I was at a Republican policy summit and I was speaking there a couple months ago
I was speaking there a couple months ago
I was speaking there a couple months ago and it was a really cool event we had
and it was a really cool event we had
and it was a really cool event we had policy experts and pollsters that
policy experts and pollsters that
policy experts and pollsters that strategists and just a really neat
strategists and just a really neat
strategists and just a really neat opportunity to learn and understand our
opportunity to learn and understand our
opportunity to learn and understand our political process and I was struck by a
political process and I was struck by a
political process and I was struck by a question that we got it’s a nice old
question that we got it’s a nice old
question that we got it’s a nice old Southern guy in the back of the room who
Southern guy in the back of the room who
Southern guy in the back of the room who stood up kind of jammed his finger out
stood up kind of jammed his finger out
stood up kind of jammed his finger out and said do you all know and by the way
and said do you all know and by the way
and said do you all know and by the way if you’re familiar with the South if
if you’re familiar with the South if
if you’re familiar with the South if somebody points their finger at you and
somebody points their finger at you and
somebody points their finger at you and says do you all know they’re not about
says do you all know they’re not about
says do you all know they’re not about to tell you that they like your biscuits
just how angry we are and it wasn’t the
just how angry we are and it wasn’t the question that I found so memorable it
question that I found so memorable it
question that I found so memorable it was the reaction it brought the house
was the reaction it brought the house
was the reaction it brought the house down people are angry and I was struck
down people are angry and I was struck
down people are angry and I was struck by the fact that here we are in a deep
by the fact that here we are in a deep
by the fact that here we are in a deep red state at the local county and state
red state at the local county and state
red state at the local county and state level it’s all run by Republicans and
level it’s all run by Republicans and
level it’s all run by Republicans and this was a donor event so the American
this was a donor event so the American
this was a donor event so the American Dream had to have been good enough to
Dream had to have been good enough to
Dream had to have been good enough to these people to so that they could
these people to so that they could
these people to so that they could donate money to a think tank
donate money to a think tank
donate money to a think tank they were prosperous and I think that’s
they were prosperous and I think that’s
they were prosperous and I think that’s a totally worth totally worthwhile use
a totally worth totally worthwhile use
a totally worth totally worthwhile use of funds I’m not criticizing that at all
of funds I’m not criticizing that at all
of funds I’m not criticizing that at all one thing that I found is I’ve been
one thing that I found is I’ve been
one thing that I found is I’ve been exploring this is that it’s not just a
exploring this is that it’s not just a
exploring this is that it’s not just a Republican dynamic this is a chart pew
Republican dynamic this is a chart pew
Republican dynamic this is a chart pew does this and they’ve tracked it for
does this and they’ve tracked it for
does this and they’ve tracked it for decades it’s a great set of data it
decades it’s a great set of data it
decades it’s a great set of data it tracks the level of trust that we as
tracks the level of trust that we as
tracks the level of trust that we as Americans have in our government and I
Americans have in our government and I
Americans have in our government and I want you to pay attention to the time
want you to pay attention to the time
want you to pay attention to the time from 2000 until 2010 now you’ll see that
from 2000 until 2010 now you’ll see that
from 2000 until 2010 now you’ll see that drop and you might say well George Bush
drop and you might say well George Bush
drop and you might say well George Bush was kind of a controversial president
was kind of a controversial president
was kind of a controversial president and that’s probably the reason for it
and that’s probably the reason for it
and that’s probably the reason for it maybe but I would submit to you that it
maybe but I would submit to you that it
maybe but I would submit to you that it went to its lowest level ever under
went to its lowest level ever under
went to its lowest level ever under President Obama which tells you what
President Obama which tells you what
President Obama which tells you what it’s bipartisan any time in politics
it’s bipartisan any time in politics
it’s bipartisan any time in politics where you have only twenty percent of
where you have only twenty percent of
where you have only twenty percent of people agreeing on something or 80
people agreeing on something or 80
people agreeing on something or 80 percent of people agreeing on something
percent of people agreeing on something
percent of people agreeing on something it’s it’s a bipartisan
it’s it’s a bipartisan
it’s it’s a bipartisan concerns bipartisan issue I would submit
concerns bipartisan issue I would submit
concerns bipartisan issue I would submit something different something’s changed
something different something’s changed
something different something’s changed radio revolutionized the way we interact
radio revolutionized the way we interact
radio revolutionized the way we interact with politics television did the same
with politics television did the same
with politics television did the same the Internet has done the same thing
the Internet has done the same thing
the Internet has done the same thing only to an exponential level more than
only to an exponential level more than
only to an exponential level more than radio more than TV
radio more than TV
radio more than TV we no longer ingest news to be informed
we no longer ingest news to be informed
we no longer ingest news to be informed anymore we ingest news to be validated
anymore we ingest news to be validated
anymore we ingest news to be validated and during this time period you see
and during this time period you see
and during this time period you see you’ve seen the rise of Fox News the
you’ve seen the rise of Fox News the
you’ve seen the rise of Fox News the rise of MSNBC the rise of opinion blogs
rise of MSNBC the rise of opinion blogs
rise of MSNBC the rise of opinion blogs where it’s no longer Walter Cronkite
where it’s no longer Walter Cronkite
where it’s no longer Walter Cronkite getting up at 6 o’clock and saying who
getting up at 6 o’clock and saying who
getting up at 6 o’clock and saying who what where when why this is what
what where when why this is what
what where when why this is what happened this is why it happened this is
happened this is why it happened this is
happened this is why it happened this is how it happened so it’s it’s
how it happened so it’s it’s
how it happened so it’s it’s fundamentally changed and it’s having a
fundamentally changed and it’s having a
fundamentally changed and it’s having a negative impact on the country at a
negative impact on the country at a
negative impact on the country at a micro and a macro level it’s having a
micro and a macro level it’s having a
micro and a macro level it’s having a negative impact on us this is another
negative impact on us this is another
negative impact on us this is another chart from pew and you can see how the
chart from pew and you can see how the
chart from pew and you can see how the center has effectively disappeared over
center has effectively disappeared over
center has effectively disappeared over the past 10 years some of you may
the past 10 years some of you may
the past 10 years some of you may remember the grand bargain of 2011
remember the grand bargain of 2011
remember the grand bargain of 2011 President Obama was facing a Republican
President Obama was facing a Republican
President Obama was facing a Republican House for the first time him and Speaker
House for the first time him and Speaker
House for the first time him and Speaker Boehner had got together and they said
Boehner had got together and they said
Boehner had got together and they said there’s a few key things that we want to
there’s a few key things that we want to
there’s a few key things that we want to work on there’s a few key things that we
work on there’s a few key things that we
work on there’s a few key things that we want to work out and they got together
want to work out and they got together
want to work out and they got together and it would have if they called the
and it would have if they called the
and it would have if they called the grand bargain for a reason it would have
grand bargain for a reason it would have
grand bargain for a reason it would have been one of the most consequential deals
been one of the most consequential deals
been one of the most consequential deals in the last 20 or 30 years it would have
in the last 20 or 30 years it would have
in the last 20 or 30 years it would have reformed the way entitlements work and
reformed the way entitlements work and
reformed the way entitlements work and our tax code and modernized the way the
our tax code and modernized the way the
our tax code and modernized the way the government regulates so it’s easier for
government regulates so it’s easier for
government regulates so it’s easier for businesses to grow and thrive and
businesses to grow and thrive and
businesses to grow and thrive and entrepreneurs to do their job and it
entrepreneurs to do their job and it
entrepreneurs to do their job and it blew up both sides point the finger at
blew up both sides point the finger at
blew up both sides point the finger at each other of course we are in
each other of course we are in
each other of course we are in Washington DC but I think there was one
Washington DC but I think there was one
Washington DC but I think there was one thing that both sides agreed on and that
thing that both sides agreed on and that
thing that both sides agreed on and that was neither of them could sell the deal
was neither of them could sell the deal
was neither of them could sell the deal to their base that’s reflected in that
to their base that’s reflected in that
to their base that’s reflected in that graph it’s not a Republican issue it’s
graph it’s not a Republican issue it’s
graph it’s not a Republican issue it’s not a democratic issue
not a democratic issue
not a democratic issue we’re just siloed and weren’t entrenched
we’re just siloed and weren’t entrenched
we’re just siloed and weren’t entrenched in our own political beliefs beliefs and
in our own political beliefs beliefs and
in our own political beliefs beliefs and it goes back to that media dynamic where
it goes back to that media dynamic where
it goes back to that media dynamic where we can search and shop for the news that
we can search and shop for the news that
we can search and shop for the news that we want to hear we’re not a people
we want to hear we’re not a people
we want to hear we’re not a people separated by two different
separated by two different
separated by two different opinions were people separated by
opinions were people separated by
opinions were people separated by different realities that’s all we’re
different realities that’s all we’re
different realities that’s all we’re hurting ourselves on the macro level
hurting ourselves on the macro level
hurting ourselves on the macro level let’s talk about how it’s hurting us on
let’s talk about how it’s hurting us on
let’s talk about how it’s hurting us on the micro level we have a family friend
the micro level we have a family friend
the micro level we have a family friend and it’s kind of a sitcom dynamic where
and it’s kind of a sitcom dynamic where
and it’s kind of a sitcom dynamic where it’s a very conservative Midwest set of
it’s a very conservative Midwest set of
it’s a very conservative Midwest set of parents with a closet full of guns and
parents with a closet full of guns and
parents with a closet full of guns and then you’ve got the young free-spirited
then you’ve got the young free-spirited
then you’ve got the young free-spirited daughter the daughter and her husband
daughter the daughter and her husband
daughter the daughter and her husband just had a newborn baby and the daughter
just had a newborn baby and the daughter
just had a newborn baby and the daughter did something very dumb not having the
did something very dumb not having the
did something very dumb not having the baby that was fine but this is today she
baby that was fine but this is today she
baby that was fine but this is today she got a text message she got her text out
got a text message she got her text out
got a text message she got her text out and she sent a group message to her
and she sent a group message to her
and she sent a group message to her family and she said I want you all to
family and she said I want you all to
family and she said I want you all to know that we are not comfortable
know that we are not comfortable
know that we are not comfortable sleeping or staying in a house where
sleeping or staying in a house where
sleeping or staying in a house where there’s guns or driving in a car where
there’s guns or driving in a car where
there’s guns or driving in a car where there’s done it’s owned by gun owners
there’s done it’s owned by gun owners
there’s done it’s owned by gun owners and put aside gun control or Second
and put aside gun control or Second
and put aside gun control or Second Amendment rights however you want to
Amendment rights however you want to
Amendment rights however you want to frame that debate that’s tertiary to
frame that debate that’s tertiary to
frame that debate that’s tertiary to this
this
this it was stupid because it had a minimal
it was stupid because it had a minimal
it was stupid because it had a minimal impact on the national debate on the gun
impact on the national debate on the gun
impact on the national debate on the gun control debate but it had a maximum
control debate but it had a maximum
control debate but it had a maximum impact on her personal relationship and
impact on her personal relationship and
impact on her personal relationship and if you follow Ted over the past five six
if you follow Ted over the past five six
if you follow Ted over the past five six years you’ll know one of the predominant
years you’ll know one of the predominant
years you’ll know one of the predominant themes is these are the relationships
themes is these are the relationships
themes is these are the relationships that give us joy that are good for our
that give us joy that are good for our
that give us joy that are good for our health and make us live longer that make
health and make us live longer that make
health and make us live longer that make us happier and it’s not just her anyone
us happier and it’s not just her anyone
us happier and it’s not just her anyone who’s been on Facebook in the past three
who’s been on Facebook in the past three
who’s been on Facebook in the past three months we’ll have some variation of this
months we’ll have some variation of this
months we’ll have some variation of this story to tell we’re ripping each other
story to tell we’re ripping each other
story to tell we’re ripping each other apart and for what there’s no benefit to
apart and for what there’s no benefit to
apart and for what there’s no benefit to it this is one my favorite quotes from
it this is one my favorite quotes from
it this is one my favorite quotes from the 2016 cycle and you might say oh this
the 2016 cycle and you might say oh this
the 2016 cycle and you might say oh this is kind of this is Gandhi asked or this
is kind of this is Gandhi asked or this
is kind of this is Gandhi asked or this is Nelson Mandela this is a former
is Nelson Mandela this is a former
is Nelson Mandela this is a former secretary of the UN this was George W
secretary of the UN this was George W
secretary of the UN this was George W Bush and he’s exactly right the way that
Bush and he’s exactly right the way that
Bush and he’s exactly right the way that we interact with each other in the
we interact with each other in the
we interact with each other in the political sense has fundamentally
political sense has fundamentally
political sense has fundamentally altered and not really good and I don’t
altered and not really good and I don’t
altered and not really good and I don’t think we’re at the worst point in
think we’re at the worst point in
think we’re at the worst point in history civil war 1960s we’ve been here
history civil war 1960s we’ve been here
history civil war 1960s we’ve been here before but we need to do a few smart
before but we need to do a few smart
before but we need to do a few smart things to pull ourselves out of it to
things to pull ourselves out of it to
things to pull ourselves out of it to pull ourselves out of the the spin
pull ourselves out of the the spin
pull ourselves out of the the spin there’s three things that you can do to
there’s three things that you can do to
there’s three things that you can do to deflect what political guys like me use
deflect what political guys like me use
deflect what political guys like me use to encourage this type of
to encourage this type of
to encourage this type of and encourage its also that we can win
and encourage its also that we can win
and encourage its also that we can win of course but division is I think a
of course but division is I think a
of course but division is I think a byproduct of it it’s fundamentally as
byproduct of it it’s fundamentally as
byproduct of it it’s fundamentally as political guys we want you to be
political guys we want you to be
political guys we want you to be emotional we look for vice to exploit if
emotional we look for vice to exploit if
emotional we look for vice to exploit if we’re conservatives we want you angry
we’re conservatives we want you angry
we’re conservatives we want you angry and we’ll figure out ways to make you
and we’ll figure out ways to make you
and we’ll figure out ways to make you angry maybe it’s Colin Kaepernick’s
angry maybe it’s Colin Kaepernick’s
angry maybe it’s Colin Kaepernick’s kneeling for the national anthem and
kneeling for the national anthem and
kneeling for the national anthem and disrespecting that that symbol if you’re
disrespecting that that symbol if you’re
disrespecting that that symbol if you’re a Democrat you might be upset about
a Democrat you might be upset about
a Democrat you might be upset about injustice or the haves versus the
injustice or the haves versus the
injustice or the haves versus the have-nots and they will use that to get
have-nots and they will use that to get
have-nots and they will use that to get into your heart and once they are in
into your heart and once they are in
into your heart and once they are in your heart you will believe and you will
your heart you will believe and you will
your heart you will believe and you will do damn near anything bless me Father
do damn near anything bless me Father
do damn near anything bless me Father for I have sinned I am guilty of this as
for I have sinned I am guilty of this as
for I have sinned I am guilty of this as a political guy three things that you
a political guy three things that you
a political guy three things that you can do so I’m gonna start with what I
can do so I’m gonna start with what I
can do so I’m gonna start with what I call the golden rule it’s not very
call the golden rule it’s not very
call the golden rule it’s not very original but I’d to put some kind of
original but I’d to put some kind of
original but I’d to put some kind of name on it that’s why I came up with
name on it that’s why I came up with
name on it that’s why I came up with passion and knowledge in politics tend
passion and knowledge in politics tend
passion and knowledge in politics tend to be an inverse relationship the more
to be an inverse relationship the more
to be an inverse relationship the more you know about a subject and I don’t
you know about a subject and I don’t
you know about a subject and I don’t mean the more of a subject where you
mean the more of a subject where you
mean the more of a subject where you think you’re right or this is I know
think you’re right or this is I know
think you’re right or this is I know everything on why the Iraq war was wrong
everything on why the Iraq war was wrong
everything on why the Iraq war was wrong or why we should reform the tax code I
or why we should reform the tax code I
or why we should reform the tax code I mean you know both sides of the issue
mean you know both sides of the issue
mean you know both sides of the issue and you can articulate both sides of the
and you can articulate both sides of the
and you can articulate both sides of the issue that is true knowledge your
issue that is true knowledge your
issue that is true knowledge your passion goes down your heart hardens
passion goes down your heart hardens
passion goes down your heart hardens against the the political maneuverings
against the the political maneuverings
against the the political maneuverings and the political lions that try to get
and the political lions that try to get
and the political lions that try to get you upset and try to get you angry
passion and knowledge have an inverse
passion and knowledge have an inverse relationship the second thing is have
relationship the second thing is have
relationship the second thing is have more questions and answers have more
more questions and answers have more
more questions and answers have more questions and answers it is difficult
questions and answers it is difficult
questions and answers it is difficult for somebody to interact on a positive
for somebody to interact on a positive
for somebody to interact on a positive way whether it be a family member or a
way whether it be a family member or a
way whether it be a family member or a friend whatever if that person has all
friend whatever if that person has all
friend whatever if that person has all the answers we all know somebody who has
the answers we all know somebody who has
the answers we all know somebody who has all the answers
all the answers
all the answers oftentimes they have very few answers as
oftentimes they have very few answers as
oftentimes they have very few answers as a policy guy my expertise is in national
a policy guy my expertise is in national
a policy guy my expertise is in national security and Veterans Affairs but when I
security and Veterans Affairs but when I
security and Veterans Affairs but when I would advise Jeb or me
would advise Jeb or me
would advise Jeb or me on a policy issue the very first thing
on a policy issue the very first thing
on a policy issue the very first thing that I did was I found all the people
that I did was I found all the people
that I did was I found all the people who are knowledgeable on that particular
who are knowledgeable on that particular
who are knowledgeable on that particular subject and I asked questions Jeb was
subject and I asked questions Jeb was
subject and I asked questions Jeb was very strict about this he wanted to
very strict about this he wanted to
very strict about this he wanted to understand both sides so he could
understand both sides so he could
understand both sides so he could clearly articulate them when he was
clearly articulate them when he was
clearly articulate them when he was challenged on it and I learned that for
challenged on it and I learned that for
challenged on it and I learned that for a moment it’s a lesson I’ll never forget
a moment it’s a lesson I’ll never forget
a moment it’s a lesson I’ll never forget have more questions and you have answers
have more questions and you have answers
have more questions and you have answers and then the final thing is this
be intelligent about how you ingest
be intelligent about how you ingest media because it has changed look for
media because it has changed look for
media because it has changed look for things that make you informed if you’re
things that make you informed if you’re
things that make you informed if you’re reading an article and it’s trying to
reading an article and it’s trying to
reading an article and it’s trying to make you angry throw it out it’s all
make you angry throw it out it’s all
make you angry throw it out it’s all over the discourse now you’ll see you
over the discourse now you’ll see you
over the discourse now you’ll see you see it all the time go online you see
see it all the time go online you see
see it all the time go online you see emotional state followed by fact that is
emotional state followed by fact that is
emotional state followed by fact that is this article will make you shocked this
this article will make you shocked this
this article will make you shocked this will make you angry this will make you
will make you angry this will make you
will make you angry this will make you jealous this will make you greedy
jealous this will make you greedy
jealous this will make you greedy followed by xxx you all know clickbait
followed by xxx you all know clickbait
followed by xxx you all know clickbait but it’s growing as a tool that
but it’s growing as a tool that
but it’s growing as a tool that Americans use to get their news it’s not
Americans use to get their news it’s not
Americans use to get their news it’s not healthy for us it’s not healthy for the
healthy for us it’s not healthy for the
healthy for us it’s not healthy for the Republic it’s not healthy for us as a
Republic it’s not healthy for us as a
Republic it’s not healthy for us as a people use good sources New York Times
people use good sources New York Times
people use good sources New York Times Washington Post Wall Street Journal that
Washington Post Wall Street Journal that
Washington Post Wall Street Journal that sure they have their biases everyone
sure they have their biases everyone
sure they have their biases everyone does we all have some bias in our heart
does we all have some bias in our heart
does we all have some bias in our heart but they also have fact-checking
but they also have fact-checking
but they also have fact-checking they also have editorial oversight they
they also have editorial oversight they
they also have editorial oversight they also have a church and state separation
also have a church and state separation
also have a church and state separation between opinion in fact I’m gonna leave
between opinion in fact I’m gonna leave
between opinion in fact I’m gonna leave you with this I’m not saying that ideas
you with this I’m not saying that ideas
you with this I’m not saying that ideas are dangerous or political opinions are
are dangerous or political opinions are
are dangerous or political opinions are bad they’re a good thing they’re good
bad they’re a good thing they’re good
bad they’re a good thing they’re good for the Republic but ask yourself how
for the Republic but ask yourself how
for the Republic but ask yourself how are my ideas leading me to treat other
are my ideas leading me to treat other
are my ideas leading me to treat other people I found that guy after the event
people I found that guy after the event
people I found that guy after the event and I said I hear you on the anger thing
and I said I hear you on the anger thing
and I said I hear you on the anger thing I really do but you know I live in the
I really do but you know I live in the
I really do but you know I live in the United States of America in the 21st
United States of America in the 21st
United States of America in the 21st century
century
century I watched NASA put a probe on a comet
I watched NASA put a probe on a comet
I watched NASA put a probe on a comet something in what had killed me fifty
something in what had killed me fifty
something in what had killed me fifty years ago I can get knocked out and with
years ago I can get knocked out and with
years ago I can get knocked out and with a doctor’s visit in an afternoon I can
a doctor’s visit in an afternoon I can
a doctor’s visit in an afternoon I can pull out my smartphone and I can touch
pull out my smartphone and I can touch
pull out my smartphone and I can touch and talk to any one of my friends or
and talk to any one of my friends or
and talk to any one of my friends or anyone of my family from no matter where
anyone of my family from no matter where
anyone of my family from no matter where we’re separate no matter how far apart
we’re separate no matter how far apart
we’re separate no matter how far apart were separated crime is that some of
were separated crime is that some of
were separated crime is that some of those lowest levels in decades income is
those lowest levels in decades income is
those lowest levels in decades income is up education is up literacy is up
up education is up literacy is up
up education is up literacy is up I hear you on how angry you are but do
I hear you on how angry you are but do
I hear you on how angry you are but do you have any idea just how grateful I am
you have any idea just how grateful I am
you have any idea just how grateful I am thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
”
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