Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Rove: Kerry Has Taste Of Bush Campaign
The Guardian (UK) ^ | 3-17-2004 | Scott Lindlaw

Posted on 03/17/2004 3:21:31 PM PST by blam

Rove: Kerry Has Taste of Bush Campaign

Wednesday March 17, 2004 11:01 PM

By SCOTT LINDLAW

Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) - White House political chief Karl Rove said Wednesday that President Bush had just begun to demonstrate the kind of targeted, multi-front campaign he plans against Democratic rival John Kerry.

Addressing a small group of conservative activists, Rove assured them that Bush planned a nimble campaign able to counterpunch even before Kerry opens his mouth. The White House adviser pointed with pride to the Bush camp's response Tuesday, when it got word that Kerry planned a national security speech to veterans in West Virginia.

Less than 24 hours after learning of the speech, the Bush campaign produced an ad criticizing Kerry for his Senate votes on military spending. It also dispatched volunteers to hand out pro-Bush material to West Virginians, and started radio ads in the state.

The Bush campaign has material read to go on Kerry based on his votes and speeches, said a Republican who attended the session. Whenever Kerry raises an issue, the Bush-Cheney campaign will be prepared to hand out leaflets, and run ads on TV and radio.

Kerry's vote authorizing force in Iraq, and on an array of military issues, put him ``in a box'' on the Iraq war, minimizing his ability to criticize Bush, Rove told the conservatives in the private meeting. In Rove's judgment, Kerry hurt himself by calling on one-time Democratic rival Howard Dean to voice support for him. Dean was a fierce critic of the Iraq war, but most Americans outside the Beltway back Bush on national security issues, Rove said.

Rove complained that Democrats were criticizing Bush for failing to stem joblessness, when the unemployment rate is roughly the same as it was during President Clinton's 1996 run. Unemployment in February of this year was 5.6 percent; in February 1996, it was 5.5 percent.

He also said the gay marriage issue is beginning to help Bush, because polls are starting to shift in Bush's direction, with more people opposed to same-sex unions. But Rove implored the activists to add their voices to Bush's call for a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage to ensure that Bush is not perceived as standing alone on the issue.

And he expressed irritation that some disgruntled Republicans in Congress and elsewhere have increasingly chosen to go to the news media to air their complaints, rather than bringing them directly to the White House.


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: bush; campaign; gwb2004; kerry; rove; taste
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-92 next last
To: Viking2002
Let's hope our own Idiot-Savant learned a few lessons from his disastrous (and expensive screw-ups) in 2000. Rare a man his age gets a second chance at On-the-Job-Training.
61 posted on 03/17/2004 5:57:25 PM PST by Kenny Bunk
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Capt. Tom
"Hey weren't you Freepers ripping me apart a couple of weeks ago saying we should have been on the attack much earlier? "

Nah. You have the wrong guy...I don't attack anyone on FR. (I just start ignoring them, lol)

62 posted on 03/17/2004 6:03:53 PM PST by blam
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 59 | View Replies]

To: sciencediet
OMG! Now that's what I call "picking a winner."
63 posted on 03/17/2004 6:08:09 PM PST by Fester Chugabrew
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: blam
Nah. You have the wrong guy...I don't attack anyone on FR. (I just start ignoring them, lol)

Hi Blam -This was not directed at you or anyone specifically.

Two weeks ago the threads were full of what a jerk and incompetent Rove was for not fighting back against Kerry, and now Rove is back to being a political genius who was just biding his time. - Tom

64 posted on 03/17/2004 6:10:52 PM PST by Capt. Tom (Don't confuse the Bushies with the dumb republicans. - Capt. Tom)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 62 | View Replies]

To: SuziQ
Come the final days of the next Presidential election, I'd like to see Kerry as a stain on the political landscape, hopefully with real Republicans in control of Congress. God Bless George Bush!
65 posted on 03/17/2004 6:28:02 PM PST by caisson71
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 55 | View Replies]

To: Loyal Buckeye
Rove can't generate ads fast enough to counter all of Flip-flop's accusations and to publicize all of his gaffes.

That means he can be choosy. Only the funniest, goofiest, dumbest Kerry flip-flops and gaffes need apply.

66 posted on 03/17/2004 6:31:08 PM PST by Poohbah ("Would you mind not shooting at the thermonuclear weapons?" -- Maj. Vic Deakins, USAF)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: blam
as usual our President's distract ors grossly underestimate him & the people he has chosen to lead the administration & the campaign effort.
67 posted on 03/17/2004 6:49:24 PM PST by DollyCali ("Trying to keep the Freepers pulling in the same direction is like trying to herd cats." Richard Poe)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Viking2002
He hasn't even begun to unload the heavy artillery, yet.

I don't know about that. I think VP Dick Cheney and SoS Colin Powell telling the truth to the public is devastating to the Kerry campaign.

68 posted on 03/17/2004 6:52:27 PM PST by af_vet_1981
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: barker
Think Cheney fired the first heavy shots.

And they were indeed "heavy". Cheney knows how to walk softly and carry a big stick.

He destroyed Kerry today.

69 posted on 03/17/2004 6:59:55 PM PST by Jorge
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: deport
And he expressed irritation that some disgruntled Republicans in Congress and elsewhere have increasingly chosen to go to the news media to air their complaints, rather than bringing them directly to the White House.

I have the same complaint ..

70 posted on 03/17/2004 7:04:16 PM PST by Mo1 (Do you want a president who injects poison into his skull for vanity?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: sinkspur
I've said some pretty nasty things about Rove that I might have to take back, if he pulls the 'magic man'.
71 posted on 03/17/2004 7:06:32 PM PST by txhurl
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 38 | View Replies]

To: blam

Socko President Bush!
Very Keen With His Sockdolager Approach
to Dealing with Terrorist Maggot Scum Cowards!
God Bless America--Our Brave Troops-
and, Our Commander in Chief

72 posted on 03/17/2004 7:17:24 PM PST by harpo11 (Give 'em Hell Team Bush! If the media doesn't want us to remember 9-11, it's up to us to do it!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: N. Theknow
He is like Dean in slow motion. Very, very slow.

Well, it is Heinz.

That remark of yours made me do this:

73 posted on 03/17/2004 9:17:53 PM PST by RayChuang88
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 51 | View Replies]

To: Miss Marple
I didn't realize Congress was in recess.
74 posted on 03/17/2004 11:52:33 PM PST by SendShaqtoIraq
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 53 | View Replies]

To: Kenny Bunk
"Let's hope our own Idiot-Savant learned a few lessons from his disastrous (and expensive screw-ups) in 2000. Rare a man his age gets a second chance at On-the-Job-Training."

What are you talking about?
75 posted on 03/17/2004 11:54:54 PM PST by SendShaqtoIraq
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 61 | View Replies]

To: Maria S
Well,our Suzy has quite a resume: It has her name,address checks should be sent to, social security number, and the notation: "Daddy OWNS this rag,twit ! You got any questions, take them up with him !"

Thanks for visiting. Be sure to scroll down for past stories.Send a link to a friend.
76 posted on 03/18/2004 4:07:30 AM PST by genefromjersey (So little time - so many FLAMES to light !!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 47 | View Replies]

To: Jorge; Viking2002
VP Cheney is devastating with his velvet knife.
77 posted on 03/18/2004 4:43:40 AM PST by barker (Normal people scare me.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 69 | View Replies]

To: SendShaqtoIraq
What am I taking about?

Rove of course, who turned the campaign of 2000 into a very near-run thing, despite a quarter-billion dollar budget.. Using a Democrat ad agency, so that any plans went to the Demo camp BEFORE they got to the Republicans in the field. Idiotic television commericials. Speechwriting from hell.

A complete failure to address vote fraud, so that Gore can claim a "popular vote victory," with 5 stolen states.

Rove was better than good in 2000. He was goddam lucky the American people recognized a sociopath in Gore when they saw one.

Rove is an "Idiot-Savant." All I hope is that the "SAVANT" part learned from his egregious mistakes of 2000, which were obviously his "Idiot" part at work.

BTW, Karl, congrats on the victory.

78 posted on 03/18/2004 5:43:38 AM PST by Kenny Bunk
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 75 | View Replies]

To: caisson71
My hubby says he wants to see them ground into dirt and tossed into the dustbin of history! ;o)
79 posted on 03/18/2004 9:53:38 AM PST by SuziQ
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 65 | View Replies]

To: af_vet_1981
Cheney and Powell don't 'give em hell'. They tell the truth and the libs THINK it's hell!
80 posted on 03/18/2004 9:55:51 AM PST by SuziQ
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 68 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-92 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson