MEMORANDUM

To: CNN From: Alexa Ottenstein & Andrew Eddington Date: November 15, 2013 Subject: CROSSFIRE, October 11, 2013 ______

Introduction These findings are the result of a content analysis of a CNN CROSSFIRE show, “Republicans Surrendering?,” that aired on October 11, 2013 at 18:28 ET. The co-hosts are Stephanie Cutter and S.E. Cupp. The guests are Montana’s Democratic former governor, Brian Schweitzer, and Arizona Republican Congressman David Schweikert. The episode covered topics such as the proposal of a six-week debt ceiling, negotiation to reopen the government, and whether President Obama has been an effective leader throughout the crisis.

Messages David Schweikert represents the Republican side, and Brian Schweitzer represents the Democrat side. Schweikert’s overarching message throughout the CROSSFIRE episode addressed the lack of dialogue in Congress between Republicans and Democrats, as well as the United States’ mounting debt crisis. He argues that the U.S. cannot afford Obamacare due to the country’s debt. Additionally, Schweikert defends the Republican party and Ted Cruz, and cites the importance of President Obama engagement in discussions with the House Republican party. Midway through the CROSSFIRE episode, Schweikert gives more specific examples on ways to help fix America’s soaring debt. “And that’s where it’s going to be – have to be a bipartisan battle to say the only way out of the mess we’re all walking into at the end of this decade is massive growth in the economy. The only way to get there is a dramatic change in our tax code, a dramatic change of our regulatory code. And immigration, we’re going to have to deal with all these things.” While he suggests that bipartisan negotiations will end the government shutdown by changing the tax code, regulatory code, and immigration reform, the plan he is proposing ultimately lacks more concrete ways to spur economic growth the U.S. needs to fully recover from the recession. However, Schweikert does assert in the episode that we must be able to turn to the world debt markets and tell them that “we’re not just going to borrow our way to prosperity,” a message that has potential in becoming part of the Republican platform to address the debt crisis. When discussing divided government, Schweikert suggests that it may be necessary to go through with the government shutdown in order for both sides to learn how to communicate with each other. Looking back to the Republican success of the 1990’s government shutdown, where government was also divided, he states, “Maybe, maybe that’s what’s about to happen, the adults are coming into the room and realizing that a divided government, there are ideas out there on both sides…” Inferring that the Republicans have ideas as well that would not only solve the government stalemate, but improve the economy, remains a core message throughout the CROSSFIRE episode. While Schweikert’s messages revolved around the lack of inclusion of Republican ideas and his general concern with introducing an entitlement program in a country with soaring debt, Schweitzer’s messages were of a different meaning. Schweitzer addressed the Democrats’ distrust in the Republican party and the Democrats’ unwillingness to negotiate on Obama’s landmark entitlement program, the Affordable Care Act, when the threat of defaulting on America’s debt was used as a bargaining chip. Schweitzer stated that America’s full faith and credit is non-negotiable and detrimental to America as a whole if used as one. Schweitzer stated, “Look, I don’t trust you guys. Look, I don’t trust you. The same cast of characters who carved out all those special deals for all those multinational corporations are – yes, let’s see – still in charge.” Throughout the episode, both sides’ messages varied vastly with Schweitzer disputing many of Schweikert’s own claims. However, there was one time when there was the beginning of a common ground, “But more of a Republican -- but here’s -- here’s the problem. They’re saying ‘We want that mandate to go away for one year.’ Now I actually kind of support that. I signed a bill in Montana that we wouldn’t enforce the mandate until there was -- until there was a legitimate public option, because I don’t think you ought to force a private citizen to have to buy it from a private insurance company.” While they both acknowledged that they wanted the mandate to be pushed back one year, the reasons why varied with their views on The Affordable Care Act. Schweitzer wanted an option offered by the government, but that isn’t an idea that Republicans would typically support. This remained the only concession between the two, a concession that was ultimately shadowed by the constant disagreement with one another. Analysis At the beginning of the CROSSFIRE episode, the six-week debt ceiling was introduced, which Schweitzer argued, “...a six-week delay on this is like kissing your sister. The markets are not going to be happy with this. The markets are going to continue to say, ‘Oh, my God, how are the politicians going to screw it up six weeks from now?’” He further supports his argument by saying that he has not heard of any congressmen on the Republican side generating concrete ideas on how to make the government smaller. Schweikert’s asserts, in defense of the Republican’s position, “Obviously, you haven’t been listening to many of us on the House Republican side.” Schweikert argues that both sides have ideas, but the Democrats are not willing to listen to the Republican ideas with their voice being overlooked. Schweitzer backs his claim by stating that the six-week delay would harm the “full credit and faith of America” and by using the default as a negotiating tool shows complete negligence of those in power simply for the sake of stopping Obamacare, a legislative piece that the Republicans do not support. By outlining his stance with the possible negative repercussions on the major topic of the looming debt ceiling discussed in the CROSSFIRE episode, it discredits Gov. Schweikert’s claim and changes his tone to a more defensive posture for the rest of the discussion. Later in the discussion, Cutter addresses the Democrats’ perspective on the shutdown for their lack of negotiation by stating, “And why should Democrats negotiate reopening the government with you when they've already agreed to significant budget cuts, a budget that you wanted, and this really was just a political ploy over Obama care?” With Schweikert’s lack of dispute against this claim and the simple response, “A fine point…” it only validates Schweitzer’s message and the Democrat’s lack of trust in the Republicans. This can be inferred by Schweikert’s lack of denial that the shutdown was used as a way to end Obamacare or renegotiate key parts of the entitlement program, an effort the Republican cohort have been leading since it was introduced in law. It was clear that from the beginning of the episode that Schweitzer used more concrete examples in his responses and relied on his past experiences as Governor of Montana to his advantage to not only boost his own credibility but to retort Schweikert’s claim. Schweikert, on the other hand, has a lack of experience and focused his message on defending the Republican’s and Ted Cruz’s stance throughout the shutdown to end Obamacare, as well as to become a voice that is heard and just overlooked throughout Congress. Governor Brian Schweitzer Congressman David Schweikert

Supports his argument: “You could start Supports: “And that’s where it’s going to be – right now. You could say, "We're going to have to be a bipartisan battle to say the only have vacancy savings." When somebody way out of the mess we’re all walking into at retires from the federal government, we won't the end of this decade is massive growth in replace them. And we'll do, say 5 or 10 the economy. The only way to get there is a percent of them. If you just incrementally did dramatic change in our tax code, a dramatic these things, you wouldn't hurt these change of our regulatory code. And programs, but you could make government immigration, we’re going to have to deal with more efficient. Why aren't you putting those all these things.” kinds of things forward?” A great introduction to his platform with a Stated at the very beginning of the episode, foundation set to build a strong argument but Schweitzer supports his argument that the never commits to a specific stance on these Republicans can’t be trusted by offering a issues and fails to follow up with any great example on ways to reduce the deficit substantial recommendations. then asks why aren't Republicans contributing to the conversation with similar ideas?

Discredits his argument: “Look, I don’t trust Discredits: “Obviously, you haven't been you guys. Look, I don’t trust you. The same listening to many of us on the House cast of characters who carved out all those Republican side. For many of us, we've been special deals for all those multinational laying out repeatedly, and for people like corporations are – yes, let’s see – still in myself, who have also been trying to deal with charge.” the reality of how bonded indebtedness (ph) works in the House. So those are many of the This allows for any compromise between him ideas we have.” and Schweikert to become less realistic as he saying the current Congressman, Schweikert’s direct response to, “Why aren't including Schweikert, can’t be trusted only you putting these kinds of things forward?” sparking bitter comments later in the episode. lacked any concrete ideas. This drastically lowered his credibility throughout the episode as he never officially stated any examples after being asked explicitly if Republicans had any recommendations of ways to reduce the government deficit.

Recommendations S.E. Cupp and Cutter should take on more of an investigative role by challenging their guests, but keep to their political party lines. If their roles in the show could focus more on holding their guests accountable for what they say, it would not just improve the content of their messages, but resonate more with their audience who already have a strong disliking with Congress who just hit the lowest approval rating of all-time at 9%, according to a recent Gallup Poll released as of November 13, 2013 (Newport, “Congressional Approval Sinks To Record Low”). By showcasing basic facts at the beginning of the episode about the current state of the economy and hot topics that will be addressed in the episode, it would force the Congressman to stay honest and lead to a more productive discussion. Another recommendation would be for more time to be devoted to the “Ceasefire.” Schweikert and Schweitzer only spent a few minutes on this part of the show, and it may be beneficial to put more emphasis on this part of CROSSFIRE to see if the two sides can truly come to some sort of agreement, even if the terms of the agreement were thought of in advance.