Remember the recent Republican Fund-raiser for corporate high-rollers -- the one where Karl Rove "joked" about "murdering Todd Akin" -- with next to no followup commentary.
Well that was Karl Rove's super PAC, American Crossroads -- soliciting funds from the likes of John Paulson, Wilbur Ross, and The Kochs. These guys like tough talk apparently -- so no harm done. (except to Akin's peace of mind, of course.)
Only one little problem for this Rove "strategy session" however -- there was an unnoticed guest in attendance. Who happened to be a Reporter. And who also happened NOT to be sworn to secrecy.
Oooops!
Exclusive: Inside Karl Rove's Billionaire Fundraiser (Video)
by Sheelah Kolhatkar, Bloomberg - businessweek.com -- August 31, 2012
link to video
[...]
This rare look at the mechanics of super-PAC fundraising and electoral strategy was likely not intended for reporters. I was invited as the guest of a financier who is a significant Republican donor. The financier knew that I was a journalist. At no point was I presented with, nor did I agree to, restrictions regarding the information I heard.
[...]
Ever wonder what happens at one of Karl's "money-changers" confabs? If so, well you know what to do ...
[...]
Then came the main event: Rove, joined by former Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour, laid out his strategy for winning the White House. “The people we’ve got to win in this election, by and large, voted for Barack Obama,” Rove said, in a soothing, professorial tone, explaining why the campaign hadn’t launched more pointed attacks on the president’s character.
Rove explained that Crossroads had conducted extensive focus groups and shared polling and focus group data with “all the major groups that are playing” in the election. “As many of you know, one of the most important things about Crossroads is: We don’t try and do this alone. We have partners,” he said. “The Kochs -- you name it.”
What had emerged from that data is an “acute understanding of the nature of those undecided, persuadable” voters. “If you say he’s a socialist, they’ll go to defend him. If you call him a ‘far out left-winger,’ they’ll say, ‘no, no, he’s not.’” The proper strategy, Rove declared, was criticizing Obama without really criticizing him -- by reminding voters of what the president said that he was going to do and comparing it to what he’s actually done. “If you keep it focused on the facts and adopt a respectful tone, then they’re gonna agree with you.”
[...]
Haah! Even the "
undecided, persuadable" demographic
are defending Obama!
Kind of looks like the Facts do matter -- despite the constant BS that the Tea-Party-Fox network has been repeating for all these years.
It seems people are smart enough to know -- just calling the President some sort of "Marxist-Socialist" -- doesn't magically make it SO.
Oooops!
This wide-spread rational mindset, that Rove has discovered, doesn't bode well for the Party of Tea -- unfortunately for them, "They don't 'Do Rational'."
No wonder Rove's worried -- he just might be out of a job, after a few more election cycles.
Of course there is always "wise guy" apprentice, Karl. You'd be a shoe-in.