Last week Madison told of meeting and talking to Michael Steele on a 3 hour train ride. Steele gave him his card and said "call me." When he called he couldn't get past the gatekeeper. So in a fit of frustration he railed against all gatekeepers and how they prevent him from talking to the important people that he knows.
Here's the deal, Steele could have given him his cell phone number, he didn't.
He could have given him his home number, he didn't.
He could have given him his office private number, he didn't.
He could have given him his private secretary's number, he didn't.
Every telephone operator/clerk/secretary/gatekeeper has a list of people who their principal/manager/boss wants to or will talk too. They control the list and set policy.
So what is the message from Michael Steele to Joe Madison? Your not on my list!
So these gatekeepers don't deserve to be vilified, most are hard working and follow the instructions of their manager.
As an aside President Eisenhower was first 5kfmdto accept calls from citizens that came through the White House switchboard. Every president since, including Obama, periodically  allots a certain amount of time to talk to citizens. So if you call the White House you just may be lucky.