We didn’t think Speaker Nancy Pelosi had much in common with former Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) besides the fact that they both belong to the species homo sapiens and breathe oxygen.

But the California Democrat shares an element of fashion sense with the ornery Republican: They both wear Masai Barefoot Technology sneakers, those ugly-but-supposedly-good-for-you walking shoes that claim health benefits like better posture and increased use of “buttock muscle activity.—

[IMGCAP(1)]Pelosi admitted to wearing the clunky kicks in a Washington Post Magazine story this weekend that profiled the exercise habits of famous Washingtonians. The feature also included D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty, MSNBC anchor Norah O’Donnell, Capitals defenseman Mike Green and “Top Chef— contestant and local caterer Carla Hall.

The Speaker’s early-morning walking garb includes the Masais (for which “my children make fun of me,— she told the Post), along with “jeans, wraparound Ray Bans, a jaunty black beret … and a chocolate-brown barn jacket,— according to the story. In nice weather, Pelosi’s fitness routine includes at least three miles of speed walking on a scenic route along the Potomac River.

We’re so used to seeing Pelosi in chic, pointy-toed pumps we could hardly picture her in the moon-boot-esque walking shoes.

Stevens, as HOH has reported, even wore the comfy shoes during his corruption trial. Besides Pelosi and Stevens, other famous fans include Gwyneth Paltrow and Heidi Klum.

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