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Nancy Pelosi Chokes Up Amid Fears of Political Violence
September 17, 2009 1:53 PM
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said today that she's worried that angry words directed at President Obama could incite political violence -- and cited incidents of violence in her hometown of San Francisco in the 1970s in expressing her concern.
Asked at a news conference on Capitol Hill about the possibility of anti-government rhetoric leading to violence, Pelosi, D-Calif., started to choke up as she recalled violent episodes that took place in San Francisco.
"I have concerns about some of the language that is being used because I saw -- I saw this myself in the late '70s in San Francisco, this kind of -- of rhetoric was very frightening and it gave -- it created a climate in which we -- violence took place," Pelosi said.
"And so I wish that we would all, again, curb our enthusiasm in some of the statements that are made, understanding that -- that some of the people -- the ears it is falling on are not as balanced as the person making the statement might assume," she said.
"But, again, our country is great because people can say what they think and they believe, but I also think that they have to take responsibility for any incitement that they may cause."
In 1978, former San Francisco city supervisor Dan White shot and killed Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk inside City Hall. Milk was at the time the highest-ranking openly gay elected official in the country.
Pelosi knew both Moscone and Milk as a Democratic Party activist in the 1970s.
Last year, at an unveiling ceremony for a bust of Milk at a jobs center, Pelosi recalled the day Milk was remembered following his death.
"I kept thinking of Harvey on that day -- on that day that we eulogized him," Pelosi said, according to a clip posted to YouTube. "He was a great guy, and he led a wonderful life. And he was comfortable in his own skin, and he wanted everyone else to be so as well."
UPDATE: Rep. Pete Sessions, the chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, issued a statement saying Pelosi herself is responsible for some of the frustration.
"Speaker Pelosi is right that the American people are upset, but it is her own words that continue to fuel voter frustration in America," said Sessions, R-Texas. "No longer content with criticizing concerned citizens for being 'un-American,' the Speaker is now likening genuine opposition to assassination. Such insulting rhetoric not only undermines the credibility of her office, but it underscores the desperate attempt by her party to divert attention away from a failing agenda. During one of the most important policy debates of our time, the American people have been completely abandoned by those elected representatives under her control. Voters are justifiably frustrated with Washington, and the Speaker's verbal assault on voters accomplishes nothing other than furthering her reputation for being wildly out of touch with the American people."
September 17, 2009 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (87)
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I know what she means, some of the hateful speech coming from left wing radicals is really just fueling anger. They should be more respectful.
Posted by: Sand | Sep 17, 2009 2:15:44 PM
this witch needs to disappear
Posted by: witchhater | Sep 17, 2009 2:20:13 PM
Slow day?
Posted by: JoeJoker | Sep 17, 2009 2:36:20 PM
I wish the headline would have read:
Nancy Pelosi chokes to death.
Posted by: sickofher | Sep 17, 2009 2:44:59 PM
Nice to see ABC can handle real comments. How do u sleep at night?
Posted by: Hope | Sep 17, 2009 2:45:02 PM
One guy holding a sign at the Tea party saying WE CAME UNARMED THIS TIME! What the h-- does he mean? next time you may come armed violent and dangerous? The Vile coming out of the Right these days since President Obama and the Democrats took over Washington is disgusting sick and twisted. is this what they teach their Children? pathetic just look at some of the signs that were being shown at that Obama Hate fest! And some of them call themselves Christians may god forgive you!
Posted by: Angie in PA | Sep 17, 2009 2:45:12 PM
Glen Beck the Garbage on Fox News the One that truly despises and Hates 911 Victims families as quoted by him because of their constant whining is taking full credit for this Obama/Democrat Hate fest He thinks its great! But when someone gets seriously hurt or Killed because of his daily Garbage and Lies he spews Well lets see if he takes Responsibility for it! what a piece of Trash that scum is!
Posted by: Angie in PA | Sep 17, 2009 2:48:01 PM
Sessions is crap! He and the Republican Party have caused great harm to this nation by becoming the Party of NO! Sessions could care less about America and loves the news created by the birthers and other like fools including my Senator Jim DeMint(ted) (R-SC)!All Sessions and DeMint(ed) along with many other leaders in The Republican party do is stir up hatred and racism with their gun toting fake christian crowd who look more like the KKK! Disgusting liars! These are the same people who say they care about our troops but vote over and over not to provide the "troops" with appropriate medical care! My Congressmen Joe "War" Wilson has voted against veterans eleven (11) times! Get it! Republicans = liars, facist, crooks and fools!
Posted by: john copeland | Sep 17, 2009 3:03:13 PM
NAncy - "from the right it's called
HATE SPEECH." That is because the "critisisms" usually involve burning crosses and violence. They also tend to spew hatful words as well. Disagreeing can be done in a civil tone. See MArtin Luther King.
Posted by: jenny | Sep 17, 2009 3:07:44 PM
Angie, there's no need for you to fear Mr Beck unless you're into something you shouldn't be. One day you will wake up and see he is the only one daring enough to oust the evil left! Like I said, don't be afraid, just listen!!
Posted by: lyineyes1956 | Sep 17, 2009 3:11:30 PM
Where are all the decent Republicans? Those who are horrified at what some loons are doing in the name of their party. Death threats? Depictions of the President as a witch doctor? And the gran-daddy of them all, the anti-christ? Really? Is that how you want to be remembered and viewed? Really? I have few kind words for the last administration, but Democrats never went this low and the silence of the decent Republicans is amplifying the voice of the lunatic fringe.
Posted by: BostonDan | Sep 17, 2009 3:12:35 PM
It is so sad all the hate coming from the right. And what is even worst is that most of it is coming from thr Christain right.You shame the Name of Jesus hoping she chokes to death. and Having pastors say pulicly they hate Obama and hope he dies and goes to hell. then the next day one of his members shows up at an event for President Obama with a gun in open view. My friend it is called hate speech because it IS HATE SPEECH.
Posted by: kenneth | Sep 17, 2009 3:13:27 PM
I am sooooo sick of all this. What is happening to this country?
Read the 23rd Psalms and move on.
Posted by: carolyn b. | Sep 17, 2009 3:17:03 PM
I find this garbage, but nothing on Acorn.
Posted by: Boomer | Sep 17, 2009 3:17:17 PM
For people who call themselves Christians, they display the most un-Christ like behavior ever witnessed. Christ would weep blood to see what is being done in his name.
Posted by: BostonDan | Sep 17, 2009 3:18:51 PM
It's funny hearing the left talking about hate when most of them cheered the shoe-thrower in his attempt to nail Bush.
Posted by: Chuck | Sep 17, 2009 3:20:52 PM
I'm surprised that even still has tear ducts after all the plastic surgery.
Assinine doesnt even begin to describe her behavior.
Posted by: MBNA Joe | Sep 17, 2009 3:24:56 PM
Democrats are calling conservatives racist for merely disagreeing with Obama. Now the implication is that disagreeing with Obama will cause race riots. And who will be rioting? Radical right wing extremists? Moderate Republicans? Ya, we're like that. I actually feel sorry for Nancy. She's unbelievably pathetic.
Posted by: Kerry | Sep 17, 2009 3:38:37 PM
Pelosi should just give her speakership to Hoyer and be done. I guess she can't out-argue her opponents so she must resort to fear-mongering. It's tough to be a leftist now that they're in power because people can actually see what leftists want to do.
SEIU - helping to keep townhalls orderly.
Posted by: reginaldL | Sep 17, 2009 3:56:15 PM
Pete Sessions would like nothing more than to bring down the current administration, regardless of who else he brings down with it. He totally disregarded a constituent who needs health coverage reform at a recent rally, stating "Obama is getting his clock cleaned with this healthcare bill", and telling the constituent that she was part of the problem. Ostensibly, everyone who needs reform should just shut up, move somewhere else, or better yet curl up and die, so that the Republicans can take back Congress.
Posted by: jd58m | Sep 17, 2009 3:58:12 PM
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