Appearing as a panel member on Wednesday's The 11th Hour on MSNBC, presidential historian and former Newsweek editor-in-chief Jon Meacham took a whack at Donald Trump supporters as he asserted that Republicans have "Stockholm Syndrome" and have "sold their souls" in supporting Trump's election as president.
A bit earlier, fellow panel member and liberal columnist Connie Schultz suggested that the political debate over replacing Obamacare is causing "anxiety" in people that requires treatment from doctors -- a claim which host Brian Williams seemed to accept at face value.
As Williams hosted three Pulitzer Prize-winning liberals to discuss Donald Trump Jr.'s meeting with a Russian lawyer about getting information on Hillary Clinton, and how Trump voters are reacting to the news, at one point Schultz recalled her recent experience talking to people at a hospital in Ohio. Schultz:
I had a loved one in the hospital recently, and so I was talking to a lot of medical providers and patients. There is such a heightened anxiety about what is going to happen to health care that seems to be overwhelming them. Doctors are telling me they're getting more patients coming in with anxiety and depression.
Referring to a poll finding that 85 percent of Republicans still approve of President Trump's job performance, Schultz continued:
So I don't know what to make of these Trump supporters, but I will tell you this, that I'm not going to sit here and mock them for their support. I wrote a column a few months ago saying I wish they would try to understand people like me who didn't vote for him, and a man made a really good point. He said, "You know what, lady, you get a forum every week in my newspaper, and nobody's listening to me." And I've been listening and learning a lot more since I got that letter.
Williams then turned to the Washington Post's Eugene Robinson and posed:
Eugene, imagine what the dynamic Connie's talking about -- an uptick in the need for health care because of the anxiety caused by the uncertain future of health care.
Later on, Williams revealed that Schultz is the wife of Oho Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown.
After the discussion went to Meacham, he declared that he would be more willing to "make fun of people who support Trump," leading fellow liberal Schultz to joke that he must not be "living with them clearly."
After recounting that he lives in solidly Republican Tennessee, Meacham continued:
But -- and not making fun -- but I do think that the Republican party right now -- the only way that I can explain that 85 percent, as a rational matter, is they have Stockholm Syndrome. They sold their souls in many ways for victory with this man who came in and swamped a field of very traditional candidates that included governors and Senators. And they are trapped in this really kind of tragic embrace.
After Meacham -- a recurring guest on MSNBC -- predicted that Trump's approval rating would have to go below 30 percent before Republicans would turn on him, Williams joked that he would give out his liberal guest's email address later.
Below is a transcript of relevant portions of the Wednesday, July 12, The 11th Hour with Brian Williams:
11:43 p.m. ET
CONNIE SCHULTZ, SYNDICATED COLUMNIST: Most of the anxiety I see in Ohio -- certainly there's a lot of conversation about Russia - but there is so much anxiety about health care. And that is everywhere. It's if I'm at the drug store, if I'm at the grocery store. I had a loved one in the hospital recently, and so I was talking to a lot of medical providers and patients. There is such a heightened anxiety about what is going to happen to health care that seems to be overwhelming them. Doctors are telling me they're getting more patients coming in with anxiety and depression.
So I don't know what to make of these Trump supporters, but I will tell you this, that I'm not going to sit here and mock them for their support. I wrote a column a few months ago saying I wish they would try to understand people like me who didn't vote for him, and a man made a really good point. He said, "You know what, lady, you get a forum every week in my newspaper, and nobody's listening to me." And I've been listening and learning a lot more since I got that letter.
BRIAN WILLIAMS: Eugene, imagine what the dynamic Connie's talking about -- an uptick in the need for health care because of the anxiety caused by the uncertain future of health care.
(...)
11:46 p.m. ET
JON MEACHAM, PRESIDENTIAL HISTORIAN: Connie said she didn't want to make fun of people who support Trump. I will. Just for a second.
SCHULTZ: You're not living with them, clearly.
MEACHAM: Well, no, I live in a state -- no, no, no, I live in a state where 92 out of 95 counties voted for Trump and 63 percent. But -- and not making fun -- but I do think that the Republican party right now -- the only way that I can explain that 85 percent, as a rational matter, is they have Stockholm Syndrome. They sold their souls in many ways for victory with this man who came in and swamped a field of very traditional candidates that included governors and Senators. And they are trapped in this really kind of tragic embrace.
In my mind, the answer to the question about the tipping point is there needs to be a two in front of his overall approval rating. And I think at that point people in that 85 percent may come down. But we live in two -- as you just said -- we live in two very different countries right now, and you only have to look at these poll numbers for data to support that.
BRIAN WILLIAMS: We're going to fit in a break. The panel is going to stay with us. When we come out -- when we come back, we'll give out Jon Meacham's email address. Just kidding.
