Ex-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi trashes Republican chaos: ‘It’s called leadership’

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi lashed out Wednesday at Republicans for letting their effort to choose a speaker turn into a circus.

“This is very sad for the country,” she said.

Pelosi derided Republicans for holding the people’s business hostage with their intramural squabble. The House cannot do anything until a speaker is chosen.

“This is called leadership,” Pelosi said. “This is their problem and (it’s) their lack of respect for this institution, their lack of respect for the responsibility that we all have to protect and defend the Constitution.”

Pelosi, who served as Democratic leader for two decades, called the embarrassing stalemate a reflection of the GOP’s coddling of far right-wing extremists like the band of 20 lawmakers who have blocked House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy’s election as speaker.

She accused Republicans of allowing their leaders to be picked by radical lawmakers who have either downplayed the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol or sympathize with the violent mob that sought to block certification of President Biden’s victory.

“Thank God they were not in charge on January 6,” Pelosi said. “They wouldn’t have been able ... I don’t know if they would even have the desire to come back to the Capitol (to confirm Biden’s win).”

Pelosi was known for her razor-sharp knowledge of her Democratic caucus, which helped her win leadership battles despite occasional fierce spats with factions on either wing of the party.

She stepped down after the midterm elections, paving the way to a smooth transition to Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) as new House Democratic leader.