Pelosi Won't Take Credit For Sinking Freeman

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), who reportedly urged President Obama against the selection of Chas Freeman to serve in a top intelligence position, spoke publicly for the first time on Thursday about his nomination. Freeman withdrew his name on Wednesday.

"I saw in the paper this morning my name quoted in association with this. I never made a public statement about Chas Freeman's nomination," Pelosi said in response to a question from the Huffington Post. "The conversation I had that was quoted in the paper was in a classified setting which I would never quote, nor should anyone else have."

Newseek earlier reported that Pelosi was "incensed" by Freeman's views of the Tiananmen Square massacre - he thought the Chinese were too soft -- and said that such a position was "indefensible."

Pelosi has been a longtime critic of China's record of human rights abuses.

Freeman, for his part, credited the "Israel Lobby" for derailing his nomination. The Washington Post reported Thursday that AIPAC, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, had worked behind the scenes to scuttle his selection.

Comments

[alexa07]

Nancy Pelosi doesn't want to be associated publicly with the lamentable situation of how pro-Israel lobbies dictate the appointment of our officials, by even the Obama adm? In the past (as recently as a few wks. ago during the Israeli onslaught upon Gaza that is on-going), Pelosi has NOT been shy about having her pro-Israel views made known to all near & far! The loss of Charles Freeman for a position to which he is uniquely qualified, is directly attributed to our hapless legislators who need to toe the line for Israel & its short-sighted American friends. I don't blame her for seeking cover for her role in Freeman's untimely withdrawal. The article yesterday in the LA Times touted Freeman's credentials, esp. the need for alternative points of view in our govt. (We've not been having a whole lot of success by being Israel's best friend.) Pelosi needs to wake up & realize why many of us are bypassing the foolishness of our leaders by joining the BDS, boycott, divest & sanction Israel. Also End the Occupation. Personally, I have made a number changes in where I shop & alerted all to why I no longer am interested in patronizing these businesses. Likewise, we have contacted our pension funds, other financial & academic institutions. If the leaders in Congress won't quit working so hard for this country (& I don't mean the USA), there are choices to be made & voting avenues to take. Pelosi, are you listening.

[Justtellthetruth]

Pelosi supports AIPAC, both financially and politically. Two of their top officials are currently charged with espionage against the US, and to this day she still supports them.

[iggy06]

Ever wonder why Israel is the only country allowed to have the powers they have? No other country does, including countries more than triple our population. India and China for example. Can you imagine if Koreans, Japanese, Iranians, etc., as a foregin power, had so much power in deciding who is in our government or not?

[iggy06]

Methinks the lady doth protest too much. Plus, all you have to do is look at her voting record and read the speech transcripts she's given at AIPAC conferences going back to 2004. Pelosi, like so many others from the right and left, put Israel first.

[DLBSR]

Newseek earlier reported that Pelosi was "incensed" by Freeman's views of the Tiananmen Square massacre - he thought the Chinese were too soft -- and said that such a position was "indefensible."

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Too soft? How many of you remember the Tiananmen Square tradgedy? Too soft is not a defense or definition I would use while describing the PLA's actions against the unarmed & non-violent (mostly students) people participating in that protest. The PLA assulted these people as if they were assulting troops fron an opposing army. The Israeli lobby notwithstanding, as far as I am concerned Freeman's nomination should have been DOA with respect to his views on this topic alone.

[CitizenFarmer]

While it is somewhat difficult to see, Rahm's (citizen of Israel) actions are all over this one.

[iggy06]

Rahm sure. But don't forget Schumer.

[jnutlfam2]

Really? Israel is not the problem. Have you compared the size of Israel to the other Arab nations? are they trying to expand or just want to be left alone and not get pushed into the sea?

[maddie0001]

Looks like they're expanding and pushing the native population into the sea. That is the natives that survive the airstrikes.

[raaf]

Why is Newsweek trying to spin this like it had something to do with China? Everybody knows AIPAC is behind this one.

[christopherflynn]

When are some honest politicians with gonads going to come forth and admit that the real problem in the middle east is israel?

[petphotos]

They have too much power and control. Not an outfit you want to mess with. Something the Arabs have not learned.

[skialethia]

More power than the rule of law? If politicians weren't so greedy and corrupt, Aipac would already by cut down at the knees!

[dgswilson]

In this case it's all about Nancy and Israel. Look deep at Nancy's playbook. If you made two columns: What Israel wants and What Nancy say's, they would be exactly the same. Of course this could be said for most people in congress.

[skialethia]

Why does she give a dmn about Chinese human rightsabuses and doesn't give squat aboutIsraeli human rightsabuses???

Hypocrisy is rampant when it comes to bowing obediently toAIPAC!

[skialethia]

Why does she give a dmn about Chinese human rightsabuses and doesn't give squat about Israeli human rights buses???

Hypocrisy is rampant when it comes to bowing obediently toAIPAC!

[sfsoma]

In my opinion, Pelosi, like many other elected officials of both parties, is in the pocket of American zionists with dual Israeli citizenship who are major donors to the politicians. I find it truly frightening and a set up for activities that could reach the level of treason.

[indyleftist]

It is unfortunate that anyone who has ever spoken candidly about international affairs is seen as too controversial to work in our intelligence services.
Often times the things they say aren't even really controversial but because they are dealing with hard issues and people shut their minds.
So for instance in this article it explains Freeman's views on China with a misquote. Freeman started off his statement on Tienanmen Square with the phrase "the dominant view in China is..." Yet it is presented here without that part of it, changing the meaning quite a bit.

The pro-Israel lobby ( I prefer the phrase anti-Palestinian lobby because it describes their position more accurately) is not really the problem. The real problem is the media. They do not allow anyone to ever explain an issue with any degree of substance and as a result the public at large is not used to hearing serious positions on the major issues of the day. They are used to mindless talking points, so when someone does talk about substance it seems strange and controversial to most Americans

As far as Pelosi. I have no idea why her picture is here. Chuck Schumer's should be because he is the one taking credit.

[Snuffleupagus]

And just why do you suppose the media never tackles the AIPAC topic?

[skialethia]

Maybe because those who own the media are card-carrying members?

[iggy06]

Simple. Look who owns the media and the Fed Reserve.

[damilitantone]

These pro-Israel groups should be registered as foreign agents and be honest about their true aims. They care more about the Jewish State than they do about the United States. Just be straight about who you are and who you represent. The people of the US have done more to support Israel than any other country. Yet, what are we getting in return? I don't how many folks have been locked up for spying on the US on behalf of Israel. I've been reading the Bible and have been through the first 13 books. As "God's chosen people" the citizen's of Israel should hold themselves to a high standard and that includes groups that purport to support the Jewish State. Folks also need to understand that US Middle East Policy can't be one-sided. I expect more from our ally than what passes for "business as usual."