(FiveNation.com)- According to a forthcoming book, Nancy Pelosi privately complained about having to “grovel” for another term as House speaker after the 2018 midterm elections, saying, “at this time in my life, I don’t need this.”
In their upcoming book “This Will Not Pass: Trump, Biden, and the Battle for America’s Future,” New York Times writers Jonathan Martin and Alexander Burns peel back the veil on Pelosi’s internal grievances.
The writers noted that Pelosi expressed extraordinary intensity on the day of her victory as House speaker, describing her as discussing her political future in a way she seldom did among colleagues. Her re-election in 2019 seemed like a joyless one.
Pelosi purportedly said, “You couldn’t pay me a billion dollars to run for Speaker again.”
After Democrats regained control of the House of Representatives in 2006, Pelosi became the first woman to serve as speaker of the House. During her two stints as a speaker, Pelosi built a reputation as a great legislative manipulator, including shepherding the Affordable Care Act through Congress, which was a huge accomplishment.
On the other hand, Pelosi was confronted with a changed Democratic caucus following the 2018 midterm elections. Several moderate lawmakers from competitive seats had campaigned against Pelosi’s nomination. Pelosi’s leadership was publicly challenged by members of her Congress from across the ideological spectrum, prompting her to make a number of compromises and arrangements with Democrats in the weeks preceding up to the speakership vote.
The writers said of Pelosi that the experience of asking for support was wearing on her. Pelosi was the only Democrat in the House — the only Democrat alive — who had previously served as Speaker, demonstrating that she could perform the legislative math and twist the required arms. Despite this, her Democratic colleagues were forcing her to grovel.
“At this point in my life, I don’t need this,” Pelosi said.
The book also discloses Pelosi’s dissatisfaction with key Bidenworld officials, including Secretary Xavier Becerra, President Joe Biden’s choice to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, and White House chief of staff and top adviser Ron Klain.
Given his lack of public health expertise, many Democrats were “confused” by Biden’s pick of Becerra. Pelosi had a particular dislike for Becerra due to her tenure in the House of Representatives with him.
According to the book, Pelosi reprimanded Biden adviser Steve Ricchetti, saying, “You should know who you’re employing.”
On occasion, Klain’s demeanor enraged Pelosi and other House Democrats. Pelosi reportedly turned down an aide’s suggestion to contact Klain on healthcare policy in 2020, presumably because she didn’t know what Klain could help her with.
