Analysis: Are GOP's recent scandals, missteps more costly than Democrats'?

Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi criticized her former house colleagues, San Diego Mayor Bob Filner and Anthony Weiner, on Thursday, calling their conduct "reprehensible."

"It is so disrespectful of women, and what's really stunning about it is they don't even realize it. They don't have a clue. If they're clueless, get a clue, if they need therapy, get it in private," said Pelosi.

Three women have accused Filner of sexual harassment in recent weeks. As for Weiner, sexually explicit messages between him and another woman came to light Tuesday on the gossip website TheDirty.

Both Filner and Weiner are Democrats, and Republicans could capitalize on the recent negative publicity for the party.

"Nancy Pelosi, the last thing she wanted to do today ... was answer questions about Filner or Weiner," said CNN contributor and Republican strategist Kevin Madden. "It distracts them from being able to deliver the message they want to deliver."

"This lowers the bar for politicians," said CNN's chief political analyst Gloria Borger. "People could just look at this and go, uh, another poltician."

Democratic strategist Matt Bennet said the Filner and Weiner scandals do not taint other Democrats.

"These are personal failings, they're serious ones ... but they are personal, unlike some of the things that Pelosi's counterpart Speaker Boehner are dealing with," said Bennet.

Boehner criticized his fellow Republican, Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, Thursday, saying, "There is no place in this debate for hateful or ignorant comments from elected officials. Earlier this week Representative Steve King made comments that were, I think, deeply offensive and wrong."

During an interview about immigration reform with Newsmax, King insinuated the vast majority of undocumented children are drug mules.

"For every one that's a valedictorian there are another 100 out there that weigh 130 lbs. and they've got calves the size of cantaloupes because they're hauling 75 lbs of marijuana across the desert," King told Newsmax.

Majority Leader Eric Cantor also condemned King's comments.

"This is more than a distraction. The problem for Boehner ... is that whether or not King actually speaks for other members of the Republican caucus, it sounds like he does, and people believe that he does, and that is a serious problem for national Republicans," said Bennet.

Immigration legislation is going to get stuck in the House, and King's comments underline Boehner's problem, said Borger.

"It shows you his raucous caucus," said Borger.