House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) appeared to endorse the harassment and threats made against supporters of the president and his policies during an interview in New York City.

"So be it"

Speaking to economist Paul Krugman on Sunday, Pelosi said, "I think that we owe the American people to be there for them, for their financial security, respecting the dignity and worth of every person in our country.

"And if there's some collateral damage for some others who do not share our view, well, so be it," Pelosi continued, "but it should not be our original purpose."

It was unclear what she meant by "collateral damage," but many took that to refer to attacks and harassment that Republicans and their supporters had faced at the hands of left-wing protesters in recent weeks.

Newt Gingrich summed up much of the reaction from the right about Pelosi's comments.

"What kind of 'collateral damage for some others who do not share our view' does Nancy Pelosi have in mind," he asked in a tweet Thursday. "That was her term at the 92d street Y."

"With threats of kicking, bullying, driving conservatives out of restaurants what does 'other consequences' mean? Pretty threatening," he added.

Here's the video of Pelosi's comments: