POLITICAL CARNIVAL EXCLUSIVE-- AUDIO: Sen. minority leader's office admits Dem. public health care plan good for small business

By GottaLaff

As you may know by now, my friend and colleague Jim Alger has a political radio show, Common Sense, that features My Tweet Spots segments by yours truly. Well, today, Jim had some time to do a little digging, so he called Mitch McConnell's office to discuss health care reform. He managed to entice Don Stewart into a conversation.

Who is Don Stewart?

Current Position: Communications Director for the Senate Minority Leader (since 2006)

Boss: Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.)

Stewart, or “Stew,” as he likes to be called, is widely considered one of the top communications directors in the Senate. He is a workaholic, who sends e-mails and press releases throughout the night and knows how to promote his boss’s agenda.

Stewart joined Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell’s (R-Ky.) office after the 2006 elections in an attempt by McConnell, who has often shied away from the spotlight, to bolster his communications office after becoming the Republican Senate leader. Stewart was a key part of Sen. McConnell’s plan to build a strategic communications center to help Republicans redefine and promote their message starting at the beginning of the 110th Congress. [...]

Stewart’s game is definitely media and message control, and he became one of Washington’s best and most aggressive communication directors while working for Cornyn. [...]

Stewart has worked in McConnell’s office since the start of 2007. But his job puts him in direct contact with other members of the Senate Republican leadership, including aides to Minority Whip Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.) and Senate GOP Conference Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.). In particular, Stewart has strong Texas connections. Before working for McConnell, he spent three years as communications director for Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) and three years in the press office of Sen. Phil Gramm (R-Texas).

In McConnell’s office, Stewart has worked alongside Chief of Staff Kyle Simmons, Simmons’ deputy Sharon Soderstrom and Press Secretary Jennifer Morris.

Jim Alger seemed to trip up the Director of Communications for the Senate Minority Leader in about two minutes. "Stew" had no prep, and appeared to admit that the Democratic plan for a public option is good for small business by saving them money. This from the party that wraps themselves in small business regularly, from tax cuts to fighting unions. According to Jim, Stew seems willing to abandon their constituency on health care.

Listen carefully and see if you agree. Did Senator Mitch McConnell's own guy sell out small business? He sure got off the phone quickly at the end. (Trouble streaming? Here's the YouTube link)



UPDATE: He also admits that Barack Obama's plan does not create a government mandate for public insurance, contrary to all the spin. Check it out.