Juan Williams: Loss of Republican Senators Will Make GOP More Radical

Fox News political commentator Juan Williams appeared on a panel for Tuesday's "Good Morning America" to predict that a decrease of Republicans in the Senate could actually make the legislative body more contentious and that a "hard right" minority might be reined in by a defeated John McCain.

After mentioning the possible losses of Senators Elizabeth Dole of North Carolina, John Sununu of New Hampshire and Gordon Smith of Oregon, Williams asserted, "Those are moderate Republicans. And if they're gone, then, suddenly, you have a much more politicized and sort of, you know, antagonistic politics taking place in the Senate when people think, oh, this is an election where we have people coming to the middle." It's not clear who Williams is speaking of when he calls this an election about "coming to the middle." After all, Senator Barack Obama was the third most liberal senator in 2007. Secondly, John Sununu and Elizabeth Dole are not moderates. (The two have lifetime American Conservative Union Scores of 92 and 91, respectively.)

Williams later elaborated and predicted that John McCain, vanquished in the presidential race, could guard against radicals in the Senate. He claimed, "And I think John McCain, actually, you know, in that scenario that I described for you, where you have a hard right wing of the Republican Party, you know, in the Senate, he becomes a deal maker." According to Williams, McCain would do this because of his history of acting as a "icon of bipartisanship."

If Williams' scenario comes true, it will certainly be interesting to see if journalists who soured on McCain during his presidential run against Obama will reacquire their fondness for the Arizona senator.

Also on the panel, ABC reporter Cokie Roberts lauded the upside of an Obama victory: "But the other benefit is obviously a symbolic one that is a an important- an important symbol of an African-American being elected president in this country where race has been the sin staining America."

A partial transcript of the segment, which aired at 7:31am, follows:

CHRIS CUOMO: So, now, let's look at what this could mean. The perception of the potential upside and downside for each of these gentlemen if they win. When we look at Obama, what do you believe the perception is in terms of what the benefit could be and what the potential burden of a President Obama?

COKIE ROBERTS: The perception and the benefit obviously is change. I mean, that has been the mantra of this election. And that's what people seem to be quite ready for. But the other benefit is obviously a symbolic one that is a an important- an important symbol of an African-American being elected president in this country where race has been the sin staining America. And I think that that perception would certainly something that people would respond to.

CUOMO: And with McCain, what do we see there, Juan?

WILLIAMS: Well, I think it's all about leadership. And that's an issue or a theme that he tried to develop during the campaign. And it particularly applies to foreign policy. So, that you'd say in terms of that, you know, critical moment, 3:00 in the morning, who answers the phone. There's lots of people who would say, well, John McCain knows foreign policy. He's been around the block. He knows how Washington works. And in that sense, you have someone who would be a steady hand. And I think for lots of people, the downside would be, Chris, that John McCain can be a quick temper guy. And his ability to, maybe, fly off the handle, to get us int more conflict would be the downside of that administration.

CUOMO: And, Matt, what do you see?

DOWD: I think the interesting thing on either one of them getting elected, tomorrow morning they will be under immense pressure. Because I think the country will see them as the president because President Bush's job approval rating being so low. And the American public tuning him out. I actually think the first 100 days of the next administration, doesn't start on January 20th. It starts tomorrow morning. So, they're going to have to show immense movement on the economy. That's a pressure that no other candidate will have felt.

CUOMO: It's a unique time, obviously, because of the economy. It was interesting doing the research for this, the impact on the markets. What could this mean for the economy? Traditionally, the first year for all presidents, the Dow's been up 4.9 percent. For Democrats, actually up six percent. So, odd. But, these are unique times. And looking at it that way, coming out of the election, what could be the big surprise today, Cokie?

ROBERTS: The big surprise in terms of who-

CUOMO: Any way you want to look at it. Any surprise.

ROBERTS: Well, I think one surprise could be the Nebraska congressional district. We could have Nebraska casting a vote for a Democrat in this presidential race because they don't go winner-take-all.

CUOMO: Very interesting. Juan?

WILLIAMS: Well, I don't think it's a surprise. I think lots of people have said, you know what, the Democrats could gain control of the Senate. But what happens internally is going be a surprise. I think lots of the moderate Republicans are disappearing. People who are threatened today are people like John Sununu up in New Hampshire. You think of Gordon Smith out in Oregon. You think of people like Elizabeth Dole down in North Carolina. Those are moderate Republicans. And if they're gone, then, suddenly, you have a much more politicized and sort of, you know, antagonistic politics taking place in the Senate when people think, oh, this is an election where we have people coming to the middle.

CUOMO: Let me ask you a quick question to each of you to finish this. Start with you, Matt. If they lose, the two vice presidential candidates, what happens to each of them if they lose?

DOWD: Well, Joe Biden goes back to the Senate. Obviously, he's a pillar of the Senate. He's not going to ever run for president again. This is, sort of, his last time on the national stage in this way. So, he goes back to the Senate. And, you know, then discusses things with John McCain, as president. Sarah Palin, I think she's a big presence on the national stage because she's popular among part of the Republican base. I think she goes back to Alaska. She shows she can govern Alaska. And tries to expand her portfolio a little bit of substance. But she's going to be a player on the national stage.

CUOMO: If McCain loses, what does he do?

WILLIAMS: I think he goes back to the Senate. I don't think that he's going to retire. I don't think he's going to disappear into the Sedona, Arizona. Remember, Strom Thurmond was there to 100. And I think John McCain, actually, you know, in that scenario that I described for you, where you have a hard right wing of the Republican Party, you know, in the Senate, he becomes a deal maker. He's the guy that the Democrats have to go through. And he has a history of being that kind of, you know, icon of bipartisanship in the Senate.

CUOMO: And Obama, quickly?

ROBERTS: If Obama loses, he goes back to the Senate. But, he does not run for the presidency. This was his shot. And that's why he took it this year.