GOP consultant: Tea party complaints ‘racist and stupid’

Mississippi Business Journal ^ | 6/26/14 | Associated Press

[koanhead]

National Republican leaders trying to appeal to non-white voters are cringing over Senate candidate Chris McDaniel’s complaints that Democrats — most of whom are black in Mississippi — voted in the state’s GOP Senate runoff and helped six-term incumbent Thad Cochran capture the party nomination.

“The more the tea party complains about how black voters vote for Republicans, I think they look racist and stupid,” said John Feehery, a GOP consultant in Washington. “We’re trying to get black voters. Now that one of our candidates got black voters, we should be happy about it.”...

When reporters in Washington asked Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., if Cochran’s appeal to Democratic voters might have a negative impact on the GOP, Wicker responded with a laugh.

“Broadening the base of the party? Asking more Mississippians to participate in the ballot that’s going to determine the next senator? No, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that,” he said....

[koanhead]

This explains so much about why the GOP couldn't beat an incumbent Democrat with a flock of albatrosses around his neck.

[EagleUSA]

The GOPe is its own worst enemy. Destroying itself, and America.

[Ann Archy]

He’s a DEMOCRAT!!!! geesh!!

[Mamzelle]

welcome to FR

[skeeter]

The GOPe is self-combusting.

Aside from the squishy low info knee jerk GOP types, who often don't turn out, I don't know who they think will vote for their candidates now.

[mrsmel]

I consider it very telling that the rats are rooting for Cochran.

[cripplecreek]

I don’t have any problem with a republican reaching out to blacks or any other traditional democrat voters to promote conservative ideals but this was win at any cost pandering.

[mrsmel]

The GOPe is self-combusting.

Aside from the squishy low info knee jerk GOP types, who often don't turn out, I don't know who they think will vote for their candidates now.

Amen to that. The rats have a home, don't they understand that? They don't understand that the rats voters only crossed over to interfere in a GOP election? And they don't understand that when the rats are giving you kudos, you've wither done something wrong, or you're on their team anyway, no matter what you're calling yourself?

[VRWC For Truth]

GOP consultants = Barry Soetoro butt pimple lickers.

[A_Former_Democrat]

The same genius mindset that lost to unqualified, inexperienced, stealthy Barack Hussein Obama

Twice

[mrsmel]

Right, because Cochran wasn’t trying to reach them with a conservative message, it was “help me beat the conservative guy”.

[PapaBear3625]

The GOPe is its own worst enemy. Destroying itself, and America.

No, the GOPe are just doing their job -- maintaining the PRETENSE that there is opposition to the socialist agenda, while ensuring that no ACTUAL opposition is allowed to happen.

If you stop thinking of them as stupid, and realize that they are traitors, it makes more sense.

[Steve_Seattle]

Feehery is a MORON. The black voters voted the way they did to PREVENT a Republican from winning.

[Senator_Blutarski]

So the GOPe send out flyers in black precincts calling McDaniel a racist who wants to take away their votes. McDaniel complains and he's the racist?

OK, now I'm mad.

[pallis]

Someone check and see if that GOP consultant is getting a paycheck from the DNC. We all know there is no one more racist, or ignorant than a Republican leftist. Even Democrats know better. To project the way this butt-head is stinks of Democrat instruction to halfwitted admirer.

[tennmountainman]

The GOP has NEVER gone after the black vote in a General election
like the bought votes in this run-off.

Plus, they used racism against members of their own party.
Despicable.

[kcvl]

John Feehery is currently the President of Quinn Gillespie Communications and Director of QGA Government Affairs. Before joining QGA, Feehery was President of the Feehery Group, a strategic advocacy firm dedicated to helping its clients achieve their legislative and communications objectives in Washington D.C., and the chief blogger for The Feehery Theory (www.thefeeherytheory.com). He is a frequent commentator on the political landscape, widely quoted around the country and often seen on CNN, MSNBC and Fox News Channel. He is also a regular contributor to CNN.com, Politico and to The Hill’s “Pundits Blog.”

Feehery has worked for almost two decades in a variety of influential positions both as a staffer for three prominent members of the United States House of Representatives Republican leadership and a communications strategist in the private sector. Most recently, Feehery served as Executive Vice President for Global Government Relations and Global Public Relations for the Motion Picture Association of America.

Feehery managed the communications operation for Speaker of the House J. Dennis Hastert. Feehery was the longest-serving top spokesman to a Speaker of the House in the history of the House of Representatives. Feehery came directly to the Speaker’s office after a stint as a government relations advocate for the Barbour, Griffith and Rogers. He also served concurrently as Vice President for Communications for Policy Impact Communications. Before that stint, Feehery served from 1995 until 1998 as the Communications Director for Majority Whip Tom DeLay. Before becoming DeLay’s communications director, he served as the Whip office’s Chief Floor Assistant, during the historically notable “Contract with America.”

Feehery started his career as a speechwriter to former U.S. House Republican Leader Bob Michel.

[skeeter]

Their little scam worked as long as everything was under the table. They're pretty much out in the open with their contempt of us now.

It's gonna be a little harder to get people to vote for you after you've called them racists.

[kcvl]

QGA has a bipartisan team of roughly 20 seasoned government relations and public relations specialists. Our team represents decades of experience in the legislative, political and communication arenas. With a roster that includes former senior White House and congressional staff, attorneys, journalists, TV producers and public relations executives, we are uniquely qualified to help clients navigate the intricacies of the legislative process, craft compelling narratives and deliver full-scale public affairs campaigns for the Washington, D.C., market and beyond.

John Feehery
President, Communications Practice
John Feehery is currently the President of Quinn Gillespie Communications and a Director of QGA Government Affairs. Before joining QGA, Feehery was President of the Feehery Group, a...

Jack Quinn
Chairman & Co-Founder
Jack Quinn’s career highlights include public service as Counsel to the President of the United States and other positions in the Executive and Legislative branches of Government; twenty...

http://www.qga.com/experts

*********

WSJ: Feehery on Eric Cantor vs. the Populists

June 12, 2014
By: John Feehery
Rep. Eric Cantor’s surprising primary loss provides a fascinating glimpse into the economic debate that has riven the Republican Party.

It’s a confusing mess that breaks down ideologically, geographically and, most important, along class lines.

Republicans used to be the party of business, all business, no matter what the size. Their philosophy could be summed up as free trade, low taxes, few regulations.

The so-called GOP establishment still adheres to that general philosophy. Its members are the party of big business and small business; they want smaller government, but they also are big proponents of free trade and the free movement of people into and out of the country. They see immigration reform as an important element in economic growth.

The populist wing of the GOP rejects the old consensus. They distrust big business as much as they distrust big government. Tax cuts for the rich hold little appeal or interest for them. They see immigrants as a threat to their financial livelihood.

http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2014/06/12/eric-cantor-vs-the-populists/