Articles
Orlando Sentinel: In Florida, Pelosi lashes Bush on Iraq
06/10/2007
Hollywood, Fla. - The nation's top Democrat
rallied her party's
House Speaker
Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said the nation is weary of the
war and the way it has been prosecuted by the Bush administration, both reasons
voters put Democrats in control of Congress last year.
"Nowhere in their call
for a new direction were Americans more clear than on the war in
"Whatever they thought about
going into
Among her concerns, Pelosi said, is the effect
on the National Guard, which may be less able to offer aid in the aftermath of
hurricanes and national disasters because its resources have been devoted to the
war.
Though critical of the Bush administration, Pelosi praised the troops on the ground and said Democrats are
committed to them and to a strong military.
Almost half of Pelosi's remarks were devoted to the war, but she also touched
on Democratic rallying cries such as support for Social Security, health care
and a higher minimum wage.
Speaking earlier to reporters, Pelosi would not take a position on a key
She
also steered clear of the big internal Democratic Party fight over the
presidential primary. The state advanced its primary to Jan. 29, ahead of most
other states, as part of a plan by both parties to increase the clout of
National Democrats are threatening to penalize
Pelosi became the first female speaker in
January because Democrats won control of the House in the 2006 elections. She
acknowledged the role played by
Pelosi said
Saturday's
events will help. The state Democratic Party took in $500,000 from the
$150-per-person dinner and $1,000-a-person VIP reception. Pelosi also had a $10,000-per-person fundraiser for the
Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, but a spokeswoman said she didn't
know how much was raised.