The heads of the Republican congressional campaign committees â Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) and Pete Sessions (R-TX) â appeared on NBCâs Meet the Press today to discuss their partyâs strategy for the November elections. Sessions began by saying that everyone knows exactly âwhat Republicans stand for,â but he quickly proved that even he doesnât really know. Host David Gregory, visibly frustrated, repeatedly pressed the two campaign chiefs for substance, saying, âthese are not specifics, voters get tired of that.â But all he got in return was vapid talking points, like how Republican candidates are âstanding with the American people back home.â
Gregory correctly dismissed what he was hearing from Sessions as âgauzy,â and turned to Cornyn, saying, âIâm not hearing an answer here, what are the painful choicesâ that Republicans are prepared to make to cut the deficit? Instead of offering any ideas of own, and in direct contrast to the sense of urgency with which conservatives paint the deficit, Cornyn responded that he would wait for President Obamaâs debt commissionâs report, which will conveniently come after the election. Gregory replied, âwait a minute, conservatives need a Democratic presidentâs debt commission to figure out what it is they need to cut?â:
GREGORY: I think what a lot of people want to know is, if Republicans do get back in power, what are they going to do?
SESSIONS: Itâs quite simple that Americans do know the agenda that is before us. They understand what the President and the speaker stand for, and they understand what Republicans stand for. Republicansâ¦very strong, standing with the American people back home. [...]
GREGORY: Congressman, congressman, thatâs a pretty gauzy agenda so far. I mean, what specifics â what painful painful choices are Republicans prepared to make? ⦠How do you [balance the budget]? Tell me how you do it. Name a painful choice that Republicans are prepared to say we have to make.
SESSIONS: Well first of all, we have to make sure as we look at all we spend in Washington, D.C., with not only the entitlement spending, but also the bigger government we cannot afford anymore. We have to empower the free enterprise system.
GREGORY: Congressman, these are not specifics, voters get tired of that.
SESSIONS: Oh they are. They are. ⦠Letâs go right to it.
GREGORY: Do it!
GREGORY: Senator, Iâm sorry, Iâm not hearing an answer here on specifics. What painful choices to really deal with the deficit â is Social Security on the table? â what will Republicans do that will give them, like â94, there was the Contract with America, what are voters going to say, hey, this is what Republicans will say yes to.
CORNYN: Well, the president has a debt commission that reports December the first, and I think weâd all like to see what they come back with.
GREGORY: But wait a minute, conservatives need a Democratic presidentâs debt commission to figure out what it is they need to cut?
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http://thinkprogress.org/2010/07/18/sessions-cornyn-no-specifics/
Gregory correctly dismissed what he was hearing from Sessions as âgauzy,â and turned to Cornyn, saying, âIâm not hearing an answer here, what are the painful choicesâ that Republicans are prepared to make to cut the deficit? Instead of offering any ideas of own, and in direct contrast to the sense of urgency with which conservatives paint the deficit, Cornyn responded that he would wait for President Obamaâs debt commissionâs report, which will conveniently come after the election. Gregory replied, âwait a minute, conservatives need a Democratic presidentâs debt commission to figure out what it is they need to cut?â:
GREGORY: I think what a lot of people want to know is, if Republicans do get back in power, what are they going to do?
SESSIONS: Itâs quite simple that Americans do know the agenda that is before us. They understand what the President and the speaker stand for, and they understand what Republicans stand for. Republicansâ¦very strong, standing with the American people back home. [...]
GREGORY: Congressman, congressman, thatâs a pretty gauzy agenda so far. I mean, what specifics â what painful painful choices are Republicans prepared to make? ⦠How do you [balance the budget]? Tell me how you do it. Name a painful choice that Republicans are prepared to say we have to make.
SESSIONS: Well first of all, we have to make sure as we look at all we spend in Washington, D.C., with not only the entitlement spending, but also the bigger government we cannot afford anymore. We have to empower the free enterprise system.
GREGORY: Congressman, these are not specifics, voters get tired of that.
SESSIONS: Oh they are. They are. ⦠Letâs go right to it.
GREGORY: Do it!
GREGORY: Senator, Iâm sorry, Iâm not hearing an answer here on specifics. What painful choices to really deal with the deficit â is Social Security on the table? â what will Republicans do that will give them, like â94, there was the Contract with America, what are voters going to say, hey, this is what Republicans will say yes to.
CORNYN: Well, the president has a debt commission that reports December the first, and I think weâd all like to see what they come back with.
GREGORY: But wait a minute, conservatives need a Democratic presidentâs debt commission to figure out what it is they need to cut?
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http://thinkprogress.org/2010/07/18/sessions-cornyn-no-specifics/
