Blue Dog who opposed health bill calls Pelosi 'misunderstood'

A Blue Dog Democrat on Wednesday came to the defense of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), saying that "she's the most misunderstood person in Washington."

Rep. Heath Shuler (D-N.C.) made his remarks after Pelosi allowed the Stupak abortion amendment into the House's healthcare bill. 64 Democrats, including Shuler, supported the amendment that barred federal dollars from funding abortions under the public healthcare plan. 

The former NFL quarterback joined 22 other anti-abortion rights Democrats who voted for the Stupak language but against healthcare reform bill.

Pelosi has faced flack from centrist and conservative members of the Democratic caucus during the process of bringing healthcare to the floor, as well as Republicans who oppose her legislative agenda.

But after she decided to allow the abortion language authored by Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.), liberal Democrats vowed to vote against the measure if the bill emerges from conference with it included. Many now view the inclusion of the amendment as a key in securing the necessary votes from centrist to conservative Democrats to pass the bill.

Shuler made his comments at a North Carolina private school in a speech to students, according to the Asheville Citizen-Times.

"She’s very misunderstood," he said. "She’s a devout Catholic. Don’t get in a Bible discussion with her."

Shuler said he met with Pelosi during his first term and requested that she not ask him to vote against his constituency. He said she has not pressured him to vote in such a way.

"She's held true to that promise," he said.