March 9, 2007

Rove: Obama "Articulate" But Inexperienced

Bush Political Adviser Is Latest To Use "A" Word To Describe Democratic Candidate

    • Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., speaks at the Martin and Coretta King Beloved Community Unity Breakfast, Sunday March 4, 2007 in Selma, Ala.

      Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., speaks at the Martin and Coretta King Beloved Community Unity Breakfast, Sunday March 4, 2007 in Selma, Ala.  (AP)

    • White House political adviser Karl Rove

      White House political adviser Karl Rove  (AP)

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  • Photo Essay Barack Obama

    The junior senator from Illinois is making his name known.

(AP)  Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama just can't escape the word articulate.

"He's charismatic, he's articulate, he's a very strong figure on the national stage," White House political adviser Karl Rove told an Arkansas crowd. "But something tells me that people are going to say (they want) experience and depth. As a result it's going to be, 'Can he live up to the standards?"'

Rove spoke at an event arranged by the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service.

Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware, a Democratic presidential hopeful, described Obama to the New York Observer in January as, among presidential candidates, "the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy." Biden later apologized for his remarks.

After Biden's remarks, the Illinois senator cautioned that they could be taken as disparaging towards previous black presidential candidates, including Carol Moseley Braun, Shirley Chisholm, Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton.

President Bush also referred to Obama as "an attractive guy, he's articulate" during a January interview on Fox News Channel.


© MMVII The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Add a Comment See all 87 Comments
by mari2jj March 10, 2007 7:26 PM EST
Actually being insulted by the likes of the Cheney-Rove-Bush cabal (in that order btw) is a compliment. Although I do get a big chuckle out of hearing any of the White House cabal criticize anyone's lack of experience. When one considers how they substituted lies for objective knowledge re going to war, throwing Valerie Plame to the wolves, not only her but all her contacts, destroying a clandestine unit that worked to uncover nuclear skullduggery of other governments, and when they even lie so poorly they cannot even remember what they said when they lied. When lies must be substituted for insight and acumen, then guess who are the ones who are inexperienced. It is certainly NOT Obama. This long time Republican is thoroughly embarrassed by this administration and I intend to vote for anyone NOT from this Republican culture of corruption.
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by angryoldvet March 10, 2007 1:50 PM EST
Experience?!?! Experience?!?!? Rove et al have the gall to bring THAT up!?!? The Idiot-in-Chief had never been outside the continental US 'til he was appointed President!! He had never - as far as I can learn - written so much as a letter to the editor of a newspaper! He had failed at every busuness venture he had created!

Obama has 100% more "experience" NOW than The Shrub has after 6+ years as Cheney's hand puppet
Reply to this comment
by aznights-2009 March 10, 2007 11:39 AM EST
Why is Rove still walking among us? He was exposed as one of the prime leakers in the Libby trial, and doesn't anybody remember that W said anyone involved in that leak would not be working in his administration? Of course, as always, we can expect the Tirant from Texas to do exactly the opposite of whatever he says. I am so disgusted with this whole bunch of traitors I could hurl. This has to end soon or our country is going to have a complete nervous breakdown.
Reply to this comment
by adian1-2009 March 10, 2007 10:01 AM EST
Honestly, who in this world invites Rove to speak anywhere?
Reply to this comment
by clemenhagen1 March 10, 2007 6:55 AM EST
Remember when it was all about character? The Republicans do not want Obama's character to define the debate; none of them could hold a candle to this guy. That's why they have had to start so early with the gutless smears and innuendos: they suggest he's Muslim even though he's Christian, they morph his name with bin Laden, they question his "blackness" or challenge his credentials. In the wake of lying about war, disregarding Katrina, outting CIA operatives, looting the national treasury, and sporting such shining examples of character as the following: Duke Cunningham, Tom DeLay, Jack Abramoff, Cheney/Libby/Rove, Alberto Gonzales, Rudy Giuliani, Newt Gingrich, the list goes on of course...I highly suggest the Republicans stay a long ways away from a character debate with Barack Obama.
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by da_design March 10, 2007 3:58 AM EST
So "experience" is more important than "ethical"? says Bush's right-hand man?
Reply to this comment
by sharin5 March 10, 2007 3:12 AM EST
I KNOW Karl wishes this were his candidate. Im sure hes secrectly swooning over the "what ifs" or "can you imagine's" of what he could do with such a SMART and articulate candidate. I only wish we had a "Karl Rove" of our own. One who would put thier expertise to work for the common good rather than the special interests.
Reply to this comment
by sharin5 March 10, 2007 2:21 AM EST
I KNOW Karl wishes this were his candidate. Im sure hes secrectly swooning over the "what ifs" or "can you imagine's" of what he could do with such a SMART and articulate candidate. I only wish we had a "Karl Rove" of our own. One who would put thier expertise to work for the common good rather than the special interests.
Reply to this comment
by sharin5 March 10, 2007 2:08 AM EST
I KNOW Karl wishes this were his candidate. Im sure hes secrectly swooning over the "what ifs" or "can you imagine's" of what he could do with such a SMART and articulate candidate. I only wish we had a "Karl Rove" of our own. One who would put thier expertise to work for the common good rather than the special interests.
Reply to this comment
by sharin5 March 10, 2007 2:03 AM EST
I KNOW Karl wishes this were his candidate. Im sure hes secrectly swooning over the "what ifs" or "can you imagine's" of what you could do with such a SMART and articulate candidate. I only wish we had a "Karl Rove" of our own. One who would put thier expertise to work for the common good rather than the special interests.
Reply to this comment
by dallison7 March 9, 2007 9:42 PM EST
A sock-puppet with a hair-lip would be more articulate than Bush.
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by bimplebean March 9, 2007 8:43 PM EST
Oh, this is precious. "But something tells me that people are going to say (they want) experience and depth. As a result it's going to be, 'Can he live up to the standards?"'

This coming from the chief apologist and strategist for GEORGE W. BUSH? It is to laugh. Experience and Depth? Please.
Reply to this comment
by silver993 March 9, 2007 8:22 PM EST
I know some people tend to think this "articulate" thing is somehow racist. I don't think so...I think people who call him articulate are just contrasting him with Bush.

I'm still trying to figure out what a Spacial Entrepreneur is.
Reply to this comment
by March 9, 2007 8:13 PM EST
This is funny. Bush couldn't even spell Afghanistan before he was in office...Standards to live up to? Ha! He should have a show on Comedy Central.
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by mudrose-2009 March 9, 2007 7:26 PM EST
Oh why don't you just run down the garden path with rose petals in your hand tossing them across the walkway for Obama. Let's have us a candidate of substance. And for cryin out loud let's stop the b.s. that color is the issue here. Can we have substance and not color? I think so. Case in point. Martin Luther King, Jr. Haven't seen the likes of this man's mind, substance and beliefs in over 45 years. Miss him. Miss his message.
Reply to this comment
by nzui11 March 9, 2007 7:21 PM EST
What a mess and since this is the new GOP anthem for Sen. Obama, we wish them well and hope they will keep putting their foot in their mouth.
If the current president is inarticulate then who cares, hope Obama wins it all.

Good luck though this tells us that many White Americans are still uncomfortable in the mist of people of color, we as a country have a long way to go for ourselves and our children.

Keep the positive message and carry yourself above the waters like you have done so far. You are a breath of fresh air and a new light of a new era for the down trodden.

God Bless.
Reply to this comment
by mudrose-2009 March 9, 2007 6:51 PM EST
What mess is that? You people just don't get specific. All you keep doing is tossing out generalizations. As Friday would say: "Just the facts Maam, jsut the facts."
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by tommo78 March 9, 2007 6:47 PM EST
The Shrub's Lame Brain said: "But something tells me that people are going to say (they want) experience and depth. As a result it's going to be, 'Can he live up to the standards?'"

Experience and depth?!? From Bush's Brain? Was he making a joke about Bush? Is he nuts? Why would anyone vote for a Republiker again after the mess he and his cronies have made of EVERY THING.
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by unsui March 9, 2007 6:47 PM EST
"But something tells me that people are going to say (they want) experience and depth. As a result it's going to be, 'Can he live up to the standards?"
Har! What, experienced like *** Cheney? Maybe Rumsfeld? What a joke. And, by the way Mr. Rove, Bozo The Clown could live up to the standards established by the present administration.
Reply to this comment
by mudrose-2009 March 9, 2007 6:47 PM EST
Tejas, takes one to know one.
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