For all the people crowing about "a lack of context" for Pelosi's comments I suggest you examine the article in the OP closely. If you read it you'll note that Pelosi's key quote re: a glass of water is presented with barely any context whatsoever. It just mentions that she was speaking at an event - which doesn't tell you much. Is she giving a speech - or responding to question? The article never makes it clear and just dumps her quote up front.
I agree that context
is important so I did a little more work. Pelosi's comment is a direct response to an audience question. This context is key in unpacking the meaning behind her words. Unfortunately there's no transcript for this Q&A session, but you can find the question being asked at this timestamp:
I've taken the liberty of transcribing it to the best of my ability, as the question is a little rambling:
Questioner: A few days ago in '60 Minutes' you called for the Democratic party to have a sort of a centre message and you also mentioned that people like AOC were sort of on the margin of the democratic party, represented a few people within the house and within the party.
So I wanted to ask you a sort of double question: First, could it be a missed opportunity for young people that put a lot of faith and hopes in those 'so called' socialists and politics in the democratic party?
If not do you think it will ever be part of the democratic party program in maybe not 2020 but 2024, 2028 is it on-going?
Pelosi: Let me say, you're referencing a comment. When we won this election, it wasn't in mine of Alexandria's - she's a wonderful member of Congress, I think all of our colleagues will attest. But those are districts that are solidly democratic - this glass of water would win with a D next to its name in those districts. Not to diminish the exuberance and the personality and the rest of Alexandria and the other members. But when I said 3 - these were the ones getting a good deal of attention. But the 43 districts—we won 43, net gain of 40—were right down the middle. mainstream, hold-the-centre victories.
So, what's important about this exchange is that the questioned is asking a (somewhat vague) question in reference to Pelosi's
'60 Minutes' comments where she downplayed the left-wing of the Democratic party. The questioner wants to know:
- If Pelosi's "missing the boat" as it were by not finding a way to channel the energy of youth who are very interested in pushing for more progressive policies
- Will the party ever adopt those policies - if not soon, but within a decade?
Now Pelosi does the classic politician trick of never answering the question and going off on a huge tangent. She never addresses the questioners point about the energy of young, politically active people. She fails to address where the party will go in the future. Instead, she
downplays the significance of AOC's victory with a cunning manoeuvre that throws both herself and AOC under the bus. It doesn't matter if it makes her look bad (it wont) as long as the narrative is that AOC isn't anything special, she doesn't represent a movement, it's business as usual blah blah blah. She's looking to
control the conversation which she does easily because it's an event for her and there's no real follow up (or pointed questioning).
It doesn't even matter if what Pelosi is saying is true or not - no-one was asking her if any Democrat could have won AOC's district. No-one was asking her if Democratic strategy needed to appeal to some kind of "centre" voter. They were asking her about the energy of the youthful, progressive, powerful wing of the party which is proposing and extremely popular legislation. Of course she doesn't have an answer for that because she's a centrist who is rapidly losing touch with the future of the party.
Edit: In my opinion the change of thread title is pointless and misleading. It's clear form context that Pelosi was trying to downplay AOC's victory. This is a narrative that she's clearly and repeatedly pushing in the media or wherever she can.
She did it on
60 Minutes.
She did it at
this event.
She will do it
again and again.
It's a narrative she is
clearly and loudly pushing. Don't be fooled.
