Transcript for White House silent over staffer's disparaging comments about McCain's health

So much about the state of American political discourse at this moment we're looking at new followed this morning over the White House staffer who made a disparaging dismissive comment. About Senator John McCain and his ongoing battle with brain cancer. And McCain's daughter Maggie and Wayne in on the issue right here. On ABC ask of the White House there refusing to apologize or even confirm whether these comments were even made. ABC's White House correspondent here Palmieri is at the white house with the story this morning interior there's outrage and both sides of the iron out. That's right Paula and Dan many Democrats and Republicans are calling for a public apology from the White House and the staffer. But a senior White House official tells me that they're fine with her private apology to mega McCain. And that's as far as logo and acknowledging it for now. This morning. Still no apology or action for those cruel words uttered by senior staffer Kelly Sadler. Asked Senator John McCain the special assistant to the president saying that John McCain's opposition to their CIA director nominee Gina Haskell quote. Doesn't matter he's dying anyway those comments out raging both sides of the aisle white house Press Secretary Steris standards of waiting Knology in the comments focusing instead. On the leak. I can't validate. A leak. One way or the other out of an internal staff meeting Senator McCain is battling brain cancer in on the view his daughter meg N. Puzzled by the lack of empathy I don't understand what kind of environment you're working in when that would be acceptable and then you can come to work and vaccines eleven to opt yeah and that's all I have to say it. President John has long been critical of John McCain. On the campaign trail he too Jesse doesn't deserve a badge of honor after spending five and a half years as a prisoner of war in Vietnam. War era in his capture. I liked it but I warn cap but the McCain family. Defiant father's legacy is going to be talked about four hundreds and hundreds of hires these people nothing murders not happen every hour or else. This morning ABC news has learn that Sadler called begging to apologize. Still Republicans and Democrats all demanding a more public apology from the White House. Vice president Joseph Biden issuing this scathing statement people have wondered when decency would hit rock bottom at this administration. It happened yesterday and speaker Paul Ryan. Defending McCain's record look John McCain's hero no two ways about it this comes after yet another attack on Senator McCain this time by a retired lieutenant general effect is as John McCain it worked on John that's what it called somber job. But that claim. False the Fox Business host later apologizing for not correcting it if I heard when he set the right way I would've pushed back. I didn't I blew it. Sources inside the White House Tommy that at a meeting on Friday Steris Sanders scolded her staff. She call the comic unacceptable that was set to be more upset about the leak. Now that sap. I'm told that inside the west wing there's a new sense of paranoia because there's a feeling that the leak was personally motivated. Dan Paula. Great terra primary from the White House and Matt good morning to you I don't go back today comment from the White House staffer Kelly Sadler about Senator John McCain how do you. Read that way that the White House spokesperson Sarah Sanders is handling all of assisted a part of the president's. Apparent strategy of never apologizing or even confirming for that matter. Well is is we have all discussed before there's this super virus of cruelty and lack of respect and not treating people with dignity. That we've seen it crossed America. And patient zero of that. Is the president and the problem with them acknowledging that it happened and then apologizing. Then they're ultimately have to do with the president. Who is said similar things as the peace laid out before we came and tell lot of different people in a lot of different instances of this so they start apologizing for what a staffer said that was cruel and had a total lack of respect for John McCain. Then that ultimate question becomes what does the president gonna do with the things he said. Yes still not a good look for this administration regarding those particular comments Matt thanks for joining us from Texas this morning.

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