Karl ‘Turdblossom’ Rove Steps in Richmond Doodoo
August 12th, 2008So it turns out Bush’s “brain” ain’t so brainy after all. After belittling the town of Richmond and Virginia’s governor Sunday on the CBS News show Face the Nation, Rove may have done more to hand the red state over to the Democrats in the 2008 election than all of the money Obama is spending to try and win the state come November.
The local reaction to Rove’s “patronizing” comments was swift and not kind, making it look like the former White House political aide Bush liked to call “turdblossom” had stepped in one gigantic pile of doodoo.
“As finance director of the Virginia GOP, Karl Rove lived in Richmond during the mid-1970s. But he didn’t learn much about our city,” according to a local commentator. “How else do you explain the political hatchet man’s patronizing comments about Richmond during an attempt to denigrate Gov. Timothy M. Kaine, the former Richmond mayor who is being considered for Barack Obama’s running mate?”
ThinkProgress.org covered it this way:
Richmond Residents Chastise Rove For His ‘Patronizing’ And ‘Belittling’ Comments About Their City
Last Sunday on CBS’s Face the Nation, Karl Rove attacked Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine (D) by offering the following “patronizing comments” about the city of Richmond, Virginia:
With all due respect again to Governor Kaine, he’s been a governor for three years, he’s been able but undistinguished. I don’t think people could really name a big, important thing that he’s done.
He was mayor of the 105th largest city in America. And again, with all due respect to Richmond, Virginia, it’s smaller than Chula Vista, California; Aurora, Colorado; Mesa or Gilbert, Arizona; north Las Vegas or Henderson, Nevada. It’s not a big town.
The residents of the Virginian capital are not taking Rove’s comments lying down. In an article entitled, “In belittling Richmond’s size, Rove shows he’s out of touch,” Richmond Times Dispatch journalist Michael Paul Williams writes, “Wow. And Republicans call Democrats elitist.”
“It appears that Karl Rove will swiftboat anyone, including cities,” said Del. Dwight Clinton Jones (D), a candidate for mayor.
City Council President and mayoral candidate William Pantele added, “Richmond has more in culture, history and business than all those cities [cited by Rove] put together. And so, perhaps Mr. Rove would like to come see how terrific a place this is, the capital city of Virginia, rather than just taking shots on a news show.”
Williams notes that if physical size is such an important consideration, the current Vice President shouldn’t have been selected. It should be pointed out that Cheney’s political career began in Wyoming, the least populous state in the nation. With fewer than 525,000 residents, it’s less than half the size of the Richmond metro area.
In a web-video posted on the Richmond Times Dispatch site, Williams calls Rove’s comments a “cynical and misguided viewpoint, out of touch with America and the real people with real problems who reside there.”
The backlash from Richmond continues today: Dear Karl Rove, Ain’t You Got No More Sense Than That?
Karl Rove On Face The Nation, Aug.10.
We report you decide.
Should Rove be on TV making these kinds of political comments? Or in jail for contempt of Congress?
Comments welcome…
August 12th, 2008 at 10:34 pm
Maybe we should be talking about Karl Rove’s sex life? Do you think then people would get interested enough to comment?
August 13th, 2008 at 12:34 am
Of course, we all think Rove should be in jail, but what more can we do?
We have signed petitions till our fingers are numb, we’ve called the Judiciary Committee too many times to count, we’re blogged ourselves until there’s nothing left to say. We’ve written and called Nancy Pelosi. Somebody even suggested a citizen’s arrest……
I ask you what more can we do?
August 13th, 2008 at 12:44 am
Vote here and hope, I guess, Esther…
Maybe go after some of them right wing bloggers propping Rove up, along with the talk radio hosts - and then there’s the mainstream media. I was surprised, quite frankly, at how nice old Bob Schieffer was on CBS Sunday. Made me want to puke…
August 13th, 2008 at 2:21 am
From William Crane, the proud owner of a Yellow Hammer bird house:
Citizens for Impeachment went to the Pelosi Book signing in LA last night to protest, but none of us went in. Others did. Yeah Code Pink!
It went very well. We got there 90 minutes early and already there were numerous huge signs out calling for impeachment and lots of people. By the time Pelosi arrived we had dozens of protestors some in great costumes, scattered everywhere and tons of huge signs. The emphasis was definitely on impeachment. Some went inside including Code Pink co-founder Jodie Evans. I talked to Jodie and could telll she was getting ready for battle. It was too late to get in as the event was sold out.
Those who came to attend were a mixed group. Many were with us. One gentleman was exceptionally angry as he gave us the finger. One carload pulled over to say, “It’s just too late for impeachment.”
When Pelosi arrived the caravan swooped in a great speed with police escort lights flashing front and aft. They went to a back entrance and Nancy and her caravan ran almost as if their lives depended on it - fast. The protestors at the main entrance didn’t know she arrived, but there were many of us still on the street and closer by who were closer. The crowd was angry and someone kept yelling, “Traitor” at the top of their lungs. I yelled, “Cindy In, Pelosi Out” over and over. Everyone was animated and there was a lot of anger.
The following is Jodie Evans account of what took place. Peter Thotham was in handcuffs. will try to find out what happened to him.
Pelosi is on a tour for her book “Know Your Power”. At the American Jewish University we had over 40 people outside with giant “Impeach” banners. The road to parking was lined with people and messages.
Twelve of us had tickets to get in. We met at 6:30 PM to discuss the order we would stand up with our messages at the booksigning. Some were chosen to wait for their time at the book signing after Pelosi’s talk to get their questions answered.
Our cameras were taken away in the search before entering. As they were looking in my bag, they got distracted by someone else and I was waved by with, “You look harmless.”
Eight of us sat on the second row in the middle, including Tighe, Sara Nichols, Marcy Winograd, Linda Milazzo and others. We wrote messages with our sharpie, such as: “Use your Power, Torture?” “You Knew?” “Uphold the Constitution” etc. on the back inside covers of the books. After Pelosi had started talking, we raised the books showing the messages. It was a row of dissent!
Pelosi was flustered, couldn’t remember the questions asked and stammered. Then a security guard disrupted us and tried to get us to leave, gesturing and frowning; we didn’t look at him or move but stayed seated for 20 minutes.
Then Pelosi started to talk about how good all the members of Congress are and Peter Thottam lost it and stood up screaming at her. He resisted those who were trying to drag him out. As he was being dragged out we were supporting his message and yelling out our own.
Then it quieted and Pelosi talked about how she was upholding the constitution and I leapt up and said, “No you aren’t!” and offered her Kucinich’s 35 articles of impeachment, Bugliosi’s book and Susskind’s book about how Bush has broken the law. I cited her comment on the TV program “The View” [about asking for reasons for impeachment] and told her I was delivering what she asked for.
Security tried to shut me up but Pelosi said she, Pelosi “came from the streets” and I had a right to speak, until finally, she started yelling at me that she WAS upholding the constitution and that impeachment would fail. By then security had made it to the middle of the row and dragged me out.
The police escorted me to where Peter was in handcuffs and I told them I did not resist and she had told me to speak. Security told the police that was true so I was escorted to my car and told if I was found on that property that night I would be arrested. As I left there were still 20 activists outside with the Impeachment banners, they had just ordered pizza and were staying until she drove past with her 2 daughters.
After I left, in “popcorn” progression everyone else got up with their question and message, the host finally said it is over because these people have been too disruptive, and the pinkers went to get books signed. The event organizers cut off the signing before our team got to the table.
August 13th, 2008 at 1:51 pm
This just in from Arn Pearson of Common Cause
Karl Rove refuses to comply with a congressional subpoena – but he’s taking “booking requests” through his website.
Let’s book him.
Help us reach our goal of 20,000 signatures on our booking request.
Pop quiz: How can you get Karl Rove to show up and answer questions about his role in the politicization of the Justice Department?
1) Issue a congressional subpoena compelling him to testify
2) Hire him as an analyst for your “fair and balanced” cable news network
3) Book an appearance through his website, rove.com
We already know that #1 doesn’t work. Rove refused to appear before the House Judiciary Committee, despite a subpoena.
#2 could work – he recently appeared on Fox News to answer questions from Sean Hannity.* But unfortunately, we don’t own a cable network.
So let’s try #3! Karl Rove’s website says you can book him for an event to talk about “public issues and controversies.” We have some questions that fit that bill.
Sign on to our “booking request” to Karl Rove today!
Rove is marketing himself as a public speaker to college audiences, trade associations, corporate conferences and more – all while ignoring a subpoena to appear before Congress.
A House committee has already voted to hold him in contempt — a charge he called “ludicrous.”* And a judge has rejected the administration’s claims of “absolute immunity” for Rove.
Common Cause will be turning up the heat on Congress when they come back to DC in September to make sure the full House votes on a contempt citation for Rove. But in the meantime, let’s show Rove that the American people demand answers.
We want to add at least 20,000 names to the booking request that we’ll submit at Rove.com.
Add your name today!
Rove told fellow Fox News analyst Sean Hannity that he is not responding to a Congressional subpoena because it is the “the right of the president to not have his aides and former aides called up at the convenience of the Congress for no good reason at all.”*
We think the truth and the rule of law are pretty good reasons — don’t you?
Tell Karl Rove that the time for stalling and delays has come to an end. Help us book him for a congressional hearing this September.
Common Cause is a national nonpartisan organization with chapters in 38 states. Our mailing address is 1133 19th Street NW, 9th Floor, Washington, DC 20036. Our phone number is (202) 833-1200.
For more information, visit the CommonBlog.
August 13th, 2008 at 2:26 pm
I think this is a great idea. How about it University of Alabama? Auburn? UAB? Jeff. State?
Young Republicans? Young Democrats? Are you out there?