Pelosi: "San Francisco Values" Tag Used To Smear Gays

Sen. John McCain is traveling west on Monday for a fundraiser in San Francisco. And while it's hardly rare for a major politician to raise money in the city by the bay -- campaign fundraising is a bit like bank robbing, you go where the money is -- it is nevertheless notable. GOP officials are more accustomed to using San Francisco as a political boogeyman than as an ATM.

Earlier in this election cycle, for instance, Missouri GOP Rep. Sam Graves put out an attack ad against his Democratic opponent, accusing her of partying it up with current House Speaker Nancy Pelosi at a -- you guessed it -- San Francisco fundraiser. The spot included a colorfully dressed black male dancing it up with two scantily clad female counterparts -- a previously unachieved synthesis of gay baiting, race baiting and thinly veiled innuendo of devious sexual acts.

The Huffington Post recently had the opportunity to ask Pelosi what it was like to have her home city so often impugned. Her response to the GOP: get over your envy.

"San Francisco values to me means that every child in our city has health insurance until they are 25 years old. San Francisco values say we don't have a minimum wage, we have a living wage. In San Francisco we respect the dignity and worth of every person and respect is the order of the day there. Issues like protecting the environment aren't issues for us -- they are values and ethics.

"I think they highlight them because they are the forces that are fighting health insurance for our children... they are the forces that are fighting increases in the minimum wage. So when they sort of use their winks and nods about San Francisco values, they are talking about the fact that we respect our gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community. But what they are really afraid of is economic justice.

"Someone showed me a letter they sent out the other day -- this is how pathetic they are -- on the cover in bold black pen, like a quarter of an inch thick, across the page of this fundraising letter, it said 'Nancy Pelosi Wants You To Die.' It looks just like a letter. Imagine if you were to get something like that in your home. It is very threatening. They are bankrupt. The Republicans are bankrupt. They have no ideas about the future, they are agents for the status quo, thank god there are a few of them that vote with us on the issues."

Here's the video:

Comments

[meanguy]

no, the 'san francisco values' tag is being used to smear the far left

[Noodlejam]

Nancy Pelosi is just another politician being used by the space aliens to cover up John Edwards' love-child. Read the National Enquirer for the truth!!!!

[Crowhaul]

Somewhat off track with this, but I still want Pelosi to explain once and for all why she took it upon herself to tell the nation that 'impeachment is off the table'. Especially after the sweeping mandate we Dems gave her.... (I'm still pissed about this, and will be for a long time.)

[gra8whit]

I was pissed, too. To me, it's not about retribution -it's about not allowing this precedent to stand. To let Bush and Cheney go unscathed seems like a dangerous precedent for any presidency to follow - Democratic or Republican. It sounds like Nancy is more interested in getting things done next year and doesn't believe any good will come of going after the current criminal administration.

[PlantGod72]

Never thought Ms. Pelosi would bring tears to my eyes with anything she said........but she's proven me wrong!

Bless you, Nancy! And let's hear MORE about the TRUE agenda of the NeoCon Republicans!!!

[condew]

The "San Francisco Value" that bothers me most is the one that says no mater how offensive the corruptions of George W. Bush, he will not be impeached. What's more, Hariet Meirs, Josh Bolton, and Karl Rove can ignore congessional supoenas with no fear of prosecution or force to require their obedience. Those are the values that are just too liberal for me.

[incontempt]

HOO RAH!! ...Go Nancy...err Mrs Pelosi

[RobtBrock]

A lot of the gays the Republicans are trying to smear make good money, wear pin-stripe suits and wing-tip shoes, and vote Republican. Weird.

[sf101]

SF is awesome in many ways. But the Democrats are sleezy as well. All she cares about winning the damn White House and maintaining party (and personal?) money and power. Hypocritical if you ask me.

[UnbiasView]

Now you are starting to understand politics.

[luvobama]

I love San Francisco and it's family values. I'm straight. Imagine that. If you get the chance, come and visit. It's a beautiful place.

[janinius]

HERE HERE! I do every year from the great city on the other coast - nyc!

[johnnyjust]

Frisco values simply means no values.

[janinius]

really? do you live in a box? or are you just afraid of an america where everyone can live happily, equally, with opportunity for wealth and success? scared much?

[peacebypiece]

Are you confused? Frisco is a town in Colorado. This article is talking about SAN FRANCISCO which is in CA. I think the citizens of Frisco CO might take issue with your statement.

[incontempt]

values as in values like ethics? or respect for other living things? or the concern for air for their children have to breathe...you need to start at a dictionary for the word "values" and seek whats important to you, values are as variable as opinions and as opinions go , some are malformed and twisted and others are based on the noblest of causes.

[imusintheevening]

You display your ignorance well. San Francisco is known as San Francisco, or the City, but not "San Fran" or "Frisco".

One example value is that of "acceptance", ever hear of that? They used to preach it in Churches before they became hate factories.

[Phil123]

Pelosi's right. Most gays and lesbians aren't anywhere near as disgusting, bigoted, anti-American, and contemptible as San Franciscans. Most gays and lesbians wouldn't have voted for anyone as stupid as Pelosi.

[DerKrieger]

How do you define "economic justice"? Does it involve taking money from one group by force via the tax code and giving to another? Or is it something else? Just curious.

[klmebane]

i think that she meant equal economic opportunity when she said economic justice. taxes are exactly that. taking money from one group and giving it to another. the military industrial complex, big business, etc. the tax money that goes to help the individual is substantially less than the tax money that goes to large groups.

[Eric8869]

Yes "San Francisco Values" and "Family Values" - all codes to bash gays and lesbians. If they are going to be bigoted JUST SAY IT. I would respect them more.

[kellygrrrl]

agree

[Marcospinelli]

"San Francisco values" is all inclusive of everything that Republicans hate: People. San Francisco is a model of diversity in all areas of the human condition. The United Nations' inception in San Francisco is just one symbol or icon for Republicans along those lines.

[DesertLight]

And some of the highest priced housing and taxes in the union. Keep it.

[klmebane]

personally, i don't mind the notion of paying taxes if i actually get something for my money. a government that runs itself responsibly would be a nice start. health care managed by the government would be another great thing. not run by the government, but with the government as an insurance agent of sorts. yeah, the government has issues in terms of how it runs some things, but that doesn't mean that it can't be fixed. its just that enough people have to say "i've had enough" and do something about it.

[Bettysdad]

That's odd.

I thought "San Francisco Values" referred to Democratic elected officials who rollover for Republican criminals (sorry for the redundancy), and allow the Constitution to be shredded.

[milo9]

Pelosi gives San Francisco values a bad name.