Angry Republicans — not Democrats — sent Fox News opposition research on Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz before his appearance on a broadcast of “Fox News Sunday,” according to host Chris Wallace.
During his “Power Panel” segment, Wallace told Karl Rove he received unsolicited ammo to use against Cruz before his interview.
“This has been one of the strangest weeks I’ve ever had in Washington,” Wallace said. “As soon as we listed Ted Cruz as our guest this week, I got unsolicited research and questions, not from Democrats, but from top Republicans to hammer Cruz. Why are Republicans so angry at Ted Cruz?”
Rove insisted it was because Cruz and fellow Utah Republican Sen. Mike Lee decided to devise a strategy to defund Obamacare without consulting Republican leadership. (RELATED: David Brooks: GOP leaders will have to show Ted Cruz ‘who’s boss’)
Wallace’s remark caught the attention of former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, another Fox News contributor, who called on Wallace to reveal the anonymous Republicans’ names.
@FoxNewsSunday Keep it TRULY fair & balanced. Release the GOP names encouraging you to trash @SenTedCruz. No more anonymous sources.
— Sarah Palin (@SarahPalinUSA) September 22, 2013