Steve Schmidt

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For persons of a similar name, see Steve Schmidt (disambiguation).

Steve Schmidt
Steve Schmidt 2012 Shankbone.JPG
Schmidt at the 2012 Tribeca Film Festival
Born
Stephen Edward Schmidt

(1970-09-28) September 28, 1970 (age 50)
North Plainfield, New Jersey, U.S.
EducationUniversity of Delaware (BA)
Political partyRepublican (1988–2018)
Independent (2018–2020)[1]
Democratic (2020–present)

Stephen Edward Schmidt[2] (born September 28, 1970)[3] is an American communications and public affairs strategist who has worked on Republican political campaigns, including those of President George W. Bush, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Arizona Senator John McCain.

Schmidt was the senior campaign strategist and advisor to McCain's 2008 presidential campaign.[4] He pushed McCain to select Sarah Palin as his running mate, a choice which both Schmidt[5] and McCain came to regret.[6] He was a Vice Chair at the public relations firm Edelman[7] until he stepped down in July 2018.[8]

Schmidt has been extremely critical of former President Donald Trump, and of the GOP for supporting him. In June 2018, Schmidt renounced the Republican Party as "fully the party of Trump".[9] In early December 2020, he stated: "The Republican Party is an organized conspiracy for the purposes of maintaining power for self-interest, and the self-interest of its donor class ... It’s no longer dedicated to American democracy."[10][11][12]

Schmidt is a founder of The Lincoln Project, a group founded to campaign against former President Trump and his followers.[13]

In a podcast on December 14, 2020, Schmidt announced that he is registering as a member of the Democratic Party.

Early life and education[]

The son of a schoolteacher and a telecommunications executive, Schmidt grew up in North Plainfield, New Jersey, where he became an Eagle Scout, a tight end on the high school football team,[14] a two-year member of the National Honor Society, and senior class vice president. In 1988, he was one of two graduating seniors voted "most likely to succeed" by his classmates at North Plainfield High School.[15] As a young boy, he distributed campaign materials for Democrat Bill Bradley's 1978 United States Senate election in New Jersey.[16]

Schmidt attended the University of Delaware from 1988 through the spring of 1993, majoring in political science.[17] During this time, he registered as a Republican. He left three credits short of graduating because he did not pass a math course; Schmidt has said that he has been diagnosed with a learning disability that makes higher math difficult for him.[14] He joined the Delta Tau Delta fraternity,[15] was a member of the campus Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) program, and did field work for Republican candidates in Delaware, sometimes wearing campaign buttons to class.[17] Schmidt completed his final math course and graduated in 2013.[18]

Career[]

Early campaigns[]

In 1995, Schmidt managed the unsuccessful campaign for Kentucky Attorney General of Will T. Scott, who is formerly a Justice of the Kentucky Supreme Court.[19] This Kentucky campaign's advertising strategy was featured in the second edition of George Magazine.

In 1998, Schmidt ran California State Senator Tim Leslie's unsuccessful race for Lt. Governor of California.[20] Also that year, he was the Communications Director for California State Treasurer Matt Fong's unsuccessful campaign to unseat U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer.[21] In 1999, he was the Communications Director for Lamar Alexander's presidential run, leaving in June when the campaign reduced its senior staff.[22]

Washington, D.C.[]

Schmidt with President George W. Bush in January 2006

By late 2000, Schmidt was communications director of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.[23][24]

In 2001, he was the spokesman of the National Republican Congressional Committee,[25] becoming the Communications Director by 2002.

Schmidt joined the Bush administration as a Deputy Assistant to the President and Counselor to Vice President Dick Cheney. In 2004, he was a member of the senior strategic planning group, led by White House adviser Karl Rove, that ran President George W. Bush's re-election campaign; Schmidt oversaw the reelection "war room".[20] In 2005 and 2006, he was the White House strategist responsible for the U.S. Supreme Court nominations of Samuel Alito[26] and Chief Justice John Roberts.[20]

California[]

In 2006, Schmidt left the White House to become the campaign manager in the re-election campaign for California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.[26] From there, he became a partner in Mercury Public Affairs, part of Fleishman-Hillard International Communications, in charge of Mercury's operations in California.[27]

2008 McCain presidential campaign[]

See also: John McCain 2008 presidential campaign

On July 2, 2008, Schmidt was appointed to head up day-to-day operations of the McCain campaign in response to concerns that the campaign lacked coordination and a clear message. Rick Davis retained the formal title of "campaign manager".[28][29]

Press commentary[]

The New York Times described Schmidt's management as having transformed the McCain campaign into "an elbows-out, risk-taking, disciplined machine", crediting him with aggressive responses to press criticism and creative methods of manipulating the news cycle.[30]

Time's Michael Scherer, in an opinion piece from September 15, 2008, relating to Schmidt's involvement with John McCain's presidential campaign, stated that Schmidt, the "lord of outrage, has a long and prosperous career ahead of him".[31]

On September 22, 2008, Schmidt accused the New York Times of bias against McCain in favor of his opponent, Barack Obama, calling Times "a pro-Obama advocacy organization that every day impugns the McCain campaign, attacks Senator McCain, attacks Governor (Sarah Palin)" and saying "Whatever The New York Times once was, it is today not by any standard a journalistic organization."[32]

Stance on gay rights[]

Schmidt voiced his support for gay rights at a meeting of the Log Cabin Republicans, a gay Republican group. He said: "I just wanted to take a second to come by and pay my respect and the campaign's respect to your organization and to your group. Your organization is an important one in the fabric of our party."[33]

Schmidt said about his lesbian sister and her life partner: "On a personal level, my sister and her partner are an important part of my life and our children's life. I admire your group and your organization and I encourage you to keep fighting for what you believe in because the day is going to come."[33]

In February 2013, Schmidt, along with 74 other Republicans, co-signed an amicus brief to the Supreme Court of the United States in support of overturning Proposition 8. "The die is cast on this issue when you look at the percentage of younger voters who support gay marriage", he was quoted as saying. "As Dick Cheney said years ago, 'Freedom means freedom for everybody.'"[34]

While leading the 2008 John McCain presidential campaign, the McCain campaign states that "gay adoption is a state issue and does not endorse any federal legislation."[35]

Departure from the Republican Party and joining the Democratic Party[]

In May 2018, when President Donald Trump moved the U.S. embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, sparking violent Gaza border protests, Schmidt said Trump "has blood on his hands".[36] The Embassy's opening coincided with the bloodiest day of the 2018 Gaza border protests, with more than 57 Palestinians killed.[37] Despite initial violence after the decision, the United States under President Joe Biden has decided to keep the embassy in Jerusalem.[38]

On June 19, 2018, Schmidt formally withdrew from the GOP over Trump's policy of separating immigrant families at the U.S. border with Mexico. He also cited Republican leadership for their failure to challenge the policy. Schmidt said of Trump, "We have in America—right now, at this hour—to understand that you have a lawless president, a vile president, a corrupt president, a mean, cruel president, who is seeking to remake the world order."[39]

In June 2018, he tweeted "the Republican Party ... is fully the party of Trump. It is corrupt, indecent and immoral. With the exception of a few Governors like Baker, Hogan and Kasich it is filled with feckless cowards who disgrace and dishonor the legacies of the party's greatest leaders ... Today the GOP has become a danger to our democracy and our values."[40] During an August 2018 television appearance, he characterized Trumpism:

We’re seeing somebody go to mass rallies, constantly lie to incite fervor in a cult of personality base, we are seeing him make victimization honorable – they’re all victims, right? We are seeing the allegation of conspiracy, the 'Deep State,' hidden, nefarious movements that only the leader can see. We see the scapegoating of minority populations, vulnerable populations, and lastly, the assertion that ‘I need to exercise these powers that no president has ever claimed to have.' This is deliberate. This is an assault on objective truth. And once you get people to surrender their sovereignty, what is true is what the leader says is true, what is true is what the leader believes is true, even though what’s true is staring you in the face. When that happens, you are no longer living in a democratic republic. Thirty-five percent of this country has checked out. They have joined a cult. They are obedient. They are obedient to the leader.[41]

Describing his new political orientation, he stated:

This Independent voter will be aligned with the only party left in America that stands for what is right and decent and remains fidelitous to our Republic, objective truth, the rule of law and our Allies. That party is the Democratic Party.[42]

On December 14, 2020, Schmidt announced he was joining the Democratic Party on his podcast, Battleground.[43]

Howard Schultz's possible 2020 run[]

On January 28, 2019, it was reported that Schmidt, along with Democratic consultant Bill Burton, had been hired to help shape a potential presidential run by former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz.[44] After Schultz decided to withdraw from the race, Schmidt returned to MSNBC.[45]

Other professional activities[]

JUST Capital[]

Schmidt serves on the board of nonprofit research organization JUST Capital alongside Arianna Huffington, Deepak Chopra, and others.[46]

Words Matter Media[]

In August 2018 Schmidt launched a podcast with Elise Jordan focused on the Trump presidency.[47] Schmidt parted ways with the podcast when he walked out in the middle of an episode in which Jordan and executive producer Adam Levine questioned Schmidt about his role as adviser to potential 2020 presidential candidate Howard Schultz.[48]

The Lincoln Project[]

Schmidt is a founding member of The Lincoln Project, a Super PAC organized by former Republican operatives opposed to the re-election of Donald Trump in 2020, and supported the Democratic Presidential Nominee Joe Biden.[49] Schmidt and members of The Lincoln Project guest starred on Showtime's The Circus: Inside the Greatest Political Show on Earth in 2020, giving viewers an insight to their strategies.[50]

In January 2020, a person working for the digital advertising company Tusk raised concerns about John Weaver's pattern of sexual harassment to Lincoln Project executive Ron Steslow, who in turn notified other Lincoln Project officials.[51] By June 2020, members of The Lincoln Project's leadership were informed in writing and in subsequent phone calls of at least 10 specific allegations of harassment against John Weaver, which includes two employees of The Lincoln Project.[52][53] Schmidt released a statement on January 31, 2021, "No Lincoln Project employee, intern, or contractors ever made an allegation of inappropriate communication about John Weaver that would have triggered an investigation by HR or by an outside employment counsel. In other words, no human being ever made an allegation about any inappropriate sexualized communications about John Weaver ever."[54]

In February 2021, Schmidt stepped down from his position on The Lincoln Project board and released a statement in which he disclosed he was sexually molested as a teen and apologized to another co-founder, Jennifer Horn, for tweeting her private correspondence with a reporter. He also stated he was stepping down from the board in order to make room for the appointment of a female board member as the first step to reform and professionalize The Lincoln Project.[55]

In popular culture[]

Schmidt was portrayed by Woody Harrelson in the 2012 HBO film Game Change. The film, based on chapters of the book of the same title by political journalists John Heilemann and Mark Halperin, focuses on the choice of Sarah Palin as John McCain's running mate in the 2008 United States presidential election. Schmidt is shown as pushing for the choice of Palin, then afterward conceding she was unqualified for the job, including that she had a limited knowledge of current affairs.[56] Schmidt himself voiced his approval of the film, saying that "it tells the truth of the campaign"[57] and that watching the film was tantamount to "an out-of-body experience".[58]

Personal life[]

Schmidt has three children.[59]

References[]

  1. ^ Gstalter, Morgan (June 20, 2018). "GOP strategist Steve Schmidt denounces party, will vote for Democrats". TheHill.
  2. ^ "Replies". www.freerepublic.com.
  3. ^ "Birthday of the Day: Steve Schmidt, vice chairman at Edelman, MSNBC political analyst and Bush, McCain and Schwarzenegger alum". Politico. September 28, 2017. Retrieved September 6, 2018.
  4. ^ Halloran, Liz (August 1, 2008). "Republicans Press Celebrity Attack on Obama". US News and World Report. Washington DC. Retrieved August 8, 2008.
  5. ^ Capehart, Jonathan (March 12, 2012). "Steve Schmidt's brutally honest assessment of Sarah Palin (Published 2012)". The Washington Post.
  6. ^ Martin, Jonathan (May 5, 2018). "At His Ranch, John McCain Shares Memories and Regrets With Friends (Published 2018)". The New York Times.
  7. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on March 31, 2018. Retrieved March 30, 2018.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  8. ^ Schreckinger, Ben; Johnson, Eliana; Lippman, Daniel (August 1, 2018). "Republicans abuzz over Schmidt's divorce from GOP". Politico. Retrieved September 6, 2018.
  9. ^ Miller, Hayley (June 20, 2018). "GOP Strategist Quits 'Corrupt' Party Of 'Feckless Cowards', Will Vote For Democrats". Huffington Post. Retrieved June 20, 2018.
  10. ^ Chapman, Matthew (December 9, 2020). "The GOP Is an 'Organized Conspiracy' That Exists for 'No Purpose Other Than Power' Says Steve Schmidt". TheNewCivilRightsMovement.com. Retrieved December 11, 2020.
  11. ^ Schmidt, Steve (December 9, 2020). "Steve Schmidt says the GOP is an "organized conspiracy" to gain power - video (2:43)". MSNBC News. Retrieved December 11, 2020.
  12. ^ Hains, Tim (December 10, 2020). ""Lincoln Project" Founder Steve Schmidt Warns: "The Republican Party Is An Organized Conspiracy" And They Just Crossed The Rubicon". RealClearPolitics. Retrieved December 10, 2020.
  13. ^ "The Lincoln Project: Career Republicans call on Americans to vote out President Trump". CBS News. October 11, 2020.
  14. ^ Jump up to: a b Romano, Lois (August 21, 2008). "The Silver Bullet: Steve Schmidt Makes Sure His Candidate Knows Exactly What He Is Shooting For". The Washington Post.
  15. ^ Jump up to: a b "University of Delaware Delt plays pivotal role on McCain campaign staff". Home News Tribune. September 7, 2008. Archived from the original on April 24, 2009.
  16. ^ Marinucci, Carla (February 12, 2006). "Governor's team adds former Rove protege:Political 'artillery shell' joins re-election effort". San Francisco Chronicle.
  17. ^ Jump up to: a b Barrish, Chris (September 15, 2008). "Another kingmaker has links to Delaware: McCain strategist was a student at UD". The News Journal. Wilmington, Delaware: Gannett Company. Archived from the original on September 23, 2008. Retrieved November 15, 2015.
  18. ^ "Udaily". University of Delaware. Retrieved November 18, 2017.
  19. ^ Justice Will T. Scott Archived March 3, 2012, at the Wayback Machine, courts.ky.gov. Retrieved November 15, 2015.
  20. ^ Jump up to: a b c Morain, Dan; Drogin, Bob (October 6, 2008). "Steve Schmidt: The driving force behind John McCain". The Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on October 7, 2008.
  21. ^ Cillizza, Chris (September 7, 2008). "Sunday Reading: Steve Schmidt Examined". The Washington Post.
  22. ^ Firestone, David (June 4, 1999). "Alexander Cuts Staff And Travel". The New York Times. Retrieved November 15, 2015.
  23. ^ "Steve Schmidt biography". July 4, 2008. Retrieved October 8, 2008.
  24. ^ Lilienthal, Steve (November 27, 2000). "Republican congressional exec quits for private work". PR Week USA. Archived from the original on April 25, 2009. Retrieved October 8, 2008.
  25. ^ Shenon, Philip (March 29, 2001). "While Senate Debates, It's Fund-Raising as Usual". The New York Times.
  26. ^ Jump up to: a b Marinucci, Carla (February 12, 2006). "Governor's team adds former Rove protege". The San Francisco Chronicle.
  27. ^ Martin, Jonathan; Allen, Mike (July 3, 2008). "A dose of discipline for McCain's campaign". Politico. Archived from the original on October 26, 2008. Retrieved October 8, 2008.
  28. ^ Balz, Dan; Shear, Michael D. (July 2, 2008). "McCain Puts New Strategist Atop Campaign". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 2, 2008.
  29. ^ Martin, Jonathan (July 2, 2008). "Schmidt takes control of day-to-day operation". Politico. Retrieved September 7, 2008.
  30. ^ Rutenberg, Jim; Nagourney, Adam (September 6, 2008). "An Adviser Molds a Tighter, More Aggressive McCain Campaign". The New York Times. Retrieved September 17, 2008.
  31. ^ Scherer, Michael (September 15, 2008). "McCain's Outraged and Outrageous Campaign". Time. New York City: Time, Inc. Archived from the original on September 16, 2008. Retrieved September 16, 2008.
  32. ^ "Steve Schmidt News | Quotes | Wiki". UPI.com.
  33. ^ Jump up to: a b Eleveld, Kerry (September 4, 2008). "McCain's Top Strategist Addresses Log Cabin Republicans". The Advocate. Retrieved September 29, 2008.
  34. ^ Stolberg, Sheryl Gay (February 25, 2013). "Republicans Sign Brief in Support of Gay Marriage". The New York Times. Retrieved February 26, 2012.
  35. ^ "Same-sex Marriage – Issues – Election Center 2008". www.cnn.com.
  36. ^ "Steve Schmidt: There is blood on Trump's hands". NBC News. May 14, 2018.
  37. ^ Wagner, Meg; Ries, Brian (May 14, 2018). "Dozens die in Gaza as US Embassy opens: Live updates". CNN. Atlanta, Georgia. Retrieved May 15, 2018.
  38. ^ "US to keep embassy in Jerusalem: Biden's top diplomat". aljazeera.com. Retrieved March 30, 2021.
  39. ^ Hines, Nico (June 20, 2018). "Steve Schmidt: Why I Quit the 'Vile' Republican Party". The Daily Beast.
  40. ^ Huff Post 20 June 2018: GOP Strategist Quits 'Corrupt' Party Of 'Feckless Cowards', Will Vote For Democrats
  41. ^ Wulfsohn, Joseph A. (August 4, 2018). "Steve Schmidt Hits Trump Voters: 35% of US 'Has Checked Out'". Mediaite.
  42. ^ Gstalter, Morgan (June 20, 2018). "GOP strategist Steve Schmidt denounces party, will vote for Democrats". The Hill. Retrieved June 30, 2018.
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  44. ^ O'Keefe, Ed; Montoya-Galvez, Camilo (January 28, 2019). "Howard Schultz makes political hires as he mulls 2020 bid". CBS News. Retrieved January 29, 2019.
  45. ^ "Steve Schmidt returns to MSNBC, with plenty to say". MSNBC. October 18, 2019.
  46. ^ "Board – JUST Capital". JUST Capital. Retrieved November 22, 2017.
  47. ^ "Steve Schmidt". wordsmattermedia.com.
  48. ^ Clift, Eleanor. "Steve Schmidt Storms Off Own Podcast When Asked About Advising Howard Schultz". Daily Beast. Retrieved February 11, 2019.
  49. ^ Pangelly, Martha (February 28, 2020). "'Right makes might': Lincoln Project takes aim at Trump from Cooper Union". The Guardian.
  50. ^ "The Circus – Season 5 Episode 17, Crisis Mismanagement". Showtime. Retrieved October 13, 2020.
  51. ^ Hakim, Danny; Astor, Maggie; Becker, Jo (March 8, 2021). "Inside the Lincoln Project's Secrets, Side Deals and Scandals". The New York Times. Archived from the original on March 8, 2021.
  52. ^ "Young men accuse Lincoln Project co-founder of harassment". Associated Press. January 31, 2021. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
  53. ^ Peoples, Steve; Slodysko, Brian (February 11, 2021). "How a leading anti-Trump group ignored a crisis in its ranks". Associated Press. Retrieved February 11, 2021.
  54. ^ Smith, Haley Victory (February 12, 2021). "Lincoln Project co-founder Steve Schmidt resigns as group's sexual harassment scandal grows". MSN. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
  55. ^ Quinn, Allison (February 12, 2021). "Lincoln Project Co-Founder Steve Schmidt Steps Down Amid Scandal". The Daily Beast. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
  56. ^ Dunn, Geoffrey (March 7, 2012), "Game Change: Sarah Palin and the Confessions of Steve Schmidt", Huffington Post, retrieved March 9, 2012
  57. ^ Rainey, James (February 18, 2012). "Choosing sides on Sarah Palin". The Los Angeles Times.
  58. ^ Frum, David (March 4, 2012). "HBO's 'Game Change' Charts Sarah Palin's Revenge". The Daily Beast. Retrieved November 15, 2015.
  59. ^ Schmidt, Steve (June 18, 2018). "I'm grateful beyond words for my three healthy children who are the joy and loves of my life. ..." Twitter. Retrieved April 11, 2021.

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