That's what the WH propaganda machine would like you to believe. The truth is that Obama is driving this radical, socialist agenda, not Nancy Pelosi. Obama is the most left wing President ever to occupy the Oval Office. He has been deeply influenced by Alinsky, Ayers, Farrakhan, Frank Marshall Davis, et. al. Make no mistake about it, Obama and his handlers are driving this train.
I don’t doubt that Obama is driving the train, but he’s left Congress to shape the legislation and provide the details.
Pelosi has hurt him, big time. Her caustic style has made it easier for Republicans to close ranks and attack the Obama agenda, substituting Pelosi as a surrogate. It’s been a double-edged sword, this one party power, and the way that Pelosi and Reid have wielded it will end up being the Democrats’ undoing. I remember some really skillful Speakers (e.g., Tip O’Neill, Tom Foley) who also had overwhelming numerical advantages, but were able to finesse that damaging image (one-party arrogance and partisanship) much better than Pelosi/Reid. There’s “overreaching,” legislatively, and then there’s just plain bad public relations. The Democrats are setting themselves up for a very big fall in the midterm elections, especially if they can find a new “Newt,” and a new “contract.”