Karl Rove Talks Adoption, Suicide, And John McCain’s Illegitimate Child On Today

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by Frances Martel | 12:17 pm, March 8th, 2010

» 13 comments

In anticipation of the release of his memoir, Courage and Consequence, Karl Rove opened up about his political and personal life to Matt Lauer this morning on the Today show, where the host probed into Rove’s understanding of “Rovian” politics, his role in the more negative aspects of both George W. Bush presidential campaigns and the upbringing that primed him for his place in history as one of the most influential, if not most beloved, political figures of the 21st century. More shocking than Rove’s willingness to open up to Lauer – who, despite not exactly being a hard-hitting interviewer, is no Oprah either – was his comparative ease in discussing his private life compared to answering political questions. It was clear that, despite the traumatic nature of Lauer’s questions in the second half of the interview, Rove was more comfortable talking about his life than the 2000 Bush campaign.

The first segment of the interview exposed a defensive Rove, one who had studied all the answers and appeared not entirely convinced that what he was saying was believable. When prompted to discuss his view of “Rovian” politics – a style Lauer described as dirty, ruthless and highly effective – Rove’s reply was that suggesting negative campaigning is effective was “a pretty nasty view of the American public,” one that he “has more respect for…than that.”

As for the rumor that John McCain had fathered an illegitimate black child, one commonly attributed to Rove, he suggested it came from an email by a Bob Jones University professor that spread further than was intended. When asked to explain why, then, he became the clear suspect in spreading the rumor, he played the victim: “Why not pick out the sort of dough-face, balding guy… and blame him?”

The Karl Rove in the personal segment of the interview appeared much more approachable and relaxed than the tense, battle-ready one that met Lauer to discuss his legacy. Rove’s demeanor harkened back to Richard Nixon‘s during the first few hours of his interview with David Frost in the early 1970s: he was a wrongly-maligned patriot and family man who had experienced a great deal of suffering to become who he now was. He described himself as “Nerdville, complete,” his family as adoring and kind despite never telling him he was adopted (his aunt “let fly” the fact over dinner once when he was 19), and his parents as people who had suffered more than their share and withstood as long as they could.

Emphasizing that his situation was not unique, he said of his mother’s suicide: “Life is rough for everybody, and to have five children who love her, and to have grandchildren, and yet to feel that there is so little in your life that you’re going to end it has got to be just horrible.”

As for the rumors that his father was gay, he said, “I don’t know whether my father was, at the end of his life, gay or not. I just don’t. I don’t think so, but I don’t know.”

Today will host Karl tomorrow on their program live, and the venue may help him mold himself into a sympathetic character more than the taped interview, where he is constrained by scripted questions and edits that make him come off as more contrived than he may want. Plus, in his more current role as cable news talking head, Rove has clocked in much more experience on live camera than in a controlled setting. Today has not released what topics Rove will discuss tomorrow morning, however.

>>> NEXT PAGE: Watch Rove’s interview with Matt Lauer below (part two airs tomorrow):

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2000 election, Courage and Consequence, George W. Bush, John McCain, Karl Rove, Karl Rove memoir, Matt Lauer, NBC, Today, Today Show

Jim R

And so the rehabilation begins, who you goning to believe, Rove or your own lying eyes?

Anything’s possible, they’re trying to put one of the worst Presidents on the fifty dollar bill, maybe they’ll only name a town or two after Rove by the time he’s done revising history.
Olby Sucks

Get your “news” from think propaganda much “jim r?’
AikidoJoe

Why not give Ronnie the “fitty” dollar bill? We gave Lincoln the five dollar bill and the damage he did to this country from the destruction of the South, race relations, genocide of the Plains Indians and modern total war are all things still felt today.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Chris-Jones/1384303476 Chris Jones

Rove is bad ass. He’s a political genius and we Republicans are lucky to have him.
timzank

Ah…Jim R…Exactly who are “they”? One Republican Congressman doesn’t exactly constitute a “they”.
Sue

Whenever I read a piece on a Republican and the sentence structure screams….BIAS!!!!, I simply check the organ and the writer…usually tells me all I need to know about the bias of the publication/site and the “journalist”. First is Martel writing abut Lauer…of course anything that can be negative will be. I bet Carville doesn’t get asked about: where the host probed into Rove’s understanding of “Rovian” politics, his role in the more negative aspects of both George W. Bush presidential campaigns. But, I guess stupid is as stupid does.
I would love to see Carville’s reply to that one without “filthy” language that permeates the Left.
Bias-Media

Like him or hate him (Rove, that is, not Lauer)…he is good…far better than any of his counterparts for the DNC / Libs…

…and @Frances…overall, nice article; but..to your quote:

“When prompted to discuss his view of “Rovian” politics – a style Lauer described as dirty, ruthless and highly effective”

are you practicing the Brian Williams’ method of speaking your opinion while not actually speaking your opinion? (ie..invoking someone else’s quote to speak it for you)?
Jim R

One Republican Congressman with 14 co-sponsers equals what percentage of the House minority?

The hagiography and historical revisionism continues of Reagan, and it’s just getting started for Bush II. That’s all the right has since facts have a well known liberal bias.
The Real Royal King

I heard a piece on Andrea Mitchell today (sans Ms. Mitchell) with Turd Blossom bellyaching about how the press trashed his parents. Interesting thing is, no one had ever heard the “news” about his parents. Not Guthrie. Not Buchanan. I think TB got a bit mixed up or messed up. That came from Texas Republican primary when W was running. Apparently, it was a somewhat unknown story until the book presented an opportunity for some plenary moaning.
The Real Royal King

The hagiography and historical revisionism continues of Reagan, and it’s just getting started for Bush II.

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Indeed. But, I’m not sure the Reagan revisionism has legs. Nancy did a far worse job than Jackie in making the case early and effectively. Reagan was, by today’s standards, a life-time ago, and it is surprising how few Americans know of him and his administration, and of that number, how few approve. We have to remember that Reagan’s most intense supporters were middle age or elderly in 1980. The judgment of history is more likely going to result in a continuing slide into mediocrity.

For W, it is too early to tell, but it appears much history is now written instantly. That history has been far from kind. And, W has no champion. I’m not sure Laura and the girls much care and Poppy and Babs are too wrapped up in their own legacy. Jebbers would like to see W a distant memory.

So, I agree, there is considerable revisionism, but it is of the tainted and tinted memories of a dying breed. More comical than historical.
Nachi

Little Herr Rove and the GOP-Culters. Our bridge to the Fifteenth Century. Yup!
Olby Sucks

You loons are totally off topic. Hypocrite much?
ImNotBlue

Olby Sucks says:
March 8, 2010 at 12:57 pm

Get your “news” from think propaganda much “jim r?’

Nah, Jim is a “true believer.” I don’t think the guy has ever said anything positive about any Republican. If it’s an “R” it’s bad… if it’s a “D” is good, or better. But it doesn’t stop there… for him, if it’s bad, it’s an “R.” He’s attributed just about every societal ill on Republicans… and has just enough information to “back up” his goofy claims, even if more information would lead him to a different conclusion. He’s a “true believer,” ThinkProgress has nothing on him.