Karl Rove Offers Mind-Bending Take On 'Flag Lapel Pin' Issue

You know, as an architect of the Bush presidency, Karl Rove's never impressed me much. He's never been able to craft a mandate or even deliver a convincing electoral win, and steering a below-average President to the lowest approval ratings in modern history is the sort of achievement that doesn't seem to be far beyond the reach of the average farm animal. But if there's one thing that Rove is an absolute genius at, it is taking the sorts of premises which, if most people spoke aloud - or even thought - would cause our heads to explode in a fiery, white-hot burst of pain and divine retribution, and being able to voice them himself without causing any recognizable damage to the poisonous yogurt sloshing around inside his cranial cavity.

Behold Rove at his best, discussing the flag lapel pin issue, and suggesting - believe it or not - that the Democrats are PERSECUTING people who choose to wear such pins. It is, really, really, amazing.

[WATCH.]

WALLACE: Let me ask you about that. Some liberal commentators say that Clinton has been using the Rove playbook going after Obama on values like guns and religion. Does what you have heard from her last week sound familiar?

ROVE: Well it's not what I would have done. There are democrats who are troubled by some of the things that Obama says and why she has not made this an issue earlier, particularly framing it up as an issue that would be raised in the general election and what's his answer now has eluded me. For example, he very early on made the comment about true patriotism consists not of wearing a flag lapel pin but speaking out on the issues. You can be a true patriot and speak out on issues AND wear a flag lapel pin. He sort of questioning the patriotism of people who might put on a flag lapel pin, but disagree with his opinion.

Comments

[jaglon]

Anyone can stick a flag pin in is lapel, or on his robe for that matter, even a terrorist. Maybe, if Rove is so commited to his patriotism, he should get the flag tattooed to his forehead ... in color.

Here we are in a very bad time in our country and people would not support someone because he does not wear a flag in his lapel? Isn't it just incredible. Has everyone seen the movie Idiocracy? That is where this country is headed.

[Fleisch]

I see that Karl Rove is now listed as an "unofficial adviser" to the John McCain campaign, which seems to be in keeping with the "fair and balanced" tradition of his new role as Fox News commentator. But I'm really confused: is Rove now McCain's brain? And if so, what is to become of Lieberman? And what has Bush been doing for a brain since Rove left? (No, don't answer that; that's too easy.)

[hoopesaz]

I'm having so many problems with this site. I think HUFFPO is about to self destruct.

Anywho, he speaks the truth, does he not? Liberals see someone wearing a flag lapel pin and they want to vomit. They think such a person is somehow who is just pretending to be patriotic. Or worse yet, someone who is "fooled" into thinking they are patriotic just because they wear a pin. While you may not like his comment, in my experience it's true.

And to the statement, "He's never been able to craft a mandate or even deliver a convincing electoral win". Really? What elections have you watched? He's managed to successfully get the liberal proclaimed "WORST PRESIDENT EVER" elected twice. And while the first was close, the second left no room for doubt unless you bought on to the belief that somehow the vote in Ohio was manipulated to the tune of 150,000 or so votes.

I realize the facts get in the way of your good story.

[OpusIsUnderTheBed]

Says stupid stuff and gets paid muy money. America!

[oregonrain]

Who cares what this Pillsbury Dough Boy lookalike says , or thinks ?

[RThM]

Patriotic Americans respect the nation's ideals of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness and understand that the flag is symbol of that. Putting the latter on a lapel is no proof of the former. People like Rove twist sentiments of patriotism for personal gain and are in fact debasing both the symbol and America. We've had enough of these craven opportunists in Washington over the last few decades and it's time they crawled back under the rocks where they belong.

[toooldtoblog]

"Patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel." Samuel Johnson

[chirps]

It was good to see Karl was wearing his American flag pin. I wonder if he wore such a pin back during the Viet Nam War era? I wonder if Cheney wore his? Whatever, there can be no doubt that both of these flag pin-wearing patriots are ready to lay down their lives in defense of America. I salute them.

[Meteor]

If Rove thinks flag pins are fundamental, he should stick his in or on his fundament.

[OpusIsUnderTheBed]

And how do we know he only wears one flag pin?

[MRminutman]

He has that same smug look on his face that he did in the First Indiana Jones movie when he pulled out his coat hanger and hung up his jacket.

[tunedinla]

people who wear pins and wave flags are often the same people who go to church on Sunday so they can feel safe when they act like jerks during the rest of the week.

[Nyla785]

Rove is horrendously boring on Fox. But it's no suprise that Fox News has chosen to shelter one of the crooks of the Republican party.

[BBackSoon]

I believe in karma to the extent that you should not wish ill to other people. But this man is one of those people that I hope and pray we get to see get his just deserts. I hope we get to see him tried and punished for his lies and crimes. But I also have to believe that if not in this life perhaps it will happen in the next. I like the idea of fiery hounds eating his flesh while he turns a great wheel for eternity.

[shag11]

Could somebody just bust him upside his big head, just once. For me, please?

[AkaDad]

I bet Karl Rove was wearing a flag lapel pin when they outed a CIA operative.

[Dantana]

Beware of flag-wavers, they're right up there with the folks who have the fish on the back of their car. I don't care what you believe, just dont wear it on your sleeve/lapel/bumper and shove it in my face.

[protagonia]

How about wearing a flag pin, just to take it back from the hands of thieves?

It was OUR flag first, before the bandits raided our free nation for her spoils.