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Go Home Karl Rove Wants His Message Back

JONATHAN COHN FEBRUARY 7, 2012

Karl Rove Wants His Message Back

BY JONATHAN COHN

As a friend of mine* once said, quotes from Karl Rove aren’t important for what they say. They are important for what they reveal. Rove’s statements about Sunday’s Super Bowl ad from Chrysler are a case in point.

By now, you’ve probably seen or heard about the ad, which Chrysler calls “Halftime in America.” It stars Clint Eastwood, narrating the story of Detroit's comeback and turning it into a metaphor for America. The message happens to dovetail with the story that President Obama has been telling, about his rescue of the auto industry and the country’s slow climb out of economic despair.

During a Fox News appearance on Monday morning, Rove suggested the similarities were not coincidental:

I was, frankly, offended by it. ... it is a sign of what happens when you have Chicago-style politics, and the president of the United States and his political minions are, in essence, using our tax dollars to buy corporate advertising.

I have no idea whether Rove really believes Chrysler produced that ad in order to do President Obama a political favor. But the fact that he and other Republicans are so worked up could mean that they are scared—not of the advertisement itself, but of the themes it contains.

Those themes are optimism and national pride. As Salon’s Joan Walsh noted on the Ed Show Monday evening, Republicans have basically owned those themes since the 1980s, when Ronald Reagan won an election with them. But lately President Obama has been the one making the case that it’s morning in America or, at least, just before dawn. He did it in the State of the Union and he’s done it in a series of major speeches since.

The message wouldn’t resonate if it had no basis in reality. But the latest economic indicators suggest the economy really is starting to grow, albeit slowly and tentatively. And nowhere is that more obvious than in the Midwest and Michigan, where the auto industry’s rebound has helped reduce unemployment to levels not seen since before Obama took office.

The industry, like the national economy, could still regress. Trouble in Europe could deal a serious blow to both. But if the recovery continues, Obama will have a pretty powerful claim to reelection: That his economic policy choices, made in the face if fierce Republican opposition, are paying off.

Rove knows this as well as anybody. I suspect that’s the real reason he’s so angry.

* It was Jonathan Chait, as former TNR intern Sam Sweeney just reminded me.

follow me on twitter @CitizenCohn

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27 comments

To those who consider what's good for General Motors to be good for America, the message from Clint Eastwood is strong If the message was supposed to be a tribute to capitalism, why omit any mention of loan repayment schedules or the returns made by the US on the investments?

- Doug12

February 7, 2012 at 9:44am

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and the President of the United States and his political minions are, in essence, using our tax dollars to buy corporate advertising How the hell "in essense" is the government using tax dollars to buy the advertising? Then Karl Rove "in essense" is using my tax dollars to promote his Mayberry Machiavelli politics to promote his message. And like him I don't need any facts to back up my assertion. Poor Rovie is starting to lose it, you gotta believe he hasn't had any since his ex-wife left him.

- blackton

February 7, 2012 at 9:50am

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oh, and I find it hilarious that turd blossom really thinks he can go up against dirty Harry in a pr war. The number of ways that Eastwood could destroy Rove is frightening, though I suspect Eastwood will stay above the fray.

- blackton

February 7, 2012 at 9:57am

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How can Obama be both a Kenyan Anti Colonialist, and a Chicago-style political thug? Republicans need to pick one or the other.

- DP1024

February 7, 2012 at 9:58am

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Too bad it really isn't Chicago style politics; I certainly wouldn't lose any sleep if Rove disappeared, never to be heard from again.

- GSpinks

February 7, 2012 at 10:42am

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I've been peripherally involved in Chicago politics for about 20 years, and I still can't figure out what Republicans mean when they use the term "Chicago-style politics" - this instance being no exception. Did Obama get Clint Eastwood this gig to buy his vote?

- Attrill

February 7, 2012 at 11:30am

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I always wondered how Al Gore was accused of using his phone for political reasons, but Karl Rove had an entire office in the White House and was paid with taxpayer dollars to come up with media tactics for George Bush. Hence, Jonathan must be right about Rove's intentions, because being offended by using taxpayer dollars for political purposes is just sooooooo black kettle.

- Nusholtz

February 7, 2012 at 12:02pm

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I think "Chicago-style" is supposed to mean "thick crust, in the manner of the pizza at the famous Chicago eatery Pizzeria Uno." Obama has a remarkably thick crust, particularly compared to all the thin-skinned he-man crybabies who cry their little eyes out every time Obama so much as bats a lash in their direction. Call Obama a Kenyan-Socialist-Secularist-Islamist-Atheist all you want, he won't get riled. In contrast, tell millionaires and billionaires their taxes should be raised a percent or two, and they run into their quiet rooms with their tails between their legs screaming "class warfare" all the way.

- GeoffG

February 7, 2012 at 12:13pm

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Besides it's a powerful piece of work, in fact, thanks to Rove, people are now searching for the commercial on You Tube. Thanks Karl! My husband wouldn't have seen it if you hadn't made such a fuss.

- Sophia

February 7, 2012 at 12:16pm

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Karl Rove claiming he's "offended", pointing at "minions", and crying foul for tax revenues used for alleged selfish reasons is a contender for Chutzpah (Nush, Sophia, am I spelling that right? Chutzpah?) Quote of the Year. The guy is a shame-free-zone.

- Tristan

February 7, 2012 at 12:26pm

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I didn't watch the Superbowl, but I did watch the commercial. I am really beginning to enjoy blackton's comments, such as Poor Rovie is starting to lose it, you gotta believe he hasn't had any since his ex-wife left him.. I can't afford to pay you very much to serve as a Paladin (have snide snipe, will travel from thread to thread) for me in the unfortunate pissing match with He Who Must Not Be Named, but if you ever feel the temptation to aim a stream in that direction, please don't resist very hard.

- skahn

February 7, 2012 at 12:32pm

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You also have to remember that Rove's dirty tricks accusations always involve a considerable degree of projection. Using our tax dollars to advance his political agenda is exactly what he did for 8 years while serving in the Bush administration. If anything, I think Chait is underplaying the theme of his headline. Our nation is going down the toilet because of the Muslim Kenyan Socialist-in-Chief is almost the whole of the Republican argument against Barack Obama. Just listen to their candidates on the trail. It is all doom and gloom and we are turning into Greece, ignoring the fact that our deficits would be entirely manageable if not for Republican tax-cutting policies. Any good news for the country and economy leaves them looking like a bunch of bitter, carping old white men trying to protect their rich buddies' low tax rates.

- JEFF FREY

February 7, 2012 at 12:55pm

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Typical Rove. He he doesn't once address the substance of the commercial - that a once struggling American company is back, people are working again and proud of it. He just name calls and whines because he's outplayed. Its all just a tribal game to this people, nothing of substance matters because they really don't know how to do anything in practical governing terms. Rove and his ilk still think that industrial policy consists of the President yammering platitudes in front of banners that say "putting America back to work" or some such drivel.

- WandreyCer

February 7, 2012 at 1:08pm

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I think O'bama's recent statements on the economy are an unforced error. The economic recovery headlines will speak for themselves and the public will make their own mind up. There is no big gain here in O'bama getting way ahead of a secure, stable recovery and there's a big risk in him taking the lead here if the recovery falters. You could argue with record inventory stacks that the auto recovery has a long, long way to go and you could argue that U6 is by no means a comprehensive measure of unemployment. And of course, you've got deep, serious risks out there that aren't usually looming in a recovery from recesson: Iran, Euro, Shadow Banking liquidity, China property market...insert your favourite here. Therefore, why the grandstanding? The gain is marginal and the propaganda risk is huge. Wouldn't he be better off with a headline message frame of - "there's a lot of work to do, there's tough times ahead, we need to double our efforts, we're the party of serious reform, etc, etc."

- IggyPop

February 7, 2012 at 1:13pm

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Tristan Looks good to me, but since there are usually a variety of spellings, there is no correct spelling requirement like there is for English, where people point to misspellings as an inidication of illiteracy.

- Nusholtz

February 7, 2012 at 1:21pm

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or indication.

- Nusholtz

February 7, 2012 at 1:21pm

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He's "offended" by it? Look, he's been spewing lies and propaganda and innuendo for the last three years. And when things start looking up for the country, all he can do is pound the table in outrage that somebody said so? Yeah, this is an old pattern. Spew character-assassination abuse, and then when the OTHER side has something to say, pretend to be "offended" by it, never mind the truth of the matter. I think we can safely ignore Rove on this matter.

- AllanL5

February 7, 2012 at 1:27pm

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Iggy, I don't think I'm getting your comment accurately -- who is 'grandstanding' here?

- ironyroad

February 7, 2012 at 2:45pm

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Maybe grandstanding is over doing it Irony. I'm probably reading too much commentariat into it but there are quotes and speeches like this: “The economy is growing stronger,” he said, before laying out plans to create jobs for returning veterans. “The recovery is speeding up.” That's hostages to fortune if you ask me. Should have read. "Our reforms are having an impact. We need to be careful in what we read into short term figures, it's encouraging but there's a long road ahead. We need your support, work with us to get people back to work!" (Cue Hail to the Chief)

- IggyPop

February 7, 2012 at 3:19pm

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Iggy, No guts, no glory. I had the same thought when I heard Obama on the radio, but on reflection decided that he has no choice. Underplay this, and he plays into the notion that he's passive and lacks leadership. Yes, maybe the recovery tanks by Q2 or Q3 because of Europe, or some other thing beyond American control, but it's not going to tank organically, and as long as Obama is on top of the message when Europe drags us down, I think he's better off standing up for success whenever and wherever the opportunity presents itself.

- IowaBeauty

February 7, 2012 at 3:38pm

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I agree -- he has to make this shot (an arc over 2012 until Nov) count. Accurate, but force behind it too.

- ironyroad

February 7, 2012 at 3:54pm

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Maybe Iowa/Irony, it's a tough call but I think it's too early. Anyway, it's tactical semantics. O'bama's going to crush Romney. Truth is, the only one with the direct power to make the race interesting now is Netanyhau.

- IggyPop

February 7, 2012 at 4:01pm

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Don't forget our friend the United States Supreme Court.

- ironyroad

February 7, 2012 at 5:15pm

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You know what else bugs me about this, it's the attack on Eastwood, forcing him to clarify that he isn't a Minion Of Obama And Muslim Kenyan Post Colonial Socialist Communist Style Politics (of envy), or a Democrat, even. Isn't this McCarthyesque? attacking an artist for doing his work, based on some ideological notion?

- Sophia

February 7, 2012 at 5:54pm

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I agree with Iowa that he has no choice in this - he pretty much sinks or swims with the economy. People also need to be reminded of where the country was in 2008, and the absolute economic shitstorm everyone feared was coming. Where we are at today doesn't look that bad in comparison to what we thought was coming. Ultimately he is president first and a candidate second, and building confidence in the economy does have an effect on it, so he's doing the right thing. GeoffG - I like the pizza analogy, but I think of Obama as more of a Malnatti's guy than Uno's. Much better crust. I'm also realizing that if Clint did sell his vote for that gig he got ripped off. He actually showed up and shot the spot. If it was real old school Chicago politics he never would have had to show up.

- Attrill

February 7, 2012 at 11:10pm

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One of the sweetest moments in the history of my career of following politics was on election night in 2008, when Karl Rove and some Fox guy were on TV in front of an election map, and the guy announced the winner in the state that clinched the election for Obama. Rove deflated like the Pillsbury Dough Boy that had just been pin-pricked to let all the gas out and just said, very meekly, "Oh." Let's hope for a repeat performance from this pathetic creep in November. If Obama appears to be near victory, tune in Fox News. You'll be in for a treat.

- magboy47.

February 8, 2012 at 2:49am

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Sophia - Clint has been attacked by the right before. Michael Medved (IIRC, it could have been some other wingnut) managed to stir up conservative outrage over Million Dollar Baby, claiming that it (spoiler alert) promoted euthanasia. Sad.

- GeoffG

February 8, 2012 at 9:47am

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