as 2024 Election Loom, Honorary Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives nancy pelosi She remains steadfast in her belief that she is vice president. kamala harris As long as Democrats rally at the polls, they will claim victory.
Please support The Advocate’s journalism. Learn how to contribute.
“The votes are for us. We just have to reveal them,” she predicted in a wide-ranging interview. defender.
Despite her cautious optimism, Pelosi is deeply concerned about the growing influence of the Republican Party and its extremist rhetoric, from health care repeal to Christian nationalism, anti-LGBTQ+ policies, hate speech and widespread attacks. This is seen as a worrying change in behavior. Democratic principles.
Pelosi reflected on this while discussing the upcoming election. news About the Speaker mike johnson vows to “dismantle”. Affordable Medical Care Act within the first 100 days if the Republicans win. Pelosi, who helped pass the ACA into law more than a decade ago, immediately responded to Johnson’s comments with outrage. “This is an unconscionable attack on the millions of Americans who rely on the ACA for basic health coverage,” she said.
For Pelosi, the ACA is a milestone in the fight for health care equity, and its repeal would benefit countless individuals, especially those with pre-existing conditions who might otherwise face being denied coverage or higher premiums. It warns that it will have a negative impact on
“The ACA is popular, so I don’t see how saying something like this before an election helps Republicans,” she noted.
Pelosi called it “reckless and short-sighted.” “The ACA has saved lives and expanded access to care for marginalized communities. LGBTQ+Populations have historically faced health care disparities. ”
Pelosi also expressed concern about how repeal would affect women’s health services, mental health supports, and addiction treatment. All these important services were expanded under the ACA. “To take this away would be devastating, especially at a time when so many are still recovering from the lasting effects of the pandemic,” she said.
The former House speaker recently said she sees the LGBTQ+ community increasingly becoming the target of hate, having heard first-hand stories that prove her point.
“I attended an event on Tuesday and spoke with a San Francisco couple at a New York airport who were hurled insults at them by Trump supporters who had flown in for the presidential election. madison square garden Unite,” Pelosi said. “Imagine two self-centered men being harassed because of their identities. This is the America that Trump has raised, where hate speech is only normalized. Instead, you will be rewarded.”
And the LGBTQ+ hatred reaches closer to home in the form of conspiracy theories surrounding her own family. This week, David DePaap was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for breaking into Pelosi and her husband’s San Francisco home. Depape told authorities he was after the former chairman. Peluso, who was not home at the time, attacked her husband, Paul, who was seriously injured. The right wing then falsely accused Pelosi’s husband of secretly having an affair with DePape.
“My husband was attacked one year ago on Monday,” Pelosi recalled. “Yesterday, his attackers were sentenced and it was a very good decision. But do you remember what they did after the attack? They went on TV and told my husband and I said that. the attacker was gay And all this stuff. Of course it’s stupid, but making it sound like being gay is a bad thing is bad. This is a very hateful and horrific event during what has been and continues to be a very difficult time for our family. ”
Pelosi added that she believes incidents like this reveal the real-world impact of Donald Trump’s rhetoric, which allows individuals to openly act on their biases. He said there was.
Pelosi, a devout Catholic, also christian nationalism And she sees it as a distortion of religious values. She warns that the movement often weaponizes religion against marginalized groups.
“There is nothing truly Christian about this nationalism. Using religion to justify exclusion and hatred is horrifying and unchristian,” she said. “These ideologies endanger democratic values, and this rhetoric obscures their divisive purpose and encourages voters to see beyond the surface.”
referring to the former president donald trump“This presidential candidate has normalized hate speech and is responsible for the shift toward hate speech across the country,” Pelosi said. It has a local feel and humor. Hate is normalized and people act on it without shame or accountability. ”
On a positive note, Pelosi praised the transportation secretary. pete buttigieg As a great representative for Mr. Harris. “He is knowledgeable, visionary, values-driven, and embodies the party’s aspirations for a united America,” she noted. “It’s heartening to see him speak about this issue with conviction and hope.”
Pelosi also finds common ground with former Republican congresswoman Liz Cheney, who recently warned that Johnson might not act impartially if Trump loses the election. Pelosi echoed Cheney’s sentiments, stressing that Johnson’s loyalty to Trump raises concerns about her commitment to democracy.
Cheney and Pelosi have both said that Johnson, who openly supports Trump’s “Big Lie” that he lost the 2020 election, is trying to undermine the electoral process in Trump’s favor. I am concerned that this may be the case.
“We have to take him seriously,” Pelosi said. “Mr. Johnson’s actions go beyond rhetoric and could jeopardize the integrity of our electoral process. This election could decide the future of our country.”
She sees Johnson’s position as a potential “Trojan horse” for anti-democratic measures, which she fears could undermine Americans’ faith in democratic institutions.
“Anyone who repeatedly shows they are putting their party above democratic principles is not an oath-keeper,” Pelosi said, adding that she is confident Democrats can take back the House. “That is why it is imperative that we pass the gavel to Hakeem Jeffries as Speaker of the House on January 3, 2025.”
For Pelosi, the future of American democracy is more at stake than ever. She emphasized the importance of voting by saying: we have to get rid of them. Our job is to rally and get out the vote in a principled and effective way. ”
Source: Advocate.com – www.advocate.com
