On ABC's The View on Tuesday, Sunny Hostin touted a New York Times op-ed inaccurately titled "We Are Republicans, And We Want Trump Defeated." The authors were George Conway, Steve Schmidt, John Weaver, and Rick Wilson. Jordan Schachtel tweeted links to show the first three all ceremoniously left the Republican fold over Trump.
Hostin strangely complained that Republicans like Mitch McConnell have made up their mind on impeachment already -- strange because Democrats in the Senate (especially the ones running for president) already made promises to impeach Trump. Then she touted the "Republicans" against Trump.
HOSTIN: There was a New York [Times] op-ed that came out this morning. written by four Republicans, and I thought it was fascinating because they say 'The president and his enablers have replaced conservatism with an empty faith led by a bogus prophet.' And the Republicans were Steve Schmidt, I think he worked on your father's campaign --
McCAIN: That's a very touchy subject, we're trying to have a good day today.
HOSTIN: John Weaver --
McCAIN: That's also a touchy subject.
HOSTIN: -- who also worked on your father's campaign, and your father's campaign [to Abby Huntsman] --
McCAIN: They were notoriously fired from both our dads' campaigns, but okay. [Weaver was.]
HUNTSMAN: Let's not go there. Let's not go there.
Whoopi Goldberg then broke in to stop McCain and Huntsman from cluttering Hostin's point. Both protested there was a deeper story, not just one about Trump. But Hostin continued:
HOSTIN: So what I thought was very interesting what they were saying was that... they're saying some of the congressional Republicans have "embraced and copied Mr. Trump’s cruelty and defended and even adopted his corruption," and adopted his corruption" and they're hoping -- they're not optimistic -- that some of the Republicans sitting as jurors in a likely Senate impeachment trial will rise the occasion. And that is actually my hope, that they rise to the occasion of the Constitution and do the right thing [remove Trump].
McCain took exception to Schmidt and Weaver as moralists:
McCAIN: I wouldn't put in that category but the middle two and three, I have ethical questions to ask them as well. So I think for conservatives as myself, when you're using examples of people who no matter what -- I believe Steve Schmidt notoriously worked for my dad but won't vote for him because of Sarah Palin. So when you have --
HOSTIN And also worked for George Bush, and Schwarzenegger.
McCAIN: I know him well. I know him well, Sunny! I know him well... I understand what you're saying, Whoopi, about if you're not politically in tune, it doesn't make sense. But for most conservatives, when you say these names, George Conway, bells start ringing, that these aren't reliable actors for people to trust.
JOY BEHAR: Steve Schmidt, I love him.
McCAIN: Of course you love Steve Schmidt, you're Joy Behar.
BEHAR: I think he's brilliant. He's so eloquent and brilliant on what he says.
McCAIN: Again, today of all days, I didn't think today I would have to relitigate very painful memories from my deceased father's campaign, but if you would like to do that, we can.
This last comment referred to McCain and Goldberg burying the hatchet over Goldberg telling McCain to shut her mouth on Monday.
