Viewers tuning into Sunday’s edition of ABC’s This Week witnessed matters getting awkward towards the tail end of Republican presidential candidate John Kasich’s interview with co-host Martha Raddatz as Kasich attempted to flatter her by insisting that she condemn Donald Trump and half-heartedly telling her he wished “you were in the race” for President because he’d support her.
As for Trump, Raddatz asked Kasich if thought that Trump knew what he was doing when “he was insulting the reporter” from The New York Times with the physical disability to which Kasich declared that “[h]e’s insulted other reporters” and insinuated that “Martha, I know you’re offended by this” because “[w]e all are.”
Moments later, Raddatz wanted to know from Kasich if he would support Trump if he was to become the GOP nominee and so Kasich emphasized that he won’t be the party’s choice. Instead, he urged “everybody” to simply “get over it and take a deep breath” since “[a]t the end of the day, we have serious problems, domestically and with foreign affairs.”
Raddatz then cut into end the interview by telling Kasich that they actually did discuss “foreign affairs quite a bit” earlier and bid the Ohio Governor a customary farewell: “Alright, Governor Kasich, I'm going to have to wrap it up here. We talked about foreign affairs quite a bit. We really appreciate you joining us this morning.”
As opposed to simply saying ‘thank you’ or ‘I appreciate being on with you,’ Kasich awkwardly told her: “I wish you were in the race, Martha. I might be for you if you were the nominee.”
Obviously a tad bit embarrassed, Raddatz chuckled and responded that any candidacy of hers “would be a disaster.”
The relevant portion of the transcript from ABC’s This Week on November 29 can be found below.
ABC’s This Week
November 29, 2015
10:43 a.m. EasternMARTHA RADDATZ: Do believe what Donald Trump is saying that he didn't know he was insulting the reporter?
REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR JOHN KASICH (Ohio): He's insulted other reporters. This one, he absolutely mocked who was disabled. Now, Martha, I know you're offended by this. We all are. We need a leader who brings us together, not a leader that's separating us from one group to another.
RADDATZ: Does that mean you would not support him if he were the nominee?
KASICH: Well, he won't be the nominee, Martha because, at the end — look, he may have 20 percent of the vote, but 80 percent of Republicans don't support his. Somebody has to call him out on this kind of divisive language. It’s outrageous.
RADDATZ: But answer the question. You say he won't get the nomination, what if he does, will you support him?
KASICH: He's not going to, so we’re not even going to go there, but I’ll tell you this —
RADDATZ: Would you support him, Governor Kasich, if he's the Republican nominee? After what you just said about him?
KASICH: I think he's very divisive and I don't believe he'll last, Martha. I know all of the press keeps speculating on what he was going do. You all said he was going to fall. Now, he didn't. Now you're all up in the air about well, maybe he's going to make it. He's not going to make it, Martha. You know why somebody’s not going to make it? Because somebody who divides this country here in the 21st century, who's calling names of women and Muslims and Hispanics and mocking reporters and then saying I didn't do it but he did do it. It's just not to happen, Martha. Everybody needs to get over it and take a deep breath. At the end of the day, we have serious problems, domestically and with foreign affairs.
RADDATZ: Alright, Governor Kasich, I'm going to have to wrap it up here. We talked about foreign affairs quite a bit. We really appreciate you joining us this morning.
KASICH: And I wish you were in the race, Martha. I might be for you if you were the nominee
RADDATZ: Oh, that would be a disaster. Okay.
