Karl Rove's courage

This post originally appeared on Slate.

When Karl Rove's critics--his conservative critics--learned of his new effort to shape Republican politics, the hashtag #crushrove popped up on Twitter. Rove's intraparty foes insisted that his Conservative Victory Project be stopped: It was an effort to sideline the tea party, protect incumbents, and bleach conservatism out of the GOP.

But Rove's critics are wrong. If the Republican Party wants to evolve and the tea party wants a place in it, don't #crushrove, #hugrove.

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Almost everyone connected to the GOP has opined recently about how the Republican Party needs to evolve after the 2012 election defeats. Gov. Bobby Jindal has given speeches, Rep. Paul Ryan has offered views, and this week House Majority Leader Eric Cantor invited everyone down to AEI to offer a few thin policy proposals aimed at rebranding. This paddling around in the shallow end is fine, but if there's going to be transformation, the Republican Party needs leadership and clear choices. Rove is offering both.

The other would-be visionaries are playing it safe, but Rove has joined Sen. Marco Rubio in actually putting action behind the talk. The idea of the Victory Project is that Rove and his allies will pick sides in Republican primary campaigns, supporting candidates who can win in the general election.

This idea has infuriated many conservatives, and prompted an outpouring of ridicule. "In 2012, they spent hundreds of millions of rich donors' money and had jack to show for it," wrote RedState's Erick Erickson. Town Hall's Terry Jeffrey cataloged every conservative sin of the Bush administration in a piece titled "Karl Rove is Not a Conservative." Influential conservative radio host Mark Levin referred to him as "doughboy" and levied a series of charming attacks, including a critique of Rove's penmanship.

Rove says he has been badly misunderstood (I know the feeling). He's not trying to protect incumbents, he says, but to make sure that the best conservatives can get elected. He points out that his 2012 Crossroads super PAC supported lots of tea party candidates. This hasn't calmed the anti-Rove fury.

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[michaelz06]

Despite the various comments here that mostly miss the point, this essay strikes me as spot on, and in this case what Rove is saying is also. The Republicans need to be able to solidify, properly define their message (and not let the media or Democrats do it for them), and get the public to truly understand the fundemental differences between what they espouse and the current administration. Then they will have a chance to right the course this country is on, which is despearately needed.

[knsn_for_cmn_sense]

Karl Rove. The architect of the Bush administration.

He needs to be brave after what he helped do to America.

[zorroaca44]

"Karl Rove's courage" What a joke!!!!! The very same person who opened the door for these right wing nuts to flood into the party to re-elect Bush. Now that he's used the fools, he wants to show them the door!!!

The Republicans at this point resemble a leper colony ... instead of re-branding they should change or recall the product!!!!

[mark648]

Rove was disparaging O'Donnell even before the election because she beat his boy Castle. Maybe enthusiastic support from his group would have made a difference.

[hypnotoad72]

If Cantor is still around, they can rebrand and rename all they want. The substance will still be pretty gross:

http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2011/06/27/eric_cantor_conflict_of_interest/index.html

[KPeters_from_UK]

Every moderate should go ahead and step back. By all means, please don't stop it but encourage the feast. Allow the GOP to eat itself. This is a great show.

[sixthromeo]

I thought Rove was heading up the Log Cabin Republicans now, with his BFF "Big Bob" Kjellander. I didn't think gay Republicans had much use for the TEA Party anyway. Granted many parents of Log Cabin Republicans are TEA Party members but those guys will never let their NRA member Dad know.

[TonyG63]

How many failures (candidate selections) does this guy get before you declare him a complete failure. He is the reason why we lost the Senate elections this year. Wake up. He is not a CONSERVATIVE. We need to get rid of him. He does not speak for the Tea Party nor the grass roots conservative movement. He is not the victim . . . we are. Brave and smart my ass . . . this guy is a real fool.

[Yoshi96]

"Is this just math you do as a Republican to make yourself feel better or is this real?" Megyn Kelly, Fox News

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1chQEFIPtk

A classic case of "The Emperor's New Clothes"!

"Courage", laughable.....

[bobnjersey]

[Almost everyone connected to the GOP has opined recently about how the Republican Party needs to evolve after the 2012 election defeats.]
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they all have their own etch-a-sketch?