How extreme is MSNBC? According to analyst Nicolle Wallace, if someone disrupts Donald Trump’s State of the Union address on Tuesday night, the President was to blame. Live coverage anchor Brian William wondered if there would be a “you lie,” moment, referencing Republican Congressman Joe Wilson’s outburst during the 2009 State of the Union.
Wallace spat back that it would be Trump’s fault if something happens this year: “I think one of the differences is a lot of people feel the disruption is babies in cages at the border. The disruption is the President that attacking his own — a lot of people feel like the disruption has already taken place.”
Apparently, a screaming outburst is okay, so long as it’s against a Republican. She added, “So whatever happens in the course of giving this speech is deserved and has been earned by the most disruptive President.”
Over on CNN, analyst Van Jones speculated, perhaps hopefully, that something similar would happen this year: “I also think it will be interesting when you've got these new young Congresspeople, how do they handle this? Do they feel like they need to make a moment for themselves? Are you going to have one of those you lie moments from the left or is it going to be pure decorum?”
Partial transcripts are below. Click “expand” to read more.
MSNBC Live State of the Union coverage
2/5/19
8:05
BRIAN WILLIAMS: Nicolle Wallace, I have a fear that I hope we laugh about afte this is over, that I hope is unfounded, that this chamber is primed for some sort of disruption, largely because this is the most celebrated freshman class in a long time. There are a lot of new faces. Some people may view this as call and response format, as question time. But those of us who are old enough to remember “you lie” and how that made us feel about decorum and our process.
NICOLLE WALLACE: Well, I think one of the differences is a lot of people feel the disruption is babies in cages at the border. The disruption is the President that attacking his own — a lot of people feel like the disruption has already taken place. So whatever happens in the course of giving this speech is deserved and has been earned by the most disruptive President. I agree with everything you said. I think this President walks in there and may as well deliver the is speech on his knees because that is where he is politically.
He is so weak that Republicans are now saying, “Please don't declare a national emergency because you will be rebuked. We vote with the Democrats in opposing your wall.” He is so weakened by the constant scandal. His long-time ally, and you did a great interview with Chris Christie last night, is talking about how the southern district of New York is basically a flashing red light now representing a grave legal threat to this president. It's spilling out all over. So the disruption has already happened. It’s a commander-in-chief who doesn't listen to his Secretary of Defense, who doesn’t respect the rule of law he's supposed to oversee and preserve and whose abuses to the innocent are well documented.
CNN
2/5/19VAN JONES: I also think it will be interesting when you've got these new young Congress people, how do they handle this? Do they feel like they need to make a moment for themselves? Are you going to have one of those you lie moments from the left or is it going to be pure decorum?
RICK SANTORUM: There's no downside. We're talking about AOC. Why are we talking about AOC? Because she's done some outrageous things and said some outrageous things. The reality is, this is how you make your moment. And we've got some really interesting new characters on the House right now.
