November 19, 2007
Posted: 09:57 AM ET

President Bush comforted Rove as the two men announced his resignation in mid-August.

(CNN) — In an interview Monday, Chief Political Columnist for Slate.com, John Dickerson weighed in on Karl Rove’s Op-Ed piece in Newsweek magazine - calling the former top Bush aide a “mischief-maker.”

The article, “Hillary can be beaten in the 2008 election,” gives advice to the Republican candidates on how to move forward with their campaigns assuming New York Sen. Hillary Clinton wins the Democratic nomination.

Rove who is often referred to as the ‘brains’ behind the Bush administration said, “The American people want their president to be authentic. And against a Democrat who calculates almost everything including her accent and laugh, being seen as someone who says what he believes in a direct way will help.”

Dickerson says Rove has a lot of “smarts whether you like him or not,” but adds the column shows how Rove continues to play the role of “mischief-maker.” He says the column repeatedly takes aim at Clinton. Rove also refers to the way she was characterized by a questioner at a John McCain event last week, while calling that description ‘tasteless.’

“The advice to be authentic, to talk about the future that’s […] the advice you learn to give candidates in political spin 101 but, his role as a mischief-maker came back in that ad,” Dickerson said.

The article is Karl Rove’s first column as a contributing opinion writer to Newsweek magazine.

Related video: Watch Dickerson discuss Rove

Related: Rove: Obama missing opportunities to knock Clinton

–CNN’s Emily Sherman

Filed under: Karl Rove


AJ; Montpelier, VT   November 20th, 2007 12:04 pm ET

To use the word "authentic" in the same sentence as "Rove" is just wrong. This man is the biggest and most corrupt man in America. This guy is evil.

ED winter park fl   November 19th, 2007 7:39 pm ET

hey karl does larry craig know you left the potty stall in minnesota

steve, Lyons, CO   November 19th, 2007 5:23 pm ET

"QUESTION for Hillary Supporters:

Does it bother you her campaign is being funded and orchestrated by George Soros?"

Of course not. Soros is a liberal billionaire. End of story.

Does it bother you that Bush's campaigned was funded by Rupert Murdoch?

Lance in Monrovia CA   November 19th, 2007 5:18 pm ET

I think Karl Rove has a crush on Hillary Clinton. He can't stop talking about her. Why not? I'll tell you categorically, the absolute honest truth… Karl Rove is desperately afraid of Barack Obama. If he doesn't prop Hillary up as the inevitable nominee every chance he gets, he's afraid that Barack may just sneak in there and take away his legacy.

Rove knows that Hillary can be beat. Every tactic he just named to defeat her, would never hold water against Obama. Obama would eat Karl Rove and his neo nut cronies for breakfast.

It's widely known and even admitted to by Rove that he attacked Kerry in 2004 during the primaries because he was afraid to go up against Edwards, who would have outshined Bush and Kerry both.

Now Karl Rove is doing the same old thing, and the code of his article was, "FOCUS YOUR ATTACKS ONLY ON HILLARY IF YOU WANT TO WIN NUMBSKULLS!!!"

However, the right wing will have a rude awakening when Obama is the nominee, because they will have wasted all their fire on Hillary.

bottom line, Republicans don't have a big issue with Obama. I've met a few Republicans at volunteer meetings for Obama, they like him, they like his message of bringing the states together and they figure he's the only hope they have of having a voice in the next eight years.

The only thing the Republicans have to unite them as a party is Hillary Clinton. You take that away, and Karl Rove is suddenly facing war crimes charges, along with Bush, Cheney, Gonzalez and the rest.

he knows that Obama would cut him no slack. So therefore, he'll just keep on attacking Hillary.

Obama 08.

Tricia Charlottetown PEI   November 19th, 2007 5:16 pm ET

Rove can write and comment till Dooms Day but I doubt any American or even International Citizen would believe one word he utters!

They got his adjective correct for sure. "Mischief Maker," but that is a mild description. I was wondering when he resigned what his new role would be, guess we all know now.

Frank Honolulu HI   November 19th, 2007 4:59 pm ET

This man should be in jail just like O.J. Simpson. He broke the law and should be paying for it.

J. Niles, Trenton, NJ   November 19th, 2007 4:08 pm ET

"Rove who is often referred to as the ‘brains’ behind the Bush administration…" Brains? Yeh, like the Wizard of Oz behind the curtain manipulating the bells and smokescreens of deceits and lies.

Z, St. Louis, MO   November 19th, 2007 3:57 pm ET

"Mischief maker".. I'd prefer to use
the term criminal.He's a scumbag that
has a lot of peons that do his dirty
work.He loves Machiavelli and he sees
himself in a "Princely" role.I'd just
call him a coward that cant do his own
dirty work.

He, along with Pearle and Armitage and these other "mischief maker" scumbags that have helped create the disaster with Iraq and enriched themselves in the process, need to be sent to the gallows.After a close
encounter with a cattle prod and
some waterboarding while they answer
some questions..Because that's not
"torture" to them, it's just "mischief"..

James, Phoenix AZ   November 19th, 2007 3:01 pm ET

KD ~ Cherry hill, NJ,

Sun-Tzu (400 BC) declared, "Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer".

An Arabian Proverb states, "The enemy of my enemy is my friend".

Don't fool yourself into thinking Hillary is looking out for the best interest of Obama. Hillary is looking out for HILLARY. Obama is WISE to consider multiple sources of information - and yes - including Novak or others.

You're upset Obama gave weight to Robert Novak? Hillary took 2 weeks and 4 different positions on Drivers Licenses for Illegals - what makes Hillary's word so meaningful now?

Hillary says she never knew Norman Hsu when the story first broke. LATER we find out he was a prestigious "Hill-raiser", raised $850,000 for her campaign, and had a personal photo with her. But she never knew him??

I have MORE respect for Obama because he IS running a smart campaign.

By the way… wasn't it BILL CLINTON that accused Obama and the other "boys" of swiftboating Hillary??

What's good for the goose is good for the gander, right??

Jackson, Morongo Valley, CA   November 19th, 2007 2:52 pm ET

I find it disgusting that the media still sees this almost treasonous political pitbull as worthy of printing his comments.

Ruth Bethinger, NYC   November 19th, 2007 2:52 pm ET

Karl Rove is known to have pushed to help Kerry win in the 2004 primary because Rove knew Kerry was easiest to beat. So remember, when Rove is trying to help Clinton win by saying attacking Obama and saying Obama is "missing opportunities", we must ask if Rove has a bigger plan.

I, for one, cannot vote for Hillary Clinton - she is my senator and I voted for her, but I deeply regret making that mistake and will never vote for her again.

diane   November 19th, 2007 2:12 pm ET

These guys must be so isolated not to realize how much America despises them and what they've done to the country. In a few years we will be living the worsening repercussions of the Bush era, and all the nasty "secrets" will be coming out, and Rove, Cheney and Bush will be sitting back with cigars on a yacht somewhere laughing. So much for the "patriots". Shame on Newsweek.

Jed in Texas   November 19th, 2007 2:00 pm ET

two more orange jump suits coming soon.lmao

Brendan H., San Antonio, TX   November 19th, 2007 1:57 pm ET

Rove should go to prison - period!!!

He trained under Donald Segretti, who went to prison for his antics in Watergate.

Jack, Fort Myers, FL   November 19th, 2007 1:56 pm ET

That's all he had to call him…a "mischief maker"! Heck I could think of a lot more ways to describe him!!! It is nice to see he got a job that requires only commnentary–he won't have need for "pesky" annoyances like crediblity, and truth.

Susan, Fort Pierce, Florida   November 19th, 2007 1:54 pm ET

Jon in California-
NO! None of those things bother me!
What bothers me is that Bush is still running the country! What bothers me is a vicious war based on lies! What bothers me is the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer! What bothers me is that this is not "America" anymore because of the mess the Republicans have made!
Lets hear it for some moderate socialism!! Yea!

KD, cherry hill NJ   November 19th, 2007 1:28 pm ET

QUESTION for Hillary Supporters:

Does it bother you her campaign is being funded and orchestrated by George Soros?

The fact is the Progressive Party is OWNED by a hand-full of wealthy socialists: George Soros, Peter Lewis, Steven Bing, Andrew and Deborah Rappaport.

These few individuals created Moveon.Org.

In June 2004 Moveon.Org organized 110,000 members to support seeing Michael Moores Fahrenheit 9/11 - and then had "house parties" to invite non-members for one-on-one procelytizing.

The NAME of this effort (in 2004) by Moveon.Org was "Turn Up the Heat".

Hillary Clinton just weeks ago in her 2008 Presidential campaign came out with the slogan "Turn Up the Heat".
Hillary refused to rebuke Moveon.Org's "General Betray Us" Ad.

Bottom line - John Edwards is correct.
Hillary Clinton is owned by Corporate Democrats and Socialists. But you blind supporters pretend she has "grass roots" appeal while the rest of us will watch - eyes open - to this political "Theater" called the Clinton Campaign.

Doesn't this bother you Clinton Supporters???

Posted By Jon, Sacramento ~ Ca : November 19, 2007 12:33 pm


I am a loyal democrat. Actually what bothers me more is that obama getting advise from right wing republican smear machine to bring down hillary Clinton.
I am really dissapointed in obama! he actually took novak's word over hillary! I mean really he trusts NOVAK over HILLARY?. what is hapenning to this brilliant man.
1st he takes advise from chris mathews -"hit her hard" then advise from carl rove and now from Novak. who is next kenneth star? you bet
shame on obama!

David, Dallas Tx   November 19th, 2007 1:22 pm ET

Karl Rove said, The American people want their president to be authentic.

Great advice!–but nearly 7 years too late.

Still, apparently Republicans can be taught, after all.

It just takes losing Congress, your boss’ approval ratings, your control of Iraq, your control of the national debt, and subpoenas for a top White House aide to get the message home.

And your job, of course.

Maybe if this advice had been part of White House strategy all along, Rove would still have his old job, instead of being forced to contribute opinion pieces to periodicals for some fast cash. ;)

Still, good advice.

Jon, Pittsburgh, PA   November 19th, 2007 12:52 pm ET

Jon in Sacramento - Until there is meaningful campaign finance reform that includes publicly financed campaigns we will continue to have the problems that both parties have with regard to who is funding them. If you think the same type of funding doesn't exist on the Republican side, you are living in a dream world.

I'll take a socialism over fascism any day.

Zeus Racine, WI   November 19th, 2007 12:51 pm ET

Karl Rowe is what we a putting on our spit and roasting this THANKSGIVING!

Nothing more needs to be said…

Mike,Panama City,FL   November 19th, 2007 12:42 pm ET

The line where Rove talks about a democrat adjusting answers and even accents , reminds me of the whole image attack on a candidate in 2004 .

Rove is more about image its sleazy , Well rove the words you just have said ,apperanty represent Guilliani , who never was a nascar fan , all of a sudden he is all nascar , he is all neo conservative .

The republicans will lose everything in 2008

Rove used to matter , not anymore after 2006 it was over and still is !

Farrell, Houston, Tx   November 19th, 2007 12:42 pm ET

Don't forget, Karl Rove didn't help GWB "win" the election in 2000. However, he is responsible for some of the "mischief making" by this administration. I wonder if Bush wished he had never listened to Rove or Cheney because we know he didn't create this mess alone.

Bob, Syracuse, NY   November 19th, 2007 12:36 pm ET

Hasn't Karl done enough damage to this Country and the world with his advice?

Jon, Sacramento ~ Ca   November 19th, 2007 12:33 pm ET

QUESTION for Hillary Supporters:

Does it bother you her campaign is being funded and orchestrated by George Soros?

The fact is the Progressive Party is OWNED by a hand-full of wealthy socialists: George Soros, Peter Lewis, Steven Bing, Andrew and Deborah Rappaport.

These few individuals created Moveon.Org.

In June 2004 Moveon.Org organized 110,000 members to support seeing Michael Moores Fahrenheit 9/11 - and then had "house parties" to invite non-members for one-on-one procelytizing.

The NAME of this effort (in 2004) by Moveon.Org was "Turn Up the Heat".

Hillary Clinton just weeks ago in her 2008 Presidential campaign came out with the slogan "Turn Up the Heat".
Hillary refused to rebuke Moveon.Org's "General Betray Us" Ad.

Bottom line - John Edwards is correct.
Hillary Clinton is owned by Corporate Democrats and Socialists. But you blind supporters pretend she has "grass roots" appeal while the rest of us will watch - eyes open - to this political "Theater" called the Clinton Campaign.

Doesn't this bother you Clinton Supporters???

Comments have been closed for this article

subscribe RSS Icon
About The Ticker

The latest political news from CNN's Best Political Team, with campaign coverage, 24-7. Sign up for our twice daily Ticker emails. Got a news tip or feedback? For complete political coverage, bookmark CNNPolitics.com.

CNN=Politics Screensaver

CNN=Politics ScreensaverTap into the power of The Situation Room. Download this powerful new tool that keeps you posted on the latest political news from the campaign trail.
Download (4.1 MB, PC only)

Follow us on Twitter

CNN on TwitterGet Ticker updates the moment they appear online via the Web, SMS, or instant messages.
Follow politicalticker

Categories
CNN Comment Policy: CNN encourages you to add a comment to this discussion. You may not post any unlawful, threatening, libelous, defamatory, obscene, pornographic or other material that would violate the law. Please note that CNN makes reasonable efforts to review all comments prior to posting and CNN may edit comments for clarity or to keep out questionable or off-topic material. All comments should be relevant to the post and remain respectful of other authors and commenters. By submitting your comment, you hereby give CNN the right, but not the obligation, to post, air, edit, exhibit, telecast, cablecast, webcast, re-use, publish, reproduce, use, license, print, distribute or otherwise use your comment(s) and accompanying personal identifying information via all forms of media now known or hereafter devised, worldwide, in perpetuity. CNN Privacy Statement.
Home  |  World  |  U.S.  |  Politics  |  Entertainment  |  Health  |  Tech  |  Travel  |  Living  |  Business  |  Sports  |  Time.com
Podcasts  |  Blogs  |  CNN Mobile  |  Preferences |  Email Alerts  |  CNN Radio  |  CNN Shop  |  Site Map
© 2008 Cable News Network LP, LLLP. A Time Warner Company. All Rights Reserved.
Powered by WordPress.com