Former Republican strategist Steve Schmidt, now an adviser to Howard Schultz, blasted progressive policies on MSNBC's "Deadline With Nicolle Wallace" on Wednesday, saying they are as "dishonest" as President Donald Trump's promise that Mexico will pay for a wall on the southern border.
Schmidt, an outspoken and frequent critic of Trump, compared policies pushed by progressives like tuition-free college, a 70-percent marginal tax rate, and guaranteed jobs to Trump's promise of a border wall paid for by Mexico.
"I think there is a real lack of imagination on the part of Democrats that Trump can get reelected," Schmidt said. "The idea that every Democrat wins, that there is an appetite for 70-percent tax rates, which have been bandied about. This idea that there will be free college, free daycare, there will be student loan forgiveness—"
"I think the Democrats are actually very aware of the possibility that none of them could win," Bustle contributing editor Alicia Menendez interjected.
"Guaranteed jobs for everybody. That stuff is as dishonest as Trump's wall paid for by Mexico," Schmidt continued, unfazed by the interruption.
"If you want to fight Trumpism with a dishonest progressivism that is promising all sorts of fantasy programs, tough to win a dishonesty contest against Donald Trump," Schmidt added.
Schmidt was the chief strategist for John McCain's presidential campaign in 2008 but left the Republican Party in 2018 over his disgust with Trump. He has been a frequent guest on MSNBC, where he accused Trump of being a danger to the world and slammed Republicans for not standing up to the president.
Schultz, the former CEO of Starbucks, has been laying the groundwork for an independent bid for the White House. To help with his potential campaign, Schultz hired Schmidt and former Obama campaign spokesman Bill Burton. Democrats and liberal activists have expressed outrage at the prospect of Schultz launching an independent bid because they believe he would siphon Democratic voters and help reelect Trump.
Schultz is not the only one facing blowback. Former Obama officials have criticized Burton and resistance activists feel betrayed by Schmidt.
Schmidt said that Schultz would not run for president if he does not see a path to 270 electoral votes.