Karl Rove: Rick Perry's Criticism 'Surprised' Me

During an appearance on Fox News on Thursday, Karl Rove said that he was "surprised" by critical remarks Texas Governor Rick Perry made about him during Wednesday night's Republican presidential debate.

HuffPost's Sam Stein relays what Perry had to say about Rove during the forum:

Perry declined the opportunity to back down from his book's claim that Social Security is a Ponzi scheme, going so far as to criticize his former adviser and current agitator Karl Rove for calling his language provocative.

"Karl has been over the top for a long time in some of his remarks. So I am not responsible for Karl anymore," he said.

Rove said that the remarks from the Republican candidate marked an "odd moment" in the debate. "Governor Perry is responsible for what he writes and says, what's he upset about," he said.

During an appearance on ABC's "Good Morning America" earlier this week, Rove called Perry's position on Social Security and the harsh language he's used to define where he stands on the issue "inadequate."

"They are going to have to find a way to deal with these things," he explained. "They’re toxic in a general election environment and they are also toxic in a Republican primary. And if you say Social Security is a failure and ought to be replaced by a state level program, then people are going to say ‘What do you mean by that?’ and make a judgment based on your answer to it."

Below, video of what Perry had to say about Social Security during Wednesday night's debate.

WATCH:

Comments

[TacoJohn74]

12:59 PM on 09/16/2011

This is a fake fight among political allies. Rick Perry is a pro-globalization, open borders, big government warmonger just like W, and this acrimony is an attempt to remove the stink of Bush II from Perry. Perry is W on steroids.

[mrbaronsir]

10:25 AM on 09/13/2011

Karl Rove is evil. He needs to be removed permanently as the puppet master for the GOP. His lies are world renown and it is time for this sub human species to crawl back under his rock and stay there.

[disgustedwithall]

11:28 AM on 09/12/2011

Mr Hair, rule one of R's, thou shalt not offend Rove and his well organized money. Bye Hair.

[dukesman2000]

10:00 AM on 09/12/2011

The puppet has attacked the puppeteer

[wayneworlds]

03:06 AM on 09/12/2011

well when every one has jobs on the mined at vote time its hard to fined a good rep every job growth plan involves sending more jobs overseas making more nafta that going to be a tuff sell to the middle class but they will get good votes from the top 10%

[Amalek]

11:16 PM on 09/11/2011

The point Rove is trying to make is that Perry was not supposed to believe these crazy ideas.  You just wheel them out to appease the tea party, but you never actually propose that you end government.  That would be crazy.

[GrammieJ]

10:23 PM on 09/11/2011

who cares what 1/2 gov quitter Palin says
Perry is digging a hole and it is quite funny

[disgustedwithall]

11:34 AM on 09/12/2011

And it would seem if Hair's shovel not digging fast and deep enough hole, the Rove and money will aid with a backhoe or such as needed. Hair and others do not seem Rove's selection, but probably amuses Rove with their idiocy. Question now is will Rove/money go for WH or be satisfied to take Senate, they already have House and more assured as Rove concentrated on state levels for redistricting and House controlled by Rs. He got both so now we wait to see where he goes next, if Senate then D's are in for possible loss's as they have no one the strategic equal of Rove, other then perhaps, Clinton. DNC Chair lady is no match for Rove.

Note, while most D's-left, do not like Rove, but first thing in any battle is to respect the other side and what it can do and this guy is good as he proved turning around all the lies put out by bush for Irag war, torture, tax cuts etc and got away with it.

[olerealist]

06:03 PM on 09/11/2011

Columnist Star Parker echoes Ric Perry.

Ms. Star is a regular contributor to a District of Columbia newspaper op ed pages.

Ms. Parker also believes that Social Security is a “PONZI SCHEME”. (she might spell check) One wonders whether either she or Perry ever bothered to find out what exactly this “Scheme” was about.

First of all, the real Ponzie was a criminal enterprise. It was conceived and created as a method of stealing from people. It never was intended to obtain a single benefit to any investor aside from a very brief dividend. The principal of the investment fund had zero assets when the fraud was discovered, all by deliberate design.

For many decades, millions of the elderly have survived in all or part from the program. Even if no repairs are made to it, contributors would received most if not all of the anticipated benefits. If the demographics and actuarial facts had remained static, it would not even need any repairs to meet all of its obligations for all eternity. Wow, some “criminal” enterprise.

Ms Parker, if you are determined to find a villain in this program look back upon Congress who has been warned long ago that the changing demographics were going to require some modifications in order to assure it remaining self sustaining. Both parties in Congress were content to dawdle notwithstanding those admonitions. Better reconsider being a disciple of Mr. Perry. He is already on board the Titanic.

[N Rathke]

11:50 PM on 09/11/2011

Look for a villain also in the US Chamber of Commerce and its push to have corporations move their industries overseas, all in the name of increasing profit. What would happen to the workers here, whose SS payments would have funded the program, keeping it solvent.
Obviously, who cares? It's PROFITS that count.

[disgustedwithall]

11:41 AM on 09/12/2011

OR look at a dumbed down public that somehow wants unions wages/benefits gutted and cut back despite the fact product prices do not really go down, Corp profits from cuts go up (prices being separate badly needed discussion on what is called "perceived values, not so much costs).

Real fault is a public with less and less education each year about government, money, finance, value of money and even the ability to do simply compound interests and annual interests etc. Dumbing down is the real villain, to put it rather bluntly USA is not smart enough to compete at world class level or to even understand basics of government, money and related. For some bizarre reason none are capable of reasoning, other then "Richest country in world" is educationally and real wealth for most, broke and soon bankrupted. But do not tell anyone as USA is not real good with reality

[insanityfollows]

04:08 PM on 09/11/2011

Karl, you shouldn't be surprised at all. You helped create this divisive, Red state Blue state thing. You also sent Republicans way off to the right when you changed the definition of conservative as it related to Republicans concerning government and fiscal policies and embraced evangelism as the new "conservative" stance of the Republican party. Furthermore, you also bred the win at all costs mentality. Like I said, you shouldn't be surprised that the Perrys and Bachmans have come out of the woodwork. You helped breed this list of crazies.

[disgustedwithall]

11:43 AM on 09/12/2011

Yes and the D's and commoners stood back and let it happen. Let's not blame Rove to much, as public got all gushy when they found a check for $300 for them and tax cuts for upper end that were twice that each day.. Then they did it again and public got all gushy about that one, now who is to blame?

[insanityfollows]

06:16 PM on 09/12/2011

Oh I agree, but I think it happened because it was so ruthless and shocked the D's who tend to be somewhat spineless, and his tactics just made them even more spineless. Until the Democrats develop a titanium backbone, these turkeys a la Rove are just going to keep coming.

[madkoz]

01:47 PM on 09/11/2011

Everyone realizes how far gone you have to be to make Rove sound reasonable? Right?

[adam646l]

01:19 PM on 09/11/2011

They both need to be shipped off to a very hot place where souls beg for ice water for eternity and never get any.

[joedawg88]

01:01 PM on 09/11/2011

Republicannibals.

[Boomerwoman]

12:23 PM on 09/11/2011

I HATE it when I agree with Rove.

[StarGazr5992]

12:10 PM on 09/11/2011

Yeah good luck with that Karl..You all have let loose a fool and can not find a way to real him back in he is now a loose cannon and his book is out there to stay and it will be the death of his candidate

[PaleMail]

09:05 AM on 09/12/2011

George W. lowered the bar so low that any fool can talk him/herself into believing they have the comprehension, intellect, and grasp of international affairs to sit in the Oval office.

[larryvnyrd]

11:21 AM on 09/11/2011

Have you noticed that Rove and Gingrich have actually become the voices of reason? That is unbelievable. This shows how far off the reservation these TEA party people have gotten.

[Boomerwoman]

12:24 PM on 09/11/2011

I KNOW, amazing isn't it. PS: love your bio.

[annie s]

12:27 PM on 09/11/2011

As long as Karl Rove heads American Crossroads, he will never be a voice of reason.

[adam646l]

01:20 PM on 09/11/2011

Beweare Rove! He has been known to shoot his companions in the face.