Former Bill Clinton staffer George Stephanopoulos talked to View co-host Nicolle Wallace on Tuesday and pushed the idea of a potential "double standard" against Hillary Clinton in 2016. Stephanopoulos hyped a clip of comedienne Cecily Strong from Saturday's White House Correspondents Dinner. Strong lectured journalists to put their hands up and "solemnly swear not to talk about Hillary's appearance. Because that is not journalism."
On Monday, the hosts of NBC's Today also cheered Ms. Strong. Tamron Hall enthused, "That was a great moment when she did that. Cecily was fantastic." Al Roker lauded the liberal hectoring, "I thought she did a terrific job."
After the clip, Tuesday, Stephanopoulos wondered, "It creates this big debate. Is there a double standard here?" Wallace eagerly agreed, "Of course there is... And I think what's interesting is that Hillary Clinton seems to be, you know, at the acceptance phase."
Wallace, a liberal Republican, has previously cheered on Mrs. Clinton, saying, "I'm a huge fan." On Tuesday, she appeared to promote her new novel Madam President. Wallace acknowledged working for Palin and the "differences" between the two. She connected sexism against Palin to the problem Clinton faces, saying, "But there were more stories about [Palin's] clothes, makeup, hair, pregnancies than any man in politics. So, it is a double standard."
Wallace's book is blurbed by liberals such as Rachel Maddow who praised, "A great read." Mika Brzezinski gushed, "Scandal meets 24 -- Nicolle's experience in the media and inside the White House combined with her knowledge of history makes for some truly fantastic plot lines."
A transcript of the April 28 GMA segment is below:
8:39am ET
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: I'm over here with our friend, Nicolle Wallace from The View. Welcome back. She's also a novelist who worked for President George W. Bush in the White House and she's poured part of that experience into her new book, Madame President.
...
STEPHANOPOULOS: It [your new book] comes at a time where Hillary Clinton looks like, well, a big front runner for the Democratic nomination right now. A lot of commentary about what she's going to go through in the campaign, including from Cecily Strong, the White House Correspondents Dinner the other night. She made this joke.
CECILY STRONG: The media to put their hands up and swear something during this election season. Okay? "I solemnly swear not to talk about Hillary's appearance. Because that is not journalism." [Cheers and applause ]
STEPHANOPOULOS: That joke kind of divided the room. Not everybody thought it was --
WALLACE: It was funny!
STEPHANOPOULOS: – it was funny or fair. It creates this big debate. Is there a double standard here?
WALLACE: Of course there is! And I worked for Sarah Palin. Our differences have been documented everywhere. But there were more stories about her clothes, makeup, hair, pregnancies than any man in politics. So, it is a double standard. And I think what's interesting is that Hillary Clinton seems to be, you know, at the acceptance phase of that. So, you know, I think it's interesting. It is a funny joke. And you're right. Not everyone got it. Not everyone laughed.
STEPHANOPOULOS: No. Not that time. But everyone is going to love this book when they get it. Madame President by Nicolle Wallace.
