CNN's Cuomo Lectures GOP: 'Any Jackass Can Kick Down a Barn'
CNN's Chris Cuomo had a sharp message on Thursday's New Day for Republicans looking to get re-elected simply for opposing ObamaCare.
"Any jackass can kick down a barn. But it takes a good man or woman to build one,"
Cuomo lectured Republicans. "The politics of 'they stink' is not enough
anymore. You need to get better than that," he added before noting that
"both parties" are to blame.
[Video below. Audio here.]
CNN was in the middle of covering Obamacare's latest delay for only the second time since a New York Times story brought attention to it on Monday.
Correspondent John King noted that "Republican policy alternatives" to
Obamacare do exist, but they "get lost in the volume" of GOP opposition
to the law. "Many Republicans will tell you, in the short term, they
think just no is enough to rally their base," he reported. Cuomo was
visibly agitated at that prospect.
Co-host Kate Bolduan offered some context behind the GOP strategy: "smart policy and smart legislating is not an easy thing. I'm not pretending I can do it." She added that "it's an easy sound byte."
Below is a transcript of the segment, which aired on New Day on August 15 at 6:33 a.m. EDT:
KATE BOLDUAN: Talk about a pretty big political mess. The
administration – it's now announced that they are delaying yet another
part of the implementation of the President's health care law. This time
having to do with a cap on your out-of-pocket expenses when it comes to
your health care. This is, what, the third delay of a part of this law
in the recent months. And it was
really buried in some bureaucratic language at the Labor Department.
Does this just really offer a clear opening for Republicans?
KING: Absolutely. Let's focus first on the policy. This is – the health
care law affects everybody, whether you favor it or whether you oppose
it. It affects everybody. So, from a policy standpoint, these delays,
the hiccups, the changes are going to frustrate people. This one
particularly, though, could have a huge political impact because as you
mentioned, hidden in bureaucratic language, the end result is that when
these changes kick in, the administration promised for most Americans
your cost would go down. Now, it is saying at least in the short-term,
for many Americans, your costs could be higher than anticipated.
And you bet, Kate, you know the Republicans in 2014 are trying to make
opposition to Obamacare, the implementation of this law their huge
rallying cry, their huge turnout. This is big government gone bad. If it
starts costing Americans more money, the Republicans will try to
benefit politically without a doubt.
BOLDUAN: And is it enough, though, for Republicans to benefit the way
they want? Which would be repealing the President's health care law? I
ask this because Newt Gingrich came out with a pretty interesting
criticism of his own party, saying the problem that Republicans have is
they have zero response when they say let's repeal Obamacare. They don't
have a response for what should be put in its place.
KING: It's just vintage Newt Gingrich and it's an interesting point.
Now, there are plenty of Republicans who say we don't like Obamacare,
but we would like to do this. A little government help, a little market
help to expand access, a little government help, little market help to
reduce some costs.
But those Republican policy alternatives, again, whether you agree or
disagree, get lost in the volume. Because they are so visceral in their
opposition to Obamacare, and it's no, no, no, fight it, fight it, even
shut down the government to defund it. So, former Speaker Gingrich is
trying to say the Republicans can't just be the party of no. They have
to be no this, and here's our alternative. Many Republicans will tell
you, in the short term, they think just no is enough to rally their
base. That's why we have elections.
BOLDUAN: That's why we have elections. And one thing Republicans seem
to be having right now is speaking in one message on many topics,
including this.
KING: That's an excellent point.
BOLDUAN: All right, John. Thanks so much. We'll talk to you in a bit.
KING: Thank you.
BOLDUAN: Thank you.
CHRIS CUOMO, CNN anchor: It brings to mind a old political phrase. Any
jackass can kick down a barn. But it takes a good man or woman to build
one.
BOLDUAN: It's definitely – smart policy and smart legislating is not an easy thing. I'm not pretending I can do it.
CUOMO: The politics of "they stink" is not enough anymore. You need to get better than that.
BOLDUAN: It's an easy sound byte, though.
CUOMO: Both parties. It is. We play it. That's for sure.
-- Matt Hadro is a News Analyst at the Media Research Center
