Bush tells SF Mayor Newsom he's proud of him. (kissy-kissy of politics) Democratic House leader Nancy Pelosi of San Francisco introduced Newsom to Bush, whose words attacking same-sex marriage in his State of Union speech last January spurred Newsom into acting on the issue. Bush, in turn, has cited Newsom's decision in February to allow same-sex marriages in San Francisco as a factor in his decision to endorse a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage.
"He said he's proud of me,'' Newsom recalled of the brief exchange with the president at the dinner -- a clubby Washington event in which politicians, celebrities and journalists mingle. "But I've got to think he doesn't know what I do for a living.''
In introducing Newsom to Bush, Pelosi told the president how proud she was of the new 36-year-old mayor, whom she has known all his life. The president apparently picked up on her words.
"The president was, as always, his gracious, friendly self,'' Pelosi said Thursday at her weekly press conference with Capitol Hill reporters. "And again, he was very gracious to the mayor of San Francisco and congratulated him on his election. It was just a friendly exchange.''
"He was utterly gracious,'' Newsom recalled, "and personable, and sort of had some fun with it. He said, 'I won't be coming out there soon, hah, hah, hah.' He said being mayor of San Francisco has got to be one of the toughest jobs outside of president.
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