Pelosi urges prudence in health debate

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 17 (UPI) -- House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Thursday that she feared the anger over healthcare reform debate in the United States could culminate in an act of violence.

Speaking at her weekly news conference in Washington, Pelosi showed what Politico said was uncharacteristic emotion when she speculated that the bitter political rhetoric over healthcare could drive some unstable character to hurt someone.

"I wish we would all curb our enthusiasm in some of the statements and understand that some of the ears that it is falling on are not as balanced as the person making the statements may assume," Pelosi said.

The Hill said an aide to Pelosi told reporters that the concerns stemmed from Pelosi's memories of the 1978 slayings of Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk in her hometown of San Francisco.