House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said Saturday that Democratic successes in Congress are "driving the Republicans to distraction," and that is why many conservative politicians have focused on comments she recently made regarding the CIA and interrogation techniques.

"You want to be the leader? You have to be there to take whatever hit comes at you," Pelosi said. "So as speaker of the House I knew when I assumed this responsibility that those who did not agree with the new direction that we want to take the country in, the change that the American people asked for, would try to distract from the focus that we have. It is the arena that I have chosen to be in, and I understand what that is, but it will not take us off our course of action."

Pelosi and U.S. Rep. Leonard Boswell, D-Iowa, were at Hiatt Middle School in Des Moines to discuss the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act's impact on Iowa schools. Also in attendance were Iowa Department of Education Director Judy Jeffrey, Lt. Gov. Patty Judge and several state senators and representatives.

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