Dem Rep. Accuses GOP of Sexism over Pelosi Jab

By: Stephanie Condon
Topics: Afghanistan

(AP Photo/Harry Hamburg)

A congresswoman from Florida is blasting the Republican party for belittling House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, suggesting that sexist comments should come as no surprise from a group that includes few women or minorities.

After the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) rebuked Pelosi for recent criticisms of Gen. Stanley McChrystal, Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.) boiled down the GOP comments to sexism.

On a Monday night appearance on the Charlie Rose Show, Pelosi said McChrystal, the top commander in Afghanistan, should not have laid out his opinions on the war in a speech in London.

"Let me say this about General McChrystal, with all due respect," she said. "His recommendations to the president should go up the line of command. It shouldn't be in press conferences...The fact is I think that that's not where this debate takes place."

Following that interview, the NRCC released a statement mocking the speaker as "General Pelosi."

"Rather than listening to a four-star general's assessments on Afghanistan, General Pelosi somehow believes she is better suited to craft our country's military policy," NRCC Communications Director Ken Spain was quoted as saying. The statement continued to read, "If Nancy Pelosi's failed economic policies are any indicator of the effect she may have on Afghanistan, taxpayers can only hope McChrystal is able to put her in her place."

Wasserman Schultz questioned the nature of the NRCC's comments.

"I think the place for a woman is at the top of the House of Representatives," she told Politico. "It's evidence they long for the days when a woman's place was in the kitchen. Now a woman is third in line for the presidency... But it's not surprising, coming from a party that's 80 percent male and 100 percent white," which is the makeup of the House GOP conference.

Coming up on the "CBS Evening News": Afghanistan: The Road Ahead, an in-depth examination of the escalating conflict, airing this week at 6:30 p.m. ET.

CBSNews.com Special Report: Afghanistan

Stephanie Condon
Stephanie Condon is a political reporter for CBSNews.com.
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by faceofus October 7, 2009 1:25 PM EDT: These politicians needs to stop wasting time with all the accustions on both sides of the aisle and get busy working on the country's problems or don't they think they have anything better to do!; Reply to this comment


by endurorob_5 October 7, 2009 1:12 PM EDT: O.K. So plenty of you seem to agree with Wasserman but none can specify what in the comment was sexist. So that tells me you agree with her only because she calls a repub a sexist without any regard to the facts.; Reply to this comment


by 6591Hou October 7, 2009 12:58 PM EDT: It is not a sexist remark, period. To be a sexist comment it would have to had been directed against her opinion or leadership ability because of her gender. Regardless of where you are on the issue of the general's comments and his venue, the actual comment made by the republicans was not sexist.; Reply to this comment


by endurorob_5 October 7, 2009 12:55 PM EDT: Still waiting for someone to explain what exactly is sexist about the comments.; Reply to this comment


by afmcalax October 7, 2009 12:38 PM EDT: Racism, sexism, ethnic purity, religious hypocrisy, and hate are the cornerstones of the Republican Party. It is basically a party of old white males that relunctantly had to allow a few women; but they are more for show than to be listened to. The few minorities create the illusion of tolerance, but they have been fully vetted to perform as puppets not thinking individuals. Their entire world has been turned upside down in the last year ... a black President; a Latina on the Supreme Court ... they don't know how to stop this drift towards diversity. If you look at the speakers at the Take Back America conference you will find them entirely white with only a few women sprinkled amongst the men. When they speak of taking back America, they mean for the old white power base.; Reply to this comment


by endurorob_5 October 7, 2009 12:37 PM EDT: O.K apperently I am unable to see the sexism here so maybe one of you could spellit out for me.; Reply to this comment


by endurorob_5 October 7, 2009 12:35 PM EDT: hungry1968-16 October 7, 2009 12:16 PM EDT
You apparently didn't read the story.

Try it BEFORE posting

I read the story a couple of times and there is no sexism.; Reply to this comment

by hopetrumps October 7, 2009 12:28 PM EDT

Interesting how Republicans aren't able to identify sexism even when it stares them right in the face!!! Ha!Ha!Ha! They also (when they called themselves Dixiecrats before we finally banished them from the party, used to think the Jim Crow laws were democratic and fair and that segregation was the path to equality! God save us!

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by endurorob_5 October 7, 2009 12:36 PM EDT: Hard to identify something that doesn't exist.


by hungry1968-16 October 7, 2009 12:25 PM EDT: by swin5 October 7, 2009 12:15 PM EDT
And let's not forget what President Reagan said: 'When you talk about Democrats all you get is tax tax tax and spend spend spend.' And nothing's changed.

Reagan said that?!?!

The guy that DOUBLED the deficit, DOUBLED "foreign aid" to nation's around the world, and GAVE weapons to Bin Laden, Saddam Hussein, and Ayatollah Khomeini?!?!

What gall!!; Reply to this comment