Former Mitt Romney Communications Strategist Kevin Madden insists that the Republican Party is being unfairly painted as the "Party of No" and that they have "put on the table substantive alternatives for the American public", but when pressed by Juan Williams about just what those ideas are, I only heard him give one specific, tax cuts. What I wish Williams would have asked him is why he thought Republicans should have been opposing the health care bill when it was basically nothing but his old boss' "Romney-care". That used to be one of their Republican "substantive alternatives" that they decided to obstruct because a Democrat proposed it.
MADDEN: The Democrats have spent the better part of almost two years now saying that the Republicans are the “Party of No” and it has not worked. It is also... it's a false argument because throughout the entire set whether it was the stimulus debate or the healthcare debate, the Republicans have put on the table substantive alternatives for the American public. They said at a time when the public is very angry about spending, we want to reduce spending. They've said in a time of a lot of uncertainty in the markets, they want more certainty with tax cuts and spur the private sector versus the government. And that is the contrast that we're seeing right now in a lot of these races, and it gives the Republicans a decided advantage.
And I'm not saying that in a -- I'm saying it in a clinical fashion. When you look at the anger about spending right now and the Democrats, every answer they have is a big government solution that has a huge price tag on it. And it puts them in very, very a difficult position. [crosstalk]
WILLIAMS: When I look at the numbers, here is what I see. Americans think less of Republicans than they do of the Democrats in Congress and much less than they do of President Obama. And when you are thinking about economic policy, Americans aren't about, oh, yeah, keep cutting taxes. No, people are saying let's be responsible in terms of how we spend money, let's reduce the deficit, let's get serious about our economic future. Let's not take radical steps, like oh, throw more money to the rich.
MADDEN: There is absolutely no credibility to that argument when you look at the Democrats... when you look at the spending bills they've passed in these last two years. They have no credibility.
WILLIAMS: Fine.
MADDEN: If you look...
WILLIAMS: No, I agree with you. You can say Democrats spend too much money. I'm saying to you that the charge that Republicans are simply the “Party of No”, obstruction and don't have anything they truly stand for other than bash Obama is a problem.
HAYES: That's not true, but right now being “Party of No” in opposition of what the president is doing is good place for Republicans to be.
WILLIAMS: That's all it is.
HAYES: That's not all it is.
WILLIAMS: That's all it is.
HAYES: Just because you don't agree with tax cuts doesn't mean that that Republicans aren't making their arguments on behalf of them.
MADDEN: We agree that the electorate is angry. Have you ever heard of an angry electorate that has been saying yes?
WALLACE: Okay.
WILLIAMS: It's time for them to say yes to something that works to help us all as Americans. We've got to be forward-looking and we've got to care about our country.
HAYES: I agree with that. We all agree with that.
WALLACE: Thank you panel. See you next week.
For anyone that didn't take a look at Madden's bio from Politico that I've got linked above, Madden worked for John Boehner, Tom DeLay and George W. Bush as well. Madden apparently isn't too picky about who he's willing to go out and shill for.
Kevin Madden is partner and Executive Vice President of Public Affairs at Jim Dyke & Associates, directing the firm’s Washington, DC operations.
During the 2008 election cycle, Mr. Madden served as National Press Secretary and Senior Communications Strategist for Governor Mitt Romney’s presidential campaign.
Prior to joining Governor Romney’s campaign, Mr. Madden served as Press Secretary to House Majority Leader John Boehner (R-OH) and as Communications Director to House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-TX). In that capacity, Mr. Madden served as the top communications strategist for the House of Representatives leadership office charged with directing legislative action on a wide range of issues including financial services, energy, national security, legal reform, transportation and telecommunications policy among others.
Before his work as a top leadership aide on Capitol Hill, Mr. Madden served as the Department of Justice’s national spokesman on issues ranging from national security to litigation before the federal courts.
During the 2004 presidential campaign, Mr. Madden was a member of the communications team directing President George W. Bush’s re-election effort, serving as the president’s campaign spokesman for regional, national and international news organizations.
