Nets Hope Cindy McCain ‘Giving Cover’ for Republicans to Back Biden

September 23rd, 2020 12:36 PM

On Wednesday, all three network morning shows one again did the bidding of the Biden campaign by bringing on the widow of the late Republican Senator John McCain, Cindy McCain, to announce her endorsement of the Democratic presidential nominee. Not only was Mrs. McCain treated to gushing interviews, but the leftist media hosts actively urged her to lecture “fellow Republicans” on the need to back Biden.

As CBS This Morning welcomed McCain on the broadcast in the 8:00 a.m. ET hour, co-host and Democratic Party donor Gayle King offered this fawning introduction:

Cindy McCain, wife of late Republican Senator John McCain, is endorsing Joe Biden for president. In a tweet she wrote this: "We are Republicans, yes, but Americans foremost. There is only one candidate in this race who stands up for our values as a nation, and that is Joe Biden." The last time Cindy McCain voted for a Democrat she was 18 years old. Cindy McCain joins us.

 

 

Moments later, the anchor invited McCain to scold the GOP for daring to support the incumbent Republican president: “What concerns you most about the state of the Republican Party?” McCain replied: “Well, I think a lot of people like me and others, they’re suburban women, are kind of misled a little bit and kind of sad about what – the direction the Republican Party is going.”

Minutes later, fellow co-host Tony Dokoupil hoped McCain’s Biden advocacy would rub off on her “fellow Republicans”:

Your late husband had a reputation for sometimes taking a stand and, thereby, giving cover for other Republicans who wanted to take a stand with him. You're now taking a stand as a private citizen, as a voter. Do you think that your endorsement will give cover to other Republicans, in particular Republican women who want to take the same vote you are?

McCain eagerly declared: “Well, I hope so. I hope that – that women particularly take a look at what’s going on and the fact that I have stepped forward and decided to do this.”

Wrapping up the DNC infomercial, King wondered: “Your message to Republicans as we get ready to head to the polls is what?” McCain proclaimed: “Come with me. Let’s vote for Joe Biden.”

During an earlier 7:00 a.m. ET hour interview with McCain on NBC’s Today show, co-host Savannah Guthrie imagined the Biden campaign surrogate must “disappointed” with Republicans who support President Trump:

I have to ask you, Mrs. McCain, you know, are you disappointed in fellow Republicans? I keep thinking of Lindsey Graham. You – he and your husband were inseparable for a period of time there and he has certainly become an ardent Trump – and vocal Trump supporter. Are you disappointed about that and other establishment Republicans?

McCain actually rejected that notion: “No. Lindsey is an old and very dear friend and I will always love him. And you know, he’s just – he’s like a member of my family. Republicans that are – that believe and are doing what they’re doing, it’s certainly their prerogative to do so.”

Talking to McCain on ABC’s Good Morning America, Democratic operative George Stephanopoulos helped her attack Trump: “What does it mean that the President doesn’t have your back?”

Later in the exchange, he asked: “Are you going to be out there actively campaigning?” McCain assured him: “Yes. Yes, of course. I’m going to do as much as I can. I’m hoping that I can convince suburban women who are kind of on the fence about things to come with me on this and step out of their comfort zone, and join team Biden...”

Cindy McCain endorsing Joe Biden was not exactly earth-shattering news given the bad blood between Trump and her late husband, but when the Democrats and the Biden campaign want a story pushed, the compliant left-wing press always make sure to follow orders.

The blatant Biden support on CBS was brought to viewers by Amazon, to NBC viewers by Verizon, and to ABC viewers by Target. You can fight back by letting these advertisers know what you think of them sponsoring such content.

Here is a full transcript of the September 23 interview on CBS This Morning:

8:04 AM ET

GAYLE KING:  Cindy McCain, wife of late Republican Senator John McCain, is endorsing Joe Biden for president. In a tweet she wrote this: "We are Republicans, yes, but Americans foremost. There is only one candidate in this race who stands up for our values as a nation, and that is Joe Biden." The last time Cindy McCain voted for a Democrat she was 18 years old. Cindy McCain joins us. Good to see you, Mrs. McCain.

CINDY MCCAIN: How are you? Thanks for having me.

KING: Well, your endorsement has a lot of people talking today. Was this a tough decision for you to make?

MCCAIN: No, not particularly tough. But I did — I thought it through, and I watched the -- obviously I've been watching the campaigns, both campaigns very closely. And at this time, in this time of crises, in a country in such turmoil on every level, I just felt it was the right thing to know. I've known Joe for 40 years, Joe and Jill for 40 years. I'm just so pleased and honored to be part of the campaign. What I report from my country is the same thing everybody wants. I want a president who has my back, a president that will respect our troops, and a president that's — that is willing to listen and talk to both sides. And I think we see that in Joe Biden.

KING: It's interesting because Donald Trump will say that he does all that. That he respects the troops, that he wants America first. What concerns you most about the state of the Republican Party?

MCCAIN: Well, I think a lot of people like me and others, they're suburban women, are kind of misled a little bit and kind of sad about what —  the direction the Republican Party is going. You know, I will always be a Republican. I'm not changing my registration or anything like that. But right now, I believe that the person in the race that's the best one that represents me is Joe Biden.

KING: I know you all are longtime friends. It was no secret the friendship, the admiration and respect that your husband and Joe Biden had for each other. Did he reach out to you and ask for your endorsement? Or did you reach out to him? What was your decision making process?

MCCAIN: No —  I just —  my decision making process was this is the right thing. This is what I should be doing, and this is to help the country. No, Joe did not reach out to me. I reached out to him and told him that I wanted to do this. I think the things that I've seen through the months like many people have is a lack of character, integrity, a lack of values presented by —  by the person who is in charge.

TONY DOKOUPIL: Mrs. McCain, it's Tony Dokoupil here. Your late husband had a reputation for sometimes taking a stand and, thereby, giving cover for other Republicans who wanted to take a stand with him. You're now taking a stand as a private citizen, as a voter. Do you think that your endorsement will give cover to other Republicans, in particular Republican women who want to take the same vote you are?

MCCAIN: Well, I hope so. I hope that —  that women particularly take a look at what's going on and the fact that I have stepped forward and decided to do this. I hope they will maybe take a different look and take a harder look at the race and perhaps step over the line the way I did. It's not about a party or a particular system. It's about our country. Our country is in such a crisis right now. We need a strong person at the helm.

KING: You know, the President has made no secret of the fact of how he felt about your husband. How did your husband feel about Donald Trump?

MCCAIN: Oh, gosh. You know, he —  he respects the office of the presidency, and that's always, you know, as someone who was in the military and then went into the Senate, he believed in -- - he just believed in what was right for the country. So personalities never came into it. John was always one that put country first.

KING: Country first. We're all mourning the loss of Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Your husband voted for Ruth Bader Ginsburg, both your husband and RBG, as she's known, were known to reach across the aisle, even though they may disagree. What would John McCain think and do during the times we're living in now?

MCCAIN: Oh, gosh. I —  that's hard to anticipate or even understand. I would hope that John would have been as equally caring about this race, I'm sure he would have been, and understand that also someone who always put America first would do the same thing. I can say those things and really what I really mean to say is I miss him very much.

KING: Yeah.

DOKOUPIL: Yeah. Mrs. McCain, it's Tony Dokoupil again. I want to interject here just to point out something, that sometimes it's important what a person says but also what a person is not saying. And as I hear you voicing your support for former Vice President Joe Biden, I do not hear you even mentioning the name of current President Donald Trump. Is that a conscious decision to talk positively about the candidate you support rather than negatively about the one you don't?

MCCAIN: I'm on Team Biden, and that's where I am now. And my — what I'm doing is what -- as I said before, what I believe is right for the country.

KING: All right. Your message to Republicans as we get ready to head to the polls is what?

MCCAIN: Come with me. Let's vote for Joe Biden. Our country needs a new beginning. We need someone with character, integrity, and empathy, as well. And so I hope you will join me in voting for a man I think would be a marvelous president.

KING: Are you worried about repercussions? I know we got to go —  from the president? When he feels people are not on his side, especially members of his own party? He tends to lash out. Are you concerned about any of that?

MCCAIN: No, not at all. I'm doing what I think is right.

KING: All right, Cindy McCain. Thank you so much. Really good to see you this morning.

Here is a transcript of the questions to McCain on NBC’s Today show:

7:09 AM ET

SAVANNAH GUTHRIE: And Cindy McCain is with us now from Phoenix. Mrs. McCain, good morning to you. I know it’s early there. So let’s pick it up right there. I mean, you’re a life-long Republican, you’ve made it clear you still are, and here you are endorsing Joe Biden. You’re a prominent voice in a state that could be decisive. What led you to this decision?

(...)

7:10 AM ET

GUTHRIE: You took part in that video at the Democratic Convention. You stopped short of endorsing. Since then, events have happened, there’s an article in The Atlantic that asserted that the President made disparaging remarks about military members, people who serve, you’re a military mom. Was that the last straw?

(...)

7:12 AM ET

GUTHRIE: Mrs. McCain, we just heard the Trump campaign saying, “Look, you didn’t support us in 2016.” There is a long history of bad blood here. What do you say to those who might just dismiss this as a continued clash of personalities or maybe even a bit of revenge on your part?

CINDY MCCAIN: That’s their opinion. I’m here because I believe in what’s right for this country. I believe that what we need to do is stand up and we should show a little bit of courage and step across the line and vote for Joe Biden.

(...)

7:13 AM ET

GUTHRIE: I have to ask you, Mrs. McCain, you know, are you disappointed in fellow Republicans? I keep thinking of Lindsey Graham. You – he and your husband were inseparable for a period of time there and he has certainly become an ardent Trump – and vocal Trump supporter. Are you disappointed about that and other establishment Republicans?

MCCAIN: No. Lindsey is an old and very dear friend and I will always love him. And you know, he’s just – he’s like a member of my family. Republicans that are – that believe and are doing what they’re doing, it’s certainly their prerogative to do so. I just believe that I think things should be different, so we just have a difference of opinion and that’s not a bad thing in this country and it should be respected. But in my opinion, I believe that Joe Biden is the better man and will make the better president.

GUTHRIE: Well, anyone who knows you, Mrs. McCain, knows that you are your own person and always have been, but I can’t help but wonder, what do you think your husband, the maverick, would have thought about this?

(...)

7:14 AM ET

GUTHRIE: Cindy McCain, it’s good to have your thoughts this morning. Thank you very much, we appreciate it.

MCCAIN: Thank you for having me, I appreciate it.

(...)

Here is a transcript of the questions to McCain on ABC’s GMA:

7:41 AM ET

GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: Back now with Cindy McCain, widow of Senator John McCain. Last night she became the latest prominent Republican to endorse Joe Biden for president. She joins us now. Mrs. McCain, thank you for joining us this morning.

CINDY MCCAIN: Thank you for having me.

STEPHANOPOULOS: I know you were reluctant to get involved in the presidential campaign. Last year, you said you didn’t expect to get involved or to endorse a candidate. So what moved you to change your mind?

(...)

7:42 AM ET

STEPHANOPOULOS: What does it mean that the President doesn’t have your back?

(...)

STEPHANOPOULOS: You’ve been a loyal Republican for an awful long time. Even though your good friends with Joe Biden and his family, you must disagree with him on lots of issues?

(...)

7:43 AM ET

STEPHANOPOULOS: I know you’ve also been concerned by the comments attributed to President Trump in that Atlantic article about the military last week. Of course, he made very public comments about your husband time and time again. What role did that play in all of this?

(...)

7:44 AM ET

STEPHANOPOULOS: As you might imagine, this has drawn a response from President Trump just minutes ago, it’s just coming in right now, he sent out a tweet. He said, “never a fan of John, Cindy can have sleepy Joe.” Your response?

MCCAIN: I don’t have any.

STEPHANOPOULOS: So we have 41 days to go until the final votes are cast on November 3rd. Are you going to be out there actively campaigning?

MCCAIN: Yes. Yes, of course. I’m going to do as much as I can. I’m hoping that I can convince suburban women who are kind of on the fence about things to come with me on this and step out of their comfort zone, and join team Biden and vote a man in who would be not only a marvelous president who shows the character, the integrity, the values and the wherewithal to be president.

STEPHANOPOULOS: Mrs. McCain, thank you very much for joining us this morning.

MCCAIN: Thank you.