House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s contradictory stories about being briefed by the CIA on interrogation tactics magnify cynicism about Congress and the political process, says Rep. Tom Price, chairman of the Republican Study Committee, in a Newsmax interview.
The fact that Pelosi breezily claimed that the CIA routinely lies to Congress is “very destructive to the morale of the CIA,” Price says. “To have the speaker of the House, who is third in line to the presidency, be an individual who has remarkable problems with the facts on this issue is troubling for the nation.
"She adds to the skepticism and the cynicism across the country as it relates to Congress and the political process.”
In contrast to Pelosi’s claims, “The American people believe strongly in the integrity of our military and the integrity of the individuals who are charged with keeping us safe,” the Georgia congressman says. “It’s not an accident that we haven’t had another significant attack since 9/11. Right now in our nation’s history, the intelligence community is so vital to our very survival. What she’s doing is destructive of that.”
That same disconnect between Democratic leaders and the American people is evident on the issue of closing the Guantanamo Bay prison camp, Price says.
“To say you’re going to close Guantanamo Bay and not have a plan for what you’re going to do with the very dangerous individuals who are being held there is irresponsible,” Price says. "That kind of policy will not be embraced by the American people. And as the Democrats continue to put forward these kinds of poorly thought-out strategies for whatever it is — healthcare, energy, Guantanamo Bay, the economy — Americans are going to tire of it.”
Price notes that it is playing “loose with the facts” to adopt a budget that borrows 50 cents on every dollar while pretending it will help the economy.
President Obama is “so remarkably popular from a personal standpoint” that it is taking time for the public to fully grasp the changes that he is putting in place. But Price cites tea parties as a sign of growing concern about the direction that Obama is taking the country. He notes that polls now show Americans favor Republicans over Democrats.
“I’m concentrating on 2010 and retaking the House,” Price says. “I think we’ve got a great opportunity. The concern that the American people have with the lack of checks and balances here is real and will only grow. So I’m excited about the opportunities for 2010 and hopefully the privilege that we’ll have of getting this nation back on track.”
Ronald Kessler is chief Washington correspondent of Newsmax.com. View his previous reports and get his dispatches sent to you free via
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