A Class Act
The new House Minority Leader is a class act. Actually, all class, no act. She is a highly intelligent, gracious woman who has very few detractors, even among those who deride what they perceive as her liberal policies. Last year, she became the first woman elected to a House leadership position when she captured the post of Minority Whip, and it is clear evidence of her success since then that her only significant opposition to the top spot dropped out almost immediately when he saw that she already had the votes to win.
Nancy Pelosi was born to politics; her father was a popular mayor of Baltimore, as was her brother. A faithful party worker and state party leader, Nancy went to Congress in 1987 to represent that bastion of liberalism and excess called Baghdad-by-the-Bay, and otherwise known as San Francisco. She has won re-election with 85% of the vote ever since because she does such a fine job of both serving the people in her district, and illuminating important perspectives on the critical issues of the day to her colleagues in the House. Apparently, doing so in such a way that has them listening respectfully, even when they don't agree with her.
It's not a surprise to me. Back in 1995, my partner 'n best pal Peter and I formed a political consulting firm called Wins of Change. Peter knew Nancy from interviews he'd done with her when he was on the radio in San Francisco. We asked her if she knew of any people she would recommend as potential clients. She seemed almost hurt that we hadn't asked her. With her immense popularity, we hadn't thought that she needed a consultant, but we quickly remedied the problem, and she became our first client.
Because her position was so secure among her constituents, we recommended a different tack for her '96 re-election bid. Rather than create thirty-second political messages supporting her own campaign, we recommended that we produce a half-hour political infomercial that celebrated her progressive politics, and which also drew attention to two Democratic candidates running against strong opposition in Northern California districts. She liked the idea.
A powerhouse of a political figure, a mother of five successful children, Nancy could have been imperious and difficult to work with, but quite the contrary, she was attentive, generous, and dedicated to getting it right. She knew she was working with professionals, but she had her own opinions. Nonetheless, her decisions were interest-based, not position-based, and since we were on the same page about what needed to be accomplished, the whole effort was collaborative and the result effective.
The program, the heart of which was an extended interview with Nancy about the vital issues facing the country, also featured a wonderful sound cut of President Kennedy speaking about the need to resolve problems so that future generations could move forward with less encumbrance, some cover footage of Nancy on Capitol Hill and working in her district, and some snippets of the other two Democrats. It aired a number of times through different broadcast and cable outlets that reached across a much of Northern California. Nancy, of course, won her election, as did one of the other candidates, who has won every election since. The failed candidate has run in two statewide races, but has yet to win voter approval.
What was most significant for me was the process of collaborating with Nancy. Our planning sessions saw Nancy sitting on her living room floor, eating chocolate ice cream, sharing fascinating tidbits about the gruesome nature of life as a Democrat in the Gingrich-controlled Congress. She wasn't mean-spirited or desperate; she always presented a hopeful attitude, focused on the need to move forward. It was such a long road ahead.
I'm delighted that Nancy Pelosi will be the new House Minority Leader. She has earned the position because of who she is, her integrity and her grace; how she listens, and what she says. I wouldn't be surprised if she became Speaker of the House in a couple of years, and perhaps the first woman president of the United States. Her gender will be a factor in that election, but it will be the quality of mind and heart that will generate her victory.
And that's SetonnoteS...I'm Tony Seton.
.