Pelosi and the difference between "being a leader" and "leading."

It looks like Nancy Pelosi might be getting just a wee bit frustrated with the Democratic base. It also looks like she's got a lack of understanding of the proper relationship between politicians and the people that sorely needs correcting. At a recent press lunch sponsored by the Christian Science Monitor, she said this:

Activists who want to target congressional Democrats for lack of action on the war are misguided, the speaker argued. "I think it is a waste of time for them to go after Democratic members. They ought to just persuade Republican members who are representing areas that are opposed to the war," she said. "We said we would change the debate; we would fight to end the war. We never said we had the veto pen or the signature pen."

According to the Washington Post, she also said something about the difference between her role and the role of the base - at least as she sees it:

"They are advocates," she said. "We are leaders."

That is true, I suppose. Pelosi, Hoyer, Reid, and the rest of their gang are the leaders in Congress. Unfortunately, there's a big difference between being designated as a "leader" and leading. One requires determination, effort, and action. The other requires nothing more than the occupation of space and the consumption of time.

More like this

Several Democrats in the House of Representatives unveiled a revolutionary plan today that would radically change the way we are paying for the war in Iraq. Their shocking plan has been strongly condemned by Republicans around the country, and the Democratic leadership has responded - in classic…
Neil Sinhababu writes: It's good to see Nancy Pelosi get some positive coverage. I wish the article went into more detail on what's probably the grandest achievement of her political career to date -- holding the Democratic caucus together to destroy Bush's Social Security Privatization initiative…
One reason why Republicans have piled scorn and hatred on House Minority Leader, and former House Speaker, Nancy Pelosi is that she is not part of the house-broken wing of the Democratic Party. She's definitely no saint--and taking impeachment hearings off the table and joining Obama in his '…
It's a trite saying to "follow the money", but, in the case of Senator Evan Bayh's (D-Goldman SachsIndiana) decision to oppose serious mortgage readjustments on foreclosed properties ("cramdowns"), it seems to fit. Here's the background on Bayh's opposition to cramdowns on foreclosures: Senate…

mullah cimoc say mrs. stretchface (in waziristan everyone to using this name for mrs. pelosi- in pastu: nipo-hard meaning face stretch like snake)just be so the liar. also the sick brain and cruel.

mrs. stretchface never to really opposing war crime. it just to lie to get the vote money. in true stretchface full time israeli agent agent, entire career just to service him master in tel aviv. aipac, jdl, adl, all to commanding each action by mrs. stretch face.

By mullah cimoc (not verified) on 11 Oct 2007 #permalink

And I always thought the definition of a leader is someone others follow -- how naive of me.