Issa Riducules Notion That Pelosi Speech Impacted Vote

The GOP leadership line is that a speech by Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) prior to the vote was overly partisan and persuaded enough Republican members to vote no that it effectively killed the bill. “I do believe that we could have gotten there today had it not been for this partisan speech that the speaker gave on the floor of the House,” said Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) after the failed vote on the bailout package. His leadership colleagues endorsed the opinion.

“To be honest, somebody finding out that Nancy Pelosi made a partisan speech? I’m shocked,” said Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), a lead opponent of the bailout package, who tells the Crypt that the idea that her speech shifted votes is “nonsense.”

Issa said that the credit is actually due to former FDIC Chairman William Isaac, who has been on Capitol Hill briefing lawmakers as to what other options and financial tools are available to the treasury. Isaac spoke to a group of skeptical Democrats yesterday and set up camp outside the Democratic Caucus meeting Sunday. Along with liberal economist Dean Baker and another economist, James K. Galbraith, the trio would engage Democrats coming in and out of the meeting.

Isaac has also spoken to dozens of Republicans. Issa said he was in the Capitol until past midnight Sunday night and returned again Monday morning before the vote.

“As more and more people got educated as to tools and how they could be used and why they’d be better, I think it surprised Republican leaders, because they had members that had the ammunition to say why they couldn’t support this one at taxpayers’ expense,” said Issa.