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

[inthecolour]

I am crying over my keyboard as I type this.

Tears of joy are streaming down my face at this act of pure unadulterated altruism expressed here by one Karl Rove.

[2CoolCats]

*sniff*

I think my allergies are acting up again.

[barriosbabe]

It's a set-up. The second the Obama campaign does anything remotely like this, (intentionally or accidentally) the Billary people will counter-accuse Obama of playing the Rove way. Count on it.

[CatLadyforObama]

Hey Breezeway--we can pull up all your comments and see how many times you've posted this.

[BobEvansZombie]

For as wrong as Karl Rove and his politics are, the the republicans are still running things, the country is still owned by corporations and this criminal administration had not been held accountable for ANY of the 50 ruining scandals, and the democrats will manage to lose this election because people in this country are stupid enough to elect John McCain, because he was torture in Vietnam, like that automatically closes any argument against him.

The writing is on the wall. The USA will not survive this, especially if we get another republican president.

[Lempira]

I would do the oposite of anything Karl Rove suggested
He's a total failure to the country and his party
what ever happened to the legacy he was supposedly creating for his party?
not even McCain want's to be associated with Bush- oh, wait isn't Rove an adviser to McCain?
The ego never ends

[ThePodiumIsMine]

"I would do the oposite of anything Karl Rove suggested"

Perhaps he's counting on that. One cannot go wrong counting on blind and irrational hate coming from the left.

[breezeway22]

OBAMA'S A GIRLY MAN

[Lempira]

why do you keep posting this everywhere?
you need a new line
badly

[ronspri]

You could ask me if I care but you wouldn't like my response.

[2CoolCats]

Hey, breezeway.­.. project much?

[rubes187]

How does newsweek allow this guy to write, the man who hired him has just allowed the republican party to place propaganda into their magazine. Also he bashes obama for his comments insulting "middle America" and then in his next breath insults "white wine drinking left wingers" making them sound elitist as if he isnt rich or somthing. This guy is the worst

[Erdgeist]

Karl, stick with trying to sell losers like Bush who ended up being appointed El Presidente by the SCOTUS. At any rate, you had to cheat in 2000 and 2004. Florida and Ohio--yep, we know all about it.

There is something you are missing. Senator Obama has what Max Weber called, "charisma". It is an intangible quality that moves others. It can't be imitated.

Certainly, you would agree with me Karl that Senator McCain has no charisma. He is just a grumpy old codger who needs a handler so that when he pushes the button to launch the ICBMs they will at least go to the right country.

As for Hillary, Karl, I think the moniker she earned as the "bitch" when she tried to push her healthcare plan, still fits. She has no charisma. Remember Karl, that a political campaign doesn't run by ad hominem attacks, dirty tricks, and lies. It is also driven by the nation's will towards goodness--and justice for all. This time we the People will win.

[KOisGod]

Outstanding -

[Lazycrockett]

Charisma is for Rock Stars and their fans, not politicians and voters.

[CatLadyforObama]

Yeah, too bad people didn't say that about GWB.

[cheryltalks]

Perhaps a little charisma and hope is what people need to believe in America's greatness again - here at home and abroad.

[bentenrai]

You'd be surprised what a charismatic leader can do. Bill Clinton used to be one. Ronald Reagan was one. JFK was one.
Thing is, you can't expect the magic to be there all the time. But the thing with charismatic leaders is that they act on their own volition and something they do or say strikes you as something that makes a lot of sense and is hard to disagree with. Obama has that.

[JadedAggie]

You have to love a hit piece disguised as an advice op-ed. It gives a person the opportunity to say every single thing they detest or dislike about you while only taking a small proportion of the general backlash you would receive.

[Lempira]

thank you for saying that
whats up with "Newsweek"?
are they that sick for $$$ ?

[kae]

Yes, why is this man so revered? How does this man have any credibility? Corporate news is so blatant about it lately! The sky is green and the grass is blue. This should give the Obama campaign a good laugh.

[brent777]

Mr. Rove is truly diabolical. Giving everyone talking points is classic. I'm sure Senator Clinton will be using these points as well.....L­OL

[2CoolCats]

Great... the Wizard of Odd and the wicked witch of Arkansas/P­ennsylania­/New York...

"I'll get you, my pretties..­. and your little votes, too!"

[WomanInOrangeSweater]

Maybe it's just me, but isn't posting and linking this article by Rove reveal a self-loathing streak a mile wide? or something like that.

[fignozzle]

whew.
obama will be ok now.

how full of himself IS rove??

[KOisGod]

Gee, doesn't Rove's analysis of "things" directly parallel what all the MSM pundints are saying?

Who is this evil person and why does he have this power?

[Tellmethetruth]

Wow! Rove just cut Obama's fingernails down to the wick. Talk about rubbing it in, all of Obama's weaknesses are highlighted and mocked.

Unfortuantely for Obama, there is more truth in Rove's words. Expect other elements of the news media to pick up on Rove's observations as these talking points become the themes of the campaign, namely the lack of substance behind anything Obama says.

[izAriver]

Ah, he who asks for the truth but cannot hear it. I would explain but what's the point.

[Lempira]

well said

[fignozzle]

oh i expect fox is looping it right now!

[ThirdSection]

I never thought I'd agree with anything the Sultan of Sleaze had to say, but he speaks the truth here.

It is quite possible to be too verbose when addressing the electorate and yes, less is more.

[PDXTransplant]

Oh hell yes, just what Obama needs is some under handed bullshit from "Bush's Retired Brain" since he did such a wonderful job for this country. Give me a break Pig Rove pass your oinks onto McSame.