In the Crossfire
Josh had had little warning about his appearance on Crossfire. CJ had popped her head into his office that morning to inform him.
"Josh."
"Yeah."
"I need you..."
"Whoa, Ceej. I know that I am an exquisite male specimen, but I don't think this is quite the place…"
"Shut up, Joshua! I need you to do Crossfire this afternoon. We need someone to spin the healthcare plan and you'll know how to argue the Republican's package."
"Sure, no problem."
It had been that simple. At around 2PM, Josh had grabbed a late lunch and walked off to George Washington University. Anticipating an easy win on Crossfire.
The lights in the Crossfire studio were bright and hot. Josh walked into the backstage prepping area amidst a swarm of people trying to manage his fly-away hair and clipping microphones onto his lapel.
"Okay guys, as soon as we cut to commercial you two will have seat at the desk."
Josh heard these words as he walked towards the Crossfire stage at George Washington University. That's when he heard the voice.
"Thank you."
Josh looked ahead of him. Standing calmly, not in the middle of frantic backstage techies, writing serenely in a portfolio and then pausing in thoughtful contemplation was Juliana Wexler.
'Great.' Thought Josh. 'This will complete my day.'
"Josh." Juliana said as she turned to great him. "Hey. Fancy meeting you here." The last comment was said with a sweet smile that Josh couldn't place. Part of her expression told of genuine amiability, almost an innocent pleasantness. But there was a glint in Juliana's eyes that served as a challenge to Josh. It made him think that she was looking for a confrontation and planned to be the victor.
"Jules." Josh said, hoping to put her off her game by using her nickname.
"That's cute Josh. Are we using pet names now?"
Josh was considering a quick response, when a production assistant ushered the pair onto the stage and to their seats. Josh had never seen Juliana on TV before and he was intrigued to see how she would react to the live audience and the cameras. Juliana walked to her seat slightly in front of Josh. She strode straight over to Tucker Carlson. Josh was amazed at the sight he saw.
"Jules!" Tucker exclaimed. "Glad you could make it." Jules and Tucker exchanged a quick hug and a peck on the cheek. "Hey, is it true? Are you really Sam Seaborn's sister?"
"Juliana." Paul Begala interrupted. "Don't listen to him. More importantly, is it really true that you're a Republican?"
Juliana just laughed off both questions as she seated herself between Josh and Tucker. Both men then turned to Josh.
"Hey Josh."
"Hey Josh, good to have you back."
The audience lights dimmed again quickly and the studio lights became brighter. The cameraman counted down the time to the intro and soon Crossfire was back on the air.
"The year is almost over and January is only two days away." Paul Begala started, looking straight into the camera. "When the Senate comes back from their Christmas vacations it is almost guaranteed that the Republicans will begin a battle with the White House over healthcare. Joining us today to debate this is White House Deputy Chief of Staff, Joshua Lyman and Republican Political Strategist and Advisor, Juliana Wexler. Welcome."
Paul Begala turned to Juliana. "Juliana don't you think that the Republican leadership is a little shortsighted on this. The President's plan is meritorious and should be supported. Not torn to shreds and destroyed."
"I don't know if I agree with either of your statements. I think President Bartlett's taking a tremendous political gamble here. And unlike poker, where if your card is not turning out, you fold your hand and you conserve your capital, he's got everything on this pot because if the president doesn't get his way in this respect, everybody's going to ask if he can really get anything accomplished. The plan the Republican leadership is authoring is less risky and assures healthcare to many more Americans than the President's plan. "
Josh let out a "hump" and a chuckle. All three of the people sharing the desk with Josh turned to look at him.
"Mr. Lyman?" Tucker Carlson started, "Are the Republicans playing this same game, by saying if the president wins in his plan, they're blowing the system apart; there won't be healthcare? Aren't the Republicans talking like that, too?"
"Tucker, the piece of legislation that the Republicans are offering up isn't good. It's downright awful. They aren't willing to risk the capital, but they are willing to steal it from other places. They purpose to fix the healthcare system while drawing money out of other places like education and the defense budgets. The White House's plan puts forth the idea that with a small tax increase for the citizens in our highest tax bracket, we can make healthcare available to virtually all people at low costs while they, the republicans, declare that they can increase the availability of healthcare to the masses by 40 and lower healthcare costs by leaps and bounds without addressing the cost to taxpayers."
Josh felt he was on a roll. He could feel the momentum shifting his way. Josh lived for these moments. He relished the moment when he could prove his point and belittle his opponent all while winning over every single person around him, sometimes even his adversary. He was trying to keep his attitude in check and reign in his arrogance, not wanting to demean the sister of his best friend too badly during her first week on the job.
"But the only threat to healthcare comes from the gambler-in-chief's concolidation scheme. The republicans are at least unified. The Deomcrats are anxious, they don't want to walk this consolidation plank. I think the Republicans here hold together, show they have a spine, show they are a real opposition party. And in winning, they're going to chart a new politics of shared security and build a kind of politics around an emerging progressive majority. I think this will be a big win. This affects everyone in America for the better." Juliana argued back.
"Tucker, what I think that Juliana has left out is that the Republican plan does not guarantee health care for all citizens. In fact, some people will be left out in the cold, unable to access affordable, quality healthcare."
Juliana's head sprang up and she began her rebuttal.
"That's true. That will always happen. Until this country adopts universal healthcare for all people, employed and unemployed, there will always be people without healthcare. Neither the Republican's plan nor your plan does enough to address that. Yes, I know that the plan the Republican's support purports that some citizens may not have healthcare. That's a reality." Juliana paused for a mere second to size up Josh. Suddenly the tone of the argument shifted, unnoticed by most, and it became slightly personal. "I don't think you're playing your cards right here. You don't have the house. You don't have the senate. You barely won the white house. But still you can sit here and rant about Republican healthcare legislation that seriously looks at the problems in our country and attempts to offer solutions, because basically you don't like the people authoring the bill. I think we're doing pretty well on our side by just sitting back and letting you make a mess of things."
"Whoa," Paul Begala started. "Those are some serious accusations…" Begala didn't get a chance to finish, before Josh jumped in, annoyance flashing in his eyes.
"Them's fightin' words." Josh mocked. "Don't you think you should work within the beltway for more than 5 minutes before you start throwing around allegations like that?"
"Mr. Lyman. Sane people think your healthcare legislation is worthless and a waste of time and democrats are questioning your influence. Can you really do what you say you're going to do?" Juliana said calmly, flashing a challenge with the questioning look in her eyes. All four were silent for a moment, while cheers and shouts of support rang out from the crowd. Finally, Tucker Carlson broke the hush.
"Well, we've run out of time for this discussion. Next on Crossfire, stay tuned to find out why congressman are exchanging fashion tips like they're sharing national security secrets." Tucker flashed a momentary smile into the camera, turning back around when they had cut to commercial. "Well, guys. You were really entertaining. I guess it's a good thing I didn't want to talk."
Juliana and Josh both exited the stage. They walked through the corridors. Josh paused to sign an autograph and Juliana breezed past him.
"Hey!" Josh called out to Juliana outside on the streets of GW University. "Is this some kind of game for you? You work here for what, a day, and you're ready to take down the system?"
"Wow, Josh. You've promoted me. A minute ago I had only been working here for 5 minutes."
Josh glowered at Juliana. His expression changed to a smirk as he swaggered over to where she stopped.
"You can't just waltz in, throw around accusations and expect to play with the big boys. We play for keeps around here." Josh said, shoving his hands deep into his pockets and smiling at Juliana.
"Okay, that really didn't make a lot of sense, but I'll let it slide this time. Do you really have something you want to say to me?" Juliana paused for a moment and stared at Josh. "Yeah. I didn't think so. If you want to talk more, make an appointment. You'll know where to find me."
Juliana spun around and began to walk away. Soon she had disappeared into the mixture of people walking up and down the street. Josh simply shook his head and swaggered off towards the white house.
5