Designated Survivor (TV Series)

Suckers (2017)

Christopher Cousins: Senator Alan Rouse

Quotes 

• Tom Kirkman : My point is that this financial scam didn't just hit the rich. It wiped out hundreds of thousands of state employee pensions. $8 billion in savings, gone up in smoke.

  Senator Alan Rouse : You want me to support your pension bailout bill. But my party does not believe in bailouts. We believe in individual responsibility.

  Tom Kirkman : Until it's time to bail out Wall Street or the banks. Then the Republicans are all for it.

  Senator Alan Rouse : You have a sponsor for the bill. A Democratic sponsor.

  Tom Kirkman : We need bipartisan support to get it across the finish line. Come on, Alan. That's why we're here. Government exists to help people who can't help themselves.

  Senator Alan Rouse : That is not government, sir. That i-is charity.

  Tom Kirkman : Fine. Then I'll make a stipulation that the American people are suckers. Come on, how long have we been playing hockey together, three years? I've never even asked you to cross-check someone for me.

  Senator Alan Rouse : I understand. But, sir, this... this is a big ask.

  Tom Kirkman : Then don't do it for me. Do it for your own conscience. Barton Cushing's swindle is gonna cost the American people $31 billion. We're facing a potential run on the banks. Markets are teetering on free-fall. If we don't shore up consumer confidence, we might as well just jump head-first into the abyss.

  Senator Alan Rouse : I'll run it up the flagpole.

  Tom Kirkman : Thank you. I appreciate it.

• 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.

• Tom Kirkman : I was just explaining to Lyor and Emily how we're friends. And I have to be honest. When among friends, there is an expectation that what one says remains private.

  Senator Alan Rouse : I'm sorry if I violated that expectation.

  Tom Kirkman : Well, you did. And I need you to set the record straight.

  Senator Alan Rouse : Well, I'm sorry, sir. I didn't lie, so I can't issue a retraction.

  Tom Kirkman : I'm not asking you to. I just want you to provide the full context of our discussion. Which was me asking you to sign on to a bill that I thought would be helpful to the average American.

  Lyor Boone : An overture you portrayed as the President's contempt for average Americans.

  Tom Kirkman : Alan, I know you don't believe that, but I can't have the American people believing that, either.

• Senator Alan Rouse : You say you're not a politican, then you coerce me into backing a bill you know is anathema to my party.

  Tom Kirkman : [talking over each other]  Asking for your support is hardly coercion!

  Senator Alan Rouse : It is if the person asking is the President, sir. But more to the point, I have an obligation I owe to my constituents.

  Emily Rhodes : Which should include an obligation not to misrepresent the President's words.

  Senator Alan Rouse : I stood up to those words. My office received over 1,500 calls today thanking me for that. I cannot defend you, sir.

  Tom Kirkman : Senator, I'm not asking you for your defense. I'm asking you for your honesty. You're out there portraying me as an enemy of the people. That stops now!

  Senator Alan Rouse : With respect, sir, if you don't want to be the people's enemy, you need to start talking about them as if they were your friends. I'll see myself out.