Thursday, August 26, 2004
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

HOUSE MINORITY LEADER: Pelosi visits LV to support Gallagher

Both Democrats question Kerry's stance on Iraq

CORRECTION, 08/31/04 -- A headline in Thursday's Review-Journal incorrectly indicated that Tom Gallagher, a Democrat running for Congress in Nevada's 3rd Congressional District, had questioned Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry's stance on the invasion of Iraq. Instead, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said in an interview after a Las Vegas campaign appearance for Gallagher that she did not know why Kerry had said he still would have "voted to give the president the authority to go to war" even had he known there were no stockpiles of weapons of mass destruction.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi came to Las Vegas Wednesday to support Tom Gallagher, who hopes to be the Democratic candidate for Congress from Nevada's Third Congressional District. Photo by Gary Thompson.

Calling President Bush's invasion of Iraq "a grotesque mistake," Nancy Pelosi, the highest-ranking Democrat in the U.S. House of Representatives, said in Las Vegas Wednesday that she can't understand why John Kerry has said he still would have "voted to give the president the authority to go to war" even had he known there were no stockpiles of weapons of mass destruction, Bush's original justification for war.

Labeling Bush an "incompetent" who didn't have the judgment, experience or knowledge to risk American lives in Iraq, the House Minority Leader then said she "can't answer" why Kerry continues to support a position that seemingly gives Americans little choice between the presidential candidates when it comes to the war in Iraq.

Asked why Kerry holds that position on Iraq, Pelosi answered "I don't know" in remarks that came after she appeared with Tom Gallagher at the Concorde Assisted and Retired Living Home near Eastern and Twain avenues. Gallagher hopes to be the Democratic candidate for Congress in Nevada's Third Congressional District, facing Republican incumbent Jon Porter in November's general election.

Chris Paulitz, press secretary for the National Republican Congressional Committee, said Pelosi's critical remarks about President Bush are typical. She resorts, he said, to "gutter politics" when she "can't win on the issues."

Pelosi's lack of support for Kerry's position on the war is another indication that Democrats are not united behind their nominee's point of view on Iraq.

In their joint appearance, Pelosi and Gallagher discussed the cost of prescription drugs for seniors and how Democrats would work to make them more affordable.

Gallagher, the former head of a gaming company, faces Mark Budetich, Shanna Phillips, Rick DeVoe, Anna Nevenic and Ron Von Felden in the Sept. 7 Democratic primary.

Both Pelosi and Gallagher said they would work for new legislation allowing importation of less expensive prescription drugs from Canada and Europe.

"No one said the current drug prescription bill that Republicans worked so hard for is perfect," said Republican Paulitz. "But it is a great first step. What they're not telling you is that there is money in the current legislation to study how we can make sure that we import lower cost drugs that are safe."