Pelosi: Presidential Election Shouldn’t Be About ‘What Bill Clinton Did Two Decades Ago’

Tuesday on MSNBC’s “Andrea Mitchell Reports,” House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) weighed in on the 2016 presidential race, which has included some shots fired between the two major party front-runners, Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton.

Host Andrea Mitchell asked Pelosi to discuss the use of Trump’s references to Hillary Clinton’s husband, former President Bill Clinton, and his past indiscretions.

Pelosi downplayed the relevance of Bill Clinton’s past in this election and argued the economic issues should be the focus instead.

Partial transcript as follows:

MITCHELL: Donald Trump accused by Hillary Clinton of sexism. He then tweeted out, “Watch out, if you go there, I’m going to go there,” and then he goes after Bill Clinton and Bill Clinton’s past. And we saw a noticeable change in Clinton world. I was out on the campaign and the pulling back by both Hillary and Bill Clinton, the new caution out there, because obviously, Donald Trump is a volatile adversary. How fraught is this with risk for the Democratic Party and for Hillary Clinton’s candidacy?

PELOSI: Well, I believe that Hillary Clinton wants to talk about the issues that affect people and their everyday life.

(CROSSTALK)

MITCHELL: But on this issue of sexism and the issue of Bill Clinton’s past, is that fair game and –

PELOSI: It would be if he were running for president, but he isn’t. Hillary Clinton is running for president.

MITCHELL: But he’s a chief surrogate for her. So that is –

(CROSSTALK)

MITCHELL: What do you do now that Trump has opened this up?

PELOSI: Well, I think that you stick with what is important to the American people, and what is important to the American people is their financial stability. And that is what elections are about. And that’s why I say it’s a race between trickle-down economics, tax breaks for special interests and the very wealthy, and hopefully it trickles down and creates jobs — or recognizing we’re a consumer economy and the success of the middle class. And it’s consumer confidence is what is going to grow our economy. It’s essential to the growth of our economy. And that’s what this election should be about, not about what Bill Clinton did two decades ago.

Follow Jeff Poor on Twitter @jeff_poor