Pelosi: 'I've Broken The Marble Ceiling'

Katie Couric Speaks With The Woman Who Will Become Speaker Of The House

(CBS)  For the first time, a woman will become Speaker of the House, second in line of succession to the presidency. That woman is Rep. Nancy Pelosi. She's 66 years old and has represented San Francisco in California's Eighth Congressional District for almost 20 years. But she never ran for office until her five children were grown. She also has five grandkids, with a sixth one on the way.

CBS Evening News anchor Katie Couric spoke to her this afternoon, and asked for her reaction to Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld's resignation.

Pelosi: I think it's good news. It signals maybe a change in attitude on the part of the president. The president is the policy maker, the Secretary of Defense is the implementer, and whatever you ever think of the policy, everyone agrees that the implementation of that policy has been a failure.

Couric: Do you think this is the first step to the eventual withdrawal or reduction of U.S. troops in Iraq?

Pelosi:: I certainly hope so, because our presence there is not making America safer. It's not bringing stability to the region, and we certainly are not honoring our commitment to the troops.

---

Watch Katie Couric's entire interview with Nancy Pelosi.

---

Couric: You have a long list of priorities for your new job. But first, you'll have to overcome the fact that you and the President have both said some pretty nasty things about each other.

Pelosi: I never called the President a liar, that I never did. I said it's time for the president to tell the truth to the American people. I think that much of the truth has been withheld from the American people.

Couric: But you have called him dangerous and incompetent, right?

Pelosi: That's right. Well, if you take a look at the implementation of the policy in Iraq, if you look at Katrina, if you look at the rest, I think there was a lack of judgment in how we proceeded in both cases. Now, the election is over, the campaign is over, Democrats are ready to lead. We're prepared to govern, and we look forward to working in a bipartisan way with the president and the Republicans in Congress.

Couric:: What are you anxious to get going on in a bipartisan way?

Pelosi: I think we do have to address the issue of immigration. It's a challenge in our country. People want answers, and there is bipartisan comprehensive reform that we can do working together that I think the President would support. We shall see when we bring them up. Raising the minimum wage — even the President said today that might be an area that we can come to agreement.

Couric: The Republicans used two "T" words — terror and taxes — to tell people the kind of alternative they would get if they voted the Democrats into power. Are you going to raise taxes?

Pelosi: Raising taxes would be a last resort. There are plenty of things in this budget that we could remove and substitute better things for. For example, we could roll back the subsidies for big oil and use that money for investment in alternative energy. Investing in education brings more money to the public treasury than any tax incentive you can name, so we can find other ways to support better priorities without heaping mountains of debt. We want to actually have tax cuts for the middle-income families in our country.

Couric: A lot has been made of the fact that you — if elected, and it appears that you will be — that you will be the first woman Speaker of the House and the highest-ranking woman in the U.S. government. What does that mean to you?

Pelosi: It's pretty exciting, I have to say. I'm just so excited that a Democrat will be Speaker of the House.

Couric: So you're a Democrat first and a woman second?

Pelosi: Well, in terms of the politics, in terms of the change it will make for the American people, yes. But as a woman, I'm very, very thrilled because I carry a special responsibility. I've broken the "marble ceiling." This Congress is steeped in tradition and history, and it's very hard for a woman to succeed to the level that I have, and I think it sends a message to all women that if this can happen, anything can happen.

[pakaal]

janem4, since you don't like Pelosi calling the situation in Iraq a "situation", how about Bush calling the war in Iraq a "catastrophic success"? Would you call that a better definition? And if so, can you clarify what he meant by that? At least Pelosi's use of the word is grammatically correct in context.

[pakaal]

Not even in office yet as House Speaker, and already she's breaking the ceiling. Typical Democrat! ;-)

[wrhs2010]

Are you saying that we should pull out of Iraq? What does that mean for the troops that have already made the ultimate sacrifice? I think that we need to honor them by staying until the job is done, and that isn't until our Commander and Chief says so.

[wrhs2010]

Are you saying that we should pull out of Iraq? What does that mean for the troops that have already made the ultimate sacrifice? I think that we need to honor them by staying until the job is done, and that isn't until our Commander and Chief says so.

[one_american]

Pelosi is withholding the truth from the American people.

She's really an evil witch masquerading as a woman.

[rsoxfan1123]

janem4- the "War in Iraq" is between the shiites and the sunni right now. our troops are stuck in the middle trying not to get their arms and legs blown off.

[rsoxfan1123]

mjv2944-amnesty for illegals was bush's idea.

[sim828524s]

I will not rest, and I refuse to look forward until it has been confirmed that the Democrats have won the senate.

I don't want to sound greety, but I want the democrats to win all three categories - Govonor, House, and Senate.

With all three, the republicans will not be able to pull any weird stunts.

Until then, I will not be able to rest.

I am an independent voter.
And I am through with the political runaround.

Go Democrats

[huskerarmy]

"...and how many pices of that marble hit the heads of the little people that got you there?"

Gunner, implying that you vote for the GOPers because you are for the "little people" is a joke right? What ever it is that you are for, I doubt it includes a very diverse definition of the "little people."

[gunnerv1]

"I've broken the Marble Ceiling" hummm. and how many pices of that marble hit the heads of the little people that got you there? I was a Democrat until after I voted for Jimmy Carter, need I say more...?

[mjv2944]

Immigration reform is very important, but it better not include the amnesty. Secure the borders first. Remember dems, we're watching.

[frankly6]

The GOP see Pelosi as their new boogyman or boogywoman. They will try to smear her at every oportunity. When and if they sufficiently tarnish her image, they'll try to make her the face of the Democratic party.

[jhindson1]

Hopefully people will listen to the content of what Nancy Pelosi has to say. She seems to be one of very few people who has an honest an rational assessment of the situation in Iraq.

[dmorg4]

its a sad day for america that a woman could be president i guess hillary will be next
they should be home with the kids not
running the government

[huskerarmy]

cbscrash07,

Nice post... substantive, intelligent, well thought out. It's a wonder how your side lost?

[huskerarmy]

opposebush,

Thanks for you comments.

[huskerarmy]

Bob Burd,

As usual a neo-con that han't been listening to anything but Rush Limbaugh. It was the NIA, not the terrorists, who proclaimed the Iraq war a "cause celeb" for the terrorists. What will they have to celebrate if their recruiting "cause celeb" is taken away?

[opposebush]

What a wonderful interview. I am very happy with the outcome of the elections. I find her comments very encouraging. I believe that at this point it is difficult to be specific. After all she will not be making the decisions alone, there are many others who will be working with her. I am proud of all the voters, and I am glad that there apears to have been now stealing of elections this time. We will actually have representative that we voted into office, unlike the President who never won a vote. I wish Pelosi all the best in her new career. Go DEMOCATICS Go!

[changeit4]

Change is the operative word for this election. I am, for the first time in a long time, faithful in the process we have to effect change in our government. I still can't believe America hadn't had enough in 2004. It'll take a long time to get out of the hole the Republicans dug this time.

In reply to those who bought into the fear factor the Republicans sold, don't let your gut guide your head. Safety is driven by a reasonable response to threat. We haven't had reason in Washington for six years, only opportunism borne of fear. To mistake the two is ignorance at its best, and, worse, fuel for Republican agenda. I think that the past six years have finally, hopefully shown us how truly bumbling and ineffective the "Hey!-look-at-Iraq-([twice now]or Nicaragua, the Soviet Union...)while-I- butcher-domestic-affairs" mentality is for America. True leaders don't need to do so with fear if they have real policy.

[mjv2944]

Lets hope the dems take a moderate stance and not swing to the radical left. We just got rid of the radical right and I think we do not need any more radical anythings. But dems need to remember, you got 2 years, do it right, or your out also.