Scott Taylor: GOP Losses a ‘Referendum’ on Trump and His ‘Divisive Rhetoric’

EXCERPT:

TAYLOR: "Well, I think, you know, logically, and if we want to be intellectually consistent, you know, in 2009 when Governor Bob McDonnell won Virginia resoundingly, I mean, it was a referendum on President Obama. And if the results last night were the opposite, we would have said that as well, so I think that you have to say, you have to attribute some of these things, given the exit polls, given the Democrat turnout. And, you know, you have to give credit where credit is due. Democrats showed up last night. There's no question about it. So I think when you look at those factors, you can certainly attribute some things to perhaps the candidate, and Gillespie as well, too, but there was an overwhelming thing that was looming large, and that was -- I think it was the divisive rhetoric. Look, you've heard me on here say I support the president not blindly. If I agree with him I'll say it. If I don't, I don't. And I think that last night was a referendum. I don't think there's any way that you can look at it in a different way, to be honest with you and be intellectually consistent." 
CUOMO: "Well, plenty of people are saying Gillespie didn't go far enough, that he needed to go more Trump and one of those people is the president himself. So if you want to speak truth to power, have at it. What do you think the message is about that kind divisive rhetoric? Do you need to go more or is it the time to rethink dividing?" 
TAYLOR: "Well, let me first say, with all due respect to the president, I simply profoundly disagree with that. Look, I'm a guy that believes in unifying folks in leadership. I believe in addition, not subtraction. I think Virginians spoke last night, you know, by and large. Spoke last night what they believe. And I think it's important that we come together as a country. I think it's important that -- well, leadership matters, and to me, leading is bringing people together and achieving a purpose. So tons of respect for the president. As I said, I support him, but when I disagree with him I have no problem with saying it."