The House Democratic Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) isn't taking well to the rise of young Democratic stars soaking up media attention.
The first two question in Pelosi's weekly press conference centered around up and coming progressives like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, but Pelosi wasn't having it.
"How do you feel that the DCCC should address candidates who aren't willing to support the current leadership?" a reporter asked, sparking outrage from Pelosi.
"Can we talk about --" Pelosi began, before losing her train of thought. "But we’re — we’re — they’re undermining the Constitution of the United States. They’re trying to get — undermine an investigation into undermining our elections. And so much is going on here. I’ll talk politics after. But this is about jobs, it’s about health care, it’s about Medicare, it’s about preexisting conditions, it’s about a woman’s right to choose. So much is that stake that affects the American people.
Another then began: "Democrats in general are looking to pick up many seats," before Pelosi tried cutting her off. But the reporter persisted: "I'm wondering how you go about building a governing coalition in a party where you have a large number of people moving further to the left?"
"Does anybody have any question about the serious matters of the day?" Pelosi demanded of the gathered reporters. "A Supreme Court decision that is — does violence to the First Amendment. A Supreme Court decision that undermines the rights of working people. A bill on the floor that — if the Democrats — what we would never do it, that is about undermining our national security as well as our judicial system. Does anybody have a substantive question?"
Here's a transcript of the exchange:
REPORTER: “How do you feel that the DCCC should address candidates who aren’t willing to back the current leadership?”
PELOSI: “Can we talk about the subject? I’ll get to politics. But we’re — we’re — they’re undermining the Constitution of the United States. They’re trying to get — undermine an investigation into undermining our elections. And so much is going on here. I’ll talk politics after. But this is about jobs, it’s about health care, it’s about Medicare, it’s about preexisting conditions, it’s about a woman’s right to choose. So much is that stake that affects the American people. Yes, ma’am?”
REPORTER: “The Democrats in general are looking to pick up many seats in the next —“
PELOSI: “OK. Hold a minute. But, I’m not going to politics.”
REPORTER: “It’s about building governing coalition. I’m wondering how you go about building a governing coalition with a party where you have a large number of people moving for instance to the left, and how do you go forward to do more than just oppose the president.”
PELOSI: “OK. I’m happy to answer that. Does anybody have any question about the serious matters of the day? A Supreme Court decision that is — does violence to the First Amendment. A Supreme Court decision that undermines the rights of working people. A bill on the floor that — if the Democrats — what we would never do it, that is about undermining our national security as well as our judicial system. Does anybody have a substantive question? Yes, sir?”
This is the second day in a row Pelosi's lost her cool after being asked about how much longer the current Democratic leadership expects to hang on.