Actually, the real issue is GOP spinelessness. GOPers, like Rove has proven ad nauseum, that he and they just want to do comfortable deals, no muss, no fuss. It is only because of this spineless that Rove even feels a need to defend political speech. Democrats don't defend their tactics, but GOPers, comfortable pork dealing RINOs, I mean, don't want to have to defend nuthin'. They just want to take their pork and go home. Holder suppresses a prosecution. Hey, we saw that. Just add a smigin more of the good stuff on the scale and we'll call it even. Hold hearings, ask tough questions about corruption? How absolutely unseemly.
In short, Rove is just being the same ol' Rove he has always been. Anything but just stand up straight, look the other guy in the eyes and say "you want to make something of it?" So, this need to splain himself is just more RINO weakness.
I’m not disagreeing with you alas.... RINO are spineless critters. The GOP was never comfortable being in the majority 1994-2006. Even then they let the ‘rats set the agenda 90% of the time.
We need activist motivated leadership that will fight.