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Mike Murphy (political consultant) Quotes

Michael Ellis "Mike" Murphy is a Republican political consultant. He advised Republicans including John McCain, Jeb Bush, John Engler, Tommy Thompson, Spencer Abraham, Christie Whitman, Lamar Alexander, and Arnold Schwarzenegger. Until January 2006, he was an adviser to Mitt Romney. Murphy resigned his position with Romney when his former client John McCain made it clear he would also pursue the Republicans' U.S. presidential nomination in 2007 and 2008; Murphy decided to be neutral in the contest between them. Murphy is a vocal Republican critic of current U.S. President Donald Trump. Wikipedia  

✵ 1962
Mike Murphy (political consultant): 42 quotes1 like

Famous Mike Murphy (political consultant) Quotes

“Loyalty is not a small thing. I'm an old Irish pol. No loyalty is owed, if no loyalty was given.”

Mike Murphy (political consultant)

As quoted in &quot;Debriefing Mike Murphy&quot; https://www.weeklystandard.com/matt-labash/debriefing-mike-murphy (18 March 2016), by Matt Labash, The Weekly Standard <br class="br">2010s

“You have to feel for the French; they were great once.”

Mike Murphy (political consultant)

As quoted in &quot;Romney guru thrives in political &#x27;show business&#x27;&quot; https://web.archive.org/web/20060307070315/http://www.boston.com:80/news/politics/president/articles/2005/06/12/romney_guru_thrives_in_political_show_business/?page=full (12 June 2005), by Brian C. Mooney, The Boston Globe <br class="br">2000s

“I'm too pretty to go to jail.”

Mike Murphy (political consultant)

As quoted in &quot;Debriefing Mike Murphy&quot; https://www.weeklystandard.com/matt-labash/debriefing-mike-murphy (18 March 2016), by Matt Labash, The Weekly Standard <br class="br">2010s

“My story is very boring. Mostly about hair loss.”

Mike Murphy (political consultant)

As quoted in &quot;Debriefing Mike Murphy&quot; https://www.weeklystandard.com/matt-labash/debriefing-mike-murphy (18 March 2016), by Matt Labash, The Weekly Standard <br class="br">2010s

“[T]he only mark-to-market thing in politics is Election Day; everything else is hot air.”

Mike Murphy (political consultant)

2010s, 2018, Interview with Bill Kristol (2018)

“I'd rather cut my arm off than vote for that jerk.”

Mike Murphy (political consultant)

As quoted in &quot;Debriefing Mike Murphy&quot; https://www.weeklystandard.com/matt-labash/debriefing-mike-murphy (18 March 2016), by Matt Labash, The Weekly Standard <br class="br">2010s

Mike Murphy (political consultant) Quotes about people

“[H]aving problems is not a license to vote stupid. People need the tractor to plow the damn field, now.”

Mike Murphy (political consultant)

As quoted in &quot;Debriefing Mike Murphy&quot; https://www.weeklystandard.com/matt-labash/debriefing-mike-murphy (18 March 2016), by Matt Labash, The Weekly Standard <br class="br">2010s

“[T]he disease of the Republican Party is we treat base voters like swing voters, when, in fact, is you want to put the base under some pain to attract other people to get to a majority number.”

Mike Murphy (political consultant)

2010s, 2018, Interview with Bill Kristol (2018)

“Trump is going to go under an electron microscope. And everything I know about Donald Trump, and I know a fair bit about him going back to my Jersey days when he was operating in Atlantic City – that’s where I first kind of encountered him – he is one of the least likely people to survive an electron microscope into his life, I believe, and his business life of anybody. So, my instincts are strongly that they are going to find some stuff.”

Mike Murphy (political consultant)

2010s, 2018, Interview with Bill Kristol (2018)

“Any good demagogue is very courageously telling people exactly what they want to hear.”

Mike Murphy (political consultant)

2010s, 2017, Interview with Bill Kristol (2017)

“[T]he larger moral cowardice that has overtaken the party… Trump's shtick is that he's the grievance candidate… He's focused on the economically squeezed Caucasian voter… He is speaking to that rage. Mexican rapists, clever Chinese traders, African American people as dogs. That's Trump's DNA.”

Mike Murphy (political consultant)

As quoted in &quot;&#x27;I&#x27;m not going there&#x27;: As Trump hurls racial invective, most Republicans stay silent&quot; https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/im-not-going-there-as-trump-hurls-racial-invective-most-republicans-stay-silent/2018/08/18/aab7fd8a-a189-11e8-83d2-70203b8d7b44_story.html?noredirect=on&amp;utm_term=.492b99efbac1 (18 August 2018), by Ashley Parker and Robert Costa, The Washington Post <br class="br">2010s, 2018

“People get what they vote for.”

Mike Murphy (political consultant)

2010s, 2017, Interview with Bill Kristol (2017)

Mike Murphy (political consultant) Quotes

“[H]ow popular is the president? Normally, they lose seats when they are kind of average popular. If they are unpopular, it tends to have a magnifying effect. And we do know, from averaging all the polls together, that Donald Trump is the most unpopular first-year president in the history of polling, easily. There’s nobody – he is first, second, and third place. So that is a bad thing… You know, there could be a foreign intervening event. Martians land with the same hair and say, you know, "Only he understands us, and we are going to save the planet." But, assuming normalcy, the forces are pretty bad.”

Mike Murphy (political consultant)

2010s, 2018, Interview with Bill Kristol (2018)

“Well, you know, the future is always unmade, and my crystal ball is badly cracked because I’m one of the geniuses that said that "Trump is going to lose by a couple of million votes; he can't win." Well, he lost by a couple of million popular votes, but in the Electoral College, very narrowly, he was able to win.”

Mike Murphy (political consultant)

2010s, 2018, Interview with Bill Kristol (2018)

“We like to say law, order, freedom — pick one, amigo.”

Mike Murphy (political consultant)

As quoted in &quot;Debriefing Mike Murphy&quot; https://www.weeklystandard.com/matt-labash/debriefing-mike-murphy (18 March 2016), by Matt Labash, The Weekly Standard <br class="br">2010s

“My father likes to talk about the stroller accident that resulted in me becoming a Republican.”

Mike Murphy (political consultant)

As quoted in &quot;Romney guru thrives in political &#x27;show business&#x27;&quot; https://web.archive.org/web/20060307070315/http://www.boston.com:80/news/politics/president/articles/2005/06/12/romney_guru_thrives_in_political_show_business/?page=full (12 June 2005), by Brian C. Mooney, The Boston Globe <br class="br">2000s

“[T]he more he governs, often the more trouble he gets into. He does not improve; he gets more unpopular, at least with the two-thirds of the country that is very suspicious of him.”

Mike Murphy (political consultant)

2010s, 2018, Interview with Bill Kristol (2018)

“It's a choice between Trump, who is terrible for the country, and Cruz, who is terrible for the party. He's too smart for his act … and he's probably pissed that a bigger con man showed up.”

Mike Murphy (political consultant)

As quoted in &quot;Debriefing Mike Murphy&quot; https://www.weeklystandard.com/matt-labash/debriefing-mike-murphy (18 March 2016), by Matt Labash, The Weekly Standard <br class="br">2010s

“A Moscow loving grifter is on the loose in the White House. Shame on the Vichy Republicans who constantly enable him.”

Mike Murphy (political consultant)

Interview with Daniel Lippman https://www.politico.com/story/2018/06/04/playbook-birthday-mike-murphy-620654 (2018) <br class="br">2010s, 2018

“[T]here is no campaign trick or spending level or candidate whisperer that can prevent a party from committing political suicide if it wants to.”

Mike Murphy (political consultant)

As quoted in &quot;Debriefing Mike Murphy&quot; https://www.weeklystandard.com/matt-labash/debriefing-mike-murphy (18 March 2016), by Matt Labash, The Weekly Standard <br class="br">2010s

“The pain is legit. But Trump is a stupid vote. Because Trump won't solve any of those things, he'll make them all worse. You're voting against your pain. You're voting to create more. You're going for a kind of witch doctor of politics who is promising things based on magic.”

Mike Murphy (political consultant)

As quoted in &quot;Debriefing Mike Murphy&quot; https://www.weeklystandard.com/matt-labash/debriefing-mike-murphy (18 March 2016), by Matt Labash, The Weekly Standard <br class="br">2010s

“[W]e've got to break this equation of "I'm right, you're evil. So everything you do is suspect, everything you say is a lie, your facts are fake news." Because that is an acid on politics. We've got to get rid of that.”

Mike Murphy (political consultant)

Interview with Elex Michaelson https://www.facebook.com/ElexMichaelson/videos/318261475405835/ (2018) <br class="br">2010s, 2018

“If Napoleon had nuclear subs, we’d all be speaking French. So, the history thing can be oversold.”

Mike Murphy (political consultant)

2010s, 2018, Interview with Bill Kristol (2018)

“Trump has gotten six or seven stories in his presidency so far, that if they happened in 1981, there would have been serious talk about the president needing to resign. And that's gone now, that ray gun of, "We don't do this. You can’t get away with that" is pretty much gone.”

Mike Murphy (political consultant)

2010s, 2017, Interview with Bill Kristol (2017)

“If Trump turns out to be the answer, I'm incredibly proud that Jeb Bush did not want to be any part of the vile question.”

Mike Murphy (political consultant)

As quoted in &quot;Debriefing Mike Murphy&quot; https://www.weeklystandard.com/matt-labash/debriefing-mike-murphy (18 March 2016), by Matt Labash, The Weekly Standard <br class="br">2010s

“In the end, they killed Rasputin.”

Mike Murphy (political consultant)

2010s, 2018, Interview with Bill Kristol (2018)

“[Y]ou can't have grievance politics without endless whining. I think if you got the Founding Fathers or the first hundred guys killed at Anzio Beach, brought them back to life, and said, "What do you think of all this?" "What a bunch of whiners. Have you ever had 400 Germans coming at ya? Put on a red hat and say Make America Great Again? What have you done, pal?"”

Mike Murphy (political consultant)

As quoted in &quot;Debriefing Mike Murphy&quot; https://www.weeklystandard.com/matt-labash/debriefing-mike-murphy (18 March 2016), by Matt Labash, The Weekly Standard <br class="br">2010s

“You want to win in politics? Stop wasting time being dragged screaming out of hearings and learn to f'ing organize. Signed, Reality.”

Mike Murphy (political consultant)

Twitter post https://twitter.com/murphymike/status/1038557357289033728 (8 September 2018) <br class="br">2010s, 2018

“[O]ld lady sends her $25 to defeat Nancy Pelosi, and $22 of it goes to "fundraising costs."”

Mike Murphy (political consultant)

As quoted in &quot;Debriefing Mike Murphy&quot; https://www.weeklystandard.com/matt-labash/debriefing-mike-murphy (18 March 2016), by Matt Labash, The Weekly Standard <br class="br">2010s

“If we have real, creative destruction here with Trump, and we have Armageddon or worse, out of the ruins will come new successes. New movements. And eventually, new rackets. And I'll be in on them. I admit it, I'm a racketeer.”

Mike Murphy (political consultant)

As quoted in &quot;Debriefing Mike Murphy&quot; https://www.weeklystandard.com/matt-labash/debriefing-mike-murphy (18 March 2016), by Matt Labash, The Weekly Standard <br class="br">2010s

“I've said the Romney scenario just because: Right about Putin, right about Obama, right about Trump. And he’s no drama; a nice boring presidency of competence.”

Mike Murphy (political consultant)

2010s, 2018, Interview with Bill Kristol (2018)

“My revenge is living well… I want to go get on a freighter and go through the Panama Canal. All I've ever wanted in my life is freedom and access. I like being backstage and watching the weird, human drama of all of these strange personalities that politics attracts.”

Mike Murphy (political consultant)

As quoted in &quot;Debriefing Mike Murphy&quot; https://www.weeklystandard.com/matt-labash/debriefing-mike-murphy (18 March 2016), by Matt Labash, The Weekly Standard <br class="br">2010s

“Whatever interesting things America have happened, they've happened first in California.”

Mike Murphy (political consultant)

Interview with Elex Michaelson https://www.facebook.com/ElexMichaelson/videos/318261475405835/ (2018) <br class="br">2010s, 2018

“Everything is a racial stereotype with him half the time; we've got to admit that about Trump.”

Mike Murphy (political consultant)

2010s, 2017, Interview with Bill Kristol (2017)

“[T]here was something about Obama that brought out the real alt-right crap. And because it was like one of these things where, "Hey, there are a bunch of cannibals that have joined our army, and they’re doing pretty well on the left flank." "Good, give them guns." You know? That kind of mentality. And so now, half the party is eaten by cannibals. And guess what? They’re eating us next.”

Mike Murphy (political consultant)

2010s, 2017, Interview with Bill Kristol (2017)

“I don't mind technique… I can be shameless. I have a long career at this. But when everything is a short con, then there's never another short con. Because you need trust, and you've destroyed it.”

Mike Murphy (political consultant)

As quoted in &quot;Debriefing Mike Murphy&quot; https://www.weeklystandard.com/matt-labash/debriefing-mike-murphy (18 March 2016), by Matt Labash, The Weekly Standard <br class="br">2010s

“I don't mind a good fight on an issue. I like that stuff. I don't mind negative ads. But when the fighting is over meaningless stuff, like "you're-low-energy-because-you-use-big-words-and-don't-hate-anybody-and-I-wear-a-red-hat-that-says-Make-America-Great-Again-because-I-played-a-business-guy-on-TV"? We cheapen the category to the point where we're getting an outcome that is actually a bit dangerous.”

Mike Murphy (political consultant)

As quoted in &quot;Debriefing Mike Murphy&quot; https://www.weeklystandard.com/matt-labash/debriefing-mike-murphy (18 March 2016), by Matt Labash, The Weekly Standard <br class="br">2010s

“You think the pissed-off steelworker in Akron has trouble now? Wait until we have a financial collapse and they take 25 percent off the dollar. He'll be serving hot dogs in an American restaurant in China.”

Mike Murphy (political consultant)

As quoted in &quot;Debriefing Mike Murphy&quot; https://www.weeklystandard.com/matt-labash/debriefing-mike-murphy (18 March 2016), by Matt Labash, The Weekly Standard <br class="br">2010s

“[I]f your banker comes in one day wearing a diaper, speaking gibberish, you're going to pull your money out of that checking account.”

Mike Murphy (political consultant)

As quoted in &quot;Debriefing Mike Murphy&quot; https://www.weeklystandard.com/matt-labash/debriefing-mike-murphy (18 March 2016), by Matt Labash, The Weekly Standard <br class="br">2010s

“I'm a Detroit guy.”

Mike Murphy (political consultant)

As quoted in &quot;Debriefing Mike Murphy&quot; https://www.weeklystandard.com/matt-labash/debriefing-mike-murphy (18 March 2016), by Matt Labash, The Weekly Standard <br class="br">2010s

“It's a great country.”

Mike Murphy (political consultant)

As quoted in &quot;Romney guru thrives in political &#x27;show business&#x27;&quot; https://web.archive.org/web/20060307070315/http://www.boston.com:80/news/politics/president/articles/2005/06/12/romney_guru_thrives_in_political_show_business/?page=full (12 June 2005), by Brian C. Mooney, The Boston Globe <br class="br">2000s

“All right you fucks, shut up! We got a call to order!”

Mike Murphy (political consultant)

As quoted in &quot;Debriefing Mike Murphy&quot; https://www.weeklystandard.com/matt-labash/debriefing-mike-murphy (18 March 2016), by Matt Labash, The Weekly Standard <br class="br">2010s

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