Tom Foreman | BIO
AC360° Correspondent

Reporter's Note: President Obama has voiced support for Rep. Nancy Pelosi. She won’t be Speaker of the House anymore, but hey…that doesn’t mean she has to pack for home.

Dear Mr. President,

I’m not sure what to make of your comment that Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi has been an “outstanding partner” for you. On one hand, I understand that some of your key legislation was steered through some very treacherous waters and without her hand on the tiller it might have run aground. On the other hand, the election indicated that the voters are not so pleased with the results of your partnership. So I suppose the question should be: Has she been a good partner for the nation as a whole?

I’m not saying this in a snarky way. It’s a legitimate question that cuts to that central puzzle: How much should a leader pursue his or her agenda, and how much should it be bent to the will of the people?
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