Rove: Terrorism Will Be Election Issue

Bush's Top Political Aide Vows To Make War On Terror A Campaign Issue

(AP) 
The special prosecutor's inquiry still under way, leaving the fate of other senior White House officials, notably Rove, in doubt.

Mr. Bush's political guru opened his remarks with a joking reference to the unwanted attention the case has brought him. "Anybody want to get their picture in the paper? Come on up here," he said.

In 2002, Rove caused a stir among Democrats when he told RNC members to make the war on terrorism an issue in the midterm elections. "We can go to the country on this issue because they trust the Republican Party to do a better job of protecting and strengthening America's military might and thereby protecting America," he said at the time.

Rove made the same case Friday, though his words were a bit more measured. Reading from a prepared text, the deputy White House chief of staff began with a call for election-year civility — "Our opponents are our fellow citizens, not our enemies" — and quickly turned to portraying Democrats as weak on defense.

"The United States faces a ruthless enemy — and we need a commander-in-chief and a Congress who understand the nature of the threat and the gravity that American finds itself in," Rove said. "President Bush and the Republican Party do. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for many Democrats."

He said some Democrats want to abandon Iraq too soon, which would cause enemies to "laugh at our failed resolve." Rove added: "To retreat before victory would be a reckless act — and this president and our party will not allow it. This is worthy of a public debate."

He also criticized Democrats for opposing the USA Patriot Act and warrantless eavesdropping, before turning to Alito, newly minted Chief Justice John Roberts and their Democratic opponents on the Senate Judiciary Committee.

"Every effort to smear the name of these good men blew up in the face of those making the malicious charges. Some committee members came across as mean-spirited and small-minded — and it left a searing impression," Rove said. He specifically accused Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., of creating "an ugly display" during Alito's hearing.

Before the RNC members returned to their home states, they approved an immigration resolution supported by the White House. A competing measure backed by hard-line conservatives opposed to Mr. Bush's guest worker program was withdrawn under pressure from White House allies.