Schmidt: The GOP "Holistically Is Bereft Of Ideas" On Health Care

In comments almost certain to rankle Republicans on Capital Hill, Sen. John McCain's 2008 campaign manager Steve Schmidt accused the GOP on Friday of having no comprehensive alternative to Democratic health care reform.

In an appearance at The Atlantic's First Draft of History conference, the longtime GOP strategist did argue that individual Republicans, notably Rep, Paul Ryan (R-Wisc.), were "advancing ideas" on health care legislation.

"But the party holistically is bereft of ideas," Schmidt added.

The remarks come at a time when Republicans are already beating back accusations that the party has not been a viable or honest bargaining partner during reform negotiations. As such, they seem destined to even further Schmidt's alienation within conservative ranks. Earlier in his speech, the McCain strategist ruffled feathers when he predicted that if former VP candidate Sarah Palin -- whom he helped pick as McCain's running mate -- were to be the Republican presidential candidate in 2012, it would be "catastrophic" for the party.

But Schmidt insists that his complaint with the GOP is driven by a simple desire to ensure long-term success. Part of the recuperating process, he added, means finding a firmer and more innovative base of policy ideas around which to re-build the party

"Ronald Reagan's conservatism was relevant to the age and time that he lived in," Schmidt told the crowd, "and the challenge for the next presidential candidates is to make conservatism relevant to the time that we live in today."

"One of the things that hurt us very badly [during the campaign] and I think that this was not John McCain's fault... was that the conservative agenda -- largely enacted -- I think exhausted itself," he added. "There were no new ideas. And we would have policy meetings in the campaign and there would be a lowest common denominator product that would emerge; no innovative thinking, no new ideas, and I would joke around at the time and say 'Well, I guess we will continue to run on our platform of tax cuts for the wealthy and endless war.' It was a little gallows humor inside the campaign. But it underlined a serious point."

Another catalyst for a GOP re-birth, Schmidt stressed, would be for elected leaders to remove themselves from under the weight and influence of the conservative media elite - namely, Fox News' Glenn Beck and Sean Hannity and talk radio's Rush Limbaugh.

"I think people with regard to their vote... make their own decisions," he said. "Sometimes they agree with Rush Limbaugh, sometimes they don't.... It is up to the leaders to the party to lead the party. The leadership of the party cannot be outsourced to the conservative entertainment complex. And if it is, then it will become impossible for the party to win elections."

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Comments

[grf67]

They are also monumental cowards who are happy to send other Americans' children off to war but not their own. They were such cowards that they did not serve in the active Army when it was their turn but let others do the heavy lifting.

[S1m0n]

He's finally figured out that when various democrats called Rush Limbaugh the real leader of the Republican party, as they did last spring, it was an attack on the party, not an attack on Rush.

[SewaneeLeftist]

Holistically bereft? As in a great gaping hole where any Rushpublican health care reform proposal should be?

[NationalTreasure]

Earth to Steve Schmidt:

you blew your chance at political relevancy when you went along with all of the right wing nuts in the McCain/Palin campaign

20 months ago you may have been relevant as a political advisor --- right now you simply come across as someone trying to rewrite your personal history for the purpose of finding another political campaign to run to the ground

[human2008]

Finally someone in the republican party talking truth and realizes the need for human elements to keep this party relevant.

[Gnrshrtd]

And it is revealing that his party appears to be ignoring his forward thinking. Dems don't have a monopoly on useful ideas, and a healthy debate between differing opinions - instead of this absolute obstructionism - is what will pull our nation back on its feet. I commend Schmidt for his bravery in thinking forward and speaking out, I'm sure he's taking flack for it.

As other posters have said, 'Steve, you are disposable to them, get out while you can - and consider how closely the creative comments you've made in recent months align with a progressive (small p) approach.

[JackND]

McCain's daughter too. We saw how well she was treated.

[TheBender]

Try these ideas.

- Let insurers compete across state lines. Did you Lefties know that social medicine in Germany has more than 250 insurers competing for mandated insurance?
- Tort reform, a dirty word to the Left
- Go after fraud and abuse now. We have severe laws on the books to address this issue. You really believe that expanding government will cut waste? Yeah, right.

Each of these actions reduces expenditures dramatically WITHOUT a socialized system and will actually reduce government participation.

[oz3472]

did you know that 250 insurers competing for mandated insurance in Germany all make a progit (although not one that's 438% larger than it was a decade ago.

I beleive it was the President that called for looking at reforming medical malpractice insurance during his speech to the joint session of Congress- you remember the one where Joe Wilson proved his stupidity with 2 words.

Yes the fraud and abuse you speak of should be gone after - Wall Street, the insurance industries, the pharmaceuticals industries, Halliburton, Blackwater, Xe should be among the first targets. And if every regulation proposed in the last 8 years hadn't been dismissed with the dim-witted argument that it was unfair practice and handcuffed the free market - we wouldn't require the government's intervention the way we do today on many issues.
Our representatives (most of them) attachment to the corporate puppeteers that pull their strings are what created this mess in the first place. The way to clean it up is to cut those string - and regulate those puppetmasters!

[carpdd]

Bravo !

[hrholmes]

Sarah Palin on health kare; 'I saw the witch doctor he told me what to do
(boom boom boom boom)
and he said; ew ee ew ah ah ting tang walla walla bing bang'

Palin-Bachman 2012 glory!

[LudwigVan]

The Republicans are no longer the "Party of Reagan"; the Democrats are. Today's GOP is the Dixiecrats and George Wallace's American Independent Party of yesteryear. They can only save themselves by accepting that reform is needed in health care, immigration, the environment, trade and everything else, while advocating smaller, more efficient government, not "drowning it in a bathtub". And they failed to heed Eisenhower's warning about a "military-­industrial complex", as they support bloated government when it comes to national defense.

There is nothing good coming from the GOP of today. Virtually nothing. The only ideas coming out of the Republican party, except for its shrinking centrist wing and more sensible conservatives like McCain, are, I dare say, un-American and actually neo-Confederate. It is not conservative; it is reactionary, not to mention paranoid, spiteful and parochial. We saw that in how so many on the right cheered when Chicago was denied the 2016 Olympics, but we've also seen it in far worse ways.

I'm not exaggerating when I say "neo-Confederate". They may not want slavery or segregation to make a comeback, but it's clear they think only the South (and a few Western states) are the only one that matter. Not very patriotic if you ask me.

[TheBender]

What flavor of kool-aid do you drink?

[4 Real]

I might ask you the same...Lud's analysis was spot on.

[Weirdwriter]

Republicans and faux conservatives drink the toxic, nauseating, no-natural­-ingredien­ts kiddie drink.

Liberals and Democrats drink microbrews and other splendid grownup hooch.

[CTC123]

Consider the Connection to:
NEGATIVE (-) or POSITIVE (+) Alternatives
(-)___or___(+) Alternatives
The choice is ours.
Our health care & planet are in the balance
Search 4 me:
CTC123GREEN

[Kevins]

If Republicans actually got a platform,
What would they do with all the "NO" tattoos on their butts?

[Weirdwriter]

Pimp up the tattoos to "HellNO"?

[ThermoChemist]

Just confirming what was ALREADY said (and known) about the GOP and the Health Care issue..!

Howard Fineman On GOP Health Care Strategy: 'Stand On The Sidelines With Their Arms Folded'
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/07/24/howard-fineman-on-gop-hea_n_244389.html

"Republicans claim they have a plan -- they don't. They claim they're going to have a plan -- they won't. Uhh...their whole strategy is to stand on the sidelines with their arms folded, while the Democrats try to work this thing out. That's their WHOLE strategy."

[capitaldysfunction]

Steve Schmidt says the Republican party is bereft of ideas. I notice he didn't come up with any during the McCain campaign or this interview. Good point.

[rcwblessed]

Steve Schmidt is one smart cookie. He should be a Democrat.

[D-V-H]

I would welcome a rational Republican party. They are currently bereft of ideas and are allergic to honest debate.
Opposition I can relate to. Lies_I can't.

[wdw505]

obstruction is what you have now..........

laughing

[oceanofconsciousness]

Steve, just a few more steps! Come into the Light. Leave the dark side. Come over to the Light. You can do it!