Transcripts For CSPAN2 Sean Spicer Leading America 20240712

Then 2016 so in july 2018 he joined us for a briefing of politics impressed with the president he is here with us today to the virtual discussion of his brandnew book which examines the battle conservatives have against the media and hollywood, academia and big tech. Now invite you to join our Virtual Program coming from the Leadership Academy with sean spacer on sean spicer and our executive director. Sean it is great to have you with us here at the Reagan Library obviously shows on socially distanced. I had a lot of time reading it congratulations on a great read. Its a shame not to be back at such a Historic Place and when i did my first book to where it was so refreshing to come out there and have a discussion with you to answer questions so its a shame this cannot be in person. When the words of pants back up to it on your calendar. This is your second book new left the white house and when you wrote this book is just as i expected you took the opportunity to tell your story about dancing with the stars and the decision and process that led to that. Met its good for your career. I was asked but i left the white house know a lot of reasons mostly because i have no rhythm so the long story short continue with the executives there and i finally came to a point you dont have that many opportunities to do things that are on a different and then people just stop asking. So i thought this is the last time i developed a friendship and a bond with that has been helpful so we walk through it and i finally come to the realization this would be fun im bad at this it only last two or three weeks and then i can check the box and move on. They knew there would be headwinds i knew the media would go nuts i didnt realize how quick and how soon and how visceral like everybody one everything got consumed what do you think about sean and is he working as hard . It is an introduction to the world of never been in because this mashup of the different cast members and a sports being in the music thing but then physically and hollywood to do with the headwind. I found most people that they would pump into a nice and kind people they almost had to being a bell and remember he works for trump is a republican and then is challenging because i never made anything political in fact the beauty of the show was the idea that kind of like we used to do. And then it you at the beginning of the show with the family one of the catchphrase they go your way. Honest to god one of the best experiences of my life i met some amazing people that i still stay in touch with to this day visiting with some of them in the next couple of weeks. Not just the cast members and the polls but those through bad publicity with the stage area. Im glad i did and had a blast they called me today and said we are doing another season and picking people i would come back in a heartbeat. Thats funny you say that thats my next question. It is good for some fun. Asked the our reality shows there is no pride and then a joke in the book there is no value. Maybe put it on ebay but there is no huge cash of 5 million. Everybody choose which of you are up against for yourself. Its almost a nothing you can share on everyone else is not like survivor trying to get rid of them. And then with the judge for the miss America Pageant but at the end of the day taking risks and having fun that is my wife is supposed to be all about. I agree when you look back and its nice to say that i watch dancing with the stars. And in season 29 monday night my kids can someone and talk about who is that person is fine on a lot of one on a lot of levels. And then to praying wounded servicemembers and you forget you are out there, everybody goes to the Reagan Library. For a lot of folks you have a holly word night out in be treated like a vip. So you and your spouse in your caregiver its a cool thing to do. Its fun to make the experience broader than myself. And a great start. So the one guy who seems like a really nice guy if you picked out 30 states the one thing that would pop off i love watching this guy on tv he is funny enjoy your. And this is what makes the difference between conservatives and liberals these days. But he is good at what he does so it is weird and i said at the outset he is entertaining of the People Better plan on the show with those of various criminals. And around that time to hit the talk show circuit and Steve Colbert and it seems like it would be a lot of fun but thats when your comedy has taken a turn it all seems to be personal its not really comedy anymore. I get back in the day leno and letterman were leftleaning they were also equal opportunity offenders and it was funny and they were mean. The difference whether fallon entered jimmy or camel for seth myers has to be protocol. I was watching the other night. And the democratic challenger i never heard of the campaign and figure out how to turn these latenight shows where they can also tell jokes and then how you can relax and fall asleep i dont think the money anymore. And that examples not just comity but how the media has decided to train liberals versus conservatives like the black face for example depending on what side of the fence you are on your treated differently. Look at making kelly shes on her show taking questions and i dont want to relitigate this but what i think magan is getting at is a deep understanding of why certain things and color. And then we need to understand more and then to and certain people and with that empathy and concern because we have never understood that. So now in a more personal way way that troubles you chew. We dont do actions am i and somebody because we were brought up in a way and exposed we are allowed to see some things depending on the socioeconomic status and she was knocked off the show asking a question and she apologized but then you go down the long list in the book all those on the left used black face whether elected officials on the left with politics because if you are on the left it is okay and forgiven and then you go this comity were one comic was punished and not allowed back on another line if it is homophobic of those anti somatic things they say thats not who i am anymore, they made up a host of stories about the fbi investigating hacks with the ukraine but yet she is rewarded with a primetime show. There is an amazing double standard that exist where the left is something in the right does something and its more pervasive cancel culture with you was canceled out because its not the subject something can Say Something and others cannot if you are pursuing the leftist ideology joy behar as a candidate she is unbelievably attractive she is articulate, great plan and the kind of person running in baltimore. And joy tells her as a black woman she has permission from the black community i didnt realize you could do that and that she did not have the support of the black community as a platform and so on what world is an older white woman preach to a black woman and tell her she doesnt have the support of the black community . But she is a white woman does . I am confused. It is okay. No problem with that. [laughter] and threw a lot of these issues that the higher altitudes with the corporate activism. Word i try to do but its also exposing because when i words researching different subjects so what motivates some of these people and it explains a lot why where the company do this and then you start to look at it and it finally makes sense now. Exposing big institutions it is the most precious and undercuts our society more than any other is at the fact that big tech goes after censorship and Corporate America bowing to Political Correctness . Was it all on their houses . But what worries me the most what is happening in public schools. Not in terms of what we are teaching of math and science but the idea of what to protest. There is a part of the book including ask county where i live in virginia allow kids days off to protest Climate Change. Im not here to take issue with reading the book and say i think Climate Change is a bad issu issue, as the senate to use the class time when we fall behind in areas like stamina and math should we protest . Some people think its worth the day off i think the way we fall behind especially with china is not the second, take out Climate Change and assume republicans take over school board to become a prolife march are you still comfortable with schoolteacher sending your kids out i think many liberals would answer the same question the same way anymore with those who are working so hard they assume that they are giving him or her the tools to succeed when they come home to say i dont like donald trump he is a bad man i understand this is important but then you think why is it your job and not mine is apparent to teach the values of the studies you values and principles up to me as a parent. I cannot agree with you more. Knowing what you know of the University Experience it still a ticket to success for the concerns a lot of parents and it didnt use to. Thats a really good question because especially in the age of covid writing a 70000 check to a private institution for a kid to sit at home on zoom when i can take classes online. So i hope there is a fundamental transformation how colleges looked at. I dont know if that will happen because how it is finance but it should be. The question is so important because there are things kids can learn today that i need to go to fouryear liberal school in some ways i will not be where i am today had i not gone to the Small Liberal Arts College that i did with future . I dont think so but the classes that i took . Know. I mentioned in the book and then to go on to College Campuses how many College Conservative its never been more than five it usually one or two and then to hear Different Things i now with the outrageous statements. But theres always a crowd and then try to shut the voices in the opportunity and that fascinates me to understand why and how is like the left feels its a threat to give opposition to the thoughts. And specifically for that reason. And line up against my own arguments. I could not agree more. So you look at the sectors of Society Hollywood and entertainment and academia and big tech all of these things a political theater i can go to the nfl Football Team Football Team. And it seems to me where conservative ideology has a fighting chance. What is next on the list is religion and then start to say that you can be religious and then to coop religion and then to espouse your views in the context of judaism or hinduism. And then to have that muted sense to be a good catholic and prochoice and a good to to the with elected politics because then you are in office but then you also see the way they are covered its a much different path now with joe biden with the position on Court Packing that is a substantial issue its a shame for reporters course i wont tell you because that would give you a headline. Ive been doing this a long time is normally what you want. And they dont dare to follow up. Watching the interaction the other day and to say im sorry mr. Biden i didnt mean that. And thats a problem so the nice thing for me is when you see the opportunities that exist on the right like the daily caller, all of these opportunities but also opportunities like this where the Reagan Library can say yes we are closed because of covid but to get the word out to put youtube videos up with Facebook Live and the conversation in ways that could not have five or ten years ago thats crucial to the conservative movement. And the hearings that are presently going on with Amy Coney Barrett and whether or not it has a question that she could be a good judge. I was thinking this last night the Senate Democrats were making a strategic mistake because every time i watch Amy Coney Barrett give an answer i am blown away by her depth and breadth and knowledge of constitutional law and precedent and i see more messages thats what i want my daughter to look up to. I want the woman to be will model to strategically a mistake because she is such a great example of why the good conservative constitutional judge keep the hearings going it reflects well on us and the democrats are talking about everything but her in her qualifications it makes them look over choose signaling you have a highly immensely qualified woman the court but yet they come up that we understood and you placed steve here with sugar and a recipe. They put out the kitchen sink between her faith and extraneous things that have nothing to do with her ability to be a fantastic judge that shows you how desperate they are. With the senator do that i said i hope to god you know you are doing he is planned not just that he held it up at the face she made i was so proud of her and i dont even know her. [laughter] you talk about the medias treatment of President Trump and so how you answer this question but while the media in your mind and my mind has been remarkably unfair to President Trump, heap the summer of this on himself. That style and approach. I talk to him the other day. Fortyseven months versus 47 years dig into that you have a ton of accomplishments the president has been treated unfairly no question in my mind. But people dont vote because you are treated unfairly they will because you accomplish things and if you have a vision and moving forward. If you want to settle grievances theres plenty of time that. But until you get to it its not worth it. He could be clear on his statement and out to get you so dont let them take the bait. So again he has a record and we should do that more and more but there are times we used to joke if within 72 hours in the white house and thats when i get nervous that we could think there we go. Im sure it had to be frustrating for you you admired him and supported him but of all the jobs where he is good counsel to do the search by this with the Communications People and he can be his own best friend and his own worst enemy and if you would take the advic advice. The hard part is that hes doing this for himself for so long then his heart is 71 years old tell me how to operate. And part of that establishment that told me this would never work and then to say as president so in many cases and then chose not to listen to what i see . I did it my way and it worked. s i spent 25 years giving advice and writing communication plans to military officers and elected officials they were tinker with it and say i would rather say it this way and now lets execute. Trump put that on his head this is what i want to say and how you want to say it and get it out there. It is a different dynamic. The perfect example of that is has to be the moment in the campaign you are not yet the White House Press secretary. And hollywood access. Ninetynine out of 100 people that i in the world of politics that were experts would have said that is it. It is over. It is done. Trump the right what. The second to be in st. Louis that we should be having this week. Think about this so then he turns around and flies to st. Louis and sits in a row and says lets rule. Who does this . But that is the thing that honest to god if you said here is what you should do i would have been like right now. [laughter] nobody will think this is a good idea and they were right. It was amazing. So elections are about three weeks from now and to turn on the nightly news that he will lose all the stuff but then im remembering the Campaign Years ago do you see parallels to that could internet any different . Yes there are a lot of parallels in the state and in the numbers were seeing. That being said, do i think we are ahead . Know. In a lot of places he is behind but its where we were last time if we could execute the ground game successfully there are some variables that are different joe biden may have some crazy wacky policies dont think its the same joe biden of ten years ago but hes a nice guy. He is likable and there isnt that visceral reaction there is with Hillary Clinton so michigan was one by 10000 votes and you take out a bad candidate like clinton and then plan the candidate like biden now they say thats okay that michigan in a very different place 24000 euros or 40000 votes so the states become much more in play arizona no question thats in jeopardy right now that is a state we should not have had to think about. But the Trump Campaign would argue nevada and minnesota are in play but are not at a place at 270 trying to gain more i think there is a better scenario i to get there that more states are in play to the top. That being said the secret weapon is for the last four years with the Trump Campaign working on the ground game a lot of those in the last four years so that in my mind is a field goal. Like all other things that is three. So back to the book. You make the point a few times because of social media and the internet and the massive social media machine. And as opposed to them. And what will win it is the trump social media arsenal with the majority of the media be against you for so long there is no way the social media can get around that. Trump juan over nine points last time now hes down plus five and that erosion in the voting that is disproportionate can be effective. You have joke about this at his rally in pennsylvania with suburban and women what you need to do to like me cracks he knows there is the erosion in those groups so you have that erosion. And with those two key groups. The place that i never would have predicted trump would be would be the margins of the Hispanic Community Impact Community had been amazing. With a smaller box of the electorate. That is not as big as a bigger gain have the black of hispanic in part. This is a tight election that we could end up with one heck of a portion of the cooler 2000 times 100 . I think we headed there look at pennsylvania does change the rules allowing pallets to be cast without signatures were postmarks up to seventies after the election there is no question. Democrats will probably lose on Election Night and make it up on ballots and they will argue any ballot cast those came in after the deadline without a signature they call them naked pallets or doesnt have the second envelope that the voter intent was to vote for joe biden so you will see multiple cases even with push versus cooler but in new mexico the Bush Campaign was in 1 million they chose not to contest that it wouldnt be that detrimental i think we have a potential to see multiple states contested and the days following the end of the preferred in person election voting. Williams numeral mention it but we only have a few more minutes but this is one of the toughest jobs in washington dc. You to cure knox and facing the prostate today and then facing the White House Press corps. Since then we will have a briefing today or not. Do you think its the two bad good or bad to be, joke or a pitched battle or where you come to settle on that. The american way to see the Government Action that this person goes out more daily do we question the leadership in government . They should so there should be some mechanism that passes given access. That is a policy they portray that the door is always open. Into all the other press officers. But they dont need to have the on camera i believe being every day. There doesnt have to have this become a show. It has become an opportunity to the youtube stars or additional quorums. Or even them to go up to the reporter it should be about holding those government officials accountable. So there are things like that that could be done to make it less excitable chaotic. Is there a media outlet you roads single out but they attacked as heck on you. And they may be hard but they are fair. I like to single out some bloomberg is good. Leaders. But jonathan in particular and jen as well as they are tenacious. I go after stories but they are fair and to say this is what it says. Do you dispute any part of it . I want to do. They are well sourced and we know what they are talking about i agree with everything the right but i dont often and i see a byline of theirs to lose anything wrong with the story. They are in the side area. And to say i disagree with you about the story i like the angle. There are few and far people i can say that about. You the first White House Press secretary in the history of the united states, i think, to leave the post and then come back and and the will of covering the white house in the secretary briefing. How did that feel . I dancing with the stars and walking into the press a Briefing Room i have a show every night at 6 00 oclock. To white house correspondence. But that will be interesting for the show to go in and asked the president some questions. That raked up there in the nervousness. So the united on the president is calling on me you know what you are on television but it was in a different light and all the eyes on the score saying what are you going to ask . Folks from nbc said it was inappropriate i was there and i wrote about this in the book that the questions i ask there was a member of Congress Trading stocks enough of them, actually several at the time and then asked another question and his responsibility. Was a 15 percent called on the was so outraged and i thought i asked a question that you didnt ask and now youre getting mad at me . It depends on who will compose. I a lot of speeches on College Campuses and a lot of times thats about getting involved are not understanding the landscape and the themes of the book. And there is organizations. And especially election season. And what worked or where it didnt about terms of the trade how to communicate. And with a successful comprehensive complicated comprehensive strategy. That is made of tactics. And that message that people act on because whether they vote, volunteer, donate. And get caught up is 15 twenties. Thats great what we trying to achieve . Caught up is 15 twenties. Thats great what we trying to achieve . Great question you are involved with the number the nonprofit is the one you by to give a shout out to that you should talk about briefly because of their importance . The independent find is one organization that provides wheelchairs to veterans with mobility issues. And one said to go for a walk. And to get in the backyard is just so cool and then to get over the terrain. So have a family that goes to walter reed the servicemembers that is taking care of that the wife of the caregiver they have to pay for you get 30000 per year just trying to walter reed and staying in hotel is 1000 and that is a great organizatio organization. Just a wonderful book. Take care of herself. Im looking forward to be there in person soon. I will have a right to say whatever. The basis of that are going to talk about aids, the holocaust, whatever, the kids in cages, racism, whatever it is, they have to be funny. You better aircraft a beautiful joke around it. Because gratuitously whatever it is, they have to be funny. You better aircraft a beautiful joke around it. Because gratuitously shock value schumer with no joke attached to that that is not what we do. So i write about we came out in the mid nineties that i came out on stage as a gay parent. I finally said everyone talks about their family. I had so much material. I never talked about my partner because it was pouring. But then the kids. My god. This is amazing. Also it was hilarious. So after a few minutes is in the audience who were straight would laugh because its the same stuff. And at one point it is interesting how far and we have come so far but yet if you have children in the early 2000s it is ridiculous so all the people that allowed to get married and cannot get married like eric and Lyle Menendez can their parents now they are in jail. So it is infuriating and i was and houston and a guy came up to me after the show and then to say all my god. It is the power of comedy it is amazing and break so many stigmas because of someone that you like them a interviewed over 100 different people and healthcare to wave a magic wand that they were change the Business Model and healthcare what i refer to as pay for hatching with those physicians and hospitals and with those operations and procedures were including health. And with those Health Systems and physicians are incentivized and then to document and really should be expecting as consumers so that means not doing much of anything that is ideally how we should be thinking about so private insurance the government also the starting to change and with the feeforservice system. Put them and bested the things that the image he centers like Cancer Centers and then they really do invest like the covert pandemic with Public Health and primary care. And with that Covid Response to have the best facilities in the world and then to invest in the Public Health infrastructure in the country we havent managed to that. And with the trillion dollar Healthcare System but with a 5 trilliondollar business simply to do more things nobody would stop and say that i believe most physicians and clinics tried to to go to practice the best healthcare the economics are such that they are incentivized to a on the side of diagnosing. So those that pay their bills the insurance companies, the only way to limit that spending is to place barriers. So that means if the doctor recommends the mri, using that as an example the way the Insurance Company is to manage the cost is to deny that i think it is authorized where necessary. Is called prior authorization which is a amount of paperwork the physicians have to complete and with that to be done and paid for. Doctors and hospitals and then to more barriers. And at the end of the day with enormous administrative waste we spend a percent of our Health Care Dollars on the administration where most of the european counterparts are at 3 percent. And with that dispute them into account balance billing so as to the individual patients thats what we call surprise billing so as you can imagine to generate waste in the system so much that approximately 25 or 30 percent of our health care in this country is considered waste so to have discussions about how can we extend health care to all those who are underinsured and uninsured there are clearly opportunities to recover that ways to redistribute that to Cover Health Insurance for everyone. Americans are beginning to lose trust in each other. Good evening. Im president of the