House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), who has been battling with the Trump administration on another round of coronavirus stimulus, blew her top at CNN’s Wolf Blitzer calling him a “Republican apologist,” for daring to question why she has rejected the administration’s latest counteroffer.
Pelosi criticized Blitzer for having “no knowledge” of the details of the Democrats’ $2.2 trillion plan when asked why she wouldn’t accept a $1.8 trillion package proposed by Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and approved by President Donald Trump.
“[Americans] really need the money right now … even members of your own caucus, Madam Speaker, want to accept this deal,” Blitzer said.
Blitzer then quoted a tweet from Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), who said, “people in need can’t wait until February [for the next stimulus bill],” calling the $1.8 trillion offer from the White House “significant.”
People in need can’t wait until February. 1.8 trillion is significant & more than twice Obama stimulus. It will allow Biden to start with infrastructure. Obama won in 08 by doing the right thing on TARP instead of what was expedient. Make a deal & put the ball in McConnell court. https://t.co/qAEtd049sW
— Ro Khanna (@RoKhanna) October 11, 2020
That was too much for Pelosi, who fired back at Blitzer.
“I don’t know why you’re always an apologist — and many of your colleagues, apologists for the Republican position. Ro Khanna, that’s nice. That isn’t what we’re going to do. And nobody’s waiting until February.”
Blitzer amped up the pressure by asking Pelosi, “What’s wrong with $1.8 trillion?”
“Why not work out a deal with [President Trump] and don’t let the perfect, as they say here in Washington, be the enemy of the good?” Blitzer said.
Nancy Pelosi is asked a simple question, and she immediately resorts to name-calling. So I'll ask her again here:
Speaker Pelosi: Why not make a deal? Millions of Americans are hurting while you single-handedly block support for workers and families. pic.twitter.com/KLbaDKgQv8
— Kevin McCarthy (@GOPLeader) October 13, 2020
“Well, I will not let the wrong be the enemy of the right,” Pelosi said.
Pelosi tried defending her stance by stressing that the GOP plan “eliminated” child tax credits and earned income credits that were in the Democrats’ plan.
“They minimize the need for child care, which is the threshold with which people, mothers and fathers, can go to work if they have that,” she said.
Blitzer tried to end the conversation and sign off, but Pelosi kept firing away.
“Madam Speaker, these are incredibly difficult times right now and we’ll leave on that note,” Blitzer said.
“No, we’ll leave it on the note that you’re not right on this, Wolf, and I hate to say that to you,” Pelosi said.
“Thank you for your sensitivity to our constituents’ needs,” Pelosi said.
“I am sensitive to them because I see them on the street begging for food, begging for money,” Blitzer said.
“Have you fed them? We feed them,” she responded just before the commercial break.
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