Karl Rove Chides FNC’s Martha MacCallum: ‘Be Careful When You Call Me Establishment’

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by Colby Hall | 10:10 am, September 17th, 2010

» 23 comments

Yesterday on Fox News’ Happening Now, Karl Rove refined his position on Christine O’Donnell. On the night that the Sarah Palin backed Tea Party candidate won the primary victory in Delaware, Rove was rather harsh in his assessment, calling her “nutty,” among other things. Many have seen this as a “GOP Civil War“; in fact Fox News Martha MacCallum sets up the following discussion with Rove by saying “that’s the way this battle line has been drawn: Tea Party versus establishment.” In It seems that Rove doesn’t like being on what looks like the losing side of that battle, and refined his analysis as such.

The following clip reveals that Rove is not willing to throw the Tea Party baby out with the bathwater, and provides some solid campaign advice for O’Donnell, suggesting that a frank and candid admission of some past problems withe IRS would server her well in the general election.

The other revelation in this clip is Martha MacCallum’s willingness to go toe-to-toe with Rove, perhaps portending a larger political role for the dayside host in coming year? A rough transcript of the exchange follows the video.

Martha MacCallum: All right, Karl Rove the senior adviser and deputy chief of staff to President George W. Bush and is a Fox News contributor. Karl, welcome.

Karl Rove: I don’t like being called the establishment. I supported Marco Rubio and Todd Teahart and a lot of the — Sarah Palin and I…Tuesday night backed (inaudible), in New Hampshire. Before you start calling me that establishment guy be, be careful.

MacCallum: you know what, Karl, that’s one of the points I wanted to bring up, including Rubio, Sharron angle, I think you’ve also supported.

Rove: I’m helping raise $50 million, 3 million of which we’ve already spent on behalf of Sharron Angle in Nevada s be careful when you call me an establishment Republican.

MacCallum: That’s the way this battle line has been drawn: Tea Party versus establishment. So you raise a question I want to ask you. Are we at a stage in all of this where if you’re not particularly in favor of one candidate and have reasons to back that up that suddenly you don’t like the whole Tea Party?

Rove: No, no, look, I’m a huge Tea Party fan, I’ve enjoyed meeting with people as I go around the country, I’ve got a great many friends who I’ve made during the bor tour and leaders in the Tea Party movement. In fact, I met Christine O’Donnell when I was in Delaware last December to do the Sussex county Christmas day, GOP Christmas day party and one of the interesting parts, I got to meet with about 12 Tea Party leaders from Delaware and had a wonderful conversation. This has given us energy, ehusal and in many instances highly qualified candidates who are going to be able to take the fight to the Democrats this fall.

MacCallum: Will you do what she asks on Greta, help her win?

Rove: Look, here’s my advice. She needs to do two things: she needs to…in the seven weeks remaining, she needs to make a passionate, articulate, and credible, aggressive case about why Obama is bad on spending deficits, debt and health care and needs on be able to answer questions about her personal background, explain how she got behind on taxes, mortgage, why she didn’t take care of that college bill and be frank and honest. Look, everybody in their life sometimes has difficulties and honesty and candor is going to be the best remedy. She can’t get away with simply saying my answer is on my website or it’s puzzling to me why the IRS would file a lien for me when I didn’t pay my tax necessary 2005. She’s got to be more honest and if she does, she’s got a shot to win but it’s got to be passionate and factual and hard hit.

MacCaullum: I don’t have to tell you that a lot of folks have been screaming, yelling, saying that your comments and not backing her could cost the majority in the senate (cross talk) to be sure they get that majority in the senate and they’re afraid that…

Rove: Martha, my job as a fox analyst is to give the best insight. She’s 11 points behind in the “”Rasmussen poll”" behind the democrat nominee coons. So my job as a fox analyst is to call it as I see them. My job is not to be a cheerleader for every Republican. It’s to call them as I see them. Now, I’ve got a different role outside my fox role and that’s where I’m helping raise $50 million to help Republicans in the senate but when I come on fox you and your viewers expect me to shoot straight with you and that’s what I was doing that night. With all due respect, she’s 11 points behind. That’s not out of a game. She’s got to make up ground and make up ground quick in the da

MacCallum: if she does that to your satisfaction, would it be a verbal endorsement?

Rove: look, I endorsed her the other night, I’m for the Republicans in each and every case. I was one of the first to do it. Look, I’m also helping her. So many people have written me an e-mail saying I’m irritated with you, saying what you said the other night, I’ve gyp her a campaign contribution, I’m sending her an internet contribution. Fox had one thing wrong on election night. We mistakenly said the Republican senatorial committee said they weren’t going to send her my money. I called rob jazzman the morning after and said why the heck did you say that, he said we never said that, we’re cut ago check, $42,000, and we’re raising money from the packets, and campaign funds and Republican senators, including corny and McConnell to send her additional cash immediately. We got it wrong and it created dissatisfaction in the land because we got our facts wrong.

Christine O'Donnell, GOP Civil War, Karl Rove, Martha MacCullum, Sharon Angle

Moderate

‘To hell with principles, winning is the only thing that counts.’
Karl Rove and Dick Morris

For the most part, that is what is wrong with our political system.
jooce81

Moderate said:
‘To hell with principles, winning is the only thing that counts.’
Karl Rove and Dick Morris

For the most part, that is what is wrong with our political system.

Its whats been the problem with the 2 party system for a long time now
http://www.libertarianism.com/ Burnnotice

jooce81 said:
Its whats been the problem with the 2 party system for a long time now

Amen to that…
fill32162

Hey Rove chew on this, if it wasn’t for you and GW we would not have Our Esteemed Leader today. Oh yeah and Thanks a lot!
notsofast

KR: “She is 11 points behind.”

And this summer Richard Blumenthal was leading Linda McMahon by 64%-23%.

Today, she is within 6 points!
jk76

not much of a story here, bad article title.

this is the beginning of the cracks in the 2 party, it may not create a viable 3rd party just yet, maybe never. But, I do think this is gonna help get groups to realize they can get their voice out there, instead of being strung along on one side or the other.
DEFENDER-90

Which best describes Karl Rove

Sell out

Rino

Political opportunist

All of the above
sticks

Defender… Seriously how is Carl Rove a sellout, rino, or political opportunist ?
redwriteblue

The November election is going to be about unemployment. Delaware is a state that has been affected by the Republican Idea from the early 1990′s of “Free Trade” Agreements that they said would “Create millions of high-paying jobs in the export industries” when the result was the export of millions of Americans’ jobs to Mexico, Click Link:

http://patriotsforamerica.ning.com/profiles/blogs/unemployment-blues?xg_source=activity
Moderate

In 2004, when Chris Coons first ran for the job, he promised not to raise taxes. Since then he has raised taxes not once, not twice, but three times.
Coons inherited a surplus. Celebrating victory on election night in 2004, he said his “top priority would be to continue balancing the budget without increasing property taxes,” according to an account in the local News Journal. Yet in 2006, he pushed through a 5 percent increase in property taxes. In 2007, he raised property taxes 17.5 percent. In 2009, he raised them another 25 percent.

Coons wanted to raise other taxes, too. He proposed a hotel tax, a tax on paramedic services, even a tax on people who call 911 from cell phones.
Coons says the increases were necessary because New Castle County, despite its surplus, was saddled with extravagant spending obligations made by his predecessor.
shootfromthehip

“Yesterday on Fox News’ Happening Now, Karl Rove refined his position on Christine O’Donnell.”

Refined, Colby?

I think Karl Rove might call that a FLIP FLOP.
http://TheDividedStatesBlog.com Publius219

I call Martha MacCallum a hot MILF who makes me watch Fox when she’s on.
DEFENDER-90

@ sticks— Did he not advise Gerge Bush ,did he not give us runaway spending,lager fedear government.No conservative in My estimation.
sticks

Defender… Yes and I see where your going with that, but I certainly dont blame him for the situation we now find ourselves in, and at this point he isnt running for anything… He is raising alot of money to help get Conservatives elected, which for right now is the best thing he could possibly do… Do I agree with everything he says or does ? no not particularly… But he is alot more of a help than a hindurance to Conservatives getting elected this November… I dont really agree with most of what Christine O’Donnell says either, but if you ask me would I vote for her ?… Hell yes I would vote for her… Because what concerns me right now is debt/spending/jobs… And I think/hope she would vote the way I would (fiscally), if given the chance to…
notsofast

shootfromthehip said:
I think Karl Rove might call that a FLIP FLOP.

How dare you insult KR by comparing him to Reid and Kerry!
CAconservative

Carl Rove comes at this issue from the standpoint of a political strategist. His knee-jerk assessment of Ms.O’Donnell may have some validity but fails to recognize that we are more than willing to elect someone that has small amount of baggage if that persons idology matches ours. Mr.Rove, in his zeal to plan, and guide, has lost site of what the Tea-Party, and Independent movement is all about. I think, given time, Mr.Rove will come to recognize that this movement is about throwing aside the status-quo, and those who have fostered that mentality no matter what Party they represent. Hopefully Mr.Rove will see his mistake and join us in taking back our country with new blood in Congress. Mr.Rove is too smart to lose, we need him, and more people like him to help guide this political insurrection.
DEFENDER-90

@ stick— Karl Rove and Gerge Bush opened the door for Obama by abandoning conservative principles,and now he wants to kleen his hands on someone elses clothes,no way!
sticks

Defender… Fair enough…
Arkansas Steve

I consider myself a strong conservative, particularly concerning METHODS used to solve problems.

Like many of you, I’d like a chance today to swat both Rove & Krauthammer with a newspaper. For entertainment, I would shout BAD DOG, BAD DOG in their faces.

NOW CONSIDER THIS O YE OF LITTLE FAITH:

I’ll bet anyone here that, well before the election, both these guys will have seen the light, recognized that their initial responses were just tantrums, and will publicly state over & over several reasons why they should be FULLY supported by ALL REPUBLICANS!!

Even stronger, the fact that they will appear to have “seen the light & changed their minds” will be MORE CONVINCING that immediate statements of support would have been, while everyone else was trashing them.

Seeing the light, then giving support between a week from now & the election is MUCH MORE VALUABLE than faint praise today would be.Let’s look at Rove & Krauthammer as reserve ammunition for later.
DEFENDER-90

@cAconservative—-As a political straegist did he not suffer one of the biggest ass kickings in a generation in 06 .This is not the man to direct a conservative combeback,he is not a conservative hes an opportunist.

To those running for office a word to the wise is sufficient.
If you dont whant to smell like shit dont play with shit.Keep your distance from Karl Rove.
Morgan

jooce81 said:>Its whats been the problem with the 2 party system for a long time now.

The libs are just dreaming for a third party or to break up the Republican party. What they don’t understand is that Tea Partiers don’t really want to be in politics. They have and are very successful in their own lives and have better things to do. Under our system of government the people can just elect people to do the work of government for them and they don’t have to do anything about it. It’s been working fine.

When they find, however, that the people they elected to do the job are just screwing up and not even paying attention to their interests, being fairly sharp, they realize they have to step in and straighten things out to get them back on track. The first thing they recognize is they put the wrong people in and it’s not worth trying to fix them. Just replace them with people they can trust.

Once they have gotten the representatives starting to represent them again, they won’t care about the politics, since they have already wasted a lot of time, doing the work they sent other people to Washington to do, they will lose interest and go back to what they love doing best, but keeping an eye open all the time.

So it’s not a case for a third party but the right two parties.
Morgan

If you look to see who makes up most of the Tea Partiers, I would guess they are mostly moderates of both parties, but mostly conservatives, Republicans and Libertarians.

The moderates are mostly non-political beings who are only there because they are starting to get hurt or anticipate it, from the way things are going. They will mostly drop out of Tea Party involvements once they have fixed the problem by exercising the Term Limits–Short Form solution. Some of them, however, having been drawn into roles of leadership will remain active and these people will likely become players in future Republican politics.

This because we have a two party system and players understand–that ideologists have to win one party or the other to get in the “show.” If you can’t win one of the parties, you will never win the election. Since the motivation for the discontent is coming from the abuse of power by the liberal wing of the Democratic party, it stands to reason the Republican Party stands to be the beneficiary of the “New Blood” brought out by this movement.

We are seeing this by all the upsets in the primaries, but instead of seeing it as a war within the Republican Party, it is really only a changing of the guard, for a much stronger party.
http://none pyrope

fill32162 said:
Hey Rove chew on this, if it wasn’t for you and GW we would not have Our Esteemed Leader today. Oh yeah and Thanks a lot!

While I appreciate your anti-sentiments toward Mr. -0bama, I must respectfully disagree with your analysis and would offer this for your consideration:

Mr. -0bama did not “win” the election, Mr. McCain “lost” the election. Why? Because Mr. McCain abandoned those principals that delineate between liberalism (and it’s myriad forms–socialism, fascism, marxism, communism, progressivism), and conservatism (strict adherence to the Constitution and reverence for the Founders of our nation.

In the political successes of Mr. Miller (AK), Mr. Rubio (FL), Ms. O’Donnell (DE), and numerous others, we are seeing a nation of INDIVIDUALS who are coming together and demanding that our government return to the values that we inherently know to be correct. This, by the way, is also the reason we see more people now than ever who identify themselves as “Independents.”

And these people–the Independents–are former Democrats and Republicans, which makes the entireity of the backlash against two parties who have, each in its own way, failed to serve those who elected them as their representatives.

The way I see it, the Republicans have one more chance; if they are granted (because they “earned”) a majority in 2012, and they FAIL to represent us in an honorable, sane, and fiscally responsible way, they are DONE! From where I sit, the Democrats already are done, they have, in one way or another, betrayed the majority of the decent, self-reliant, and honorable folks who have, through long-sufferingly, supported them through the years while pandering to every lunatic fringe group that can possibly be named. Both parties have squandered this nations treasure and have sold out generations of Americans who haven’t even been born yet!

But, we must not blame either the Republicans or Democrats in politics; we must blame ourselves for allowing it to happen: We the People have gotten the kind of government we deserve.