>> Announcer: "THIS WEEK" WITH GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS STARTS RIGHT NOW. >> Jonathan: PRINCIPLE OVER PARTY. >> NOT ONLY AM I NOT VOTING FOR DONALD TRUMP, BUT I WILL BE VOTING FOR KAMALA HARRIS.
>> Jonathan: LIZ CHENEY BACKS KAMALA HARRIS. >> DONALD TRUMP, IF HE IS RE-ELECTED, WILL BE FAR MORE DANGEROUS THAN WE HAVE EVER SEEN BEFORE. >> Jonathan: THE LATEST HIGH-PROFILE REPUBLICAN ENDORSEMENT FOR HARRIS, AND SHE GOT ANOTHER CHENEY ENDORSEMENT.
>> DICK CHENEY WILL BE VOTING FOR KAMALA HARRIS. >> Jonathan: THIS MORNING, WE'RE ONE-ON-ONE WITH LIZ CHENEY, ONLY ON "THIS WEEK. " >>> THE GREAT DEBATE.
>> THIS IS NOT 2016 OR 2020. THE STAKES ARE EVEN HIGHER THIS TIME. >> I THINK I PROBABLY HAVE WON BECAUSE OF DEBATING.
>> Jonathan: TRUMP AND HARRIS MEET FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME AT THE ABC PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE IN JUST TWO DAYS. >> SHE WANTS FOUR MORE YEARS TO ENFORCE A RADICAL LEFT AGENDA. >> DONALD TRUMP IS TRYING TO PULL US BACKWARD.
>> Jonathan: WHAT'S AT STAKE AND WHAT COULD UNFOLD. REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR SARAH SANDERS OF ARKANSAS JOINS US. >>> PLUS, CHRIS CHRISTIE AND DONNA BRAZILE AND OUR ABC DEBATE NIGHT COVERAGE TEAM.
>>> AND AS THE NFL SEASON KICKS OFF, A LOOK BACK AT U. S. PRESIDENTS AND AMERICA'S BIGGEST SPORT, INCLUDING THE TIME RONALD REAGAN AND JOHN LENNON MET ON "MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL.
" >> Jonathan: GOOD MORNING, AND WELCOME TO "THIS WEEK. " WE ARE JUST TWO DAYS AWAY FROM THE FIRST AND LIKELY ONLY DEBATE BETWEEN KAMALA HARRIS AND DONALD TRUMP RIGHT HERE ON ABC TUESDAY NIGHT. A DEBATE THAT COULD VERY WELL BE THE MOST CONSEQUENTIAL IN MODERN AMERICAN HISTORY WITH THE POSSIBLE EXCEPTION OF THE DEBATE IN JUNE THAT DOOMED JOE BIDEN'S RE-ELECTION CAMPAIGN.
"THIS WEEK" FEATURED ANOTHER EXTRAORDINARY MOMENT IN AMERICAN POLITICS. LIZ CHENEY AND HER FATHER, FORMER VICE PRESIDENT DICK CHENEY, LONG CONSIDERED AMONG THE MOST CONSERVATIVE AND PARTISAN REPUBLICANS IN THE LAND ANNOUNCED THAT THEY ARE ENDORSING KAMALA HARRIS FOR PRESIDENT. THE FORMER VICE PRESIDENT WAS ONCE VILIFIED BY DEMOCRATS LABELED AS A REAL LIFE DARTH VADER, BUT HIS STATEMENT ENDORSING HARRIS OFFERED AN ESPECIALLY HARSH VIEW OF DONALD TRUMP.
IN OUR NATION'S 248-YEAR HISTORY, DICK CHENEY WROTE, THERE HAS NEVER BEEN AN INDIVIDUAL WHO IS A GREATER THREAT TO OUR REPUBLIC THAN DONALD TRUMP. HE TRIED TO STEAL THE LAST ELECTION USING LIES AND VIOLENCE TO KEEP HIMSELF IN POWER AFTER THE VOTERS HAD REJECTED HIM. HE CAN NEVER BE TRUSTED WITH POWER AGAIN.
OF COURSE, THE CHENEYS ARE NOT ALONE. SOME OF THE MOST PROMINENT REPUBLICAN LEADERS OF THE LAST TWO DECADES HAVE ALSO DECLARED DONALD TRUMP UNFIT FOR OFFICE INCLUDING 2012 REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE, MITT ROMNEY, MEMBERS OF THE McCAIN FAMILY, THE FORMER SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE, PAUL RYAN, AND MIKE PENCE, DONALD TRUMP'S OWN VICE PRESIDENT, AND OVERNIGHT, WE LEARNED THAT FORMER PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH WILL NOT BE MAKING ANY ENDORSEMENT WHATSOEVER.
IN OTHER WORDS, THE ONLY LIVING FORMER REPUBLICAN PRESIDENT NOT NAMED TRUMP IS NOT SUPPORTING HIS PARTY'S PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE, BUT DESPITE ALL THAT, THE VAST MAJORITY OF REPUBLICAN VOTERS CONTINUE TO SUPPORT DONALD TRUMP. OUR LATEST ABC NEWS/IPSOS POLL FOUND THAT 93% -- 93% OF LIKELY REPUBLICAN VOTERS SUPPORT TRUMP OVER HARRIS. THAT'S ALMOST EXACTLY THE SHARE OF REPUBLICANS WHO VOTED FOR TRUMP FOUR YEARS AGO.
WILL THAT CHANGE? CAN KAMALA HARRIS WIN OVER REPUBLICANS LOOKING FOR AN ALTERNATIVE TO TRUMP? LIZ CHENEY JOINS ME NOW FOR HER FIRST TELEVISION INTERVIEW IN MONTHS.
WELCOME TO "THIS WEEK. " >> THANK YOU. GREAT TO BE WITH YOU, JON.
>> Jonathan: SO BOTTOM LINE, WHY DID YOU MAKE THIS DECISION TO SUPPORT HARRIS, AND WHY DID YOU DO IT NOW? >> YEAH. I, YOU KNOW, I HAVE BEEN VOTING FOR 40 YEARS.
MY FIRST VOTE I EVER CAST WAS FOR RONALD REAGAN IN 1984. I'VE NEVER VOTED FOR A DEMOCRAT. >> Jonathan: WOW.
>> AND IT TELLS YOU, I THINK, THE STAKES IN THIS ELECTION. YOU KNOW, DONALD TRUMP PRESENTS A CHALLENGE AND A THREAT FUNDAMENTALLY TO THE REPUBLIC. WE SEE IT ON A DAILY BASIS.
SOMEBODY WHO WAS WILLING TO USE VIOLENCE IN ORDER TO ATTEMPT TO SEIZE POWER, TO STAY IN POWER, SOMEONE WHO REPRESENTS UNRECOVERABLE CATASTROPHE FRANKLY IN MY VIEW, AND WE HAVE TO DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO ENSURE THAT HE DOESN'T -- THAT HE'S NOT RE-ELECTED. GIVEN HOW CLOSE THIS RACE IS IN MY VIEW, AGAIN, IT'S NOT ENOUGH. YOU HAVE MANY REPUBLICANS OUT THERE WHO ARE SAYING, WELL, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT GOING TO VOTE FOR HIM, BUT WE WILL -- WE WILL WRITE SOMEONE ELSE IN, AND I THINK THAT THIS TIME AROUND, THAT'S NOT ENOUGH, THAT IT'S IMPORTANT TO ACTUALLY CAST A VOTE FOR VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS.
>> Jonathan: I WANT TO GET TO THAT IN A MOMENT, BE YOU FIRST, YOU'VE MADE IT ABUNDANTLY CLEAR THAT YOU HAVE HAD POLICY DISAGREEMENTS WITH HARRIS. YOU STILL HAVE POLICY DISAGREEMENTS WITH HARRIS, BUT SHE HAS MODERATED HER POSITIONS ON A WHOLE RANGE OF ISSUES FROM WHERE SHE WAS JUST, YOU KNOW, JUST A FEW YEARS AGO. DID THOSE MODERATIONS AND THE EFFORTS TO PRESENT KIND OF A MODERATE FACE AT THE DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION, DID THAT MAKE THE DECISION TO ENDORSE HER EASIER?
>> YOU KNOW, THE -- I HAVE NEVER VIEWED THIS AS A POLICY ELECTION. >> Jonathan: RIGHT. >> BUT I THINK THAT IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT POINT.
IF YOU LOOK AT VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS' SPEECH FOR EXAMPLE, AT THE DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION, IT IS A SPEECH THAT RONALD REAGAN COULD HAVE GIVEN. IT IS A SPEECH THAT GEORGE BUSH COULD HAVE GIVEN. IT'S VERY MUCH AN EMBRACE AND AN UNDERSTANDING OF -- OF THE EXCEPTIONAL NATURE OF THIS GREAT NATION, A LOVE OF AMERICA, A RECOGNITION THAT AMERICA IS A SPECIAL PLACE, A RECOGNITION THAT WE ALL HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER TO ENSURE THAT, AND YOU CONTRAST TO ENSURE THAT WE MAINTAIN IT.
YOU CONTRAST THAT WITH WHAT WE HEAR FROM DONALD TRUMP, AGAIN, ON A DAILY BASIS, THAT AMERICA IS A FAILING NATION, THAT AMERICA IS A LAUGHING STOCK. THE TRASH TALKING OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA VERY MUCH IS PART OF THE MESSAGE THAT DONALD TRUMP IS PUSHING, AND SO AT THE END OF THE DAY, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO RECOGNIZE HE'S NOT A CONSERVATIVE. THE POLICIES THAT WE'RE SEEING HIM PUT FORWARD INCLUDING, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, ON AN ALMOST DAILY BASIS, THIS NOTION OF EMBRACING GLOBAL TARIFFS, THAT HE'S GOING TO IMPOSE 100%, 200% TARIFFS.
THAT IS FUNDAMENTALLY AN ANTI-CONSERVATIVE POLICY. IT'S ALSO A POLICY THAT I POINT OUT TO FRIENDS OF MINE WHO SAY, WELL, WE'RE GOING TO VOTE FOR HIM BECAUSE OF HIS ECONOMIC CONSERVATIVISM. IT WILL CHOKE OFF GLOBAL TRADE, WILL LIKELY LEAD US DOWN A PATH THAT WE'VE SEEN BEFORE, FOR EXAMPLE, IN THE 1930s, LEAD TO -- AT THAT POINT, IT WAS A DEPRESSION.
THE IMPORTANT THING FOR PEOPLE TO REMEMBER ABOUT SOMETHING LIKE THE TARIFFS THAT HE'S PROMISING, INCLUDING, YOU KNOW, IN ADDITION TO THE FACT THAT IT'S DISASTROUS POLICY, HE CAN DO IT ALONE. HE DOES NOT NEED CONGRESS IF HE WERE TO BE RE-ELECTED TO IMPOSE THOSE MASSIVE TARIFFS THAT WILL, IN FACT, KILL THE AMERICAN ECONOMY AND THE GLOBAL ECONOMY. >> Jonathan: IN FACT, HE DID SOME OF THAT WHEN HE WAS IN THE WHITE HOUSE LAST TIME.
>> HE'S PROMISING -- HE'S PROMISING FAR MORE. >> Jonathan: TO GO TO ANOTHER LEVEL. BEFORE I LEAVE HARRIS' POLICIES, BACK IN 2019 WHEN SHE WAS RUNNING FOR THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINATION, SHE TOOK A RANGE OF POSITIONS, MEDICARE FOR ALL.
SHE SUGGESTED SHE WOULD FAVOR ABOLISHING I. C. E.
, DECRIMINALIZING ILLEGAL BORDER CROSSINGS, A WHOLE RANGE OF ISSUES THAT SHE HAS APPARENTLY CHANGED. WOULD YOU STILL HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ENDORSE KAMALA HARRIS IF IT WAS THE KAMALA HARRIS OF 2019 AND 2020? >> LOOK.
I THINK THAT SHE HAS CHANGED IN A NUMBER OF VERY IMPORTANT WAYS ON ISSUES THAT MATTER, AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE INDEPENDENTS TO LOOK AT WHERE SHE IS ON THESE POLICY ISSUES TODAY. I WOULD ENCOURAGE INDEPENDENTS TO COMPARE WHERE SHE IS TODAY WITH DONALD TRUMP ON THESE ISSUES, AND SO I THINK FROM A POLICY PERSPECTIVE, IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE THE CHANGE, TO RECOGNIZE THAT SHE UNDERSTANDS THAT THIS ELECTION IS GOING TO REQUIRE A COALITION OF PEOPLE FROM ACROSS THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM SUPPORTING HER, AND THAT ALSO NECESSITATES AN UNDERSTANDING THAT YOU'VE GOT TO GOVERN FOR ALL OF THOSE PEOPLE, AND ON TOP OF ALL OF THAT, THE REPUBLICANS HAVE NOMINATED SOMEBODY WHO, YOU KNOW, IS DEPRAVED, SOMEBODY WHO SHOWS US EVERY DAY THAT, YOU KNOW, HE HAS TENDENCIES AND HE'S WILLING TO EMBRACE THINGS THAT ARE FUNDAMENTALLY A DANGER TO THIS NATION AND TO OUR CONSTITUTION. SO THE CHOICE IN MY VIEW IS NOT A CLOSE ONE.
>> Jonathan: BUT HAVE YOU SPOKEN TO HARRIS? >> I HAVE. >> Jonathan: AND CAN YOU TELL US ANYTHING ABOUT THAT CONVERSATION?
>> I'M NOT GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE DETAILS OF THE CONVERSATION, EXCEPT I WOULD JUST SAY THAT SHE HAS A FULL RECOGNITION AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE STAKES OF THIS RACE, AND OF THE IMPORTANCE OF REFLECTING THE BROAD COALITION THAT'S COMING TOGETHER TO SUPPORT HER. >> Jonathan: AND VOTING FOR HER TO STOP TRUMP, WHICH YOU MADE IT VERY CLEAR, IS PRIMARY MOTIVATION HERE. THAT'S ONE THING.
WHAT KIND OF PRESIDENT DO YOU THINK SHE WOULD BE? >> LOOK. I THINK, YOU KNOW, SHE HAS SHOWN US, AND YOU CAN WATCH AGAIN THROUGH THE CONVENTION.
YOU CAN WATCH IN TERMS OF THE LESSONS THAT SHE'S LEARNED AS VICE PRESIDENT, LISTEN TO HER TALK ABOUT HER VISION FOR THIS COUNTRY, HER VISION FOR THE FUTURE. I MEAN, WE -- WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT ECONOMIC POLICY, YOU KNOW, YOU LOOK AT NATIONAL SECURITY POLICY, AND AGAIN, THERE ARE CERTAINLY AREAS WHERE I DISAGREE WITH THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION'S NATIONAL SECURITY POLICY, WHERE I'VE DISAGREED WITH VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS' POSITION ON ISSUES, BUT WHEN IT COMES TO FUNDAMENTAL ALLIANCES, WHEN IT COMES TO THE IMPORTANCE OF NATO FOR EXAMPLE, AND HOW IMPORTANT IT IS FOR THE UNITED STATES TO LEAD IN THE WORLD, WE'VE SEEN IT -- A SEA CHANGE. WE NOW HAVE A REPUBLICAN PARTY THAT'S EMBRACING ISOLATIONISM, THAT IS EMBRACING PUTIN, THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'VE SEEN JUST IN THE LAST WEEK THE REPUBLICAN VICE PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE WILLING TO APPEAR, WILLING TO BE INTERVIEWED BY TUCKER CARLSON WHO IS PLATFORMING PRO-NAZIS, IS HIMSELF PLATFORMING NAZI PROPAGANDA.
THAT IS NOT THE PLATFORM OF RONALD REAGAN. I THINK IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT NATIONAL SECURITY ISSUES AND YOU CARE ABOUT AMERICA'S LEADERSHIP ROLE IN THE WORLD, A VOTE FOR VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS IS THE RIGHT VOTE TO MAKE THIS TIME AROUND. >> Jonathan: IT IS AN EXTRAORDINARY REORDERING OF THE WHOLE POLITICAL SYSTEMS WHEN IT COMES TO NATIONAL SECURITY.
WHO WOULD RONALD REAGAN BE SUPPORTING IN THIS RACE DO YOU THINK? >> THERE IS NO CHANCE HE WOULD BE SUPPORTING DONALD TRUMP. DONALD TRUMP DOESN'T STAND FOR ANY OF THE THINGS THAT RONALD REAGAN DID, AND IT'S ANOTHER PLACE THAT I WOULD URGE MY REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES BOTH IN THE CONGRESS, BUT ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO REALLY LOOK AT DONALD TRUMP'S POLICIES, TO REALLY LOOK AT THE DANGER THAT HE PRESENTS, TO LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, WHAT HE WAS WILLING TO DO TO STAY IN POWER.
IT'S A FIRM REJECTION NOT JUST OF TRADITIONAL REPUBLICAN POLICIES, BUT OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL ORDER ON WHICH THIS COUNTRY DEPENDS. >> Jonathan: SO WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THOSE REPUBLICANS, AND THERE ARE A LOT OF THEM THEY ARE ABSOLUTELY ADAMANT THEY'RE NOT SUPPORTING DONALD TRUMP, BUT THEY'RE NOT TAKING THE NEXT STEP. THEY'RE GOING TO WRITE SOMEBODY IN.
WE'VE HEARD THIS FROM MITT ROMNEY. WE'VE HEARD IT FROM MIKE PENCE AND LARRY HOGAN. WE'VE HEARD IT FROM A LOT OF REPUBLICANS WHO ARE CERTAINLY ANTI-TRUMP.
WHY ARE THEY WRONG IN NOT TAKING THE EXTRA STEP? >> WELL, I WOULD SAY, YOU KNOW, GIVEN THE CLOSENESS OF THIS ELECTION, PARTICULARLY IF YOU ARE GOING TO FIND YOURSELF VOTING IN A SWING STATE, YOU'VE GOT TO TAKE THE EXTRA STEP. IF YOU REALLY DO RECOGNIZE THE THREAT THAT DONALD TRUMP POSES, THEN -- THEN IT'S NOT ENOUGH TO SIMPLY SAY I'M NOT GOING TO VOTE FOR HIM.
I WOULD ALSO REMIND THEM, YOU KNOW WHAT? IT'S A SECRET BALLOT, SO I WOULD PREFER TO HAVE AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE OUT PUBLICLY MAKING THE CASE, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU JUST HAVE TO WRESTLE WITH YOUR OWN CONSCIENCE WHEN YOU'RE THERE IN THE VOTING BOOTH, AND I WOULD EXPECT THAT YOU WILL SEE FAR MORE REPUBLICANS AND INDEPENDENTS, YOU KNOW, WHEN THE TIME COMES AND THEY'VE GOT TO MAKE THAT DECISION, MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION. >> Jonathan: IT'S, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS A LOT OF TALK DURING THE PRIMARIES OF THE NIKKI HALEY VOTERS, AND SOME STATES SEEM LIKE EVEN WHEN SHE STOPPED RUNNING, ALMOST A THIRD OF REPUBLICAN VOTERS WERE LOOKING FOR AN ALTERNATIVE TO TRUMP AND VOTING FOR NIKKI HALEY.
SHE'S NOW SAYING THAT SHE IS, QUOTE, ON STANDBY TO CAMPAIGN FOR DONALD TRUMP TO HELP HIM GET RE-ELECTED. SHE'S ALSO OF COURSE, CALLED HIM UNHINGED, UNQUALIFIED TO BE PRESIDENT, DIMINISHED. WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF NIKKI HALEY'S POSITION ON THIS?
>> I MEAN, LOOK. I -- I CAN'T UNDERSTAND HER POSITION ON THIS IN ANY KIND OF A PRINCIPLED WAY. I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, THE THINGS THAT SHE SAID, THAT SHE MADE CLEAR WHEN SHE WAS RUNNING IN THE PRIMARY, THOSE THINGS ARE TRUE, AND AGAIN, YOU KNOW, WE ARE -- THOSE OF US WHO ARE CONSERVATIVE, THOSE OF US WHO BELIEVE IN FIDELITY TO THE CONSTITUTION, HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY AND HAVE A DUTY TO RECOGNIZE THIS IS NOT ABOUT PARTISAN POLITICS, AND THE COUNTRY IS GOING TO NEED TO REBUILD CONSERVATIVE -- TRUE CONSERVATIVE MOVEMENT WHEN WE'RE THROUGH THIS ELECTION CYCLE, BUT THIS NOVEMBER, CASTING A VOTE FOR DONALD TRUMP OR WRITING SOMEONE IN MEANS THAT YOU'VE MADE THE DECISION IN TOO MANY INSTANCES THAT SO MANY ELECTED REPUBLICANS HAVE MADE, WHICH IS TO ABANDON THE CONSTITUTION, TO TELL YOURSELF THAT THIS IS JUST SIMPLY, YOU KNOW, A PARTISAN CHOICE.
THAT'S NOT WHAT WE'RE FACING THIS TIME AROUND. >> Jonathan: BY THE WAY, ARE YOU STILL A REPUBLICAN? >> I'M A CONSERVATIVE.
>> Jonathan: HAVE YOU LEFT THE PARTY? REMEMBER -- WE SPOKE ABOUT THIS A WHILE AGO, AND YOU SAID IF TRUMP WERE THE NOMINEE, YOU WOULD NOT CONSIDER YOURSELF A REPUBLICAN. >> I'M CERTAINLY NOT A TRUMP REPUBLICAN.
I'M A CONSERVATIVE. I THINK THAT WHAT'S HAPPENED TO THE REPUBLICAN PARTY TODAY, YOU KNOW, IS INDEFENSIBLE, AND I HOPE TO BE ABLE TO REBUILD AS I SAID, AFTER THIS -- AFTER THIS CYCLE, BUT I ALSO THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US AS WE'RE THINKING ABOUT REBUILDING, AS WE'RE THINKING ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THE COUNTRY, TO RECOGNIZE THAT AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE VAST MAJORITY OF PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY WANT TO KNOW FUNDAMENTALLY THAT THEIR ELECTED OFFICIALS ARE GOING TO DEFEND THE PEACEFUL TRANSFER OF POWER, AND THAT THEY ARE GOING TO PUT THE CONSTITUTION FIRST, AND AS SOMEONE WHO, YOU KNOW, WHO HAS BEEN A LIFELONG REPUBLICAN, IT'S HEARTBREAKING TO ME TO SEE WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO SO MANY OF THE ELECTED OFFICIALS IN MY PARTY, AND I KNOW WE CAN DO BETTER. >> Jonathan: TRUMP HAS OBVIOUSLY MADE RETRIBUTION A THEME OF HIS CAMPAIGN AND HE'S TALKED ABOUT PROSECUTING YOU.
HE'S DONE IT A LOT. HE DID IT AGAIN AFTER YOU ENDORSED KAMALA HARRIS. ARE YOU WORRIED ABOUT WHAT WILL HAPPEN SPECIFICALLY TO YOU IF -- IF HE GETS ELECTED PRESIDENT AGAIN?
>> I DON'T THINK ABOUT IT IN THOSE TERMS. I THINK ABOUT IT IN TERMS OF WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TO OUR COUNTRY, AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT PERSONAL FROM MY PERSPECTIVE WITH ONE EXCEPTION, AND THAT IS THAT I'M A MOTHER. I'M THE MOTHER OF FIVE KIDS, AND IT IS PERSONAL TO ME THAT MY CHILDREN GROW UP IN A COUNTRY WHERE THEY KNOW THEY CAN DEPEND ON THE PEACEFUL TRANSFER OF POWER, THAT THEY GROW UP IN A COUNTRY WHERE THEIR ELECTED OFFICIALS PUT FIDELITY OF THE CONSTITUTION FIRST.
THAT'S HOW IT'S PERSONAL TO ME. IT'S PERSONAL TO ME WHEN I -- WHEN I LISTEN TO, YOU KNOW, FELLOW REPUBLICANS IN THE PAST SAY THINGS TO ME LIKE, WELL, IT'S FINE. THERE ARE GUARDRAILS, YOU KNOW, HE CAN'T DO THAT MUCH DAMAGE.
IT'S JUST SIMPLY NOT TRUE. THAT -- >> Jonathan: I MEAN ON THOSE GUARDRAILS, SUPREME COURT HAS ISSUED ITS IMMUNITY DECISION DECLARING ESSENTIALLY THAT A PRESIDENT HAS IMMUNITY FOR ANYTHING THAT PRESIDENT MAY DO, VIRTUALLY ANYTHING THAT CAN BE IN ANY WAY DEFINED AS AN OFFICIAL ACT. HOW DOES THAT IMMUNITY DECISION BY THE SUPREME COURT -- WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO THE POSSIBILITY OF A SECOND TRUMP ADMINISTRATION?
>> WELL, IT OBVIOUSLY MAKES THE DANGER EVEN GREATER, BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT DONALD TRUMP WOULD BE ABLE TO DO WITH THE LEVERS OF POWER, THE EXTENT TO WHICH HE'S ALREADY SAID HE WILL NOT ABIDE BY THE RULINGS OF THE COURTS, YOU KNOW, OUR COURTS CAN'T ENFORCE THEIR OWN RULINGS. IF THE PRESIDENT WON'T ABIDE BY THE RULING OF THE COURTS, THE RULE OF LAW DISINTEGRATES IMMEDIATELY. HE'S MADE CLEAR THAT HE WILL, FOR EXAMPLE, PARDON THE JANUARY 6th RIOTERS, AND IF YOU THINK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE REPUBLICAN PARTY -- THIS IS ANOTHER POINT WHERE THEY'RE PRESENTING THEMSELVES NOW AS THE PARTY OF LAW AND ORDER.
YOU KNOW, DONALD TRUMP SAT FOR HOURS AND WATCHED PEOPLE IN HIS NAME, BRUTALIZE THE POLICE OFFICERS, LAW ENFORCEMENT AT THE UNITED STATES CAPITOL. HE SAT FOR HOURS AND WATCHED ON TELEVISION AND IGNORED THE PLEAS OF HIS FAMILY AND OTHERS SAYING, YOU HAVE TO TELL THE MOB TO GO HOME. SO THIS IS NOT A PRESIDENT WHO BELIEVES IN THE RULE OF LAW.
THIS IS A PRESIDENT WHO WILL USE VIOLENCE TO ACHIEVE HIS OWN ENDS, AND I THINK THAT THE -- THE POTENTIAL OF THE DAMAGE THAT HE COULD DO WERE HE ELECTED AGAIN IS SIGNIFICANT. IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER ON JANUARY 6th THE PERSON WHO PERHAPS PLAYED THE MOST -- THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT ROLE IN ADDITION TO THE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS WHO PHYSICALLY FOUGHT WAS VICE PRESIDENT PENCE BECAUSE HE REFUSED TO DO WHAT DONALD TRUMP WAS TELLING HIM TO DO, ILLEGALLY AND UNCONSTITUTIONALLY THROW OUT VOTES. JD VANCE WHO DONALD TRUMP HAS PICKED TO BE HIS VICE PRESIDENTIAL RUNNING MATE, HAS SAID SPECIFICALLY THAT HE WOULD, IN FACT, DO THAT, THAT HE WOULD PUT DONALD TRUMP'S ORDERS AND INSTRUCTIONS AHEAD OF THE CONSTITUTION, AND IT IS HARD TO IMAGINE A MUCH GRAVER DANGER THAN A PRESIDENT AND A VICE PRESIDENT WHO WILL PUT THEMSELVES ABOVE THE CONSTITUTION.
>> Jonathan: DO YOU THINK HE'LL EVER BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR WHAT HAPPENED ON JANUARY 6th? >> I THINK NUMBER ONE, IT IS UP TO US, THE VOTERS TO HOLD HIM ACCOUNTABLE IN NOVEMBER, NOT TO RE-ELECT SOMEONE WHO DID WHAT HE DID. NUMBER TWO, I THINK THAT PEOPLE NEED TO LOOK AT WHAT HE ARGUES AND WHAT HIS LAWYERS ARE ARGUING IN COURT AND THE JANUARY 6th CASE IN PARTICULAR, WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, TRYING AT EVERY MOMENT TO SUPPRESS THAT EVIDENCE.
THE SELECT COMMITTEE PUT ON A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF EVIDENCE, AVAILABLE PUBLICLY -- >> Jonathan: THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF PAGES OF TRANSCRIPTS AND DOCUMENTS. >> THAT DONALD TRUMP HAS HAD FOR, YOU KNOW, YEARS NOW, AND THE SPECIAL COUNSEL HAS, YOU KNOW, COME UP WITH EVEN MORE, DEVELOPED EVEN ADDITIONAL EVIDENCE, TESTIFIED IN FRONT OF A GRAND JURY BY THOSE WHO ARE THE MOST SENIOR LEADERS. THE AMERICAN PEOPLE DESERVE TO HEAR THAT EVIDENCE, AND DONALD TRUMP IS DOING EVERYTHING HE CAN TO PREVENT IT BECAUSE HE KNOWS THAT THOSE SENIOR OFFICIALS SAID.
HE'S SEEN THE EVIDENCE AND THE TESTIMONY. THE AMERICAN PEOPLE DESERVE TO SEE IT, BUT ULTIMATELY, WE HAVE TO HOLD HIM RESPONSIBLE AND ACCOUNTABLE, AND WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE HE'S NEVER IN A POSITION OF POWER AGAIN. >> Jonathan: LIZ CHENEY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US LIVE HERE ON "THIS WEEK.
" >> GREAT TO BE WITH YOU. THANK YOU. >> Jonathan: COMING UP, SHE SERVED AUSTRALIA DONALD TRUMP'S VOICE AT THE WHITE HOUSE.
WE'LL TALK TO SARAH HUCKABEE SANDERS ABOUT WHAT THE FORMER PRESIDENT IS DOING TO PREPARE FOR TUESDAY'S DEBATE. WE'LL ALSO ASK HER TO RESPOND TO WHAT LIZ CHENEY JUST SAID. WE'RE BACK IN TWO MINUTES.
>>> SHE'S IN PENNSYLVANIA, AND SHE'S PRACTICING FOR THE DEBATE. SHE'S LOCKED HERSELF IN A ROOM. SHE'S GOT A LOT TO LEARN.
SHE SHOULDN'T EVEN GO TO THE DEBATE. SHE SHOULD GO BACK TO WASHINGTON, D. C.
AND FIX ALL THE THINGS SHE'S COMPLAINING ABOUT. >> ARE YOU PREPARED TO DEBATE DONALD TRUMP? >> YES, I AM.
>> WHAT'S THE ONE THING YOU WANT TO GET ACROSS? >> WELL, THERE'S A LOT, BUT LOOK. IT'S TIME TO TURN THE PAGE ON THE DIVISIVENESS.
IT'S TIME TO BRING OUR COUNTRY TOGETHER. >> Jonathan: THAT WAS DONALD TRUMP AND KAMALA HARRIS ON THIS WEEK'S DEBATE. ARKANSAS' GOVERNOR SARAH SANDERS JOINS ME NOW.
GOVERNOR SANDERS, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, AND I -- PEOPLE MAY NOT REALIZE THIS, BUT AS I UNDERSTAND IT, YOU ACTUALLY PLAYED KAMALA HARRIS IN THE DEBATE PREP FOR THE VICE PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE FOUR YEARS AGO. ISN'T THAT RIGHT? >> I DID.
IT'S BEEN QUITE A WHILE AND I ALMOST FORGOT I HAD THAT ROLE AND PARTICIPATED, BUT, YOU KNOW, IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO GET IN THAT MINDSET, BUT I WAS GLAD TO BE HELPFUL IN THE PROCESS AND GLAD TO SEE THIS DEBATE FINALLY TAKE PLACE AND SEE THIS MATCHUP BETWEEN DONALD TRUMP AND KAMALA HARRIS. I THINK IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE TO SEE THE BIG CONTRAST THAT EXISTS BETWEEN THESE TWO CANDIDATES. >> Jonathan: AND I WANT TO GET TO WHAT LIZ CHENEY HAD TO SAY AND HER ENDORSEMENT, BUT BEFORE I GET TO, THAT ON THE DEBATE, WHAT DO YOU THINK THE STAKES ARE?
HOW IMPORTANT IS THIS FOR FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP? >> WELL, I THINK IT'S ACTUALLY MORE IMPORTANT FOR VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS, SOMEBODY WHO DOESN'T SPEAK TO THE MEDIA, DOESN'T TAKE QUESTIONS. IN FACT, AT THE END OF THIS INTERVIEW, JON, I WILL HAVE DONE MORE INTERVIEWS DURING THIS ELECTION CYCLE THAN SHE HAS SINCE BECOMING THE DEMOCRAT NOMINEE FOR PRESIDENT.
FROM THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, AND SO I THINK THIS IS ACTUALLY A MUCH MORE IMPORTANT NIGHT FOR HER BECAUSE IT'S SO RARE THAT WE HEAR FROM HER, THAT WE HEAR HER TAKE QUESTIONS, OR THAT WE KNOW ANYTHING THAT SHE ACTUALLY STANDS FOR. >> Jonathan: HOW IS THE FORMER PRESIDENT PREPARING FOR THIS? WHAT'S YOUR SENSE?
YOU HAVE BEEN WITH HIM BEFORE IN BIG MOMENTS. HE LIKES TO SAY HE DOESN'T NEED TO PREPARE FOR A DEBATE, BUT WHAT IS HE DOING? >> HE PREPARES EVERY SINGLE DAY NOT ONLY -- I THINK THE BIGGEST WAY THAT HE DOES THAT IS BY TRAVELING AROUND THE COUNTRY AND ACTUALLY TALKING TO VOTERS.
HE TAKES QUESTIONS FROM THE PRESS ON A REGULAR BASIS. SO I THINK EVERY DAY IS DEBATE PREP FOR DONALD TRUMP. HE'LL GO IN GAME TIME READY JUST AS HE DOES FOR EVERY INTERVIEW, EVERY RALLY THAT HE DOES.
THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT IS A HEAVY LIFT FOR HIM. I THINK THAT'S WHY YOU'RE HEARING SO MUCH ABOUT THE PREPARATION FOR VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS, BECAUSE THIS ISN'T SOMETHING SHE DOES VERY OFTEN, AND I THINK SHE HAS A LOT TO GET READY FOR, AND I DON'T THINK THAT SHE'S UP TO THE CHALLENGE, IN LARGE PART, NOT JUST BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW THAT SHE'S A GREAT DEBATER, BUT SHE'S SO WRONG ON THE ISSUES THAT AMERICANS CARE ABOUT, AND SHE HAS A TERRIBLE TRACK RECORD TO TALK ABOUT. DONALD TRUMP HAS A GOOD STORY TO TELL.
HE SHOWS UP AT THIS DEBATE FROM A POSITION OF STRENGTH. SHE SHOWS UP FROM A POSITION OF WEAKNESS. THE ADMINISTRATION THAT SHE IS TOTALLY RESPONSIBLE AND ACCOUNTABLE FOR HAS BEEN AN ABYSMAL FAILURE.
THE ECONOMY IS BAD. INFLATION HAS SKYROCKETED. YOU GO TO ANY GROCERY STORE OR GAS STATION AS A FAMILY, AS AN AMERICAN, YOU'RE FEELING THE FAILURES OF THIS ADMINISTRATION.
SHE DOESN'T GET TO RUN AWAY FROM THAT. YOU LOOK AT THE CRISIS AT THE BORDER. THEY HAVE OPENED IT WIDE UP, ALLOWING MILLIONS OF PEOPLE TO COME IN.
THEY DON'T KNOW WHO THEY ARE, WHERE THEY'RE GOING, OR WHAT THEY'RE COMING FOR. WE ACTUALLY HAD TAKEN STEPS AND MADE SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS ON SECURING THE BORDER UNDER PRESIDENT TRUMP. WE ACTUALLY HAD A SAFER WORLD.
WE DIDN'T HAVE CONFLICTS LEFT AND RIGHT ALL OVER THE PLACE. SHE HAS TO BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THESE THINGS. SHE DOESN'T GET TO RUN AWAY FROM THEM, AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT MAKES THIS DEBATE SO DIFFICULT FOR HER THIS WEEK.
>> Jonathan: WELL, YOU HEARD FROM LIZ CHENEY AND OBVIOUSLY SHE'S NOT -- NOT ALONE AMONG PROMINENT REPUBLICANS THAT ARE -- THAT ARE SUPPORTING KAMALA HARRIS OR SIMPLY SAYING THAT DONALD TRUMP IS UNFIT FOR OFFICE. HOW DO YOU SQUARE THAT RECORD THAT YOU JUST TALKED ABOUT, WHICH IS OBVIOUSLY DEBATABLE AND WILL BE DEBATED, WITH WHAT HAPPENED AT THE END OF THE TRUMP PRESIDENCY WHERE, YOU KNOW, HE DID TRY TO OVERTURN A PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION? HE TRIED TO OVERTURN A DEMOCRATIC ELECTION.
>> I DO THINK SHE ACTUALLY IS SIGNIFICANTLY IN THE MINORITY HERE. YOU LOOK ACROSS THE BOARD. PROMINENT REPUBLICANS ARE SUPPORTING PRESIDENT TRUMP, BUT ULTIMATELY, I THINK SHE'S A NON-FACTOR.
I'M NOT TRYING TO BE RUDE, BUT YOU DON'T GET TO CALL YOURSELF A CONSERVATIVE OR A REPUBLICAN WHEN YOU SUPPORT THE MOST RADICAL NOMINEE THAT THE DEMOCRATS HAVE EVER PUT UP. THAT DOESN'T MAKE YOU A CONSERVATIVE. IT CERTAINLY DOESN'T MAKE YOU A REPUBLICAN.
I THINK IT MAKES YOU SOMEBODY WHO WANTS TO PROTECT THE ESTABLISHMENT. FRANKLY, I DON'T THINK THIS IS NEWS. IT SHOULD COME AS NO SHOCK THAT LIZ CHENEY IS NOT SUPPORTING THE PRESIDENT, BUT WHAT SHOULD COME AS A SHOCK IS THAT SHE IS TRYING TO CALL HERSELF A CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICAN OR EITHER ONE OF THOSE TWO WORDS WHILE SUPPORTING SOMEBODY WHO SO CLEARLY DOES NOT REPRESENT CONSERVATIVE PRINCIPLES.
>> Jonathan: WELL, ON ONE SPECIFIC SHE POINTED OUT AND OTHERS HAVE TOO, YOU KNOW, DONALD TRUMP IS TALKING ABOUT WIDESPREAD TARIFFS, TARIFFS ON VIRTUALLY EVERYTHING THAT IS IMPORTED INTO THE UNITED STATES, BIG TARIFFS. IT'S BECOME ALMOST A CENTERPIECE OF HIS ECONOMIC MESSAGE RIGHT NOW. HOW IS THAT CONSERVATIVE?
I MEAN, I HAVE BEEN COVERING POLITICS FOR A LONG TIME. CONSERVATIVES USUALLY DON'T LIKE TAXES, DON'T LIKE TARIFFS. NOW TRUMP IS TALKING ABOUT THEM ALL THE TIME.
>> THIS IS A PRESIDENT WHO USES THAT AS A TOOL TO HOLD OTHERS' FEET TO THE FIRE. HE WANTS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ACTUALLY MAKING THINGS IN AMERICA. THERE'S NOTHING MORE CONSERVATIVE THAN EMPOWERING AMERICANS AND AMERICAN COMPANIES TO BUILD THINGS HERE VERSUS BUILDING THEM OVERSEAS.
WE HAVE TO QUIT BECOMING COMPLETELY DEPENDENT AND RELIANT ON PEOPLE WHO HATE US, PEOPLE LIKE CHINA, PEOPLE LIKE RUSSIA, PEOPLE LIKE IRAN. WE HAVE A PRESIDENT NOW WHO HAS ALLOWED HIMSELF TO BE COMPLETELY WALKED ALL OVER AND A VICE PRESIDENT WHO HAS BEEN RIGHT THERE BY HIS SIDE ALLOWING OTHER COUNTRIES TO TAKE THE LEAD. AS WE MOVE INTO THE NEXT FOUR YEARS OF THE NEXT ADMINISTRATION, WE HAVE TO DECIDE, WHO DO WE WANT TO BE THE WORLD LEADERS?
DO WE WANT IT TO BE THE UNITED STATES OR DO WE WANT IT TO BE OUR ADVERSARIES, LIKE CHINA, LIKE RUSSIA? I DON'T WANT IT TO BE THEM. THERE'S ONLY ONE PERSON, AND ONE PRESIDENT, AND ONE ADMINISTRATION WHO'S DONE THAT BEFORE, AND WILL DO IT AGAIN AND THAT'S DONALD TRUMP.
WE CERTAINLY CANNOT COUNT ON VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS TO BUILD BACK AMERICAN STRENGTH WHEN SHE'S NEVER DEMONSTRATED A CAPABILITY OF DOING THAT IN THE PAST. >> Jonathan: ALL RIGHT. WELL, GOVERNOR SANDERS,THANK YOU FOR JOINING US ON "THIS WEEK.
" WE'LL SEE THOSE ISSUES DEBATED OUT HERE ON TUESDAY. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. >> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
>> Jonathan: UP NEXT, CHRIS CHRISTIE AND DONNA BRAZILE ON THE BIG DEBATE TUESDAY NIGHT, AND LATER, WITH THE NFL SEASON UNDER WAY, WE OPENED UP THE ABC ARCHIVES FOR SOME ICONIC FOOTBALL MOMENTS IN PRESIDENTIAL HISTORY. YOU'VE GOT TO SEE THIS STUFF. WE'RE BACK IN A MOMENT.
>> Jonathan: THE ABC PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE IS JUST TWO DAYS AWAY. LET'S BRING IN FORMER DNC CHAIR DONNA BRAZILE AND FORMER NEW JERSEY GOVERNOR, CHRIS CHRISTIE. SO CHRIS, YOU HAVE DEBATED DONALD TRUMP.
YOU HAVE HELPED DONALD TRUMP PREPARE FOR A DEBATE. YOU HAVE SEEN THIS ALL PLAY OUT. WHAT IS GOING ON WITH HIM RIGHT NOW?
HOW DO YOU THINK HE IS ACTUALLY GETTING READY FOR THIS DEBATE? >> HE DOESN'T GET READY. I MEAN, AS SOMEONE WHO WAS IN CHARGE OF DEBATE PREP IN 2016 AND 2020 FOR HIM, IT WAS A CONSTANT STRUGGLE.
THERE WERE TIMES WHEN WE WOULD GO AND DEBATE PREP WOULD BE SCHEDULED. WE WOULD GO IN TO SIT WITH HIM AND HE WOULD JUST SAY, NO, I'M NOT DOING IT, AND THAT WOULD BE IT, AND IT JUST WOULDN'T HAPPEN. MY GUESS IS THAT, YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY NOW AS YOU SAID IN THE LEAD UP, YOU KNOW, HIS SEVENTH GENERAL ELECTION PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE, HE REALLY DOESN'T THINK HE NEEDS TO PREPARE.
HE BELIEVES THAT JUST WHATEVER HIS GUT INSTINCTS ARE ARE WHAT'S GOING TO CARRY HIM. HE WILL ALLOW PEOPLE TO SPEAK AT HIM FOR A WHILE. I WILL GUARANTEE YOU THERE'S BEEN NO MOCK DEBATES.
THERE NEVER HAS BEEN. HE WON'T ALLOW IT, WON'T PERMIT IT. SO HE WILL BE TYPICALLY DONALD TRUMP, WHICH IS HE'S JUST GOING TO GO IN THERE AND WING IT, AND THAT'S WHY I THINK WHAT KAMALA HARRIS DOES IN THIS DEBATE IS SIGNIFICANTLY MORE IMPORTANT THAN WHAT DONALD TRUMP DOES.
HE'S GOING TO WING IT. YOU'VE SEEN THIS SHOW BEFORE. SHE'S THE ONE THAT'S GOING TO GET THE MOST ATTENTION.
>> Jonathan: SHE'S OBVIOUSLY SPENDING A LOT OF TIME PREPARING. THEY'VE BUILT A SET. THEY'RE FILMING MOCK DEBATES.
WHAT IS SHE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH HERE? >> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, SHE HAS TO OWN THE FUTURE. SHE HAS TO WALK INTO THAT ROOM AND OWN THAT STAGE.
HE'S A SHOWMAN. I TOTALLY AGREE WITH THE GOVERNOR. HE'S A SHOWMAN.
HE'S BEEN PREPARING FOR THIS FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS BECAUSE DONALD TRUMP KNOWS THE TV. HE KNOWS THE ANGLES. HE KNOWS THE CAMERAS.
>> Jonathan: INSTINCTIVELY. >> THE GUY IS ONE OF THE GREATEST MARKETERS OF MY ENTIRE LIFETIME. MAYBE SOMEONE ELSE EXISTS, BUT SHE HAS TO OWN THIS DEBATE IN TERMS OF HER MESSAGING, AND MAKING SURE THAT SHE TALKS TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AND TELL HIM UP FRONT.
LET'S TALK ABOUT INFLATION. LET'S TALK ABOUT IT. WE HAVE HAD TO WRESTLE THIS DAMN THING DOWN.
LET'S TALK ABOUT GAS PRICES. LET'S TALK ABOUT -- I MEAN, SHE HAS TO OWN THIS, AND ALSO I WOULD REMIND HER ABOUT MUHAMMAD ALI. ONE OF THE GREATEST, YOU KNOW WHAT, CHAMPIONS IN THE UNIVERSE.
WHEN HE WENT INTO THAT FIRST FIGHT, THEY ASKED, YOU KNOW, THE UNDERDOG, WHAT'S YOUR APPROACH? HE SAID, WELL, I'M GOING TO STING LIKE A BUTTERFLY -- NO. >> FLOAT LIKE A BUTTERFLY.
>> Jonathan: FLOAT LIKE A BUTTERFLY, STING LIKE A BEE. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. HE SAID, YOUR HANDS CAN'T SEE HOW I'M GOING TO DO THIS.
SHE HAS TO TAKE THAT SAME MESSAGING IN HER SPIRIT AND GO AND NOT BE INTIMIDATED OR RATTLED BY WHAT IS ESSENTIALLY SOMEONE WHO KNOWS HOW TO HURL INSULTS AT YOU. >> Jonathan: YOU SAW ALL THOSE CLIPS FROM DEBATES PAST, AND TRUMP'S BEST AND MAYBE WORST MOMENTS BOTH ARE TOTALLY SPONTANEOUS WHEN HE LOOKS AT HILLARY AND SAYS, THAT'S BECAUSE YOU WOULD BE IN JAIL, OR JOE WHAT HE SAID, AND I DON'T THINK HE DOES EITHER. IS THERE A WAY FOR HER TO LOOK TOO PRACTICED?
>> I THINK FOR A WOMAN, THERE'S A CERTAIN WAY THAT YOU HAVE TO COME ACROSS. SHE CAN COME ACROSS VERY PRESIDENTIAL, AND LOOK WHAT SHE DID DURING THAT DEBATE WITH FORMER VICE PRESIDENT MIKE PENCE. SHE SAID, I'M SPEAKING.
SHE KEPT CONTROL OF THE MIC. SHE KEPT CONTROL OF THE MOMENT, AND AGAIN, SHE HAS TO CONSTANTLY REMIND THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, HERE'S WHAT I PLAN TO DO, NOT JUST SIT BACK AND RESPOND TO ALL OF THE NONSENSE AND THE LIES AND ALL OF THE OTHER STUFF THAT'S GOING TO COME FROM DONALD TRUMP. SHE HAS TO OWN IT.
IF SHE OWNS IT, SHE CAN WIN IT. >> Jonathan: WHAT WE'RE HEARING FROM THE HARRIS CAMPAIGN IS THEY WANT TO GET UNDER HIS SKIN, PROVOKE HIM. WILL SHE BE ABLE TO DO THAT?
>> SHE WON'T HAVE TO IF SHE'S SMART. I MEAN, LOOK. HAVING BEEN IN A NUMBER OF THESE DEBATES MYSELF, JON, AND THEN PREPARED DONALD TRUMP FOR THEM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU TELL TO PEOPLE YOU'RE HELPING, AND THAT ARE TOLD TO YOU WHEN YOU'RE GETTING PREPARED IS WHAT WORDS SHOULD YOU WRITE ON THAT YELLOW LEGAL PAD WHEN YOU WALK OUT THERE?
YOUR TOUCHSTONES TO REMIND YOU OF WHAT TO DO. IF I WERE PREPARING KAMALA HARRIS, I WOULD TELL HER TO WRITE TWO WORDS ONLY ON THERE. CHARM AND DISARM.
THAT'S IT. SHE NEEDS TO LOOK INTO THAT CAMERA AND CHARM THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. SHE NEEDS TO SHOW SHE'S NOT GOING TO BE THE 24-HOUR LEAF BLOWER NOISE THAT HE IS.
THERE'S ANOTHER WAY TO LEAD. THERE IS A WAY THAT YOU CAN BE KIND, THAT YOU CAN BE SMART, AND TOUGH AT THE SAME TIME. THAT'S THE SMART.
DISARM, JON, IS DO NOT ENGAGE HIM IN THAT STUFF. THE SMARTEST ANSWER SHE GAVE IN THE INTERVIEW ON CNN WAS WHEN DANA BASH ASKED HER ABOUT TRUMP'S ACCUSATION THAT SHE HAD ONLY RECENTLY BECOME BLACK, AND SHE DID WHAT'S HARD FOR CANDIDATES TO DO. SHE PAUSED FOR TWO OR THREE SECONDS, SHOOK HER HEAD, AND SHE SAID, SAME OLD PLAYBOOK.
NEXT QUESTION. THAT'S WHAT WILL GET UNDER HIS SKIN. IF SHE REFUSES TO ENGAGE HIM IN THAT BACK AND FORTH, WHICH HILLARY FAILED AT MISERABLY BECAUSE SHE WASN'T GOOD AT IT AND SHE ENGAGED, DON'T ENGAGE WITH HIM ON THAT.
THAT INCREASES HIS STATURE. YOU WANT TO DECREASE HIS STATURE BY BEING DISMISSIVE OF IT. >> Jonathan: YOU SAW THAT THE HARRIS TEAM REALLY WANTED THESE MICS TO BE LIVE, AND, YOU KNOW, ULTIMATELY TWO SIDES HAD TO AGREE, AND NEGOTIATE -- THE RULES HAD BEEN NEGOTIATED UNDER BIDEN SO THE MICS WON'T BE HOT WHEN YOU'RE NOT SPEAKING.
ARE YOU SURPRISED THAT THE TRUMP TEAM INSISTED, AND EVEN TRUMP HIMSELF CONTINUED TO INSIST THAT HIS MICS BE MUTED? HIS OWN MIC? >> NO, I'M NOT SURPRISED AND TWO DIFFERENT REASONS.
REASON NUMBER ONE FOR THE STAFF, IS NOT SHOCKING TO ANYBODY BECAUSE THEY KNOW HOW AWFUL HE IS WHEN THE MIC IS LIVE, AND THEY DON'T WANT THAT. THEY'RE THE PRACTICAL, POLITICAL PEOPLE. TRUMP'S REASON IS TOTALLY DIFFERENT.
>> Jonathan: YEAH. >> THESE ARE THE RULES THAT I AGREED TO, AND I'M NOT GIVING IN. >> Jonathan: YEAH.
>> BECAUSE TO HAVE OPENED THE MICS WOULD HAVE BEEN TO GIVE IN TO HER. THAT'S WHAT HIS CONCERN WAS. ALL EGO-BASED.
>> Jonathan: IT'S ALL ABOUT THE RULES. >> LOOK. I DON'T THINK THAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE.
I SAW THE MEMO AND I SAID, LOOK. AGAIN, DON'T TAKE DEBATE. THAT'S A GREAT -- THAT'S GREAT ADVICE, BUT SHE HAS TO WALK INTO THAT ROOM, AGAIN, OWN THE ROOM.
OWN HER MESSAGE, AND SAY, THIS IS ABOUT THE FUTURE, AND EXPLAIN TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WHAT SHE'S DOING, WHAT SHE PLANS TO DO, AND THEN OUTLINE THAT VISION AND JUST LOOK AT DONALD TRUMP. SHE GAVE HIM A SIDE EYE AND BASICALLY SAY, STOP. >> Jonathan: WELL, IT'S GOING TO BE RIGHT HERE ON ABC ON TUESDAY.
WE'VE GOT AN HOUR PREGAME. YOU GUYS ARE BOTH GOING TO BE THERE BEFORE THE DEBATE. >> CAN WE BRING OUR POPCORN AND WINE?
>> Jonathan: YOU CAN BRING IT ALL. UP NEXT, MY ABC COLLEAGUES MARTHA RADDATZ, MARY BRUCE, AND RACHEL SCOTT, WILL BE HERE FOR THE LATEST ON WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT HOW TRUMP AND HARRIS ARE GETTING READY FOR THE DEBATE. WE'LL BE BACK IN A MOMENT.
>> Jonathan: AND OUR PRE-DEBATE COVERAGE STARTS AT 8:00 P. M. EASTERN RIGHT HERE ON ABC TUESDAY WHERE I WILL BE JOINED BY OUR TEAM WHO IS ALL HERE RIGHT NOW.
WE HAVE "THIS WEEK" COANCHOR MARTHA RADDATZ, OUR CHIEF WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT MARY BRUCE WHO COVERS THE HARRIS CAMPAIGN, AND SENIOR CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT RACHEL SCOTT WHO COVERS JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING ON THE FACE OF THE EARTH. SO LET ME START WITH YOU, MARTHA. WE SAW -- IT'S A POINT THAT IS UNDERAPPRECIATED.
DONALD TRUMP HAS DONE MORE GENERAL ELECTION DEBATES THAN ANYBODY IN THE HISTORY OF AMERICAN POLITICS. YOU WERE ACTUALLY ON THE STAGE AS THE MODERATOR THE LAST TIME HE DEBATED A WOMAN, HILLARY CLINTON, IN 2016. >> AND IT WAS VERY OBVIOUS THAT THAT WAS DIFFERENT FOR HIM, AND RIGHT AWAY HE STARTS WITH THE BODY LANGUAGE.
HE WAS WALKING AROUND THE STAGE. THAT WAS A REMINDER THAT IT WAS A TOWN HALL DEBATE. EACH CANDIDATE HAD A LECTERN, BUT HE IMMEDIATELY LEFT HIS LECTERN, AND HE WAS LOOMING OVER HER AND IN THE BACKGROUND, AND HE WOULD GO AFTER THE MODERATORS TOO.
I MEAN, SPECIFICALLY TRY TO DEBATE US, AND THAT WAS A CHALLENGE BECAUSE YOU JUST KEPT PUTTING IT BACK ON HIM. MR. TRUMP, PLEASE ANSWER THE QUESTION, PLEASE, LET'S GO FORWARD.
I MEAN, YOU BASICALLY WANTED TO GIVE HIM A TIME-OUT IF HE DIDN'T STOP THAT, BUT WATCHING THE DYNAMIC OF THE TWO WAS VERY DIFFERENT IN THOSE DEBATES WITH HILLARY CLINTON THAN IT WAS WITH JOE BIDEN. >> Jonathan: AND HOW -- MARY, SO OBVIOUSLY THE HARRIS TEAM HAS STUDIED THAT DEBATE. >> OH YEAH.
>> Jonathan: AND THE OTHER DEBATES. BRING US INSIDE THE KIND OF PREP THEY'RE DOING. >> THEY ARE TAKING THIS VERY, VERY SERIOUSLY, TAKING AN OPPOSITE APPROACH TO DONALD TRUMP.
SHE IS HUNKERED DOWN IN PITTSBURGH. SHE'S STUDYING UP, DOING THESE MOCK DEBATES. THEY'VE GOT THE STAGE, AND THE FULL TV LIGHTING.
A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO PREPPED HILLARY CLINTON FOR THAT DEBATE, NOW INVOLVED IN THIS. PHILIPPE GOES FULL METHOD ACTOR, AND KAMALA HARRIS IS AN EXPERIENCED DEBATER, BUT THIS IS DIFFERENT BECAUSE, OF COURSE, DONALD TRUMP HAS A LOT OF EXPERIENCE AT THIS. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME SHE'S FACED OFF WITH TRUMP.
THE FIRST TIME SHE'S DONE A PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE, ACTUALLY THE FIRST TIME SHE WILL COME FACE-TO-FACE WITH TRUMP. THEY HAVE NEVER MET IN PAR FOR THE COURSE THAT DONALD TRUMP DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN THE PEACEFUL TRANSFER OF POWER DURING THE LAST ELECTION. SO THIS IS A LOT OF NEW TERRITORY FOR HER.
THE GOAL THAT THE CAMPAIGN HAS OF COURSE, IS FOR HER TO CONTINUES TO DEFINE HERSELF. DO THAT BEFORE TRUMP CAN DO THAT FOR HER, AND THEN TO PIVOT AND GO ON THE ATTACK. THEY ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THAT TRUMP AMNESIA AS THEY DESCRIBE IT, THAT VOTERS HAVE FORGOTTEN THE CHAOS OF THE TRUMP YEARS.
SHE WANTS TO HIGHLIGHT WHAT SHE BELIEVES IS HIS FAILED RECORD, AND THEN ATTACK. KAMALA HARRIS IS SOMEONE WHO KNOWS HOW TO LAND A PUNCH. SHE PUNCHES HARD, BUT SHE HAS TO PICK THOSE MOMENTS.
SHE'S ALSO SOMEONE WHO WE KNOW REHEARSES THOSE ATTACK LINES, AND WORKSHOPS THOSE. >> Jonathan: SOMETIMES THEY APPEAR REHEARSED. >> EXACTLY.
IT'S A BALANCE SHE HAS TO ACHIEVE. >> Jonathan: IN CASE YOU'RE WONDERING WHAT THOSE IMAGES WERE, THOSE ARE LIVE SHOTS OF THE PHILADELPHIA CONSTITUTIONAL HALL WHERE THE DEBATE IS TAKING PLACE. OUR TEAM IS IN THERE RIGHT NOW, LITERALLY RIGHT NOW WORKING ON CONSTRUCTING THAT SET.
NOW RACHEL, YOU HEARD WHAT CHRIS CHRISTIE SAID. HE SAID TRUMP DOESN'T PREPARE FOR DEBATES. I'M HEARING THAT HE'S ACTUALLY DOING A LITTLE MORE PREPARATION FOR THIS.
BRING US INSIDE THAT CAMP. >> I'M HEARING THE EXACT SAME, JON. I THINK THE REALITY IS THAT DONALD TRUMP IS PREPARING FOR MAN HE THE -- HE IS LETTING ON.
THERE IS NOTHING FORMAL. THERE'S NO ONE STANDING ACROSS FROM HIM IN A SUIT THAT THEY THINK KAMALA HARRIS IS GOING TO WEAR ON THE DEBATE STAGE. NONE OF THAT IS HAPPENING, BUT HE IS DOING THESE SORT OF INFORMAL POLICY TALK SESSIONS, RIGHT?
WITH HIS ADVISERS, AND I'M TOLD THAT ALSO CONGRESSMAN MATT GAETZ HAS BEEN BROUGHT INTO THE MIX AS WELL, AND HE IS HELPING TRUMP ON SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT MAY BE MORE CHALLENGING WHEN TALKING TO HIS LEGAL CHALLENGES, ISSUES AROUND ABORTION. >> Jonathan: FIRING QUESTIONS AT HIM. >> EXACTLY, AND ALSO FORMER CONGRESSWOMAN TULSI GABBARD WHO CHALLENGED VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS AND SHE'S BEEN INVOLVED AS WELL.
ONE THING THAT'S IMPORTANT WILL BE KEY, WHEN IT CAME TO HILLARY CLINTON, DONALD TRUMP HAD AT LEAST SOME RESPECT FOR HER AS A PERSON, AS A POLITICIAN. >> Jonathan: I MEAN, SHE WENT TO HIS WEDDING. SHE WENT TO HIS WEDDING WITH MELANIA.
>> HE GENUINELY DOES NOT THINK THAT KAMALA HARRIS IS A SMART PERSON. HE SAYS THAT PUBLICLY AND HE MEANS IT. HE SAYS IT PRIVATELY AS WELL.
HOW DOES THAT COME ACROSS ON THE DEBATE STAGE? DOES HE LOSE HIS COOL IN A WAY THAT TURNS OFF VOTERS? >> WHICH SHE WOULD VERY MUCH LIKE TO HAPPEN.
THOSE MUTED MIE MICROPHONES, I DON'T THINK IT'LL MAKE A DIFFERENCE. HE CAN TALK DURING HIS TIME. HE'S GOING TO GO AFTER HER.
SHE'S GOING TO GO AFTER HIM. IN MANY WAYS, DONALD TRUMP HAS BEEN THE SAME IN EVERY DEBATE EXCEPT THE ONE WITH CHRIS WALLACE, AND I THINK HE LEARNED HIS LESSON IN THAT ONE, THAT HE WENT TOO FAR. IF YOU LOOK BACK AT THE DEBATES OF DONALD TRUMP, HE'S ESSENTIALLY THE SAME.
HE POPS OFF, HE SAYS SOMETHING, HE DOESN'T SEEM PARTICULARLY WELL PREPARED ON POLICY, AND IT HASN'T MADE MUCH OF A DIFFERENCE. >> Jonathan: THE DEBATE YOU MODERATED AS YOU WELL REMEMBER -- >> AS I DO WELL REMEMBER. >> Jonathan: IT WAS RIGHT AFTER THE "ACCESS HOLLYWOOD" -- >> 48 HOURS.
>> Jonathan: MOST REPUBLICANS THOUGHT THE RACE WAS OVER. >> WE DIDN'T KNOW WHETHER HE WOULD ACTUALLY DEBATE. >> Jonathan: HE BASICALLY SAVED HIS CAMPAIGN WITH THAT DEBATE.
HE -- HE'S NOT TO BE UNDERESTIMATED. >> REMEMBER THE SHOWMANSHIP PART OF THAT TOO. JUST BEFORE WE WALKED OUT, IN WALKED THE WOMEN WHO HAD ACCUSED PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON OF SEXUAL ASSAULT.
THEY WERE IN THE AUDIENCE AND THAT WAS WITH AN AUDIENCE. IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE. WE HAD TO SHUSH THE AUDIENCE A FEW TIMES DURING THAT, BUT THAT DEBATE, HE WALKED OUT OF THERE AND FELT HE WON THE DEBATE.
HILLARY CLINTON FELT SHE WON THE DEBATE. >> Jonathan: TALK ABOUT THE AUDIENCE BECAUSE HE WANTED AN AUDIENCE FOR THESE DEBATES AS WELL, THE CNN DEBATE AND THIS DEBATE, AND HE AGREED NOT TO. HOW DOES -- HE PLAYS OFF AN AUDIENCE.
HOW DOES HE HANDLE THAT? >> AN AUDIENCE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE IF THE AUDIENCE IS SITTING THERE CHEERING FOR YOU WHICH HAS HAPPENED WITH RALLIES AND EVERYWHERE ELSE, AND THE TOWN HALL THAT HE HAD. THE AUDIENCE WAS -- BUT YOU HAVE TO KEEP -- MY EXPERIENCE, AND I DID JOE BIDEN AND PAUL RYAN, THE AUDIENCE KEPT PRETTY QUIET EXCEPT THE ONE WITH HILLARY CLINTON AND DONALD TRUMP, AND YOU HAD SOME, YOU KNOW, BOOING AND HISSING, AND THAT DOES MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
HE DOES PLAY OFF THE AUDIENCE. HE OBVIOUSLY CAN'T THIS TIME, BUT HE WILL TRY TO HAVE THAT ENERGY IN DIFFERENT WAYS. >> Jonathan: AND RACHEL, HIS TEAM REALLY WANTS HIM TO FOCUS ON ISSUES, NOT THE PERSONAL ATTACKS.
I GUESS THAT'S -- WE DON'T KNOW. >> YOU DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT VERSION OF DONALD TRUMP IS GOING TO SHOW UP THAT NIGHT, BUT FOR GOOD REASON BECAUSE EVEN WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE "NEW YORK TIMES"/SIENNA POLL, HE'S LEADING ON KEY ISSUES, NAMELY THE ECONOMY, AND CRIME. >> Jonathan: NOT PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES.
>> SOME OF TO HIS ATTACKS CALLING HARRIS LIBERAL, PROGRESSIVE, THOSE ACTUALLY ARE LANDING AMONGST VOTERS. >> Jonathan: WE WILL CONTINUE THIS CONVERSATION TUESDAY NIGHT AT 8:00. WATCH US.
>> Jonathan: AND FINALLY ON THIS OPENING WEEK FOR THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE, WE DIVE INTO THE ABC ARCHIVES FOR SOME MEMORABLE MOMENTS INVOLVING TWO AMERICAN PRESIDENTS AND AMERICA'S MOST POPULAR SPORT. ON THE DAY OF HIS SECOND INAUGURATION AS PRESIDENT, RONALD REAGAN SPENT SOME TIME PRACTICING FLIPPING A COIN. >> OOPS, NO.
NOT THAT ONE. [ LAUGHTER ] >> Jonathan: ON THAT DAY, HE WOULD START HIS SECOND TERM AND BECOME THE FIRST PRESIDENT TO DO THE SUPER BOWL COIN TOSS. >> THE DOLPHINS CALLED HEADS.
MR. PRESIDENT, WOULD YOU PLEASE TOSS THE COIN? >> Jonathan: DESPITE THE PRACTICE, THE COIN FLEW A LITTLE OFF COURSE.
>> IT IS TAILS. >> Jonathan: THE TOSS AND A CLASSIC REAGAN-ESQUE TOUCH. >> WELL, THANK YOU.
IT WAS A PRIVILEGE, AND ALL I CAN SAY IS SOMETHING THAT USED TO BE A LITTLE PRAYER OF MINE WHEN I PLAYED FOOTBALL MYSELF. MAY EVERYONE DO THEIR BEST. MAY THERE BE NO INJURIES.
MAY THE BEST TEAM WIN, AND NO ONE HAVE REGRETS. >> Jonathan: TWO YEARS LATER, THEY TREATED REAGAN TO THE FAMILIAR TRADITION OF POURING GATORADE ON THE WINNING COACH, EXCEPT THEY USED POPCORN. BEFORE HE BECAME PRESIDENT, THEN-GOVERNOR OF CALIFORNIA RONALD REAGAN, VISITED ABC'S "MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL" BOOTH WHERE NONE OTHER THAN JOHN LENNON WAS THERE TALKING WITH THE ANCHORS.
A DECADE LATER IN THE WHITE HOUSE, ABC'S HOWARD COSELL JOKED WITH HIM ABOUT IT. >> IT WAS MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL IN SAN FRANCISCO WHEN YOU WERE GOVERNOR, AND JOHN LENNON CAME INTO THE BOOTH. >> YES.
>> THAT WAS EXTRAORDINARY. >> Jonathan: FAST FORWARD TO 2006 WHEN PEOPLE WERE WONDERING WHETHER THEN-SENATOR BARACK OBAMA WOULD RUN FOR PRESIDENT, HE MADE AN APPEARANCE ON "MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL. " >> SO TONIGHT, I WOULD LIKE TO PUT ALL THE DOUBTS TO REST.
I WOULD LIKE TO ANNOUNCE TO MY HOMETOWN OF CHICAGO AND ALL OF AMERICA THAT I AM READY FOR THE BEARS TO GO ALL THE WAY, BABY. DUN DUN DUN DUN. >> Jonathan: TWO YEARS LATER, THE NIGHT BEFORE THE 2008 ELECTION -- >> SENATOR BARACK OBAMA AND SENATOR JOHN McCAIN WILL BE JOINING CHRIS BERMAN COMING UP ON OUR TOYOTA HALFTIME SHOW.
>> Jonathan: OBAMA AND SENATOR JOHN McCAIN APPEARED ON "MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL" TO MAKE THEIR FINAL PITCH TO VOTERS. AND I'LL MAKE A PITCH HERE TO TUNE INTO "MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL" TOMORROW NIGHT ON ABC AND ESPN. THANK YOU FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR SUNDAY WITH US, AND TUNE IN HERE TUESDAY NIGHT FOR FULL DEBATE COVERAGE ON ABC FROM THE NATIONAL CONSTITUTION CENTER, AND THERE IT IS, IN PHILADELPHIA.
