House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said during a recent interview that Democrats need to be able to “take a punch and throw a punch” once they retake Congress on Tuesday.
In an audio clip published by the Republican National Committee on Monday, the California Democrat sat for a live discussion with “Queer Eye” star and podcaster Jonathan Van Ness during the Bentzen Ball comedy festival in Washington, D.C., last weekend.
Mrs. Pelosi said with certainty that Democrats will win the majority on Election Day and make Congress more “transparent” and bipartisan, “if possible.”
“[Democrats will] have legislation that meets [voters’] needs, identifies, connects with them so that they see where the Republicans are and where the Democrats are on that,” she said. “And to do so in a way that tries to have as much common ground as possible, bipartisanship, if possible, stand our ground like a rock if not and try to unify the country.
“We are not them. We do not act the way they do,” she said of Republicans. “But I do think that when you are in the arena, and somebody throws a punch, you better be able to take a punch and throw a punch.”
“Yes!” Mr. Van Ness exclaimed as the audience burst into applause. “Yes! Yes, I love that story. Yes!”
Mrs. Pelosi made similar comments last week when she told late-night comedian Stephen Colbert that measured political discourse would return once Democrats reclaimed their power.
“When we do win, we will have, as we open the new Congress, we will honor the vows of our founders, E pluribus unum, from many one,” the lawmaker said. “It’s OK to disagree in the marketplace of ideas, that’s exciting, but it is also important to find solutions that unify and not divide.”
• Jessica Chasmar can be reached at jchasmar@washingtontimes.com.
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