Washington (CNN) – Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi Thursday dismissed the idea she knows something secret about former House Speaker Newt Gingrich that would disqualify him from being president, saying it's just her "instinct" - based on the public record.
Pelosi ruled out Gingrich's chances of becoming the GOP nominee Tuesday when she told CNN Chief National Correspondent John King, "He's not going to be President of the United States. That's not going to happen."
CNN LIVE: Tune in Thursday at 8 p.m. ET for the CNN/Republican Party of Florida Debate hosted by Wolf Blitzer and follow it on Twitter at #CNNDebate. For real-time coverage of the Florida primary, go to CNNPolitics.com or to the CNN apps or CNN mobile web site.
Follow the Ticker on Twitter: @politicalticker
"There's something that I know. The Republicans, if they choose to nominate him, that's their prerogative," she continued. "I don't think that's going to happen."
Gingrich, when asked about the comment Wednesday jumped at the opening to use a leading liberal as a foil and called on Pelosi to "spit it out" if she knows something about him.
Questioned about the hubbub during a news conference at the Democratic Caucus Issues Conference in Cambridge, Maryland, Pelosi steered clear of any indication she knew something the public didn't as a result of participating in an ethics investigation of Gingrich when he was speaker.
"I've said over and over again as far as speaker Gingrich is concerned I refer you to the public record," Pelosi insisted.
The minority leader said the interview on CNN was misconstrued.
"On a separate subject I was saying I know he'll never be president and they sort of combined the two things. Why do I know he'll never be president? Just an instinct I have. So it's all about the public record."
But pressed on any exact contents of the record that could be incriminating, Pelosi told CNN, the public would "just have to go through the record."
"I'm not here to give a roadmap to the public record," she said.
Pelosi was a member of the committee that investigated Gingrich's ethics charges, which resulted in a $300,000 fine for improperly using a college course he was teaching to push his partisan goals. The ethics committee declared the former speaker "reckless" and the House reprimanded him.
Last month Pelosi first raised questions about Gingrich, saying in an interview that she "knew a lot about him" because she was one of four people "locked in the room in an undisclosed location for a year" and that she had gone though "a thousand pages of his stuff."
Also see:
From CNN Politics
© 2012 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
| Advertising practices | Advertise with us | About us | Work for us | Help
I totally agree!!!
This is all just a media scam by this pathetic woman in order to get attention. She's been vanquished to the nether regions and doesn't like the Republicans getting all the attention. When cancerous politicians like Pelosi are removed from Congress, this country might have a chance at surviving. With her in charge of the Democrats, they are doomed to stay irrelevant for a long long time. Her new side kick Debbie-Wasserman Schitz is even more toxic than Pelosi.
I agree, the GOP seems to like the flip flopping, self deportation stance on immigration, 13.9% tax evasion. corporate raiding, vulture capitalism, Romney care, Wall Street is a person, big corporations are people, human life begins at orgasm, anti women's rights, a new war with Iran, and making the United States a laughing stock of the world.
Of course he's not & either is Romney!
As a matter of fact he won't be the Repubican nominee either.
taing about calling the kettle black! Piglosi is another demoncrat who should be investigated. What about all the insider trades
@truth... if you want to see something "toxic" nominate Gingrich and see how many votes he gets against Obama. But I'm glad Pelosi is coming out and saying Newt has no chance. Hopefully it'll inspire the yokels that hate her to nominate Newt just to spite her.
It looks like Mittens is going to have to spend more money on attacking Newt here in Florida. For a month, Mittens has been going negative to the tune of $10 million. He is tied with Newt in the polls, and Newt only started spending on negative ads today.
Truth and Nothing
The nether regions is where the House Republicans are going to reside soon ! I do have to agree though Wasserman Schultz is toxic to the Democrats and she needs to leave,she is repulsive in every way
Why do crazy right wingnuts fear Nancy? Is it because she is smarter than a wingnut? Is it because the foreign owned media at Fox attacker her 24/7?
OK, I demand to know if Nancy Pelosi used her insider trading profits for a massive face lift!!!
hey there pelosi...why is it the new bridge in san fran was built by a chinese company? The spans were built in china and freighted to the US... How much labor exploitation is going on in California...that you ignore? Illegal immigration is your friend isn't it pelosi? Did you enjoy your vacation in Hawaii as you and obama plotted against the hard working American taxpayer?
note to Gingrich supporters...dismiss Pelosi at your peril! please read between the lines and listen to what she isn't saying!
CNN, PLEASE take pity on us all... Huge close up pictures of Barney Frank AND Nancy Pelosi at the same time?!! I do believe this is the definition of cruel and unusual punishment.
Her face looks likes it going crack. Just another low life democrat.
@NOvember 2012- I suggest you direct your question regarding the Bay Bridge to FORMER Gov. Arnie and Caltrans. They might provide you with the answer you need. Just one more reason why it will be a very looooong time before a Republican becomes governor in the great state of California.
Leader Pelosi--we miss you but not to worry! Come 2012, you WILL resume your old position of Speaker of the House!
Thank you Pelosi!!! You are telling the true Newt or Romney will not be our president both of them are acting like kindergarden and spoil brat.
If you feel like Gingrich is a liar and a cheat and a manipulator and if the evidence seems to indicate it, then you should call a quacking feathered foul the duck.
Stop making fun of me or I'll send my union buddies over to stomp your flowers.
Wonder if it was instinct that told her that we would love obamacare once it was passed and had a chance to see what was in it. Just like her instincts told us she wouldn’t lose the 2008 house and her speakership in the biggest landslide since the 1920′s.
Lol. Conservatives in Florida should know that Nancy Pelosi is scared that Newt will get the nomination and beat Pres. Obama come 2012.
Ms. Pelosi....................believe it or not folks can an "instinct" – based on the public record. Trust that bullie Gingrich dosen't have any "instincts" he only reacts. LEAVE Leader Pelosi alone already.
Er meant come November 2012 since we are already in 2012.
LMBAO..............Nash....................Florida is NOT the remaining 49 States and they only nominate who they think, not for everybody else.
Fans of Gov. Brewer can hardly make jokes about Pelosi's face, which at least does not look like a well-used baseball mitt.