Discussing Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R) on the May 1 edition of MSNBC's Tucker, host Tucker Carlson asked columnist Bruce Bartlett: “If both of them had absolute power ... who would kill more?” Tucker's question came after Bartlett asserted, “I think Giuliani seems like he has an authoritarian personality.” Tucker then asked: “And Hillary Clinton doesn't? You're saying he has a more authoritarian personality than Hillary Clinton?”

Bartlett, an official in the George H.W. Bush administration, had written a May 1 column stating that “politically sophisticated conservatives will have to recognize that no Republican can win in 2008 and that their only choice is to support the most conservative Democrat for the nomination. Call me crazy, but I think that person is Hillary Clinton.”

From the May 1 edition of MSNBC's Tucker:

CARLSON: Would you personally vote for her?

BARTLETT: I would vote for her against some people, I don't know --

CARLSON: Like who?

BARTLETT: Well, I'm just not very happy about any of the Republicans running. I think Giuliani has -- seems like an -- has an authoritarian personality. [Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt] Romney seems --

CARLSON: And Hillary Clint -- wait, wait. And Hillary Clinton doesn't? You're saying he has a more authoritarian personality than Hillary Clinton?

BARTLETT: Well, that --

CARLSON: If both of them had absolute power -- let's just say, a mind experiment -- if they had absolute power, if they were stuck, who would kill more?

BARTLETT: Gee, that's a tough question. I think Giuliani would kill more. I think he's a tougher guy, and I don't mean that in a positive way, really.