Hill Hallways: Pelosi cat and mouse
Washington (CNN) - House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her team just played an impressive game of cat and mouse to avoid those of us in the Capitol Hill press corps.
We knew she was scheduled for a 3 p.m. interview with Diane Sawyer down the hall and around the corner from her second floor Capitol Hill office.
Usually Pelosi takes the direct route. But today that meant passing a slew of reporters, including the CNN Capitol Hill team, hoping to ask her unanswered questions about her future.
We got a sense that she was going to try to fake us out when Capitol Police officers who guard her suite began to move forward and block our view of a private elevator.
Finally, after waiting for over an hour outside her office, I caught a glimpse of Pelosi getting on that elevator.
My colleague, CNN congressional producer Deirdre Walsh, was already positioned on the first floor just in case Pelosi tried to elude us, and I ran down to join her.
But, it seems that the Speaker took the elevator to the third floor, and walked all the way across the House side of the Capitol to get on a second elevator, back down to the second floor.
It was an elaborate move to try to avoid us, but we quickly figured it out and ran to find her. My other colleague, congressional producer Lesa Jansen was already in position.
Sure enough, after running back up the stairs from the first floor, we heard the ding of the elevator, and out came the Speaker.
Her security detail and aides were trying to push her through the narrow hallway already crowded with television equipment for the interview she was about to do.
"Clear the path ma'am," one officer said. "Space, space, space," is what her press secretary yelled.
Still, I got close enough to ask her if she had made up her mind about whether she was going to stay on as House Minority Leader, or leave Congress.
She didn't answer. Just then she saw her grandchildren at the door where she was headed, and was gone.
It turns out we weren't the only ones she wouldn't talk to about this. A Pelosi aide said afterward she wouldn't tell Diane Sawyer what she's going to do either. She said she is still talking to her caucus, and her family.
When she left the room after the interview, Lesa and Deirdre reported that she was asked whether she would be here next year. Pelosi smiled and said "I'll let you know."
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Don't let the door hit you on the way out.
Nancy has her legacies already theysay if your not hassled your not effective these people when they're calm down after fox entertainment shows gets out their systems and they start thinking rational again. Will see that pelosi was one of the most effective speaker ever to pick up the gavel. Why you think every repug and tea bagger shivers when they here the name Nancy nancy Nancy Nancy. She worked too hard for the American people which is a no no because in the end they ...her
Were any of you paying attention the last 10 years? Where was all this talk of competence and forsight in 2002, 2004, 2006? Sheesh people, get a grip. An outdated philosophy and the continual election of rich old white guys ain't the answer.
As a Democrat from central California, I coundn't stand Pelosi. Along with the rest of the Dems, she was drunk with power after the 2008 elections. They thought they were given a blank check to do whatever they wanted, Republicans be damned. Because the Liberals and the moderate Dems were so busy argueing with each other, thankfully they didn't do much damage. Now with the Republicans controlling the House, some compromising will get some important legislation done.
Nancy u r an EXCELLENT Speaker of the House. Ur term has not ended and u should keep L E A D I N G!!!!
This woman created as much partisanship in congress as any person during my lifetime!! An ultra liberal from CA does not make a good candidate for a right center country..... Good bye Nancy, you are fired from your speaker job!!! Take back her jet now and give her a new office – in the basement!!!
Is this a news article or a gossip piece from a poorly run high school newsletter? Ever hear of the concept that the journalist should never be a part of the story? This article reeks. The only venue this is fit to be reported in is the bar where all the cool press people hang out in. I doubt less information has been so poorly and vainly conveyed masqerading as news in a democratic society. I am now too disgusted to come back.
Don't feed anything into this – Nancy Pelosi is NOT Camera shy!!! Nancy Pelosi also DOES NOT run from Reporters like others we know. In due time, she will face the WORLD and she will MOVE ON!!! She is a Powerful Lady and should get respect and a TIME OUT!
T'sah – Still Proud of President Obama – READY for the next chapter!!!
Nancy will live in infamy.
Why would you want to interview this moron. She is not important. Let her pack her things and move out of the Speaker's office. All she has done is be a call girl for Obama, go get me this. Tell the public, but don't tell them the truth the fools. They can't even figure out that I am not an American. Since you Pelosi can't read you don't know either. So please buy yourselve a one way ticket and go live on the over $100,000 a year for the rest of your life that you and your gangsters voted to pay yourself when you retired. I KNOW Y'ALL ARE SO EXTRA SPECIAL YOU ALL DESERVE IT SO MUCH. THAT'S WHY THE WORK LOAD MUST TO HAVE BEEN SO HEAVY YOU COULDN'T SEE WHERE OBAMA WAS LEADING THIS NATION INTO BANKRUBTCY.
Bye bye, please don't come back, see CNN I said it nicely this time laughing, rotten witch
If I behaved the way the Speaker did for the last two years, I'd hide from the media .... and everyone else too.
Don't come back to California, Ms. Pelosi. We have enough problems here already.
Pelosi should be put on trial. She did a horrible job and she lied to the American people. She was one of the top race baiters. You should be ashamed of yourself pelosi. Hang your head in shame. For healcare premiums rose quite a bit this year and so did the deductibles, copays, and other expenses. We are finding out whats in it, and as we do, we hate dems more and more.
Come-on! –, you can't do what She could do. So, you don't have to blame Her. Atleast, She/Nancy, did have a big position and contributed good wills for Her Country. How about you?!? What have you done for your Country?!?, exept running like/unlike Cat & Mouse with hot dog on your hand. Speak for yourself!!!, until you get-in into your hole.