rep. Tom Lantos.

[Al Gator]

Dingbat Pelosi should be shackled and frog marched off her plane on return.

And W would do that without hesitation. /s>

[dalight]

No. Its not perjury that is a felony for Republicans, its making statements that contradict a MSM reporter's recollections even when they don't keep notes or change their own story.

[SJackson]

If you'd like to be on this middle east/political ping list, please FR mail me.

High Volume. Articles on Israel can also be found by clicking on the Topic or Keyword Israel. or WOT [War on Terror]

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[Coldwater Creek]

They are being too fair and balanced? Somehow i just don’t trust those MSM dems.

[Eagle of Liberty]

These three went before her:



Syrian President Bashar Assad, left, meets with a three-man delegation from the United States House of Representatives, in Damascus on Sunday, April 1, 2007. Representatives Frank Wolf, Joe Pitts and Robert Aderholt, R-Haleyville, flew into Damascus on Saturday on a two-day visit ahead of the U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Syria on Tuesday.

http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2007/04/alabama_congressman_was_in_syr.html

[dfwgator]

The people who bleeped are the ones who stayed home last November and allowed the beeotch to be in charge in the first place.

[maryz]

And if the people perceive missteps, it's going to create and underscore that perceptual problem of Democrats.

Timmy, Timmy, Timmy -- surely you don't mean that an accurate perception on the part of the voters means a "perceptual problem" for the Dems? Oops -- I mean, surely you didn't mean to say it! ;-)

[Coldwater Creek]

I would say with you watching the shows everyday, it would take a ton to make your blood boil. Calm down, we need you!

[mainepatsfan]

Yup. They’re getting what they deserve now.

BTW congrats on the win Monday night and on keeping your coach.

[GOP_Lady]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1813017/posts

[wbill]

And DON'T bash Rush Limbaugh while doing it. They totally glossed over that Cheney said these things on Rush's show. That usually automatically causes an instant criticism of Rush

That's what tipped me to the fact that Pelosi really stepped in it.

Otherwise, Lauer would have prefaced his comments with "Noted Right-Wing Bigot and Drug Addict Rush Limbaugh took a few minutes away from kicking puppies today to get his orders from Dick Cheney. Cheney had this to say...."

I exaggerate, but not by much.

[Smocker]

That headscarf nonsense to pacify the muslim sensibilities really was stupid.

[TomGuy]

I have a feeling that Team Hillary may be behind this recent assault on Pelosi — via the WP and now Today.

Hillary does not want Nancy getting out ahead of her and creating a ‘bad taste of a woman in charge’ for the voters, because that could be a significant detriment to Hillary’s campaign next year.

Hillary is probably raging that Pelosi getting so much attention.

[mainepatsfan]

Exactly. The last thing Hillary wants is for Pelosi to be on the voters minds next year.

[sobieski]

WHen the Rs had 230 house seats and 51 senate, the MSM line was that this was an evenly divided country. When it’s reveresed, it’s a mandate for change.

[stayathomemom]

Whose idea was this trip and who arranged it? Nancy’s?

[lucysmom]

That headscarf nonsense to pacify the muslim sensibilities really was stupid.

When I went to church with Catholic friends before Vatican II, I also wore a head scarf.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Thanks, MB, but for some reason it got under my skin. I’m going back into my video to see if I can find and post a screen capture of Pelosi to show people what I’m talking about.

[Carolinamom]

My fantasy: that Pelosi Galore et al are “investigated” by the Dem House Ethics Committee for her blatant violation of the Logan Act. Dream headline: “1st Woman Head of House of Representatives Guilty of Disobeying Law”