Hitting the sauce, Speaker Pelosi?

The House leader made a brief appearance before a group of Dominican Americans tonight, where she slurred words and had trouble saying names of some honorees.

On the steps inside the Rayburn House Office building, Pelosi began by laughing into the microphone.

“Are there any Dominicans in the House?” she shouted.

“I thank our first Dominican American elected to Congress for the invitation to be here. Aren’t we proud with our first Dominican elected to Congress?” she said, slurring and stumbling through the words.

Pelosi sought applause from the small crowd for DNC Chairman Tom Perez, whose family she said is from the Dominican Republic.

Turning to her notes, Pelosi had trouble reading names and the groups they were associated with.

“Let me just say that you invigorate America,” she said, stepping out from behind the podium, “with your hopes, your dreams, your aspiration.”

Many in the crowd were apparently less than impressed with the Speaker’s appearance, as there was considerable chatter in the room.

“Dominican Americans make America more American!” Pelosi declared.