Pelosi's Actions: Critical Leadership or Questionable Ethics
Has her work in positioning Kamala Harris and persuading Joe Bident to move out o the way been honorable and respectful
Nancy Pelosi is unquestionably a powerful person and hardened leader in politics and government. She says what she believes must be said and does what she believes needs to be done. Is Pelosi always ethical, as in above the line? That is the debate.
There are a group of critics who concluded that the Speaker Emerita pressured and manipulated President Joe Biden into not running for Presidential re-election and orchestrated the selection of Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee, without giving the public the chance to voice and vote their preferences.
It’s important to consider potential points as strong motivational drivers for her.
Pelosi, like many in politics, media and the public, emotionally fear a return to power for former President Donald Trump. That’s motivation to act, even if in desperation.
On top of that, Pelosi has taken and endured a lot of personal insults from him. There is no love lost between the two. Trump losing the election has to be personal to her. She doesn’t want to have to deal with misbehavior again and who can blame her.
Pelosi’s actions however may not be just about the good of country.
There is also the power variable. Pelosi, like many in politics, government, authority, power and the limelight, feel ill at the thought of surrendering it.
She has additionally voiced concerns that the Democrats could lose authority in the House, something she is not willing to let happen. She wants to keep the advantage.
Biden, and yes, many other Democratic lawmakers, felt he had to go, regardless of what it took. The ends justified the means in her — and their — thinking.
“I have very serious concerns about the preceding president,” Pelosi said in talking about Trump. “It was essential for our country, for our democracy, for us (people who agree with her) to be able to win this election.”
This inspires a question. Was the power play of Pelosi and leading Democrats ethical?
Many are excited about Harris and the prospect of defeating Trump and assuaging their fears and disgust of him again occupying the Oval Office yet was the manner in which she led the removal of Biden as the presumptive opposition to the finish line for Trump the ethical “right?”
Was how Pelosi moved the chess pieces what citizens expect and respect?
In a conversation with CNN commentator David Axelrod, she communicated her stated reason for going hard at Biden.
“My point was only, we need a better campaign,” Pelosi commented while promoting her new book, “The Art of Power: My Story as America’s First Woman Speaker of the House.”
“I know my politics too,” she added. So I want to see certain things, those things. The president made his decision.”
Did Biden really make that decision solely of his own emotions and psychology?
Reportedly, no, he didn’t. He resisted. Biden believed he could defeat Trump and win re-election and he wanted to stay in the race. Pelosi didn’t get to where she is in her career and last so long by taking “no” for an answer when she wants, expects and demands agreement.
Biden spoke respectfully about it at the Democratic National Convention.
"All this talk about how I'm angry at all those people who said I should step down," he said. "That's not true. I love my country more and we need to preserve democracy."
He could be speaking honestly. That’s plausible. It’s also possible that Biden is acting as a team player despite feelings to the contrary of his words.
He wasn’t happy initially. Maybe after further thought, he has made peace with what happened. Pelosi, as a tradeoff (and you can bet this was part of the discussion with him prior to him stepping aside) has made an ongoing effort to praise Biden and his administration for their work in his term.
She doesn’t feel anything inappropriate has been done morally or politically.
“Why would you ask me that question?” she said gruffly in reaction to having any regrets about aggressively seeking Biden’s withdrawal from the race to elevate Harris.
Pelosi went on to say, “I just wanted to win this election."
She didn’t say the other part: “Whatever it takes.”
She did say “I” and “win” though.
Some critics have taken to calling Pelosi the “Godmother.” It’s not a label that she finds attractive or desirable. Is there a good reason for it? That’s up for argument.
Are we recognizing what is happening? This is a lot about Nancy and her personal motives, the ethics and process be damned.
"So if they’re upset, I’m sorry for them, but the country is very happy,” Pelosi said before President Biden spoke at the DNC. “I don’t know who they are, but that’s their problem.”
This is self-indulgent, excuse making and rationalization. It’s arrogant communication. That low-level, lower-character communication normally hurts and offends people and is seen as reflecting a lack of remorse. That normally aggravates conflict and crisis.
Regardless of whom you want to win the election, for whatever reasons are important to you, Pelosi’s lust for power and personal feelings about Trump are showing her situational ethics and deficiencies of professionalism.
It could very well pay off in November and moving forward. It could prove to be highly profitable to her future: financially, in the media, with public relations and in history. That’s excellent for Pelosi. Yet is it ethical?
Michael Toebe is a specialist for trust, risk, relationship, communications and reputation at Reputation Intelligence - Reputation Quality. He serves individuals and organizations by helping them further build, protect, restore and reconstruct reputation.
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