Karl Rove: Rush Limbaugh Took Tea Party Comments Out Of Context

Karl Rove raised some eyebrows last week when he called the Tea Party "not sophisticated," even though it was not the first time he described the movement in such terms.

Rush Limbaugh was none too pleased by the remarks, and criticized Rove on his radio show on Wednesday. "What ought to be a euphoric period still indicates that on the Republican side there are divisions and jealousies and egos and competition," he said.

Rove appeared on "Face the Nation" on Sunday morning, and host Bob Schieffer asked the strategist about the mini-conflict. Rove quickly tried to clarify his comments, calling the Tea Party "one of the most positive and wholesome developments." He also said that Limbaugh took his remarks "out of context."

Continuing, Rove further praised the movement. "These are not people who are skilled in the ways of Washington. They don't want to be. They're ordinary Americans from Main Street America who have created a massive, grassroots effort driven by a sentiment in this country -- even more important than the groups is the sentiment that is driving it -- that the government is on a terribly dangerous course of spending too much money, running up too much deficit, and taking too much control of our lives with things like Obamacare. And I consider it to be wholesome, patriotic and incredibly positive for the country."

Schieffer pressed on, asking if Limbaugh "takes thing out of context," as Rove had stated just a moment earlier. Stammering, Rove finally answered. "He may have commented before he saw the entire interview. He's a friend of mine. He almost more than anybody else is responsible for helping encourage people to educate themselves about the impact of the spending, the deficit, and Obamacare."