In the game of politics in Washington, D.C., what is not said is sometimes louder than shouting — and one top Democratic leader yelled silently on Wednesday at a former political ally.
Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., was on CNN fielding softball questions about her re-election campaign, the impeachment inquiry against President Joe Biden, and the vice president’s prospects as a running mate.
Pelosi quietly refused to endorse Vice President Kamala Harris. Three times.
CNN’s Anderson Cooper asked Pelosi, “Is Vice President Kamala Harris the best running mate for this president?”
“He thinks so,” Pelosi said. “And that’s what matters.”
Cooper asked, “You think so?”
Pelosi ignored the repeated question.
“And by the way, she’s very politically astute,” Pelosi said, talking over Cooper.
“I don’t think people give her enough credit. She’s of course, values-based, consistent with the president’s values and the rest,” she said. “And people don’t understand she’s politically astute. Why would she be vice president if she were not? But when she was running for attorney general in California in California, she had six percent in the polls.”
“Six percent in the polls!” Pelosi pointed out, noting that somehow Harris managed to win.
“She politically, astutely, made her case, did her politics, and became attorney general,” she said.”So, people should not underestimate what Kamala Harris brings to the table.”
Cooper asked a third time, “Do you think she is the best running mate, though?”
Pelosi again silently bashed Harris.
“She’s the vice president of the United States,” Pelosi said. “People say to me, ‘Well, why isn’t she doing this or that.’ I say, ‘Because she is the vice president! That’s the job description. You don’t do that much, you know. You’re a source of strength, inspiration, intellectual resource, and the rest.’ And I think she’s represented our country very well at home and abroad.”
Take a look —
Pelosi devoted most of the interview to attacking House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and the impending impeachment inquiry of Biden.
“This is not responsible governance, but it’s the chaos on the Republican side,” Pelosi said. “Impeachment is something that our founders put in the constitution. They foresaw that there could be a rogue executive, and you have to have your case.”
The elderly lawmaker also discussed her rationale for seeking re-election at the age of 83: She wants to keep fundraising for Biden.
Pelosi said, “I am determined that we will win the House, that President Biden will win the White House.”
The Horn editorial team