Karl Rove's Advice For Barack Obama

Newsweek:

Four months ago, you took the political world by storm in Iowa. The media were agog. They called your words "gorgeous," your victory "a message to the world." You "made history" and Americans could "look at ourselves with pride" in "a moment to marvel."

Times change. The six weeks leading into Pennsylvania were difficult. You excelled at raising money and gaining endorsements, but got weaker as big problems emerged. Before you can fix them, you must understand them. In Pennsylvania, you won only 30 percent among Catholics and 29 percent among white working-class voters. Defections like this elect Republicans.

Even liberal commentators who adore you warn you can't win with a McGovern coalition of college students and white-wine sippers from the party's left wing. Saying small-town voters cling to guns, faith and xenophobia because of economic bitterness hurt you; it reinforced the growing sense you don't share Middle America's values. So did asking about the price of arugula in Iowa, dismissing the "true" patriotism of people who wear a flag lapel pin, being "friendly" (as your chief strategist, David Axelrod, put it) with a violent, unrepentant '60s radical and having a close relationship with an angry pastor who expressed anti-American sentiments.

Read the whole story: Newsweek

Comments

[NeoAmerican]

Karl, you old devil. It takes a real pro to make an ad hominem attack under the guise of friendly advice. Still seeking to discredit Obama in the hopes that Hillary wins the nomination so you can pull out the big guns, aren't you?

[StephenJK]

You don't even know what "ad-hominem" means. Obviously.

[NeoAmerican]

Your comment is a good example of one. You attacked me rather than the argument.

[elbram]

We need to get BUSH IMPEACHED before Karl Rove all the BUSH CRONIES get PARDONs and won't have to answer for ANY CRIME...

[Chiang]

You should call Pelosi. Repeatedly if necessary.

And fill out some online petitions. Those always work.

[backwoodsintellect]

Let's wait until after Obama is president to put them all on trial. No chance of pardons that way.

[BlackmaninAmerica]

Karl Rove giving a dem advice? Interesting advice....­but I wouldn't take it. The Republicans still want to run against Hillary because she cannot get Republicans and Independents like Barack can. The latter group is what elects a President 9/10 times. I think it was a smart move to go on Fox because Chris Wallace has some cred with Fox News watchers, besides with that interview, they can't do much clipping because Obama's campaign can sue them. Plus, Obama has to show he is willing to appeal to those who just might decide later this year to vote for him if he is the nominee, because many Republicans are not happy with John McCain

[wingman1]

Barack Obama's advice to Karl Rove (*if only)

* You are in large degree responsible for the election of the worst US president of all time. You should apologise to the American people.

* You have contributed greatly to public cynicism about the political process. You should apologise to the American people.

* You are complicit in policies and actions that have caused the deaths of thousands of US servicemen. You should apologise to the American people.

* You are complicit in policies and actions that have fostered a culture of torture. You should apologise to the American people.

* You are complicit in policies and actions that have deeply damaged this country's standing in the world. You should apologise to the American people.

* You have magnified, invoked and played on all that is worst in the American psyche. You should apologise to the American people.

* In addition you should retire immediately from political life and spend what years remain to you in humble and obscure community service that seeks to compensate in some small degree for the great damage you have caused. And whatever your faith, Karl, you should seek atonement.

[EugeneWright]

Barack Obama's entry into this race was Karl's dream come true. I wouldn't be surprised if he somehow engineered it. In deference to the questionable likemindedness of the posts on this site, I've never seen the democratic party more divided. If this was Rove's brainchild, it's his most brilliant move to date.

[MiddleRoad1]

Oh no, you can blame your gal Hillary for that

[EugeneWright]

I blame Obama AND Hillary for that!

[BlackmaninAmerica]

If this was Rove's brainchild, then they underestimated Obama's appeal because in spite of all this - he still has appeal and is on his way to facing John McCain.

[EugeneWright]

I hope you're right.

[StephenJK]

Good comment and point. In Karl Roves piece he seems to be licking his chops at the prospect of an Obama nomination. He recognizes what many objective observers are recognizing in droves now; Barack Obama and his coalition of lemmings can't win the General. Obama has managed to somehow alienate, discriminate and anger the most important demographic to the democratic party; working class whites and women.

Please, lord, forgive Barack Obama for he knows not what he does.

[stillfresh]

Let me see. Hillary Clinton brags she's got the votes of the working class? So, that's Dumfuckistan. Can't we ONCE elect a president who gets elected by the rest of us?

[atlfemdem]

Why are working class whites and women the most important? The educated, the youth, the AA's, and poor folks are step below, eh? I'm a white working class woman and don't feel alienated at all...

If I'm not mistaken, ALL people in this country are important. If we start singling out one demographic as more important than any other, we're setting ourselves back big time...

[vallon]

What is that old saying...s­ometing about assholes bearing gifts....?

[Eurovision]

I thought Karl Rove gave Obama some good advice. Sometimes you have to focus more on the message than the messanger.

[Chiang]

But the Obamians won't listen. They're too smart to take advice, from anyone.

[ChristiB]

The problem is Rove says nothing unless it is carefully scripted. His seething hatred of anything except the extreme right is obvious. So before you try to understand his message with a fair and open-mind - you must understand WHY is he saying this - his motives have never been honorable.

[totalliberal]

Karl Rove's Advice For Barack Obama.


"Don't listen to anything I say."

[LivingStardust]

Hey Karl! Have you heard that sound yet? That large booming noise?

It's America telling you the STFU.

[southafrica4obama]

I have just hailed 4 F...u bombs to this article. Who does Karl think he is? Jesus! By the way, it is ridiculous to call this attack on Obama an ADVICE. It's not an advice, it's an insult to Obama's calibre.
Hey, Huff, we don't need articles like this one on your site.

[urbanscorpio88]

If Obama takes advice from this clown, it 'll be like going to bed with the devil. Thank you for priceless advice Karl, but we'll make it on our own.
Stop the Drama, Vote Obama 08

[StephenJK]

That "clown", as you put it, is a political genius and he's over-salivating at the prospect of an Obama nomination.

[harriscrl3]

This cracks me the guy is positive they say he is out of touch with middle america they are not going to buy his optimistic change message he goes negative and say they are bitter and angry at the lack of progress from the goverment and now they want him to go positive again.

Obama's biggest mistake was changing his positive message for PA. Its funny it worked on WI and VI's blue collar workers since they want to conveniently forget that he WON THOSE BASES in thos States. I suspect something else is at play in PA it wouldnt matter if he changed his message. Here's something else that Rove and folks ignore HE TOOK A HIT with the Wright Incident, This Ayers guy and HIlary and her Osama Ad. And he still manange to keep it within 10. NOt to mention being kicked around by Hilary's people and the media. Thats how amazing he is. So I would trust Obama to figure out hisown campaign before I trust Rove's advice.

I suspect Rove is upset that Obama hasnt made any response to his comments he wants attention. If I were him I'd give the advice to Hilary I'm sure she will be more receptive.

Carol

[Cyndee1113]

He needs to be telling Hillary how she can earn the black votes.

[harriscrl3]

He figured its too late for that. The primary is over even though some try to live in the past.

Carol

[StephenJK]

Earn the black vote, huh? The Clinton's did everything they could to "earn" the black votes. In his 8 years and her 7 years as senator they've done all they can for middle and poor America, including African Americans. The AA vote thanks them by voting for a lightweight with no experience because he's got the same skin color. Hell, Barack doesn't even know what it means to be black. Why do you think he married a racist Anti-American Black woman? Went to a black church for 20 years. He had to LEARN to be black. Yet, the African American demographic chooses the candidate that most resembles them instead of the candidate who has ALWAYS represented them.

[Gabrielle]

BEWARE OF THE DANGEROUS EVIL FOX.....

[ClevelandTom]

Rove's article is a hit piece dressed up as political analysis.

Rove says that Obama is inexperienced, an elitist, and not inclined to tell the truth when faced with a negative thing like the Rev. Wright dust-up. After asserting those negatives as the case, Rove goes on to describe how he, Rove, would go about papering over those negatives. Rove's advice may be good political advice but now that Rove has written it, if Obama were to use the advice then Rove would then point out how Obama is papering over weaknesses.

[YWCYWC]

I agree 100%. I listened to an interview he gave to Hannity on the radio. He gives me chills. The man is ruthless. He is trying to create assumptions which are totally wrong, and voters are not buying it. If his assumptions were correct, that Obama has lost his edge, that his PA concession speech was off, etc.etc., then Rove would never have written this advice piece, super delegates would not have endorsed Obama in recent days, Hillary defections would not have been on the rise, and finally... he wouldn't have lost by 9.2% in PA, where he was suppose to lose by >20%. Beware of wolves wearing sheeps' clothing. Rove is no friend of bama, no friend of Democracy, and no friend of America. He's the one with the serious public image problem. Why someone gives him a platform to spew his crap is beyond me.

[BlackmaninAmerica]

Trust me, Obama will do what he is going to do. After all, he is in a different game now because he is going up against the republican attack machine. I think he'll handle it just fine.

[tedbear]

Right on the money!!! Didn't Karl Rove HAVE to leave the side of George W. Bush? Doesn't Karl Rove work for Fox News now? Why would Karl Rove "give Obama advice?!" Didn't Karl Rove get kicked to the curb?