McCain Embraces Rove

Karl Rove last week announced that he had given $2300 to the presumptive GOP presidential nominee John McCain.

Asked over the weekend about the donation, McCain said he has "always respected Karl Rove as one of the smart great political minds I think in American politics," and specifically refused to condemn Rove's hyper-partisan campaign tactics (including his smears against McCain in the 2000 South Carolina race).

Watch it:

Transcript:

QUESTION: Are there other signs you see that are encouraging to you...

MCCAIN: Oh yeah. A lot of the fundraisers from other camps are coming on board. And yeah we're seeing that coming together really well. We're seeing it.

[Inaudible]

MCCAIN: Who?

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QUESTION: Karl Rove?

MCCAIN: Oh I, listen, he ah. Nobody denies he's one of the smartest political minds in America. I'd be glad to get his advice. I get advice from a lot of people. I'd be happy to have his advice.

QUESTION: I was wondering about that, right....

MCCAIN: He beat me. I certainly would be glad to get his advice. I don't think I'd want to revisit how he did it. And I mean that. Not about South Carolina. I mean I don't feel like reliving my defeat.

QUESTION: Are you worried about, he uses very aggressive tactics is that something that--

MCCAIN: I've always respected Karl Rove as one of the smart great political minds I think in American politics. I've always respected him. We never had any ill will after the initial South Carolina thing. After we had the meeting with President Bush we moved on. I've seen Karl Rove many times when I've been over at the White House. We've always had pleasant conversations.

QUESTION: His tactics don't, you don't disapprove of them? They don't make you nervous?

MCCAIN: It's not so much whether I approve of his tactics or not. It's that he has a very good, great political mind. Any information or advice and council he can give us, I'd be glad to have. I don't think anybody denies his talents. So I'd be glad to get any advice and council. We would obviously decide whether to accept it or not.

Comments

[booker52]

With this, why doesn't John go all the way and just say his name is really GWB and that he really is trying for a third term???? This is just one more reason for a dem to win the WH in Nov!!!!! With John you know what you will be getting if elected. Less jobs, more war. Yeah, just like we've had for the last 7.

[LyricalLexicon]

McCain just keeps on tossing softballs for the democrats to use. That comment may have cost him the support of some moderates and independents. This is going to be great footage for the Democratic candidate to use in a TV ad against McCain. The more McCain talks the more he sticks his foot in his mouth.

[Aslanspal]

I was thinking the very exact same thing. Again McCain loses my respect anybody who would not have looked up the S.O.B. bush and knocked his teeth down his throat lost my respect.

[sawdustinhershoes]

I guess as a politican, McCain can't afford to create an enemy out of Rove. However, if he did demur with Rove, I would respect him.

I'm tired of people in this country courting this bastard's (Rove's) opinion as if he weren't a lying, treasonous, criminal who should be in prision on numerous felony counts.

To watch these guys, you'd think that Rove was more than a thug. McCain says that Rove has " a very good, great political mind." No he doesn't. He cheated. Only by cheating and playing to the bad side of dumb people did Rove get his bud George the Incompetent into the presidency. Only by manipulation and lawbreaking did he win. Period.

Rove's a creep. I hope he gets what he deserves. Meanwhile, it'll take a long time for McCain to get the taint of Rove off him as far as I'm concerned.

[thegreatgiginthesky]

This move to embrace Rove is to get the conservative base to accept him and vote for him. Considering what Rove did to him, I have even less respect for John McCain today. Only a man with no morals, no values and no consideration for his wife and kid would do such a thing.

[zendem1]

Same as the old boss..

[Denemator]

Well just goes to show how 2 faced this mcpain is, he is despicable and just one of "them" and "them" is not good for this country

[thegreatgiginthesky]

McCain once again proves my point about him. The man will do anything to be President. To claim that he will embrace Rove and his political ideologies. Rove is the one who master minded the attack and smear of McCain's service record, his wife and his kid. What man with any self respect would embrace this? The fact that McCain wants to embrace this man and continue the polarization of our society by forcing his will and the conservative will on large swaths of the population is the perfect reason to not vote for him. He is as divisive as George W. Bush. 8 years of anger, hatred, resentment and fear is all we need.

[lvogt]

I think it can only hurt McCain to associate himself with the most vilified person in the most unpopular presidency in modern history.

[thegreatgiginthesky]

The conservative base will love him for it. Watch the right wing radio jocks do a complete 180 on their opinion of him and try to rally the base behind him. Rove is like a God to these people. He is after all the guy who gave the republicans the White House after 8 years of evil Clinton rule. Like Regan they will elevate George W. Bush to the level of an idol and claim that he was the greatest. No one will remember the destruction, misery and chaos he has caused.

[stupidme]

With the " if you tell a lie long enough" mindset of Karl Rove in mind, I would like to begin circulating a rumor about John McCain and his family. By tipping his hat to Karl and accepting that little donation, the "Staight Talker" has clearly given his opponents the green light to utilize the tactics that Karl brings to a campaign. In fact, given McCain's cutting humor, he'll probably get a big kick out of it. My rumor is designed to both derail the "Straight Talk Express," and also inflict personal pain upon the target of the rumor. So here goes ... I have heard, and I have it on good sources that -- Cindy McCain rarely speaks at events because John has instructed her to keep quiet. In fact, given John's well known temper and old school philosophy that women should know their place, he has been known to slap her around a little. I believe Karl would approve of my rumor as it does have credibility. Cindy McCain never does say anything and, of course, John's temper is well known so the idea that he might have hit her is not that far fetched. Come on gang, let's get this rumor going! And if you have any hesitation, just remember it's only a matter of time before Karl offers something up about one of McCain's opponents. And if by chance McCain is not the nominee, don't worry ... I have a doozy about the Huckster.

[TIMEATELL]

One thing I will say about McCain - his actions tend to speak louder than his words. That is, McCain is notorious for saying one thing to please the right-wing and doing something completely different. They don't call him "The Maverick" for nothing. McCain is quite the character. As the adage goes, you can't teach an old dog new tricks .

[bitabingbitabangbitaboom]

THE KISS OF DEATH!

[enoughalready13]

KARL ROVE should burn in hell. That man is the devil himself.

[nightprowler]

that is why i have no respect for mcbush,if you cant stand up to a piece of shit like rove and bush how can you face binladen..­.sorry john you blew your chance

[UpstateSC]

Rove is only "brilliant" because he plays dirty. It's bad enough that McCain is cozying up to Rove for that reason alone, but that McCain was one of Rove's victims makes it even worse. We don't need such a wimp as president.

[vinny]

rove just has insight into the dispositions of rednecks, hillbillies, and cultists..­..

[incontempt]

ummm,
the 51%?

[Manx]

McCain = McBush

[Jaybot]

As well he should, since he bought and paid for several times over. Kneeling at the alter of Bush shouldn't come cheap.

[lvogt]

Rove's advise is basically; vilify someone, create negative energy and commit election fraud. Look where things are for the GOP after his political leadership. Historic corruption, unpopularity and a party at war with itself.
He's not brilliant, he's just willing to do things more unethical than most.