GOP Rep: Republicans Complaining About Pelosi Are "Babies Sucking Their Thumbs"

Roll Call reports (subscription req'd)

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) threw cold water on a key rationale House Republican leaders have been employing this afternoon to explain why they couldn't deliver more GOP votes for the Wall Street bailout package.

At a Monday afternoon press conference, GOP leaders argued that Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) cost the measure a dozen Republican votes by delivering an overly partisan floor speech in support of it.

But Bachmann, speaking at a Republican Study Committee press conference, told reporters, "I want to assure you that was not the case. We are not babies who suck our thumbs. We have very principled reasons for voting no."

Bachmann was responding to comments Democratic leaders made dismissing the GOP leaders' claims. But she apparently confused the Democratic response with the initial charge by Republicans, and her comments mirrored those of the Democratic leaders.

UPDATE: More from GOP Rep. John Shadegg on Tuesday's Morning Joe:

Joe Scarborough: Let's bring in Republican Arizona Representative John Shaddegg. Did you vote against this bill because your feelings were hurt by Barney Frank or Nancy Pelosi?

John Shadegg: No, I didn't. It was a stupid speech by her. They didn't move any votes.

Joe Scarborough: Was Boehner wrong?

John Shadegg: Yes. It was embarrassing for leadership on both parties to lose the bill so they made a stupid claim.

Comments

[PhantomAviator]

..

Another trillion dollars of value lost? How many more days, you freaking NATIONOF WHINERS.

Phil Gramm was right for once in his life.

I'm not even talking about the Republicans. I'm talking about the people on this message board.

Got your "principals" back, yet? Government SMALL enough. yet?

You people don't know what it's like to have NOTHING. But you'll learn. Go "turn" another house, if you CAN.

.

[Paul Peete - Huffpost Blogger]

I know exactly what you are feeling I wrote a week ago that we have to get this done. I comment every night trying to make sure reason prevails. But it may take the whole thing to fall for some of these so called enlightened ones to see that we are on the end of the plank and the sharks are hungry.

[ObamaSheeple]

This bill does not amount to the $63 tn worth of derivatives world wide. How does this bill keep those, 'bets on a bet' as Warren Buffett calls them, from falling further, if

[notthistime]

"You people don't know what it's like to have NOTHING."

Painting everyone with the same brush are we?

Look, nobody wants to give away 700B dollars in taxpayers funds but most of us know it has to be done. Be patient. Things need to explode in order to expose all this childish nonsense. Then action will be taken. I don't think it will go another week without a yes vote. This is playing out for a reason. Be patient.

[labman57]

The GOP is acting like the petulant chilld, taking their marbles and slinking home because they felt slighted by Pelosi's speech laying blame on the Bush administration. They would rather see the global economy collapse than let the Democrats get more credit than they believe is justified.

GROW UP!

Meanwhile, McCain spent the past few days grandstanding and taking credit for bringing the GOP into the fold to support the bailout plan which he claimed to support. If he cannot manage to rally his own party to support his own positions, how does he expect to rally the very bipartisan nation if elected?

McCain claims to believe in "Country First", but actions speak louder than words.

[MyVoiceHere]

The real number to think about is 1.1 trillion lost in market today. How much will it lose by Thursday? I think we will see the calls change from constituents asking for votes. How many retirement funds will be wiped out? This plan was sold totally wrong to the American people and as quick as it was killed the blame was put on Pelosi and her speech by the House republican leadership. There is not one Republican that will admit that was the reason for not voting. It was a blatant lie by the House Republican leaders to cover their inability to get the rest of the House Republicans to vote for the bill. Who is leading the Republicans? Not McCain, not Bush, not Beynor?

[markdolph]

In the world of sound bytes and 24-hour newsbites, Pelosi's speech was unfortunate. It show a lack of maturity on her part as a political leader - it gave the republican's an "out". In terms of poor judgment, It's matched only by the political gesturing of John McCain.

[MyVoiceHere]

But a former Senator said that is normal to hear in vote discussions.

[RepugsOut08]

If that's the case, and they wanted to vote for the bill on principle, then vote yes and blast Pelosi. Voting against thier own principles and the good of the country because Pelosi hurt their feelings isn't gonna endure them to the voters who lost their life savings today, I assure you.

[marthlois]

In your little thumb-sucking face Michele!
You're just helping to take that little snarly/goo­d-for-noth­ing nominee of yours OUT! And it could not
be soon enough,.
Transparency will be Good! Truthfulness will be Good! Take-it-to­-the-votin­g-booth WILL BE GOOD!

[FreedomFries]

She is confused. David Vitter is a Senator.

[mountaingal]

I laughed when I heard the reason the Republicans voted against the bill--Honestly, are they that thin-skinned that they cannot hear the truth? They are so emotionally tied to Bush that they cannot bear to hear him criticized without crying, stomping their collective feet, and refusing to bail out America? The number 777 will find its way into ads against them if they don't get something done this week. Dow went down 777 today--what will it be by Thursday?

[Scytherius]

Good for her. If McCain wanted a woman on the ticket this is someone he should have chosen.

[Paul Peete - Huffpost Blogger]

It was an accidental moment of truth, completely unintentional.

[rich misty]

She is not whining because the GOP are babies in cold water.

[DavidBlackburn]

I would imagine it's pretty difficult to suck your thumb with your head up your rear end.

[chiropaul]

I'd hit it.......

[shengirl]

Oopsie, she committed a truth!

[LAThinker]

...or she did not get the memo