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A Q and A With Nicolle Wallace, Palin's Chaperone
Why do you say that?
There's obviously an organized campaign to lay blame for things at my feet and I’m not going to engage before the campaign ends. I have a very long relationship with Fox News, and the notion that someone would call me a coward on the air and accuse me of putting $150,000 on my credit card without a single person calling and checking with me suggests that something is going on.
There’s such a wealth of people that could be responsible for this. Why would they choose you?
I don’t know.
Do you have a motto?
[Long Pause. Laughter] I probably need one.
Do you have any campaign or election superstitions?
Not really, I haven’t been through that many elections to develop any weird rituals.
Do you think Katie Couric’s treatment of Sarah Palin was fair?
I don’t know. I’d like to take another look at it after the campaign is done. I think people focused on one part of the interview. They focused on a time when she was thinking out loud. I have to watch the whole thing in its entirety.
When do you think you can do that?
I don’t know
Maybe for her reelection campaign.
Yeah, hopefully. They'll be on their way, transitioning into the White House, before I can take a look at it. This has been a really, really hard-fought election on all sides. I’ve ended up on television a lot with Robert Gibbs, and when you're going to debate somebody, you kind of have to think of them as the opponent and the enemy, but we were both in New York for the third debate, and we drove around together and you know, I heard him talk about having a kid and you know, the minute you see your opponent as a human being, it’s kind of devastating.
There are moments that you are reminded in campaigns that everybody is doing the best that they can do. And that’s the core of what it’s about. That’s what it was about when I started this work, when I was 25 years old and I took a job as Jeb Bush’s press secretary without telling my college boyfriend of six years and moved to Tallahassee ten days later. That’s why you do it, because you love it and believe in someone.
And working in politics at the bleakest moment is better than any other career that certainly was available to me. It’s a gift. All of it, losing, winning, getting blamed, getting credit. It’s all together. Even Fred Barnes, I don’t know him, but getting a chance to make your case [to someone like him], getting a chance to go on Good Morning America and talk about what you believe in. It’s all a gift and no one makes any of us do anything. Working in politics, on a campaign, for anyone who does it, they do it because they fall in love. I’ve always admired John McCain and I would do this all over again.
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smdunne
Note to Wendy Button: this is how a classy woman in politics handles herself. I'm voting Obama/Biden, but good luck in your career Nicolle, you're great at your job and you will go far.
SactoGirl
Nicolle is a rock star, as you can tell from this interview. Her integrity runs deep and will continue to steer her well in what ever she does. McCain/Palin are lucky to have her.
JohnnyOffensive
Gee - I guess it's ok to be seeking the most powerful position in the world (in line to the Republican throne) and not have to face any media questions?
If she gave us just ONE honest to goodness press conference to show how she thinks on her feet, we'd all release a HUGE sigh of relief (or HUGE sigh of agony, depending on how it goes)...her hiding is the biggest reason they are losing this election.
alison75
I almost feel sorry for Nicole Wallace
But the fact that she was/still is an accessory to Sarah Palin possibly getting anywhere near the Federal Gov't overrides any sympathy I feel for her
Up until now seeing Nicole on TV made me cringe - yesterday I saw her on David Gregory and she was sympathetic
Get off the bus Nicole = they're throwing you overboard anyway so help your country and make sure Palin goes back to Alaska --- for good
jiml1956
There were times that I respected Nicolle over the past few months. She shouldn't be blamed for the 150k clothing expense, but after reading this article I respect her LESS. She's just a BS artist.
CartyBoston
Ana, Dear,
Bit of a puff piece, no? You let Ms. Wallace discuss sexism in the race but ask nothing about Governor Palin's fervent desire to remove womens' right to choose.
You ask nothing about Palin's deliberate initiatives to divide the nation into 'real' America and urban areas (read: areas with minorities).
You provided Wallace a platform to humanize Palin - at best a controversial, at worst an outright hateful candidate.
We read about Ms. Wallace's time with her dog, she seems so nice! However her chosen line of work has real consequences for real people, perhaps the 'Beast' is not the right place to come to best understand issues that matter.
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n--Y--jamesreiddealbrker
Nicole Wallace is unprofessional, rude and treats her peers and members of the media with contempt and disdain whenever she is given the opportunity to speak on her candidates' behave. He arrogance, sense of entitlement and inability to answer a question makes her an embarrassment to her profession.
I hope this election cycle is Ms. Wallace's last assault on the public.
Tricialea Tobin
LardGreystoke
Comments on just 2 of the whoppers from this spinmeister:
1) that "not any rational person accepts" that Powell's endorsement was a "cold examination of Barack Obama and John McCain": it sounded pretty cold to me.
2) re the "different standard" for Joe Biden and divine Sarah, agree with that: he is held to the standard of talking to reporters, and she is held to the standard of awaiting the "deference" due the rightful Queen of Alaska. Palin has been held to a miserably low standard from the moment she was foisted on an unbelieving country.
Crappola
Mmm... to be perfectly honest (and a little sexist) I would LOVE to go out on a date with Nicolle Wallace. Not only will our debates heat up during dinner at the local McDonalds (I gotta budget myself in these times of crisis) But she's not that bad to look at. Not saying that I don't have any standards because, frankly, I do. (no matter how low you think they may be)
But if Nicolle Wallace is up for a little one-on-one debate about our... stimulus package, then I'd be more than happy to REVEAL my plans to her. Although, I will have to ask for a time limit of 2 minutes for the response and wait for 15 minutes before the other gives a rebuttal. Who says I'm not fair and balanced?
NCbusinesswoman
Are you kidding? Has anyone DARED to ask the Obama/Biden buffoons anything? Do we know anything about them? Their arrogance is astounding! Take the day off for Obama on Tuesday? Unbelievably arrogant...Delay the World Series? This is like Big Brother invading our homes and saturating us with political BS...I hope it backfires!
Meanwhile they poke fun at working-class voters who are the foundation of this country. Michelle Obama spends $500 on room service (not reported but NOTHING is reported!) and Palin is mocked for her clothing (which she is donating after the campaign is over to charity by the way!). Why won't the LA Times release this tape they have of Obama's plan to re-write the Constitution and leave Israel to fend for itself! Amazing! Yet all of Obama's supporters are drinking the kool-aid!
I am a registered Independent and have voted for dems and reps in the past. But this year will vote straight republican. I have never witnessed such a media smear on a very dangerous man whose platform to use Obama's words is "just words, just speeches" and tainted with many holes.
sarahy
This is all shit...to many problems, controversy, and streached out truths
To many unprosesional tricks and unessesararies
UNPROFESSIONAL sarah....
You should stick with doing the right things like morals and problems of ou nation instead of media and you fighting for clothes
Politics is running for president on crack....
Teenagers no about something
14 year old revolusionists!
Kneeb0ne
I would have liked to see a follow up question to Wallace's statement
"The notion that it was a cold examination of Barack Obama and John McCain is not one that any rational person accepts."
What is she implying here? Is she implying that Powell is simply voting for Obama because he hates Bush? Or Powell is voting based on race? What is she saying?
It sounds like an attempt to dismiss Powell's decision as an uniformed endorsement.
livingintherealworld
from the moment that Sarah Pallin walked out on stage and announced herself as an average hockey mom, I saw someone who was not going to be able to control the way that she was " evolve " through this process. It is wrong to blame it on the media. Give us a break. Was it the twinkle of her shiny red shoes, or the saucy lipstick remark?
You cannot take someone and package them like you did her, then hide her like she is something to be protected, then in the end call her a maverickpitbullhockeymom. It won't fly in the real world. And that is what is so depressing and sad about how the people who operate these campaigns see the voters. We are not stupid.
AmiBlue
I'm betting the shopping spree was Cindy's idea.
Thank you.
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