House Democratic Caucus Chair Joe Crowley (D-NY) responded Wednesday to a question about Democratic candidate Conor Lamb in the Pennsylvania 18th Congressional District special election particularly distancing himself from House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi. The reporter asked if that was “some kind of model” for other Democrats.
"This election was not about Nancy Pelosi," Crowley replied. "Conor Lamb really localized the issue."
"The attempt to nationalize it by the Republicans– I think they need to get a new gamebook," he added. "The attempts to use Nancy Pelosi, it's failing them at this point."
"And I think quite frankly it's sexist," he emphasized. "So they need to move on from that."
In a campaign ad, Lamb very clearly distanced himself from Pelosi.
"My opponent wants you to believe that the biggest issue in this campaign is Nancy Pelosi. It's all a big lie," he said in the ad. "I've already said on the front page of the newspaper that I don't support Nancy Pelosi. The real issues are the ones that affect your lives."
This is not the first time Crowley has claimed that criticism of Pelosi is “sexist.” When asked by MSNBC’s Katy Tur in October about Pelosi being effectively used by Republicans to rally support on the campaign trail, Crowley blamed sexism.
"I have heard that argument used so many times before," Crowley told Tur. "I think it really reflects the sexism that still exists in politics today. I think Nancy Pelosi is held to a different standard than others are."