February 23, 2009--The Ladies of Forest Trace: Nancy
I hadn’t seen my 100 year-old mother so upset since the Reverend Wright surfaced. At that time she wasn’t as much concerned about Barack Obama’s association with him as she was worried that it would derail his candidacy.
“What’s going on, mom? You seem so agitated.” We had driven down for a visit. My brother and sister-in-law were there as well. It was to be a relaxed family dinner.
“It’s Nancy.”
“Who?” There is no Nancy in our family or in her circle of Forest Trace friends.
“Nancy Pelosi.”
“What about her?” We all leaned closer to her to hear what was on her mind. She was speaking very quietly but with great agitation. It was good that my brother is a cardiologist in case her state of being turned into a medical emergency.
“Her junket to Europe. That’s what’s bothering me.”
“I did read that she was in Rome, visiting with the Pope and that he gave her a lecture because of her support for a woman’s right to choose.”
“Not that. I’m glad she’s in favor of that. And I know she saw the Pope. But I’m furious because she really went to Europe for a vacation. And flew there on a big government jet that the taxpayers paid for. And,” she added with some venom, “she took her whole entourage with her. At a time like this.”
“She doesn't have an entourage,” I said as calmly as I could, “I suspect that with her on the plane was a delegation of other congress people. Typically, during Congress’ Presidents Day recess they travel to other countries to find out what’s going on there so they can better represent America’s interest.”
“I don’t believe that for one minute. They’re all on a junket at our expense. I know this has gone on forever,” she was reading my mind—that’s what I was about to say, “but with so many losing their jobs and homes it is an outrage that she should be doing this. And I heard,” she was trembling with anger, “she doesn’t have to submit her expense report until after she’s back sixty days. I can only imagine what she’ll put on that report. Do you think if she goes skiing we should be paying for that?”
“I doubt that she’s going skiing, but if she does she’ll have to pay for that herself.”
“I heard that the airplane alone is costing more than $200,000. With that money we could help two families pay off their mortgages. If they want to go on these kinds of trips they should fly commercial, just like everyone else. This is just like the automobile executives flying to Washington in their private jets.”
“I don’t see that as the same thing.”
“Well, I do.” And she added, “Even if she and her entourage all flew first class it would cost a lot less than that.”
“But you know,” I tried to say, “constitutionally she’s next in line to become president if God forbid something terrible happened to President Obama and Vice President. They have to keep her safe. They do this with all Speakers of the House. That’s why she flies on a government plane.”
“You tell me they couldn’t keep her safe on a regular plane? I don’t believe that either.”
“But still it’s true.”
“She should stay home and do the job she was elected to do—work with Obama on fixing the economy.”
“Well, she did take the lead to put the stimulus bill together. There’s not much for her or Congress to do right now. It’s more up to the Obama administration to see that the money is spent wisely. You see that he met with the mayors and governors this weekend to talk with them about that?”
“I did see that and he was very good, saying—how did he put it—that he would call to them if they didn’t.”
“’Call them out’ he said, which means to hold them up to public scrutiny and criticism.”
“Whatever. He put it well and I hope he follows through. I don’t want to be hearing stories from the Republicans that the money is going to those bridges going nowhere.”
“But about Nancy Pelosi, don’t you agree that as the third highest elected official we have she should be visiting other countries to represent the new administration, to talk with leaders in Europe and elsewhere that America wants to relate to them in new ways? Isn’t that an important role for her to play?”
“We have Hillary Clinton and the people she appointed to do that. That’s what they’re getting paid to do. This is not Nancy Pelosi’s job. Not for the amount of money it’s costing for her to be gallivanting around. She should stay home and concentrate on her work in Congress.”
“Isn’t it important though,” my brother joined in, “that the United States shouldn’t cut back on all of its spending? Wouldn’t that give the signal to the rest of the world that we’re bankrupt?”
“Excellent point,” I added, happy to have him join the discussion. “And considering how many hundreds of billions and even trillions we’re spending on other things why should we be making such a big deal over only a quarter of a million?”
“I can’t believe what you’re saying. If we want to change the ways we do business,” my mother said, pointing at her two sons, “we have to change this too. We have to say this kind of irresponsible spending—no matter how much or little it may be—that it has to stop. Obama should tell her to stop taking these kinds of trips.”
“But mom,” I said, “he can’t tell her that. He doesn’t control what Congress does. The Constitution says that . . ."
“Please stop bringing up the Constitution. I know what’s in it. How the three branches of government are separate. That’s a good thing. But what she is doing is unnecessary and not a good thing. It’s an arrogant and greedy thing.”
“Where are you hearing all these things about Nancy Pelosi? From O’Reilly?” I knew that she watched him every night even though she says she disagrees with him. That she wants to hear what the Fox News people have to say. To know what the Republicans are up to.
“Never mind where I’m hearing this. If it’s true, it’s bad and has to be stopped.”
“They’re turning Nancy Pelosi into a political piñata,” it was my brother again. “They know how popular Obama is and are afraid to criticize him too harshly. So they’re trying to turn Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid into the enemy.”
“Exactly,” I chimed in again. “That’s exactly what O’Reilly and Limbaugh and Hannity are up to. They’re trying to demonologize them in order to attack all Democrats, including Obama by association.”
“That may be true; but in the current situation with so many Americans suffering and angry about everything and with everyone in government and in business, Nancy Pelosi shouldn’t be prancing around the world spending our money. And for that matter, even Barack Obama himself should think about things he can do to be more responsible about his own expenses. He needed to have such a fancy dinner last night at the White House for the governors? I heard on the news--not on Fox but CNN--that some Americans don’t have enough money to buy food for their dogs and cats. This should not be. While this is happening to people, they shouldn’t be spending tens of thousands on unnecessary black-tie dinners. Maybe when the Queen is here. But not for those governors.”
“Well,” I tried again, “we don’t want to send the world the message that we’re too poor to afford things of this kind. As we said, considering how much we spend on other things this is . . .”
Totally exasperated with me she cut me off in mid sentence. “Listen to yourself,” she said more calmly, pronouncing each word separately in order to underscore her point, “you sound like someone who has become so disenchanted and cynical about the way things are that you’ve lost your ability to feel offended by this kind of outrageous behavior. Actually, you sound like someone who no longer has the ability to be outraged. This is very dangerous in a democracy.”
“That’s not fair. I do . . .
Ignoring me she continued, “You’ve become very good at rationalizing things and making excuses for behavior that has no business being excused.”
“But mom . . .”
“Don’t ‘but-mom’ me. You know better than this. At least you used to. If we lose our ability to be outraged about things like this, nothing will change, and what Obama’s election represents, or promises, will be lost.”
“But as I was trying to say, like Len said, these attacks on Pelosi are just partisan politics. The Republicans playing politics at the expense of the country. Just trying to get reelected and back into power. That’s really what’s going on.” I thought this would end the debate and win her over. She knew this was true. She has been around more than 100 years and seen things of this kind. Much worse things.
“This is not a partisan issue. It’s bipartisan. I know we’re supposed to forget bipartisanship now that the Republicans are doing whatever they can to undermine Obama. But we have to be bipartisan in our criticism, in holding both Republicans and Democrats equally responsible. That’s true bipartisanship. If Democrats behave badly, like Nancy Pelosi is, we have to hold them as accountable as we would Republicans.” She paused to let her point sink in. And then added with finality, “It’s as simple and as complicated as that.”
For a minute no one said anything further until Rona whispered to me loud enough for all to hear, “You know she’s right.”
And that ended it. Rona was right: my mother was right.
“What’s going on, mom? You seem so agitated.” We had driven down for a visit. My brother and sister-in-law were there as well. It was to be a relaxed family dinner.
“It’s Nancy.”
“Who?” There is no Nancy in our family or in her circle of Forest Trace friends.
“Nancy Pelosi.”
“What about her?” We all leaned closer to her to hear what was on her mind. She was speaking very quietly but with great agitation. It was good that my brother is a cardiologist in case her state of being turned into a medical emergency.
“Her junket to Europe. That’s what’s bothering me.”
“I did read that she was in Rome, visiting with the Pope and that he gave her a lecture because of her support for a woman’s right to choose.”
“Not that. I’m glad she’s in favor of that. And I know she saw the Pope. But I’m furious because she really went to Europe for a vacation. And flew there on a big government jet that the taxpayers paid for. And,” she added with some venom, “she took her whole entourage with her. At a time like this.”
“She doesn't have an entourage,” I said as calmly as I could, “I suspect that with her on the plane was a delegation of other congress people. Typically, during Congress’ Presidents Day recess they travel to other countries to find out what’s going on there so they can better represent America’s interest.”
“I don’t believe that for one minute. They’re all on a junket at our expense. I know this has gone on forever,” she was reading my mind—that’s what I was about to say, “but with so many losing their jobs and homes it is an outrage that she should be doing this. And I heard,” she was trembling with anger, “she doesn’t have to submit her expense report until after she’s back sixty days. I can only imagine what she’ll put on that report. Do you think if she goes skiing we should be paying for that?”
“I doubt that she’s going skiing, but if she does she’ll have to pay for that herself.”
“I heard that the airplane alone is costing more than $200,000. With that money we could help two families pay off their mortgages. If they want to go on these kinds of trips they should fly commercial, just like everyone else. This is just like the automobile executives flying to Washington in their private jets.”
“I don’t see that as the same thing.”
“Well, I do.” And she added, “Even if she and her entourage all flew first class it would cost a lot less than that.”
“But you know,” I tried to say, “constitutionally she’s next in line to become president if God forbid something terrible happened to President Obama and Vice President. They have to keep her safe. They do this with all Speakers of the House. That’s why she flies on a government plane.”
“You tell me they couldn’t keep her safe on a regular plane? I don’t believe that either.”
“But still it’s true.”
“She should stay home and do the job she was elected to do—work with Obama on fixing the economy.”
“Well, she did take the lead to put the stimulus bill together. There’s not much for her or Congress to do right now. It’s more up to the Obama administration to see that the money is spent wisely. You see that he met with the mayors and governors this weekend to talk with them about that?”
“I did see that and he was very good, saying—how did he put it—that he would call to them if they didn’t.”
“’Call them out’ he said, which means to hold them up to public scrutiny and criticism.”
“Whatever. He put it well and I hope he follows through. I don’t want to be hearing stories from the Republicans that the money is going to those bridges going nowhere.”
“But about Nancy Pelosi, don’t you agree that as the third highest elected official we have she should be visiting other countries to represent the new administration, to talk with leaders in Europe and elsewhere that America wants to relate to them in new ways? Isn’t that an important role for her to play?”
“We have Hillary Clinton and the people she appointed to do that. That’s what they’re getting paid to do. This is not Nancy Pelosi’s job. Not for the amount of money it’s costing for her to be gallivanting around. She should stay home and concentrate on her work in Congress.”
“Isn’t it important though,” my brother joined in, “that the United States shouldn’t cut back on all of its spending? Wouldn’t that give the signal to the rest of the world that we’re bankrupt?”
“Excellent point,” I added, happy to have him join the discussion. “And considering how many hundreds of billions and even trillions we’re spending on other things why should we be making such a big deal over only a quarter of a million?”
“I can’t believe what you’re saying. If we want to change the ways we do business,” my mother said, pointing at her two sons, “we have to change this too. We have to say this kind of irresponsible spending—no matter how much or little it may be—that it has to stop. Obama should tell her to stop taking these kinds of trips.”
“But mom,” I said, “he can’t tell her that. He doesn’t control what Congress does. The Constitution says that . . ."
“Please stop bringing up the Constitution. I know what’s in it. How the three branches of government are separate. That’s a good thing. But what she is doing is unnecessary and not a good thing. It’s an arrogant and greedy thing.”
“Where are you hearing all these things about Nancy Pelosi? From O’Reilly?” I knew that she watched him every night even though she says she disagrees with him. That she wants to hear what the Fox News people have to say. To know what the Republicans are up to.
“Never mind where I’m hearing this. If it’s true, it’s bad and has to be stopped.”
“They’re turning Nancy Pelosi into a political piñata,” it was my brother again. “They know how popular Obama is and are afraid to criticize him too harshly. So they’re trying to turn Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid into the enemy.”
“Exactly,” I chimed in again. “That’s exactly what O’Reilly and Limbaugh and Hannity are up to. They’re trying to demonologize them in order to attack all Democrats, including Obama by association.”
“That may be true; but in the current situation with so many Americans suffering and angry about everything and with everyone in government and in business, Nancy Pelosi shouldn’t be prancing around the world spending our money. And for that matter, even Barack Obama himself should think about things he can do to be more responsible about his own expenses. He needed to have such a fancy dinner last night at the White House for the governors? I heard on the news--not on Fox but CNN--that some Americans don’t have enough money to buy food for their dogs and cats. This should not be. While this is happening to people, they shouldn’t be spending tens of thousands on unnecessary black-tie dinners. Maybe when the Queen is here. But not for those governors.”
“Well,” I tried again, “we don’t want to send the world the message that we’re too poor to afford things of this kind. As we said, considering how much we spend on other things this is . . .”
Totally exasperated with me she cut me off in mid sentence. “Listen to yourself,” she said more calmly, pronouncing each word separately in order to underscore her point, “you sound like someone who has become so disenchanted and cynical about the way things are that you’ve lost your ability to feel offended by this kind of outrageous behavior. Actually, you sound like someone who no longer has the ability to be outraged. This is very dangerous in a democracy.”
“That’s not fair. I do . . .
Ignoring me she continued, “You’ve become very good at rationalizing things and making excuses for behavior that has no business being excused.”
“But mom . . .”
“Don’t ‘but-mom’ me. You know better than this. At least you used to. If we lose our ability to be outraged about things like this, nothing will change, and what Obama’s election represents, or promises, will be lost.”
“But as I was trying to say, like Len said, these attacks on Pelosi are just partisan politics. The Republicans playing politics at the expense of the country. Just trying to get reelected and back into power. That’s really what’s going on.” I thought this would end the debate and win her over. She knew this was true. She has been around more than 100 years and seen things of this kind. Much worse things.
“This is not a partisan issue. It’s bipartisan. I know we’re supposed to forget bipartisanship now that the Republicans are doing whatever they can to undermine Obama. But we have to be bipartisan in our criticism, in holding both Republicans and Democrats equally responsible. That’s true bipartisanship. If Democrats behave badly, like Nancy Pelosi is, we have to hold them as accountable as we would Republicans.” She paused to let her point sink in. And then added with finality, “It’s as simple and as complicated as that.”
For a minute no one said anything further until Rona whispered to me loud enough for all to hear, “You know she’s right.”
And that ended it. Rona was right: my mother was right.
posted by Steven Zwerling at
10:13 AM
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