WASHINGTON, D.C. — There is veiled sexism behind questions about whether she plans to step down after losing seats in the midterm elections, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi argued Thursday.  

“When was the day that any of you said to [Senate Republican Leader] Mitch McConnell when they lost the Senate three times in a row — lost making progress in taking back the Senate three times in a row —‘Aren’t you getting little old Mitch?’ ‘Shouldn’t you step aside?’ Have you ever asked him that question?” Pelosi said to the female reporter who asked about whether she had given thought to stepping down.

Pelosi argued there is a double standard, saying “I don’t understand why that question would even come up,” and said that she will remain leader as long as her caucus wants her to be leader. 

“It just is interesting as a woman to see how many times that question is asked of a woman and how many times that question is never asked of Mitch McConnell,” she said. 

The Democratic Leader went further with her sexism frustrations, expressing dismay that despite being the one to “to take us to a place where we would win the House” she was never on the cover of Time magazine.

“That was a big thing. I was never on Time magazine as the first woman to take — wasn’t that a curiosity that the Republicans win Boehner’s on the cover of Time magazine, Mitch McConnell wins he’s on the front of Time magazine. Isn’t there a pattern here?” she asked.

“As I said, who I am does not depend on any of that, with all due respect to all of you. But as a woman: Is there a message here? Is there something we are missing?” she added. 

Pelosi also reiterated her argument that many presidents before Obama have taken executive actions and that he has the authority to act. Last month she penned an op-ed with Reps. Luis Gutiérrez (D-IL) Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) laying out Obama’s executive amnesty authorities.

According to Pelosi, Gutiérrez and Lofgren, have over 100 signatures on a letter calling on Obama to take action on immigration. 

Pelosi cautioned Republicans against using Congresses funding powers to preempt such executives actions. 

“Why are we going down this path when Congress can prevent it all from happening by passing the Senate bill,” she added.