Republican strategist Steve Schmidt blasted Sunday night's presidential debate before it even began.
During an appearance on MSNBC's debate preview show, Schmidt said because of the controversy surrounding Republican Donald Trump's controversial comments in which he joked about trying to have sex with women who were not his wife, parents should not let their kids watch the debate.
"It's devastating to the Republican party, but this is corrosive to our civics," Schmidt said. "Corrosive to our country. What we are going to see tonight is a disgrace."
Mediaite posted video of Schmidt's comments.
"If you're a parent who cares about civics and you want to have informed children, you have a 10-, 11-, 12-, 13-year-old, ideally, you would like them to be able to watch a presidential debate," he said. "You'd be advised as a parent to send the kids to the bedroom and turn the TVs off tonight.
"That's saying something rather sad."
Schmidt added someone like Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, who is Trump's running mate, has a decision to make.
"I think Mike Pence, who is a very conservative, former member of congress, very conservative governor, but I think a good and decent man . . . how does Mike Pence stay on this ticket?"
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