A Republican Challenge To President Donald Trump | The Last Word | MSNBC
>>> HERE IS FORMER REPUBLICAN MASSACHUSETTS GOVERNOR WILLIAM
MASSACHUSETTS GOVERNOR WILLIAM WELD ANNOUNCING HIS EXPLORATION
WELD ANNOUNCING HIS EXPLORATION OF A CANDIDACY TO CHALLENGE
OF A CANDIDACY TO CHALLENGE DONALD TRUMP IN THE REPUBLICAN
DONALD TRUMP IN THE REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARIES.
PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARIES. >> THEY SAY THE PRESIDENT HAS
>> THEY SAY THE PRESIDENT HAS CAPTURED THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IN
CAPTURED THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IN WASHINGTON.
WASHINGTON. AS HE HIMSELF MIGHT TWEET, SAD.
AS HE HIMSELF MIGHT TWEET, SAD. IT'S EVEN SADDER THAT
IT'S EVEN SADDER THAT REPUBLICANS IN WASHINGTON, MANY
REPUBLICANS IN WASHINGTON, MANY OF THEM EXHIBIT ALL THE SYMPTOMS
OF THEM EXHIBIT ALL THE SYMPTOMS OF STOCKHOLM SYNDROME,
OF STOCKHOLM SYNDROME, IDENTIFYING WITH THEIR CAPTOR.
IDENTIFYING WITH THEIR CAPTOR. >> JOINING OUR DISCUSSION NOW,
>> JOINING OUR DISCUSSION NOW, STUART STEPHENS, A REPUBLICAN
STUART STEPHENS, A REPUBLICAN POLITICAL CONSULTANT WHO SERVED
POLITICAL CONSULTANT WHO SERVED AS THE CHIEF STRATEGIST FOR MITT
AS THE CHIEF STRATEGIST FOR MITT ROMNEY'S 2012 PRESIDENTIAL
ROMNEY'S 2012 PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN.
CAMPAIGN. HE'S NOW A POLITICAL ADVISER TO
HE'S NOW A POLITICAL ADVISER TO WILLIAM WELD.
WILLIAM WELD. AND JON MEACHAM IS BACK WITH US
AND JON MEACHAM IS BACK WITH US TO MOUNT WHAT MIGHT BE A
TO MOUNT WHAT MIGHT BE A PRE-EMPTIVE DEFENSE AGAINST A
PRE-EMPTIVE DEFENSE AGAINST A TWEET STORM FROM PRESIDENT
TWEET STORM FROM PRESIDENT TRUMP.
TRUMP. SUSAN PAGE'S BOOK IS GOING TO
SUSAN PAGE'S BOOK IS GOING TO COME OUT.
COME OUT. IT'S APPARENTLY GOING TO BE
IT'S APPARENTLY GOING TO BE FILLED WITH WHAT BARBARA BUSH
FILLED WITH WHAT BARBARA BUSH DOESN'T LIKE ABOUT DONALD TRUMP.
DOESN'T LIKE ABOUT DONALD TRUMP. WE'VE SEEN WHAT PRESIDENT TRUMP
WE'VE SEEN WHAT PRESIDENT TRUMP CONTINUES TO DO TO JOHN McCAIN.
CONTINUES TO DO TO JOHN McCAIN. WHAT ARE YOU EXPECTING FROM THE
WHAT ARE YOU EXPECTING FROM THE PRESIDENT AND WHAT DO YOU KNOW
PRESIDENT AND WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT BARBARA BUSH'S FEELINGS
ABOUT BARBARA BUSH'S FEELINGS ABOUT DONALD TRUMP SINCE YOU
ABOUT DONALD TRUMP SINCE YOU KNEW HER SO WELL?
KNEW HER SO WELL? >> WELL, I WOULD JUST -- YOU
>> WELL, I WOULD JUST -- YOU SAID SOME KIND WORDS ABOUT THE
SAID SOME KIND WORDS ABOUT THE EULOGY I WAS HONORED TO GIVE.
EULOGY I WAS HONORED TO GIVE. I'LL TELL YOU QUICKLY I ALWAYS,
I'LL TELL YOU QUICKLY I ALWAYS, LIKE YOU I SUSPECT, YOU'VE GONE
LIKE YOU I SUSPECT, YOU'VE GONE TO FUNERALS AND LEFT THINKING,
TO FUNERALS AND LEFT THINKING, BOY, I WISH THE PERSON WE WERE
BOY, I WISH THE PERSON WE WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT HEARD THAT.
JUST TALKING ABOUT HEARD THAT. I ASKED HER IF SHE WANTED TO
I ASKED HER IF SHE WANTED TO HEAR THE EULOGY AND SHE SAID,
HEAR THE EULOGY AND SHE SAID, NO, BUT I'LL BE LISTENING TOP SO
NO, BUT I'LL BE LISTENING TOP SO EVERYTHING I'M ABOUT TO SAY WITH
EVERYTHING I'M ABOUT TO SAY WITH THAT IN MIND.
THAT IN MIND. HER HUSBAND ONCE -- I REMEMBER
HER HUSBAND ONCE -- I REMEMBER HEARING HIM SAY ONCE AFTER SHE
HEARING HIM SAY ONCE AFTER SHE HAD BEEN HOLDING FORTH ON
HAD BEEN HOLDING FORTH ON VARIOUS SUBJECTS, BAR, HOW DO
VARIOUS SUBJECTS, BAR, HOW DO YOU HAVE SO MANY DAMN OPINIONS
YOU HAVE SO MANY DAMN OPINIONS ABOUT EVERYTHING?
ABOUT EVERYTHING? THIS IS BARBARA BUSH UNFILTERED,
THIS IS BARBARA BUSH UNFILTERED, WHICH IS REDUNDANT.
WHICH IS REDUNDANT. MRS. BUSH WAS ONE OF THE LAST
MRS. BUSH WAS ONE OF THE LAST GREAT TRUTH TELLERS IN AMERICAN
GREAT TRUTH TELLERS IN AMERICAN POLITICS AND IT GOT HER IN
POLITICS AND IT GOT HER IN TROUBLE.
TROUBLE. REMEMBER 1984, SHE REFERRED TO A
REMEMBER 1984, SHE REFERRED TO A FEMALE OPPONENT OF HER HUSBAND'S
FEMALE OPPONENT OF HER HUSBAND'S AS A WORD THAT RHYMED WITH RICH
AS A WORD THAT RHYMED WITH RICH AND THE FAMILY CAME AFTER HER
AND THE FAMILY CAME AFTER HER AND EVERYBODY CAME AFTER HER.
AND EVERYBODY CAME AFTER HER. SHE REALIZED, AS SHE SAID, I'M
SHE REALIZED, AS SHE SAID, I'M NOT THE POET LAUREATE, I SHOULD
NOT THE POET LAUREATE, I SHOULD WATCH MYSELF.
WATCH MYSELF. I THINK THAT IF I WERE DONALD
I THINK THAT IF I WERE DONALD TRUMP, I WOULD PICK A FIGHT WITH
TRUMP, I WOULD PICK A FIGHT WITH SOMEBODY MY OWN SIZE, AND
SOMEBODY MY OWN SIZE, AND BARBARA BUSH IS WAY TOO BIG FOR
BARBARA BUSH IS WAY TOO BIG FOR HIM.
HIM. >> STUART STEPHENS, IT STRIKES
>> STUART STEPHENS, IT STRIKES ME AS I LISTEN TO JOHN THAT
ME AS I LISTEN TO JOHN THAT THERE ARE SOME REAL FAMILY
THERE ARE SOME REAL FAMILY SIMILARITIES BETWEEN BILL WELD,
SIMILARITIES BETWEEN BILL WELD, THE WELD FAMILY AND THE BUSH
THE WELD FAMILY AND THE BUSH FAMILY.
FAMILY. THE OLD LINE NEW ENGLAND WASP
THE OLD LINE NEW ENGLAND WASP STYLE, REPUBLICAN, STYLISTICALLY
STYLE, REPUBLICAN, STYLISTICALLY VERY SIMILAR PEOPLE.
VERY SIMILAR PEOPLE. YOU'RE NOW FULLY ENGAGED IN
YOU'RE NOW FULLY ENGAGED IN TRYING TO HELP BILL WELD MOVE
TRYING TO HELP BILL WELD MOVE POSSIBLY TOWARD A CAMPAIGN FOR
POSSIBLY TOWARD A CAMPAIGN FOR THE REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL
THE REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATION.
NOMINATION. WE THINK OF THE CHALLENGES WE'VE
WE THINK OF THE CHALLENGES WE'VE SEEN IN THESE SITUATIONS, THE
SEEN IN THESE SITUATIONS, THE VERY FIRST ONE I THINK WE ALL
VERY FIRST ONE I THINK WE ALL SAW WAS 1968 WITH GENE McCARTHY.
SAW WAS 1968 WITH GENE McCARTHY. McCARTHY DIDN'T WIN THE
McCARTHY DIDN'T WIN THE NOMINATION, BUT THE PRESIDENT HE
NOMINATION, BUT THE PRESIDENT HE CHALLENGED DIDN'T WIN THE
CHALLENGED DIDN'T WIN THE NOMINATION OR THE PRESIDENCY
NOMINATION OR THE PRESIDENCY EITHER.
EITHER. WE SAW THAT HAPPEN WITH PAT
WE SAW THAT HAPPEN WITH PAT BUCHANAN CHALLENGING GEORGE H.W.
BUCHANAN CHALLENGING GEORGE H.W. BUSH.
BUSH. GEORGE H.W. BUSH WON THE
GEORGE H.W. BUSH WON THE NOMINATION, BUT AFTER THAT
NOMINATION, BUT AFTER THAT CHALLENGE HE COULDN'T WIN THE
CHALLENGE HE COULDN'T WIN THE PRESIDENCY.
PRESIDENCY. IS THAT DYNAMIC POSSIBLE HERE
IS THAT DYNAMIC POSSIBLE HERE WITH BILL WELD?
WITH BILL WELD? >> SAME WITH JIMMY CARTER WHEN
>> SAME WITH JIMMY CARTER WHEN HE RAN -- TED KENNEDY RAN
HE RAN -- TED KENNEDY RAN AGAINST JIMMY CARTER.
AGAINST JIMMY CARTER. I THINK IT'S VERY POSSIBLE.
I THINK IT'S VERY POSSIBLE. YOU KNOW, BILL WELD WHEN HE RAN
YOU KNOW, BILL WELD WHEN HE RAN FOR GOVERNOR IN 1990 WAS A SUPER
FOR GOVERNOR IN 1990 WAS A SUPER LONGSHOT.
LONGSHOT. I WORKED FOR HIM THEN.
I WORKED FOR HIM THEN. WE COULDN'T GET ENOUGH VOTES ON
WE COULDN'T GET ENOUGH VOTES ON THE REPUBLICAN STATE CONVENTION
THE REPUBLICAN STATE CONVENTION TO GET ON THE BALLOT.
TO GET ON THE BALLOT. WE HAD TO GET PETITIONS.
WE HAD TO GET PETITIONS. HE WON THAT AND BECAME THE FIRST
HE WON THAT AND BECAME THE FIRST REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR ELECTED IN
REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR ELECTED IN 20 YEARS IN MASSACHUSETTS.
20 YEARS IN MASSACHUSETTS. SO HE'S NOT AFRAID OF BIG
SO HE'S NOT AFRAID OF BIG CHALLENGES.
CHALLENGES. HE'S WON'T THE ODDS BEFORE.
HE'S WON'T THE ODDS BEFORE. HE GOT RE-ELECTED WITH HISTORIC
HE GOT RE-ELECTED WITH HISTORIC NUMBERS, 71%.
NUMBERS, 71%. YOU KNOW, HE'S REALLY THE
YOU KNOW, HE'S REALLY THE PERFECT ALTERNATIVE IF HE
PERFECT ALTERNATIVE IF HE DECIDES TO RUN TO DONALD TRUMP.
DECIDES TO RUN TO DONALD TRUMP. I MEAN, AS U.S. ATTORNEY HE WON
I MEAN, AS U.S. ATTORNEY HE WON 110 OUT OF 111 CORRUPTION CASES.
110 OUT OF 111 CORRUPTION CASES. HE BROKE UP KEVIN WHITE'S
HE BROKE UP KEVIN WHITE'S MACHINE, WHICH YOU REMEMBER
MACHINE, WHICH YOU REMEMBER WELL, LAWRENCE, IN BOSTON.
WELL, LAWRENCE, IN BOSTON. RUNNING AGAINST A PRESIDENT
RUNNING AGAINST A PRESIDENT WHOSE CAMPAIGN MANAGER, DEPUTY
WHOSE CAMPAIGN MANAGER, DEPUTY CAMPAIGN MANAGER, NATIONAL
CAMPAIGN MANAGER, NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER, FOREIGN POLICY
SECURITY ADVISER, FOREIGN POLICY ADVISER ARE ALL NOW FELONS.
ADVISER ARE ALL NOW FELONS. I MEAN, THAT'S JUST A PERFECT
I MEAN, THAT'S JUST A PERFECT CONTRAST FOR SOMEBODY WHO CAN GO
CONTRAST FOR SOMEBODY WHO CAN GO IN AND CLEAN UP WHAT IS CLEARLY
IN AND CLEAN UP WHAT IS CLEARLY A MESS.
A MESS. HE BALANCED A BUDGET.
HE BALANCED A BUDGET. THAT'S SOMETHING REPUBLICANS
THAT'S SOMETHING REPUBLICANS HAVE SEEMED TO HAVE COMPLETELY
HAVE SEEMED TO HAVE COMPLETELY FORGOTTEN ABOUT.
FORGOTTEN ABOUT. SO HE'LL DEFINITELY BE A STRONG
SO HE'LL DEFINITELY BE A STRONG VOICE TO GIVE PEOPLE A REAL
VOICE TO GIVE PEOPLE A REAL ALTERNATIVE IF THEY HAVE A
ALTERNATIVE IF THEY HAVE A DIFFERENT VISION OF THE COUNTRY
DIFFERENT VISION OF THE COUNTRY AND THE PARTY.
AND THE PARTY. >> AND STUART, TALK ABOUT HIM AS
>> AND STUART, TALK ABOUT HIM AS A CAMPAIGNER BECAUSE I BELIEVE
A CAMPAIGNER BECAUSE I BELIEVE YOU WORKED ON ONE OF HIS -- AT
YOU WORKED ON ONE OF HIS -- AT LEAST ONE OF HIS MASSACHUSETTS
LEAST ONE OF HIS MASSACHUSETTS GOVERNORS CAMPAIGNS.
GOVERNORS CAMPAIGNS. >> I DID.
>> I DID. I WORKED ON ACTUALLY BOTH OF
I WORKED ON ACTUALLY BOTH OF THEM IN '90 AND '94.
THEM IN '90 AND '94. >> TALK ABOUT HIS ABILITY TO
>> TALK ABOUT HIS ABILITY TO ROLL WITH WHAT BECOMES THE TRUMP
ROLL WITH WHAT BECOMES THE TRUMP EXPERIENCE IN A REPUBLICAN
EXPERIENCE IN A REPUBLICAN PRIMARY.
PRIMARY. >> WELL, YOU KNOW, HE'S VERY
>> WELL, YOU KNOW, HE'S VERY QUICK.
QUICK. HE DOESN'T TAKE THINGS
HE DOESN'T TAKE THINGS PERSONALLY.
PERSONALLY. IN A DEBATE, HE ACCUSED HIM OF
IN A DEBATE, HE ACCUSED HIM OF COMING OVER ON THE MAYFLOWER AND
COMING OVER ON THE MAYFLOWER AND SAID MY FAMILY DIDN'T COME OVER
SAID MY FAMILY DIDN'T COME OVER ON THE MAYFLOWER, WE SENT THE
ON THE MAYFLOWER, WE SENT THE SERVANTS OVER WITH THE SILVER.
SERVANTS OVER WITH THE SILVER. EVERYBODY FELL DOWN LAUGHING AND
EVERYBODY FELL DOWN LAUGHING AND THAT WAS THE END OF THAT.
THAT WAS THE END OF THAT. HE'S A BIG GUY, IN ALL SENSES OF
HE'S A BIG GUY, IN ALL SENSES OF THE WORD.
THE WORD. HE HAS A BIG HEART AND A BIG
HE HAS A BIG HEART AND A BIG SOUL.
SOUL. HE SORT OF EMBRACES THIS.
HE SORT OF EMBRACES THIS. SO I THINK THAT HE'LL REALLY
SO I THINK THAT HE'LL REALLY ENJOY IF HE DECIDES TO RUN
ENJOY IF HE DECIDES TO RUN RUNNING IN NEW HAMPSHIRE.
RUNNING IN NEW HAMPSHIRE. THERE'S THIS WEIRD THING IN NEW
THERE'S THIS WEIRD THING IN NEW HAMPSHIRE, THE PERSON THAT SEEMS
HAMPSHIRE, THE PERSON THAT SEEMS TO ENJOY IT THE MOST SEEMS TO DO
TO ENJOY IT THE MOST SEEMS TO DO VERY, VERY WELL IN NEW
VERY, VERY WELL IN NEW HAMPSHIRE.
HAMPSHIRE. I LEARNED THAT LESSON WHEN JOHN
I LEARNED THAT LESSON WHEN JOHN McCAIN WAS RUNNING AGAINST
McCAIN WAS RUNNING AGAINST GEORGE BUSH AND I WAS WORKING
GEORGE BUSH AND I WAS WORKING FOR GEORGE BUSH.
FOR GEORGE BUSH. THEY WERE HAVING A LOT MORE FUN
THEY WERE HAVING A LOT MORE FUN IN THE McCAIN CAMPAIGN.
IN THE McCAIN CAMPAIGN. >> AND JON MEACHAM, BILL WELD IS
>> AND JON MEACHAM, BILL WELD IS A TALL GUY.
A TALL GUY. HE'S A BIG GUY.
HE'S A BIG GUY. HE TAKES THE SAME SPACE THAT
HE TAKES THE SAME SPACE THAT TRUMP TAKES UP.
TRUMP TAKES UP. AND AS STUART JUST MENTIONED, HE
AND AS STUART JUST MENTIONED, HE OBVIOUSLY HAS A SENSE OF HUMOR.
OBVIOUSLY HAS A SENSE OF HUMOR. HE HAD TO.
HE HAD TO. HE SURVIVED BOSTON POLITICS.
HE SURVIVED BOSTON POLITICS. HE WAS RUNNING AGAINST THAT
HE WAS RUNNING AGAINST THAT BOSTON DEMOCRATIC MACHINE ALL
BOSTON DEMOCRATIC MACHINE ALL THE TIME.
THE TIME. AND THEY WERE TRYING TO PUSH HIM
AND THEY WERE TRYING TO PUSH HIM AROUND, AND I HAVE TO SAY, I
AROUND, AND I HAVE TO SAY, I OBSERVED FROM THEM THAT THEY
OBSERVED FROM THEM THAT THEY DEVELOPED A REAL RESPECT --
DEVELOPED A REAL RESPECT -- GRUDGING RESPECT, I SHOULD CALL
GRUDGING RESPECT, I SHOULD CALL IT, A GRUDGING RESPECT FOR HIS
IT, A GRUDGING RESPECT FOR HIS ABILITY TO BEAT THEM.
ABILITY TO BEAT THEM. >> YOU'RE EXACTLY RIGHT.
>> YOU'RE EXACTLY RIGHT. HE'S A HAPPY WARRIOR.
HE'S A HAPPY WARRIOR. >> YEAH.
>> YEAH. >> I'M AN ADMIRER OF GOVERNOR
>> I'M AN ADMIRER OF GOVERNOR WELD IN THAT SENSE.
WELD IN THAT SENSE. HE'S A TR REPUBLICAN, RIGHT?
HE'S A TR REPUBLICAN, RIGHT? >> YES.
>> YES. >> WHICH IS A VANISHINGLY RARE
>> WHICH IS A VANISHINGLY RARE BREED NOW.
BREED NOW. I THINK HE'S PERFECT FOR THIS
I THINK HE'S PERFECT FOR THIS AND I THINK HE'LL HAVE FUN AND I
AND I THINK HE'LL HAVE FUN AND I THINK, AS STUART SAYS, I THINK
THINK, AS STUART SAYS, I THINK HE'LL COMMUNICATE THAT HE'S
HE'LL COMMUNICATE THAT HE'S HAVING FUN.
HAVING FUN. I REMEMBER HIM SAYING BACK
I REMEMBER HIM SAYING BACK PROBABLY 20 YEARS AGO NOW WHEN
PROBABLY 20 YEARS AGO NOW WHEN WE WERE IN THE MIDDLE OF SOME
WE WERE IN THE MIDDLE OF SOME MOMENT WHERE WE WANTED AN
MOMENT WHERE WE WANTED AN INDEPENDENT TO COME IN AND SAVE
INDEPENDENT TO COME IN AND SAVE US FROM THE PETTINESS OF
US FROM THE PETTINESS OF POLITICS, AND HE SAID, YOU KNOW,
POLITICS, AND HE SAID, YOU KNOW, EVERYONE DENOUNCES THE PETTINESS
EVERYONE DENOUNCES THE PETTINESS OF POLITICS, I LOVE THE
OF POLITICS, I LOVE THE PETTINESS OF POLITICS.
PETTINESS OF POLITICS. HE'S PERFECT.
HE'S PERFECT. >> AND STUART, AS WE KNOW, THERE
>> AND STUART, AS WE KNOW, THERE ARE FEW THINGS MORE DANGEROUS
ARE FEW THINGS MORE DANGEROUS THAN A SMART POLITICIAN WHO HAS
THAN A SMART POLITICIAN WHO HAS NOTHING TO LOSE.
NOTHING TO LOSE. AND THAT WOULD BE BILL WELD IN
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