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

[dmaci]

I used to respect McCain for his integrity, although I disagree with almost all of his policy positions.

But to embrace Karl Rove?! yes, he's a smart political operative. He's also the antithesis of integrity. He'll say anything, do anything, smear anyone, to get ahead. A despicable human being. McCain does himself no credit by this blatant fawning association.

[YMCA]

Guys,Everyone. Please. It's becoming more and more clear that the Republicans know they can beat Hillary and can't beat Obama.
Why does nobody talk about this? Or, rather, I don't think people talk about this enough.
To Hillary supporters: She's a strong candidate, and probably would make a good President; but she will lose when all of the Conservatives go to town on her and all of the independents go and vote for McCain.

Obama may not be your candidate of choice, but his policies only differ slightly from Clinton's. If the Democrats want to win. They MUST, MUST elect Obama.
Please admit this to yourselves.
-Elias

[rbe1]

For me, it's a relief to read something in the Huff Post which isn't a series of rants against Hillary Clinton or her family, and it's a lot more fun too. Now the question is, can Clinton or Obama use the facts about this republican asshole to beat him and his chosen whore in the general ?

[wmbear]

SO, JOHN-O, GIVE HIM THE OLD "I WUV YOU KARL" HUG...

The way you did Bush....

[fetchezlavache]

McCain has embraced George W. Bush, Jerry Falwell, William Kristol, and now Karl Rove. And this is the man some of you out there think has enough judgment to be president? Are you insane?

[TheIndependenceParty]

John doesn't give a damn what Rove did, ... he just admires his mind. Hmmmm. Truly amazing.
He always seemed like a flinty, bad-tempered old fart to me anyway, ... McCain that is. Rove is just a twisted, sick f**k. Like admiring a political Ted Bundy. When politics sink to his level, ... we all need to stand back and cover our noses and mouths. Sadly, ... We've been there since Reagan!

http://theindependenceparty.blogspot.com/

[watchingthings]

Maybe McCain plans to pack it in at the end and let Bloomberg run for President in his stead.

[BetterDays]

McCain was my hero in his last run at the Presidency. Since that time he started doing everything he could to embrace Bush, Bush's war, and now Karl Rove. Now he sickens me. He will sell his soul to the devil to win this election. The last time he ran for President he refused to compromise his integrity, now it is for sale to anyone who can get him elected. Sad, corrupt and immoral.

[emncaity]

"Sad, corrupt, and immoral"..­.and the media is largely giving him a pass, partly because of the persistence of image and partly because he's personally friendly, funny, and engaging.

Please, please, PLEEEEEASE God...let them pick Rove as a strategist and let him have a high profile...­believe me when I tell you, Dems are gonna need all the help they can get come November. I'd put even money on them right now. If there's a major national security event, I'd give 3-to-1. I'm not sure people realize how close we really are to a President Bomb-Iran administration.

[mommadona]

Yep.

And, he did fool you the first time around - I thought he was a "straight-shooter" also, until I started looking into McCain's political history, and LO AND BEHOLD....­.he's about as fascist-oriented as it gets.

Who in the HELL is an INTERNATIONAL REPUBLICAN and what in the WORLD is McCain doing as their president? (I call his office often, asking this question..­.)

http://www.jigsaw.com/id399910/iri_international_republican_institute_company_directory.xhtml

[alwaysinterested]

Even though I will not vote for Barack, this is exactly why I would never stoop so low as to vote for a republican. McCain wants to be president at all costs. He's betting that rove will get him there one way or another.

Watch out Obama supporters. Rove has honed his skills attacking democrats. The Hill has been a favorite target. Once rove and his fellow goons get done with Barack, you be praying that george bush sign another signing statement making himself ruler of america. You'll be thinking that george bush is the smartest man that ever lived, all courtesy of rove.

ROVE, AT ONE TIME BUSH'S BRAIN, NOW, AMERICA'S HEMORRHOID!

Republican trash and the trash they spew is always the same, just their victims change!

[watchingthings]

Now, Mr. McCain, why are you embracing turdblossom when you know his heart is with someone named Hillary Clinton. Heck...he even wants to help her out with her campaign.

[beekeeper]

Wow John, this is political suicide.

[mommadona]

"THE ENEMY OF MY ENEMY IS MY FRIEND"

OR

I know which side of my bread is buttered

OR

You can't get ANYWHERE in this town without sucking on a TurdBlosso­m...

[gcallaghan]

Republicans = Military Failure

[souris]

.......KKK­arl Rove and John McCrazy are butt buddies, and they should be careful or they will cause Miss Lindsey Graham to have a jealous hissy-fit, and throw her purse at them!!!!!

[Ohg]

It is sad to watch an old warrior like John McCain compromise his values in favor of ambition.
http://thefiresidepost.com/2008/02/09/john-mccain-waffles-on-issues/

[rbe1]

Sadly, it seems that this is what running for president is largely about.

[jahzilla]

"No conviction; no substance; no self- dignity. I will say anything to get elected, even if it means Karl gets a 'reach-around' during what my anger-management councillor calls 'recess' or 'time-out' or 'quiet-time' or what-ever the fuck that asshole calls it!! My name is John McCain . . . and I approve (today, anyway) of this message. Assholes!!"

[Chuckwheat]

"My friends...­" apparently extends to Turd Blossom.
Keep it up!