Howard Schultz and ABC News’ “The View” co-host Meghan McCain sparred on Tuesday during a tense segment about his potential 2020 presidential bid as an independent — and about why Schultz had “already lost” McCain’s vote.
Schultz (pictured above left) stoked 2020 speculation when he stepped down from his Starbucks CEO position in December 2016. He also relinquished his spot as the company’s executive chairman in June 2018.
He confirmed this speculation in an interview that aired Sunday on CBS News’ “60 Minutes” when he said he was “seriously thinking of running for president.”
But there’s a catch: Schultz, a self-described “lifelong Democrat,” has pledged to run as an independent if he officially launches a presidential campaign. He said he feels the party has veered too far to the Left.
The announcement shocked and angered many Democrats. They felt Schultz would guarantee President Donald Trump’s re-election if he ran as an independent by splitting the Democrats’ vote. Schultz claimed he could also siphon Republican votes away from Trump if he ran as an independent.
“I think that there are lifelong Democrats and lifelong Republicans who I believe are looking for a home, and perhaps after the next few months I can provide them one,” he said.
But Meghan McCain (above right) felt otherwise.
“There’s also a culture war raging in this country … Did you support Brett Kavanaugh becoming a Supreme Court justice?” McCain asked him, pointing to Trump’s second Supreme Court nominee.
Many Democrats immediately opposed Kavanaugh’s nomination. But Kavanaugh’s Senate confirmation process derailed after women leveled last-minute sexual assault allegations against him. Kavanaugh denied all of the allegations against him and Trump stood by his nominee. Ultimately, the Senate narrowly confirmed Kavanaugh as the court’s newest justice.
“I would have not supported him,” Schultz said of Kavanaugh.
When McCain asked Schultz if he would nominate a “pro-life” justice to the Supreme Court as president, he replied, “No. I’m a pro-choice person.”
“But these are culture — like, you already lost me. I’m pro-life,” McCain informed Schultz.
Schultz dismissed her concerns, arguing, “I shouldn’t lose you.”
“We should be able — this is the problem. I mean, we should be able to disagree on those kinds of issues and yet come together on what’s most important for the country,” Schultz said.
The co-host fired back, “But being conservative and my conservative pro-life values are very important to me. And you’re trying to win over, I assume, a lot of Republicans. And there are just some issues we’re not going to meet in the middle on…”
“And I just think that if you can live with the hypothetical situation that you get Trump re-elected, that’s fine,” McCain continued before Schultz interrupted her.
“Well, you’re putting words in my mouth,” he said, interrupting her. “I’m not going to live with President Trump being re-elected because that’s not going to happen.”
Although this clash proved to be the most awkward exchange during his appearance on “The View,” Schultz faced uncomfortable comments and questions from the other co-hosts as well.
Co-host Joy Behar insisted, “You’d be great in the Cabinet” — meaning other than the presidency.
“Uh, no,” Schultz replied.
Co-host Sunny Hostin also asked him why he couldn’t just take “baby steps” instead of running for president in 2020. She asked him why he couldn’t run for a lesser political office and garner “some other political experience.”
“I respect the question, but I think the word that I would throw into that mix is that we have is a void of leadership, a void of trust,” said Schultz. “No dignity, no honor, no respect in the Oval Office and in government today. And what I think I can bring is a level of servant leadership that I have acquired over almost 40 years, and what I’ve learned along the way and that is sharing success with people, bringing people along with me.”
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