Nicolle Wallace spots big problem with Trump's revenge tour that could haunt the GOP
President Donald Trump has been on a tear knocking out lawmakers in primaries for perceived disloyalty, most recently taking down Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY). But that is not necessarily going to serve his party well, MS NOW's Nicolle Wallace argued on Wednesday.
In fact, she said, it may only be causing his party to circle the drain faster in the midterms.
To explain, she quoted a recent observation from political strategist Dan Pfeiffer: "Yes, theincumbent president caninfluence primaries inside hisown party. And yes, Trump isgetting rid of people hebelieves wronged him. Butspending nearly $20 million todefeat a Republican in adistrict Donald Trump won by 35points, is not the flex peoplethink it is. At best, this is a Pyrrhic victory, and Trump'srevenge tour is a big problemfor the GOP moving forward.Trump is a massivedrag on his party, and to win,many Republicans will need toshow some independence from thedeeply unpopular president."
Indeed, the quote continued, "Thesmarter, savvier, lessmegalomaniacal leader wouldgive his party the room to dowhat they need to do to win.Trump is incapable of doing so,and the GOP will pay a pricefor it."
The other problem, Wallace noted, is that Trump is now creating a contingent of lame-duck Republicans with nothing left to lose in opposing him — and they are now doing just that, with Cassidy leading the way. He "joined Democratsto become the 50th yes vote ona war powers resolution,opposed Trump's ballroomfunding and reconciliation, andcalled Texas AG Ken Paxton,Trump's freshly-endorsedchallenger for John Cornyn'sSenate seat, a, quote, 'felon.'"
This defiance, she continued, is "likely just the beginning" because it's not just Cassidy and Massie opposing Trump now — lawmakers rejected Trump's order to include a harsh voter suppression bill into bipartisan housing reform legislation, and Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) flatly refused Trump's demand to fire the Senate parliamentarian for ruling his ballroom funding out of order.
"Evenadministration ally Senator John Kennedy, expressed doubtabout DOJ's $1.8 billion Anti-Weaponization Fund," Wallace added. "Now Cornyncould join their ranks."
Leave a Comment
Related Post