Reps. Eric Cantor (R-VA; 47 years old), Paul Ryan (R-WI; 40 years old), and Kevin McCarthy (R-CA; 45 years old) have authored a self-aggrandizing new book set to be released next month titled “Young Guns: A New Generation of Conservative Leaders.”
The book’s marketing campaign comes with a comical ad trailer, featuring a lofty soundtrack and soaring accolades (“They are ready to make history. Together, they are ‘The YOUNG GUNS!’ Innovative, energetic, forging new solutions.”) Watch it here.
All the egotistical self-praise from the “young guns” was too much for former Republican congressman and MSNBC host Joe Scarborough. This morning, he and his crew incessantly mocked the new marketing campaign, debating whether it was a “parody.” “Never make up your own nickname,” cautioned co-host Willie Geist. Scarborough joked that the three congressmen “were” the future of the Party until their latest ego trip. Calling the ad “awful,” Scarbrough said it was “the worst idea ever.” Watch it:
Hotline reports that House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH) receives only 3 mentions in 191 pages. Former President George W. Bush “earns just 4 references, the same number as TN 08 candidate Stephen Fincher (R).”
Another challenge posed by the rollout is that Cantor has thus far been unwilling to publicly embrace his co-author Ryan’s budget roadmap, which is included in the book.
Recall, Ryan’s “roadmap” includes privatizing Social Security and Medicare, while at the same time repealing the estate and corporate taxes. The Ryan roadmap would lose $2 trillion over a decade, while requiring 90 percent of taxpayers to pay more, according to an analysis by the Citizens for Tax Justice.
On repeated occasions, including in recent interviews with Laura Ingraham and the National Review, Cantor has been asked directly whether he’d be willing to endorse the Ryan roadmap, and he has pointedly refused to do so. Apparently, the “young guns” are having some growing pains.
Update
The Huffington Post’s Amanda Terkel notes some Republican candidates who are endorsing Ryan’s radical budget plan.
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