Democrats have to be ready to “take a punch and throw a punch” once they retake Congress, House Minority Leader Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., says.
In an audio clip posted by the Republican National Committee Monday, Pelosi makes the comments during a discussion with “Queer Eye” star and podcaster Jonathan Van Ness during the Bentzen Ball comedy festival in Washington, D.C.
She predicted Democrats would win back the House majority and make Congress more “transparent” and “bipartisan if possible.”
“[Democrats will] have legislation that meets [voters’] needs, identifies, connects with them so that they see where the Republicans are and where the Democrats are on that,” she said.
“And to do so in a way that tries to have as much common ground as possible, bipartisanship, if possible, stand our ground like a rock if not and try to unify the country.”
“We are not them. We do not act the way they do,” she said of Republicans. “But I do think that when you are in the arena, and somebody throws a punch, you better be able to take a punch and throw a punch,” she declared.
The lawmaker made similar comments last week to “The Late Show” host Stephen Colbert.
“When we do win, we will have, as we open the new Congress, we will honor the vows of our founders, E pluribus unum, from many one,” she said at that time, the Washington Times reported.
“It’s OK to disagree in the marketplace of ideas, that’s exciting, but it is also important to find solutions that unify and not divide.”
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