Designated Survivor (TV Series)

Suckers (2017)

John Ralston: Carson Kramer

Quotes 

• Carson Kramer : Senator, you've been highly critical of what you term "government handouts". So, what about the pension bailout bill?

  Senator Alan Rouse : Another handout.

  Carson Kramer : But the President's a big proponent.

  Senator Alan Rouse : Yes. And, um, to be frank, I'm not quite sure why. I met with him to discuss it, and he called the American people... suckers.

  Carson Kramer : Excuse me, Senator. He said what?

  Senator Alan Rouse : His exact words were "I'll make a stipulation that the American people are suckers."

  Carson Kramer : Wow. It looks like the President's the one who may need a bailout.

  Senator Alan Rouse : Yes, Carson. I was pretty shocked when I heard that myself.

  Lyor Boone : [watching on TV]  That disloyal, treacherous, lying...

  Tom Kirkman : He wasn't lying.

  Emily Rhodes : Sir?

  Tom Kirkman : He betrayed my confidence. He took me out of context. But he wasn't lying.

  Lyor Boone : It doesn't matter. Sir, you have a very distinct brand. You're Honest Tom. Man of the people. If that's compromised...

  Seth Wright : Lyor's right, Mr. President. This goes to your core identity. We can't spin this.

  Lyor Boone : Exactly, 'cause it's a middle finger aimed squarely at your base. And I don't like to traffic in overstatement, sir. If this sticks, it's political Armageddon.

  Lily : [entering]  Mr. President, you have calls from the Senate Minority and Majority Leaders, the House Speaker, and the House Minority Leader.

  Lyor Boone : The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.

  Tom Kirkman : Put them through. One at a time, please.

• Carson Kramer : It's been a rough couple of days, Mr. President.

  Tom Kirkman : Yes. Yes, it has. But you won't hear me complain. Not for a second. Because I know that there are people out there who are really having a rough time right now.

  Carson Kramer : Now, I know you want to address Senator Rouse's, uh, incendiary claim that you called the American people "suckers". The floor is yours, sir.

  Tom Kirkman : Thank you. I think that there is something the American people should know about Senator Rouse. And that is...

  Lyor Boone : [watching on TV]  Go there. Please go there.

  Tom Kirkman : ...that he is telling the truth.

  Lyor Boone : Oh, my god.

  Emily Rhodes : What is he doing?

  Tom Kirkman : He took my words out of context, but he is quoting me accurately.

  Seth Wright : This is bad.

  Carson Kramer : So you really think the American people are suckers?

  Tom Kirkman : Yes. I guess so. Because they believe in the American dream. This idea that our best tomorrows are in front of us, regardless of what today might be saying. And if that makes you a sucker, then count me in.

  Emily Rhodes : Less bad.

  Tom Kirkman : The great American generations that have come before us...

  Lyor Boone : Bring it home, sir. Bring it home.

  Tom Kirkman : ...have always managed to pull together when times were tough. We cannot be the exception. That's why it is so important that Congress gets behind the pension bailout bill. Too many Americans have had their security and their dreams snatched away from them.

  Lyor Boone : Trending good.

  Tom Kirkman : It's our turn to fix that. So I am promising the American people that I will not rest until that security and those dreams have been restored.

  Lyor Boone : I'm calling our pollsters. Our boss may have just pulled off the great escape.