Transcript for WH faces backlash for not apologizing for McCain comment

and more controversy now over the failure to publicly apologize for the brutish comment made about senator McCain. His daughter addressed how the white house handled it on "The view" yesterday. People are going to have to answer for their own conscience. When you go on TV -- I've never gone on TV and lied and when you go on TV and say things like this, your belief in right and wrong and people espouse about god and when you say things like that it's what you're going to have to live with at this point. Let's bring in Jon Karl for more on this and, Jon, the white house appears more concerned about the leak of that comment than the comment itself. Reporter: Extraordinary. No concern expressed over the comment itself but a major effort here to get at whoever leaked the comment. Take a look at this tweet from the president. He said the so-called leaks coming out of the white house are a massive overexaggeration but then adds with that being said leakers and traitors -- leakers are traitors and cowards and we will find out who they are. Now, keep in mind when he talks about traitors and cowards there he's talking about members of the white house staff. They are the only people in the meeting so you have this situation where there is essentially a witch-hunt to get the leakers, kellyanne Conway, senior adviser he at the white house suggested yesterday that people could be fired over this, apology now a week late story John McCain. The president could hear about this when he heads to capitol hill meeting with Republican senators. Reporter: It's been extraordinary to see Republican senators across the spectrum, George, condemn this comment and call for the white house to apologize. You have senator Kennedy of Louisiana who said it was wrong, it was mean. Senator portman said just out of common decency they should apologize. So the president will be lunching with Republican senators and interesting to see if it comes up. Not that hard to say I'm sorry. Jon Karl, thanks very much.

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