The co-hosts of The View brought on Republican strategist Nicolle Wallace, Thursday, to give the Republican view on politics. But instead of offering the loyal opposition, the former top aide to John McCain gushed over the Clintons.
Asked by Jenny McCarthy if Bill Clinton's personal problems will be an issue in 2016, Wallace blurted, "No. That's baked in the cake. I mean, to know Bill is to love Bill, whether you're a Democrat or a Republican." [See video below. MP3 audio here.]
To know Bill is to love Bill? Even Republicans agree on this point? What world does Wallace live in? Asked to spot the 2016 GOP candidate, the operative insisted that Republicans need someone who been "beaten up" and "tested."
Predictably, she touted, "But Chris Christie now has been tested by this bridge scandal. Jeb Bush knows what it's like to be president, to run for president."
In late 2013, Wallace appeared unsure is she opposed ObamaCare. When asked for her opinion by MSNBC host Joe Scarborough, the aide responded, "I don't know any more. My [former Bush aide] husband asked me the other day, what do we hate about it?"
For a week in February, the hosts of The View brought on actual conservatives, such as Mary Katharine Ham and Dana Loesch, but the hosts appear back to looking for non-threatening Republicans.
A partial transcript is below:
11:02
SHERRI SHEPHERD: Well, why did you think she was so – I mean, what gave you that opinion of Sarah Palin. Because, people who love her, like you said, they love her a lot.
...
WALLACE: There was a gap that I think even she would acknowledge, I think she came close to acknowledging in your interview with her in what she knew about the problems we were facing as a country. In 2008, we were at the brink of economic collapse. We were engaged in two wars and I think she would have admitted there was a real gap in her knowledge.
SHEPHERD: Now, she blamed you-- remember Katie Couric and Sarah Palin and I can see, you know, Russia from my house. She blamed you for that entire mishap. So, you know –
WALLACE: And it was my fault that she didn't know what books she read. So that was fair.
...
11:06
WALLACE: If Hillary Clinton is the Democratic nominee, which it looks like she'll be, the best person that we can put up there is someone who has been beaten up, someone who has been tested.
JENNY MCCARTHY? Bill?
WALLACE: We wish! He's good friends.
SHEPHERD: Well, he's not a Republican.
WALLACE: He advises Republicans who shall go unnamed. But Chris Christie now has been tested by this bridge scandal. Jeb Bush knows what it's like to be president, to run for president. So, I think we would be wise to take a long look at our guys who have that have –
MCCARTHY: But do you think Bill's past will hurt her at all?
WALLACE: No. That's baked in the cake. I mean, to know Bill is to love Bill, whether you're a Democrat or a Republican. So, I don't think it's going to affect anyone.
MCCARTHY: I'm glad you said that.
