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

[Emrys]

You win the “BINGO” award today. No truer words have been spoken on this thread.

[Coldwater Creek]

I can’t wait for the cat fight to begin! hehehe

[EnquiringMind]

"Nonsensical"

I love that word. So very appropriate, too.

[mainepatsfan]

Yup. Just like in 2000 their line was that the U.S. Supreme Court selected Bush as President while the Florida Supreme Court was just looking out for the common voter.

[TN4Liberty]

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

Your post made me wonder... the woman is second in line for the Presidency. If she were president, would she wear a scarf anytime she met with a Middle East leader?

If she would do that, would she bow before foreign royalty? Don't want to offend, after all.

[Eagle of Liberty]

Her delegation:

Others traveling with Pelosi were Democratic Reps. Tom Lantos of San Mateo, Henry Waxman of Los Angeles, Keith Ellison of Minnesota, Louise Slaughter of New York and Nick Rahall of West Virginia, and Ohio Republican David Hobson. Ellison is the first Muslim member of Congress.

http://origin.mercurynews.com/politics/ci_5564795

How convenient. She took our first muslim Congress member. I thought I also saw something saying that Representative Issa went. I am upset that Hobson went.

[johnny7]

“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.”

Fat'n'greasy Timmy doing all he can as DNC Damage Control Coordinator for the DBM.

[maryz]

Oddly (IMO), I can't seem to find a complete list of the "delegation" (quotes because didn't a "delegation" used to be "delegated" by someone?), only various partial lists, with some overlap (I bolded Repub names):

Pelosi's House website:

The Pelosi delegation, which included Representatives James E. Clyburn (D-SC), Chairman of the Democratic Caucus, Melvin Watt (D-NC), Chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, George Miller (D-CA), Maxine Waters (D-CA), Donald Payne (D-NJ), Barbara Lee (D-CA), Michael Capuano (D-MA), Carolyn Kilpatrick (D-MI), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), and Joe Wilson (R-SC) . . .

Al Jazeera has this:

The delegation also includes, in addition to the Muslim Keith Ellison, the Jewish Tom Lantos, and the Christian Arab American Nic Rahal.

Mercury News has this:

Others traveling with Pelosi were Democratic Reps. Tom Lantos of San Mateo, Henry Waxman of Los Angeles, Keith Ellison of Minnesota, Louise Slaughter of New York and Nick Rahall of West Virginia, and Ohio Republican David Hobson

.

SpiegelM picks up a NYT story:

In addition to Mr. Lantos, the delegation includes Representatives Henry A. Waxman of California, Louise M. Slaughter of New York, Nick J. Rahall II of West Virginia and Keith Ellison of Minnesota, all Democrats, as well as David L. Hobson, Republican of Ohio.

[Eagle of Liberty]

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

but if Hillary didn't want people to have a bad taste about a woman in charge, she would not lead an assault against her, she would direct the MSM to create another "nothing to see here, please move along" scenario.

[smalltownslick]

Cat fight! Cat fight!

[governsleastgovernsbest]

[Eagle of Liberty]

IMO, you took along a few token Republicans to deflect any blowback.

[Eagle of Liberty]

Sorry:

you=she

[Marathoner]

Thanks and GOD bless you for your service in watching that Today show crap. Whenever I go work out at the local Y in the mornings, there’s typically an overhead TV tuned in to that garbage. I always change it to Fox News ASAP.

[StoneWall Brigade]

Something called the Logan Act, $100.00 says that neither Matt or Tim know that was the Logan Act, is or who came up with up it and Tim is suppose to be a lawyer!

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Many thanks, Marathoner. Here in liberal ol’ Ithaca, it could be risky to try that!

[geezerwheezer]

Since Nancy is from San Francisco, she may well have one of those things she tripped on in Syria! She’s the best thing the Repubs have going for them right now.

[get'emall]

Why would Dave Hobson travel with this band of idiots? Very disapointing.

[mainepatsfan]

The Queen Bee Syndrome in full display.

[kalee]

I think the media is glad to have a reason to jump on Pelosi. They are only dumping on her to protect Hillary as the all powerful woman.