I watched Nancy Pelosi’s interview on CNN last night with Jake Tapper and I found myself mesmerized by her presence and deftness in the handling of the questions in that Town Hall format. She gave a master class in how to use an interview to communicate and control the process so that it benefited the information arc so necessary at this critical time in our history.
Tapper, who can be confrontational with his guests, seemed to fall under her spell as well, letting the Speaker fully flesh out the rationale for her decisions around impeachment and the importance of this moment as it unfolds for the future of the country. She also addressed, better than anyone I’ve heard outside of Greta Thunberg, the most important challenge we have ever faced as a planet, climate change and how we can use this opportunity to unite and take it on if we are wise enough to do so. (See CNN Town Hall clip on “existential threat” of climate change)
As I was watching the interview, the thought came to me of the mature Jedi masters Yoda and Obi Wan who had achieved mastery over the use of the “force” in the early Star Wars films. They could use their light saber to battle if necessary, yet preferred to find peaceful ways to achieve their goals. Earlier in the day we witnessed her use of the saber in the press conference when confronted by a reporter trying to get a headline, then last night we saw her effectively conjuring the force to soothe and help educate a national audience. It seems like it might require a superpower to me.
I don’t have any idea about what it takes to be the leader of the majority party in Congress. What kinds of skills one must command to maneuver around those outsized egos and individual agendas to get things done. To lead in the halls of that building, get bills prepared, voted on and passed. I know I couldn’t do it, even if I practiced for a hundred years. I would have lost patience and pissed off way too many people. Maybe let my position go to my head or taken a jet somewhere I shouldn’t have and gotten myself an ethics violation.
Over the years Republicans have said Nancy Pelosi was the embodiment of liberalism, progressives have complained that she wasn’t liberal enough. Bloggers and pundits like to second guess politicians and policies in Washington much the same way football fans do coaching decisions on Monday. Most of them have never coached or played at the highest levels.
Nancy Pelosi has been second guessed a lot if not out right maligned by the media, Republicans and many within her own party at times. (She may be the Bill Belichick of House speakers). Yet here she is at one of those times the country needs a leader most, getting it done when the stakes have never been higher. We are most fortunate she didn’t give up and go home.