Take a look at the composition of this CNS shot of the new, Extremely Powerful, Speaker of the House, on their front page today:
Well played.
Accompanied, however, by this story. which mentions life issues, but with a "gosh, it's too bad" kind of attitude.
But Pelosi's voting record on abortion, stem-cell research and other life issues is less than encouraging even to some members of her party -- those who belong to Democrats for Life.
Kristen Day, executive director of Democrats for Life, said she's disappointed that Pelosi includes reinstating federal funding for embryonic stem-cell research among her top priorities for the 110th Congress.
She said she would like to see Pelosi support with equal enthusiasm funding to preserve umbilical-cord blood for stem-cell research. The program was passed into law in 2005 but so far has not been funded, Day said.
The National Committee for a Human Life Amendment has been tracking congressional votes on a range of life issues since 1973. Of the dozens of what the group considers "key votes" since Pelosi took office, she has voted with the group's position just once. That was considered a procedural maneuver aimed at defeating a ban on partial-birth abortion.
Wesolek and Day both said they're encouraged by Pelosi's comment that she wants to "rule from the middle" in the House.
"I don't think she's a knee-jerk-reaction person," said Wesolek. "I think she's very thoughtful."
He said he gets the sense that Pelosi understands and agrees with the church's teaching on many fundamental policy issues, but that doesn't go far enough.
"I think she gets half of Catholic social teaching," Wesolek said. "The half she gets she does well."
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