Grandma Pelosi

Loving this in today’s Politico: GOP finds Pelosi an elusive target Republicans struggle to demonize Nancy Pelosi.

And there’s another thing that makes her harder to hate on, Republicans say — she’s a grandmother of eight.

“Pelosi’s a particularly tough demographic to demonize,” says a senior Republican strategist who has okayed several anti-Pelosi ads during the 2006 campaign.

“She’s a woman, and she’s of a certain age level, and that’s a demographic both parties are trying to court. She just doesn’t evoke that same kind of visceral reaction [as Limbaugh]. She’s not a big, bellowing heavyset guy who is prone to controversial statements.”

And another reminder of why I heart Pelosi: In Harper’s Bazaar last fall (also where the amazing photo is from): “I went to Congress to change the policies of our country. I did not go to change the behaviors of members of Congress. I hope that by the way I perform my duties, they will have a better impression of the capabilities of women, but power is not anything that’s given away. Power is something you have to compete for. “