Newly obtained audio reveals Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) steeling his campaign volunteers to deal with the conservative backlash to his announcement that he would no longer endorse Donald Trump.
In the audio obtained by TPM, McCain warned volunteers that they will likely continue hearing from “angry” callers who are frustrated with his decision to walk away from the Republican nominee after a 2005 tape captured Trump talking about how he grabbed women by the genitals.
“He made a number of other comments and I always left it alone,” McCain said, noting that Trump had gone after a Gold Star family.
McCain’s remarks were made Wednesday at an event for volunteers in Phoenix, where early voting was getting underway.
McCain told volunteers that what bothered him about the Trump tape so much was not just the language itself.
“It wasn’t a comment. It was a statement about what he did,” McCain said. “I found that frankly something that I can’t support. I have a wife, I have daughters. I’m proud to serve in the Senate with outstanding women.”
McCain said without women he couldn’t have been elected to the U.S. Senate.
“All I can say is there are a lot of angry people out there, and you’re hearing from ’em on the phones and all I can do is tell ya that I have to examine my conscience,” McCain said.
The audio is illuminating as it shows how the senator came to his decision to abandon Trump after pledging in his primary that he was backing the nominee.
“I do what I believe is right. I am a loyal Republican, but I also have an obligation to the people of Arizona whether they’re Republican or Democratic or whatever,” McCain said. “So I know that you are going to get a lot of feedback on the phone about my decision, and all I can tell you my dear friends is there are times in my political life when I’ve done things for political reasons, I’ve always regretted it. When I’ve done things because they were the right thing to do, I’ve never regretted it.
The room applauded.
“I would be letting you down, I would be letting you down,” McCain told the volunteers.
Listen to the full audio:
Wow. He’s never cared before now. I wonder if his latest poll numbers have prompted this sudden concern about all of the citizens of Arizona, even the Democratic ones.
I believe him on this and it goes some way toward explaining his (to me) inexplicable shifts from being reasonable and bi-partisan to being very UNreasonable - sometimes not even rational! And I bet I can guess, very safely, one of the chief examples of something he did for political reasons … and deeply regretted. And well he should.
Or been born.
Jesus Freaking Christ, this guy has absolutely no political smarts. If he’d had half a clue, he would have publicly roasted Trump over a year ago when Trump sneered at McCain’s POW status during Vietnam. Say what you want about McCain’s overall military record and political stances since, but he did put himself in harm’s way in service to the country while Trump stayed safe back home due to an ingrown toenail or whatever the fuck it was. All McCain needed to do was take a clear and forthright position that Trump’s statement was a clear insult to all veterans—not just POWs—and that as a result he was never going to support him, period. Coming from a position of respect for the American military, I don’t think McCain would have suffered greatly overall. But his habitual waffling and refusal to stand up for not only himself but for all U.S. servicemen and women when he had the chance took his own legs out from under him.
There’s a very direct line from Sarah Palin to Donald Trump. It would be interesting to survey Trumpers to find out their degree of support for her. I’d be very surprised if the average Trumper wasn’t also a big fan of Palin. “Thank You Lord Jesus for President Trump” is pure Palin supporter.
An actual profile in courage. Not sure how it will impact him, but he can keep his integrity on this intact.
McCain has worked with Hillary and respects her. They may not agree, but their are old school politicians who understand democracy depends on dialogue and compromise.
Trump understands NONE of that or anything about how our democracy works. Good on ya John…just hope one of your Trumpster voters doesn’t go nuclear on someone. In this kind of climate, anything could happen in the next three plus weeks. Frightening times.