Getting Her Way: Pelosi's Powers of Persuasion

[a kennedy]

By Jay Newton-Small / Washington

For more than 20 years before she was elected to Congress at the age of 47, Nancy Pelosi's full time job was rearing her five children. She calls it invaluable training for her current job as the first woman Speaker of the House, in which managing her 253-member caucus can be a daily challenge. "Having raised that many children and grandchildren she has eyes in the back of her head," says Rep. Chris Van Hollen, a Maryland Democrat and an assistant to the Speaker. As Pelosi, 69, nears the most important vote of her career, she'll need to draw upon all her experience as a leader (and parent) in doling out sticks and carrots to reach the magic number of 216 votes to pass health care reform.

Every minute of floor votes this week, Pelosi spent chatting up wavering members, as she was Thursday, sitting with Rep. Zach Space, an Ohio Democrat, who voted for the House version in November but now says he's undecided. And she's seen a steady trickle of Yea votes being declared, including today Rep. Tom Perriello of Virginia, Rep. John Boccieri of Ohio and Rep. Chris Murphy of Connecticut. She smiles and nods and prods, but for the most part favors carrots over sticks. She has a near eidetic memory for peoples' names and faces; she can tell you the names of nearly every one of her members' children and grandchildren. She sends hand-written cards congratulating parents on their offspring's milestones. "She's very gracious, courteous. She was raised in a family of politicians," says Rep, George Miller, a long time confidante and fellow Californian. "Illness, sickness, births, graduations and acceptances to college: she celebrates people's good fortune."

She also has been tackling members' problems with the bill issue by issue. Earlier in the week she worked with the New York delegation to iron out changes to the Senate bill, which punished "do-gooder" Medicaid states that already provided the most generous benefits — essentially robbing the rich states to pay for the poor ones. She also met with the Congressional Black Caucus to address some of their concerns about affordability and access. And she then spent a lot of time with the Hispanic Caucus assuaging their worries about provisions that prevent illegal and some legal immigrants from purchasing insurance on the new exchanges that will be created to help the uninsured. All three groups now support the bill. "She's always better informed about the public policy of the issue," says former Rep. Ellen Tauscher, another California Democrat who recently left the House for a State Department job. "She's always very responsive to constituents. She knows the politics of every district. She knows exactly what the sweet spot is for all 216-plus. That's unseen before in an American woman, probably in any woman."

full article: <http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1973868,00.html?xid=thepage_newsletter>

[monmouth]

1. I'm not sure POTUS could have pulled this off without her...Pelosi

is one of the most efficient and smart people in that job since I can recall. She's detail-oriented, which doesn't sound like much by itself but is certainly invaluable when it comes to rounding up the herd. I highly praise her.

[gblady]

2. I had no idea....

Nancy was 69......
You go, girl!

[TreasonousBastard]

3. Good to see she's getting good press. hope the "Dump Pelosi" crowd is listening.

[cilla4progress]

4. Win 1 for motherhood -

still, one of the toughest and most important jobs there is!