By Matthew Allen
She is opinionated and outspoken, criticizing President Bush on everything from the war in Iraq to the current state of the economy.
And now, Nancy Pelosi, from San Francisco, is the first woman in U.S. history to be leader of the House .
“She”s not the warmest, peachiest person I”ve ever met,” said Rep. Rob Bishop two days after he won re-election to Utah”s 1st District seat. “But clearly she is tough, she has spark, and she has shown in the past that she can clamp down on people in her own party if she needs to or wants to.”
Bishop said Pelosi has the intellectual capabilities to fulfill her duties as House leader, but added that most Utahans likely would not agree with her politics.
Pelosi was born and raised on the East Coast, just outside Washington, D.C., and now represents one of the most liberal districts on the other side of the country, Bishop said. “She just wouldn”t mesh well with the typical Utahan.”
Rep. Chris Cannon, 3rd District congressman from Provo who also won re-election, echoed Bishop”s sentiments, saying via e-mail, “I have high hopes that Nancy will change her San Francisco ideas of new morality to work on issues important to America – issues such as immigration, patent law, and medical care.”
While Pelosi”s politics may not necessarily be in sync with most conservatives, BYU political science professor Terry Patterson said there is no denying her experience and qualifications to be effective in her new position.
“She is an incredibly experienced politician and legislator, and she certainly has the background to accept such an assignment,” Patterson said.
Pelosi and other Democrats have promised to work on improving the situation in Iraq, helping the environment, raising the minimum wage and holding the government more responsible for the economy, and Patterson said he thinks Pelosi will focus on these issues as House leader.
“These are the issues that the Democrats have stressed, so I would assume that they will focus on implementing them now that they have the majority,” Patterson said.
Democratic Rep. Jim Matheson, who represents Utah”s 2nd Congressional District, did return calls seeking comment.
