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Former GOP strategist Steve Schmit who helped lead John McCain‘s presidential campaign in 2008 urged the Republican Party not to follow Donald Trump off the deep end.

Instead, Schmidt said the GOP must follow the spirit of McCain and save the party from Trumpism.

“We have a choice,” Schmidt said. “There are many people in that audience today nodding, reflecting on his life, who are on the opposite side of the issues that he dedicated his life to. He would not shy away from this moment in American life because a big fight is upon us. We have a fundamental choice.”

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The choice, of course, is for Republicans. Will they follow the roadmap laid out so beautifully in McCain’s memorial service, or will they continue to follow Trump?

Video:

Steve Schmidt says Republicans have a fundamental choice to make following the passing of John McCain. #amjoy #McCainMemorial pic.twitter.com/dRKgl3sbKb — PoliticusUSA (@politicususa) September 1, 2018

Schmidt said:

Duty, honor, country. Those words have meaning. That’s what his code was. That’s what he lived his life by. And the choice before us is a real one. The path that the country is on, the regression of democracy around the world, the assault constantly by this president against objective truth, fact, our institutions that John McCain worked his entire life to strengthen for the next generation of Americans. He had a belief we’re all connected through history, through the generations. He said many times that all the honors, all the titles, everything that he was addressed as in his life, that there was no greater connection he felt than that of my fellow Americans. We have a choice. There are many people in that audience today nodding, reflecting on his life, who are on the opposite side of the issues that he dedicated his life to. He would not shy away from this moment in American life because a big fight is upon us. We have a fundamental choice. I think that he would believe that this next midterm election is probably the most important in all the history of the country.

Republicans must follow the McCain roadmap

Donald Trump has made a mess out of America’s political discourse and institutions in a short period of time. But John McCain’s uplifting memorial service on Saturday gave the country a roadmap to restoring what the country has lost.

It is up to the Republican Party to choose to follow it.

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