Pelosi on The Today Show: "I'm a Conservative Catholic"

The Today Show

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Matt Lauer just completed an interview with Nancy Pelosi. After some standard stuff about her "historic" role as the first woman to lead a congressional party, Lauer asked a a pretty probing question:

"When Republicans chose Newt as their leader, Democrats were quick to say they had gone too far right. Why shouldn't the Republicans now say that in choosing you, the Democrats have gone too far left?"

Pelosi answered by stating that while she represented her district in SF (implying that she was being very liberal in representing a very liberal district), she will lead "right down the center" of the Dem caucus.

She then added the following statement: "When people call me a liberal, I call myself a conservative Catholic."

I had heard Pelosi make the same statement in an interview yesterday, so this clearly seems to be a standard part of her defense to the charge that she's too liberal to lead successfully.

I'm not Catholic, but I have to assume that many true "conservative Catholics" will be upset by hearing Pelosi claim that label. It is hard to imagine an authentic conservative Catholic supporting unrestricted abortion, including partial birth abortion, as does Pelosi.

Pelosi failed to vote to ban PBA even when an exception was included for the life of the mother. I think it is thus fair to categorize her as a pro-abortion extremist. Given that record, to go on national TV and call herself a conservative Catholic seems the height of gall and duplicity.

As a sidenote, Pelosi also trotted out what the Dems have apparently decided to make their new theme: "Safety and Soundness," apparently some combination of national security and economic progress. Instant nominee for the "Lamest Political Slogan of the Decade."

[BlessedBeGod]

She then added the following statement: "When people call me a liberal, I call myself a conservative Catholic."

If she's a Catholic, she now needs to go to confession. Quick.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Her repeated claims of being a "conservative Catholic" are perhaps Pelosi's first major political mistake as leader.

First, it's a blatant, provable untruth, given the clear position of the Church on abortion, and her clear record of support for unrestricted abortion including PBA.

It's bound to outrage many people. And it's hard to imagine what new friends it's going to win her, given how obviously untrue it is. So, beyond the question of the ethics of misstating the truth in such an obvious manner, it would seem to be a political mistake.

For that matter, it might even turn off some of her liberal supporter!

[IronJack]

I call myself a conservative Catholic.

Riddle: If you call the tail a leg, how many legs does a dog have?

Answer: Four. Calling a tail a leg doesn't make it so.

[Constitutional Patriot]

"I'm a Conservative Catholic"

Yeah...and I'm the Easter Bunny. Who wants to be Spiderman?

[IronJack]

Actually, this is a classic example of the cognitive dissonance that marks the Democrats, their perpetual state of denial. I move that we refer to Ms. Pelosi as "Disso-Nancy."

[ChadGore]

[mware]

No way is she a conservative Catholic.

She is for abortion, against a ban on partial birth abortion. No practicing Catholic would condone infanticide

[demkicker]

"It is hard to imagine an authentic conservative Catholic supporting unrestricted abortion, including partial birth abortion, as does Pelosi.

Pelosi failed to vote to ban PBA even when an exception was included for the life of the mother. I think it is thus fair to categorize her as a pro-abortion extremist. Given that record, to go on national TV and call herself a conservative Catholic seems the height of gall and duplicity."

And naturally Matt Lauer didn't guffaw, or at least challenge her absurd claim. Another example of the elite media ignoring the Emperess with no clothes. Surprise, surprise < /not>

[rmgatto]

"Safety and Soundness." HAH! The party of bank examiners. "Lame" is an understatement.

[goldstategop]

The fact Pelosi feels compelled to position herself as a conservative in a liberal party speaks volumes about where the country is politically. If liberalism were really a winning philosophy you betcha Pelosi wouldn't describe herself as conservative-anything. Lo and behold it looks like Rush has made some progress and perhaps the day is not far off when even a leftist like Pelosi will agree with him!

[Calvin Locke]

He he. I'm almost, I repeat, almost, pining for the days when Clinton was pulling this feces. I'm already missing Gephardt.

Both are better story tellers on their worse days that Nancy is on her best.

[MarkT]

In the off chance that the Archbishop of the San Francisco Diocese heard her comment, she may actually face some cannonical and then political problems. She raised the issue of her so-called Catholicism - it is now the obligation of the Archbishop to refute publicly the public declaration of a public person who maintains such a demonstrably false fiction. The Archbishop will lose credibility if he does not act - failure to act, to right wrongs about which it is aware has gotten the Catholic Church into the mess it is right now - witness the molestation cases presently wending their way thoughout the land in various judicial forums. The public rebuke of her for her positions and her statement should not redound well to her politically.

[copycat]

Still like "Pelosifer" and the "Nancy Boys."

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Maybe Pelosi could get away with calling herself a "conservative Catholic" when she was running for Congress in San Francisco.

But that's not going to fly under the harsh glare of the national spotlight (how's that for a cliche!?)

I predict she is going to be called out on this, hard, by leading national conservative Catholics, from people such as William F. Buckley to Bill Donahue of the Catholic League.

[Calvin Locke]

I thought when Drudge had both Pelosi and Jocko's pictures up, there was some resemblence. Maybe they both use doctors from the same med school.

[Skywalk]

What a disgusting liar. This would be akin to me calling myself a leftist environmentalist Baptist. WHAT THE HELL?!?!?

[DWSUWF]

"..."When people call me a liberal, I call myself a conservative Catholic."..."

LOL!

She can call herself a Conservative, Negro, Time-travelling, Cyborg Catholic if it pleases her to do so...

But that won't alter the fact that she's a G.D. stinking LIBERAL enemy of the Constitution of the United States.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Agreed. Her claim of being a conservative Catholic, beyond being false, is clearly a rookie political mistake. You don't go on TV the day after being elected and tell a preposterous lie that is so easily refuted.

For those concerned that Pelosi was very liberal but nevertheless a skilled political warrior, she has shown herself to be very clumsy in her first foray.

[goldstategop]

Friends and Freepers, consider that Pelosi gave conservatism an unexpected lift! I can just see Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton go bananas!!!