It was no surprise that Nancy Pelosi wowed the crowd at U.S. Rep. Don Beyer’s Annual Women’s Conference Saturday morning.
The magic that was and is hers brought the 150 or so attendees at the George Mason University Arlington campus to their feet when she was ushered in, before she could even sit down.
Pelosi, 83, talked about 45 minutes about her rise in the halls of the U.S. Congress and how she got there, urging those present to grab opportunities which come along and “just be you; know your power. Know your inventory. There is only one of you in the whole world,” she exclaimed.
She was a rising star in California’s Democratic Party when she was asked to run for Congress in 1986, never before having given the race a moment’s thought.
After all, she said, she was a mother of five and a volunteer but she went to her youngest child and the only one still at home, Alexandra, 16 at the time, seeking her daughter’s advice. Alexandra told her mother to “get a life.” Pelosi paused and to audience laughter, said, “I had never heard that expression before,” but “get a life,” she did.
Rep. Beyer reeled off legislation passed during Pelosi’s tenure as speaker of the House of Representatives, the first and only woman to be elected speaker (2007 — 2011 and 2019 — 2023) and asked her what has happened to Congress during these past nine months of “chaos.”
Pelosi smiled and turned to the audience: “an election.” They matter, she said, joining Rep. Beyer to urge those present to get out in the last weekend before Virginia’s election Nov. 7 and knock on doors, canvass and work to elect Democrats who, they both enthusiastically agreed, will take back the House of Representatives next year.
She thanked voters in Rep. Beyer’s district for sending him to Washington, “one the best prepared people to come to Congress with public and private experience.” Throughout her remarks, she touted the achievements of President Biden.
She’s rather enjoyed being the target of Republican criticism for it shows she is effective, she said. You have to be able “to take a punch.” Also, the “No Label” party is full of labels, don’t kid yourself.
At the beginning of the event, a handful of Palestinian supporters shouted a question at the speaker emerita and held signs before police escorted them out.
Pelosi said she would treat the protesters with more respect than they showed the audience, saying, “Hamas is a terrorist organization.” She lamented the 1,400 murders of Israelis October 7 and the ongoing conflict. “Free the hostages!” Pelosi hurled back at the demonstrators: “Why aren’t you saying ‘free the hostages’?”
“There has to be a path to peace,” she said. “It cannot happen without respect on both sides… . A ceasefire is a gift to Hamas.” She praised U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken who “has made us all so proud” of his efforts, noting that in Tel Aviv Blinken stressed the need for “a humanitarian pause so we can get the hostages out” which is policy of President Biden “who cares deeply about the loss of life on both sides.” The audience applauded.
Before Pelosi spoke, Rep. Beyer brought to the stage Tanya J. Bradsher, the recipient of his Clara Mortenson Beyer Women and Children First Award, named after his grandmother. Bradsher was Beyer’s former chief of staff and the first woman of color nominated by President Biden to be the Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs. She was sworn in September 20, 2023.
