MSNBC’s Hardball took quite a bizarre turn on Tuesday when far-left MSNBC contributor Zerlina Maxwell attempted to sing the praises of colleague Malcolm Nance, when fellow panelist Andrew Sullivan blurted out “Jesus Lord” in disgust that Maxwell (or presumably anyone) would cite such a “complete fantasist” who “spreads so many conspiracy theories and nonsense.”
Nance, of course, was one of the more deranged individuals MSNBC has on their payroll. Why? Well, Nance has spent years declaring the President and his allies are treasonous and willing Russian agents who colluded to steal the election from Hillary Clinton. To see more from his NewsBusters file for those unfamiliar, go here.
The Hardball panelists were discussing President Trump’s 2020 reelection strategy when Sullivan argued that Trump will “run on” the notion that “this country doesn't exist anymore because there was an entirely open border at the south and no Democrat wants to stop uncontrolled immigration and that is why he will win, if he wins.”
Former RNC chair and classic MSNBC Republican Michael Steele then interjected to complain that the President will “manipulate” and “use as...fodder” positions the Democratic Party has on abortion, regardless of the trimester. Side note to Michael Steele: Since when was Trump the one in the wrong and manipulating a factual statement about a ghoulish policy position?
Sullivan replied that “immigration is beyond” Trump because the issue has “been around for a long time” and “the most important factor” cited in western polling.
Maxwell then interjected to suggest that “this is the result of” something that Nance's tin-foil hat book The Plot to Destroy Democracy highlighted when Sullivan sighed and then called her out (click “expand”):
SULLIVAN: Jesus Lord! You’re recommending that guy?
MAXWELL: Yes. Yes, I am.
SULLIVAN: He's a complete fantasist.
MATTHEWS: Who’s this?
MAXWELL: No, I’m just — I’m actually —
SULLIVAN: This guy, Malcolm Nance.
MAXWELL: — I'm — I’m — I’m citing —
SULLIVAN: He spreads so many conspiracy theories.
MAXWELL: — you to his book, The Plot to Destroy Democracy. It’s not a conspira —
SULLIVAN: And nonsense and you’re citing him?
Maxwell then explained that the point from Nance’s book was that immigration was not the real issue but rather “the rise of white nationalism throughout Europe” that’s coincided with immigration.
As if he were about to (but didn’t) blurt out a thanks to Captain Obvious, Sullivan had the last word: “Of course it is. It’s being created by mass immigration and you either have to choose between mass immigration or liberal democracy. You can't have both.”
To see the relevant transcript from MSNBC’s Hardball on April 16, click “expand.”
MSNBC’s Hardball
April 16, 2019
7:38 p.m. EasternCHRIS MATTHEWS: How about the devil you know? That Trump runs on the devil you know. I’m the devil you know. This guy is going to be worse for you. I mean, isn’t that what he’s going to run on?
ANDREW SULLIVAN: He's going to run on this country doesn't exist anymore because there was an entirely open border at the south and no Democrat wants to stop uncontrolled immigration and that is why he will win, if he wins.
MICHAEL STEELE: And — and — and Democrats want abortion on demand, regardless of the — tri-semester, first semester, it doesn't matter. So you have all these other ancillary issues that are there in the making for Trump to manipulate and to use as — as fodder and — and —
SULLIVAN: Immigration is beyond him. I mean, it’s been around for a long time. It is the most important factor in all of western exit polls right now.
MATTHEWS: It is.
SULLIVAN: It’s scrambling every European country. It’s bringing neo-fascist governments to — to power in Europe.
STEELE: So? But what does that tell you?
SULLIVAN: What it tells you is that —
STEELE: [INAUDIBLE] to look at their borders.
ZERLINA MAXWELL: What I think it, in part, this is — this is —
MATTHEWS: Zerlina, go ahead.
SULLIVAN: — the result of — this is the result of — if you read Malcolm Nance's book The Plot to Destroy Democracy —
[SULLIVAN SIGHS]
SULLIVAN: Jesus Lord!
MAXWELL: — it actually goes through the chronology of —
SULLIVAN: You’re recommending that guy?
MAXWELL: Yes. Yes, I am.
SULLIVAN: He's a complete fantasist.
MATTHEWS: Who’s this?
MAXWELL: No, I’m just — I’m actually —
SULLIVAN: This guy, Malcolm Nance.
MAXWELL: — I'm — I’m — I’m citing —
SULLIVAN: He spreads so many conspiracy theories.
MAXWELL: — you to his book, The Plot to Destroy Democracy. It’s not a conspira —
SULLIVAN: And nonsense and you’re citing him?
MAXWELL: I just wanted to articulate the point I was making, which is that he ties it historically to the rise of white nationalism throughout Europe and so that is something tied to the debate over immigration was my only point.
SULLIVAN: Of course it is. It’s being created by mass immigration and you either have to choose between mass immigration or liberal democracy. You can't have both.
