Nicolle Wallace Labels Anti-Trump Effort ‘Illegitimate,’ Then Hits GOP for Not Speaking Out Sooner

NewsBusters.org ^ | March 14, 2016 | Kyle Drennen

[Kaslin]

Appearing on Monday’s NBC Today, political analyst Nicolle Wallace condemned Republicans for not speaking out sooner against Donald Trump, following instances of violence at rallies for the GOP frontrunner. However, only one week earlier, on MSNBC’s Morning Joe,Wallace condemned Trump’s opposition within the party as “illegitimate.”

On Today, Wallace told co-host Savannah Guthrie: “I mean, the whole notion that Republicans waited until the last 48 hours to say the things they're saying about Trump. As much responsibility lies with the folks running against Trump as lies with the Trump campaign this morning for where we are.”

Nicolle Wallace Labels Anti-Trump Effort ‘Illegitimate,’ Then Hits GOP for Not Speaking Out Sooner

Compare that statement to her March 7 Morning Joe comments: “There are legitimate anti-Trump movements, they are the candidacies of his opponents. And then there are illegitimate anti-Trump movements. I think to the degree the party bosses look like they’re on the scale, those are completely illegitimate anti-Trump efforts.”

On Monday, Wallace also noted that the violence at Trump events was “going to become a referendum on the people now that have endorsed Trump.”

On February 1, Wallace all but endorsed Trump over Texas Senator Ted Cruz, whom she accused of having “a lack of civility”:  

I'll give you the honest scoop. I am an establishment Republican....what the establishment has sort of concluded, if I may deign to speak for the establishment tonight, is that they could live with a President Trump or nominee Trump a lot easier than a nominee in Ted Cruz. That Ted Cruz's lack of civility toward his colleagues, not just in the Senate, I mean, that is well known.

Perhaps Wallace should examine her own role in boosting Trump before casting stones at other Republicans.

Here is a transcript of the March 14 exchange on Today:

7:11 AM ET

SAVANNAH GUTHRIE: And now let's turn to NBC News political analyst Nicolle Wallace, we’ve also got MSNBC host and political correspondent Steve Kornacki over at the board. We'll get to you and your maps in a moment, Steve. Nicolle, I mean, just take a step out and let's look at this last few days in the Republican campaign. What's going on here? And what does it say about our future?

[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Chaos on the Campaign Trail; Challengers Criticize Trump for Inciting Violence]

NICOLLE WALLACE: Nothing very good. You know, I worked for a president for eight years who was protested around the world, and never once did I hear him defend the use of violence on any side. I mean, the whole notion that Republicans waited until the last 48 hours to say the things they're saying about Trump. As much responsibility lies with the folks running against Trump as lies with the Trump campaign this morning for where we are.

MATT LAUER: “I might look into paying the legal fees,” for a man who sucker punched a guy at a rally. It's extraordinary.

WALLACE: It’s extraordinary. And you know, Dr. Ben Carson is, as you said, so careful with his words. This is really going to become a referendum on the people now that have endorsed Trump. Chris Christie is one of the first establishment figures to join his cause. You’ve now got Ben Carson, who ran one of the most civil campaigns for the presidency in history. It will now be to them – if Donald Trump comes off the campaign trail as he’s expected to do after tomorrow's results – if he can regroup and set a new tone, it will be an extraordinary test for his candidacy.

(...)

[Travis McGee]

[detective]

Nicole Wallace is the woman who sabotaged Sarah Palin in the 2008 campaign. Since the n she has never missed an opportunity to knife Sarah Palin in the back.

I believe Nicole Wallace also has said she is a big fan of Hillary Clinton.

[GOPJ]

...Wallace condemned Republicans for not speaking out sooner against Donald Trump

It's hard for elites to understand flyover, but we don't sit in our homes waiting for GOPe elites to tell us how to vote...

[raybbr]

That Ted Cruz's lack of civility toward his colleagues, not just in the Senate, I mean, that is well known.

Translation: "Cruz doesn't do what we tell him to do."

[TexasCajun]

Nicolle Wallace & Steve Schmidt are scum.

They are Palin-Haters from way back.

[Velvet_Jones]

Well that’s what they’re really upset about isn’t it? The violence they can live with, but us peons not doing what we’re told? Scandalous!!

[stockpirate]

What changed, is simple.

Sea Island CONfab.

That’s where the ruling elite hatched the plan of violence and smears against Trump and his supporters.

Bush was the bag man that delivered the plan to the 3 stooges on debate day. It’s why the 3 stooges laid of Trump during the debate.

There should be no doubt the 3 stooges are inside the beltway republicans.

And people who support them are being revealed for what they are.

[McGruff]

Nicolle Wallace’s parents are Trump supporters. They need to straighten her out.

[1Old Pro]

Just another “political analyst” who hates Conservatives.

[Kaslin]

You believe, but you don’t know, do you?

[Kaslin]

Actually at age 44 she is old enough to decide who she wants to support and vote for.

Do you let someone tell you who to vote for? I sure don't

[detective]

I recall reading Nicole Wallace saying something to that effect but I don’t recall her exact words.

[baxtelf]

I cannot believe the sheer number of stories on non existent violence at Trump rallies that is being put out. This is the issue they hope to bring him down with. Convince the public he is dangerous by repeating this lie over and over.

If a person shows up at a site to provoke the attendees then they must be responsible for the reaction they get. This by the media’s own logic.

[detective]

Nicole Wallace, former McCain campaign staff member, is a supporter of Hilary Clinton.

http://www.thewrap.com/the-views-nicolle-wallace-reveals-when-she-lost-faith-in-sarah-palin/

“Even though she’s a self-professed Republican, that still hasn’t stopped Wallace coming out in favor of Democratic party darling, Hillary Clinton.”

http://www.politico.com/story/2015/05/nicole-wallace-to-carly-fiorina-hands-off-hillary-117940

http://www.newsbusters.org/blogs/mark-finkelstein/2013/11/01/nicolle-wallace-defends-hillary-what-difference-does-it-make

[McGruff]

I doubt she’d be supporting Lyin’ Ted if that’s what you’re hoping for.

[napscoordinator]

So she slams trump and Cruz? Who does she support?

[xzins]

What violence?

That’s the big lie. There is no violence.

[raybbr]

Does it matter who she supports? I certainly don’t care.