DO REPORTS OF PELOSI COMMENTS BACK UP 'WHITE HOUSE INSIDER'?

This is interesting on a couple of different levels but outgoing House Speaker Nancy Pelosi reportedly told Democratic leaders that the only way Barack Obama would win a second term is if he is 'perfect' between now and then. Adding credibility to this is that according to Roll Call, several aides are said to have vouched for the quote. Obviously, if true, Pelosi has serious doubts about Obama and expressed it by setting an impossible standard.

Via Roll Call:

Speaker Nancy Pelosi told Democratic leaders Wednesday afternoon that President Barack Obama has to be “perfect” to win a second term, several senior Democratic aides told Roll Call.

and this....

According to one aide, Pelosi also said she wasn’t sure whether the White House is prepared to deal with a Republican House. A leadership aide denied that Pelosi made such a statement.

Interestingly, this look behind the curtain would seem to also bolster the credibility of that 'White House Insider' who's been speaking to an anonymous blogger named 'Ulsterman.'

Here is what WHI said to Ulsterman way back in a post dated October 7th:

Insider: You want to know what Pelosi thinks of Barack Obama? The phrase that was forwarded to me that is said to have come from her?

Ulsterman: Absolutely.

Insider: Now I’m paraphrasing here a bit, but this is the gist of it. “If the president wants a war then that is what he is going to get. I’m done playing patsy to this -expletive- White House. If that -expletive- wants to throw me under his -expletive- bus, then bring it on.

Ulsterman: A war? There is a war between Pelosi and Obama?

Insider: Yes. As extreme as that sounds, that pretty much sums up the situation now between the Speaker and the White House. They are certainly not on friendly terms. Did you notice how there was almost no public comments coming from Pelosi for weeks? She went quiet. Apparently she was directed by White House staff to minimize her public comments in the final months prior to the midterms because she had become such a political liability. That is how she was described by the White House – a liability. White House staff told that to her face. And you know what? The speaker went along with it. It had to be tough, because she is as proud a woman as you will find, but she conceded to the White House’s request that she remain quiet. At least for a while. Now she is speaking out again, and if you read her words carefully, you can see them being directed at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, as well as her own Democrats in Congress. She is now reasserting herself as the leader of the party, no longer trusting the White House to deliver an effective message to voters. I believe the lame duck session following the midterms is going to prove extremely…interesting.

In light of those claims, it would seem Pelosi is going to be increasingly critical of the president as each day brings her closer to giving up the gavel.

h/t Weasel Zippers