Rove: Obama Will Make Political Veep Pick

Suggests Choice Of Virginian Tim Kaine Would Be An "Intensely Political Choice" That Ignores Responsibilities Of Presidency

(CBS)  Republican strategist Karl Rove said on Face The Nation Sunday that he expects presumptive Democratic nominee Barack Obama to choose a running mate based on political calculations, not the person's readiness for the job.

"I think he's going to make an intensely political choice, not a governing choice," Rove said. "He's going to view this through the prism of a candidate, not through the prism of president; that is to say, he's going to pick somebody that he thinks will on the margin help him in a state like Indiana or Missouri or Virginia. He's not going to be thinking big and broad about the responsibilities of president."

Rove singled out Virginia governor Tim Kaine, also a Face The Nation guest, as an example of such a pick.

"With all due respect again to Governor Kaine, he's been a governor for three years, he's been able but undistinguished," Rove said. "I don't think people could really name a big, important thing that he's done. He was mayor of the 105th largest city in America."

Rove continued: "So if he were to pick Governor Kaine, it would be an intensely political choice where he said, `You know what? I'm really not, first and foremost, concerned with, is this person capable of being president of the United States? What I'm concerned about is, can he bring me the electoral votes of the state of Virginia, the 13 electoral votes in Virginia?'"

Kaine, who is widely seen as one leading contenders to become Obama's running mate, said that the fact that Obama is competitive in his home state of Virginia is "basically astounding" since no Democrat has won there since 1964.

He said polls that show Obama with only a slight edge over rival John McCain nationally are not a cause for concern.

"We are feeling very, very good about where the senator is in the polls and we obviously expect as America - the American electorate turns their attentions even more to this race in connection with the conventions, we expect to do - to do quite well," Kaine said.

Kaine suggested that McCain's recent ads casting Obama as a celebrity are "out of touch with what the issues are."

"I mean, it was funny, but wearing a clown suit and juggling would be funny, too, but it doesn't connect with the concerns Americans have about gas prices, about the war, about the economy," he said. "So I think on things like that, shoot, I hope the McCain camp does more of those ads and we'll just let them do those ads."

He added that while Obama is running positive ads during the Olympics, "Senator McCain is running the same old negative, Karl Rove-style ads that we're all tired of."

Rove said the closeness in the polls between McCain and Obama is a signal that Americans are have concerns about the Illinois senator.

"With a restive electorate, with an economy that's sort of chugging along, with a war in the background, at the end of eight years of Republican rule in the White House, Obama should be way ahead," Rove said. "...the fact that he isn't says that there are grave doubts about Senator Obama."

Rove said Kaine's characterization of McCain's ads compared to Obama's was wrong.

"I would make the argument that part of the reason why Senator Obama is in the shape he is in today is because he's failed to run a positive campaign," said Rove. "He's run a negative campaign. He's claimed to be something new and different, and yet given these - you know, it is really beyond the pale to sit there and insinuate that Senator McCain is somehow going to attack him for being black, which is what he did for over a month."

---

Read the full "Face the Nation" transcript here.

Karl Rove predicted Republican domination for generations and he is largely responsible for destroying the party.

Karl Rove is a despicable hack and the soul of the Republican party.

[meek33]

I like this article very insightful. I was wondering if anyone has seen the video of McCain falling? Its so grainy. I havnt heard anything on the news so IM figuring it must be old or something. the video is at http://www.mccanes.com I was thinking if McCain takes many more falls he might break his hip. Though It wouldnt slow him down much though because he doesnt do much on the campaign trail as it is. Its not on the home page, but on one of the links there. I have to say that video is almost as good as the vidoe of Obama smoking a cigar on his europe trip, News hasnt showed it though. I guess its a victory cigar. LOL, IF you want to see the video its at http://www.hotpres.com OH remeber the Mayor whos dogs were shot., well there is a petition that has been started to end the wreckless and inhumane killing of dogs by law enforcement. http://protectourdogs.blogspot.com/

[omega39-2009]

BWAHAHAHAHAHA, after 8 years of mismanagement Rove and the Republicans are suddenly worried about the ability to govern.

[jeabc]

"Rove said the closeness in the polls between McCain and Obama is a signal that Americans are have concerns about the Illinois senator"

This is a perfect example of the extremism that exists in media politics today. Of course the right is going to interpret the closeness in the polls to be a direct link to the public''s concern for Obama...BUT, who is to say that it doesn''t represent the public''s concern for McCain?! These people are ridiculous...and I mean both sides at times...but this time around it seems the Republicans are the more ridiculous ones, oh wait...last time they were too. Don''t even get me started on our current president. If you ask me, either candidate for the 2008 election is better than what we have now.

[rafterman1]

==="With all due respect again to Governor Kaine, he''s been a governor for three years, he''s been able but undistinguished," Rove said. "I don''t think people could really name a big, important thing that he''s done. ===

So was Bush!

[jlueke-2009]

When Jefferson picked Burr in 1800 it was all about New York''s electoral votes. A political VP is rather old news.

[dwmpa]

This is not news. First, it is not news becaue Karl Rove will say anything to cast a negative light on the Democratic Party and especially their presidential nominee. Second, it is not news because any presidential candidate would pick a VP based on political considerations. Come on! Why is this being reported as news? Rove is simply posturing so that the Republicans can throw mud on the eventual VP pick, as they always do.

[obbcbs]

Rove is so full of himself, he thinks Obama should pick him.

Back to reality. When is Rove going to demand that McCain confess the secret "SOURCE" who led McCain to make the false claim in 2001 that the IRAQI''s had attacked the USA with ANTHRAX?
That was ROVE''s idea, you know. USA take over the middle east, using IRAQ as the lynch pin. Didnt think it through, did he?
Therefore, he has no place making judgements about other people''s choices. Rove has been proved to be evil, and only interested in winning elections and caused the deaths of 105,000 people in IRAQ, including the USA and our British Commonwealth allies.
Who is the McCain source? I believe it was the White House.
Ask McCain to clear this up. Demand he come clean before accepting the nomination. He is complicit in leading the US to war on false pretexts.

[obbcbs]

It is a crime to provide false propaganda to lead the USA into war.
McCain went on Letterman and said he has a SOURCE with proof that the anthrax attacks were by IRAQI''s. Now we know it was by Americans. McCain lied to get us into a war against a country which did not attack us with WMDs. He was shilling for the White House, for Rove. Ask McCain to clear this up. Who was his "source" that it was the IRAQi''s?

[misspp-2009]

Who cares what crooked Rove thinks?

[SiriusLuvr]

Is Bobby Jindal or Tim Pawlenty, for that matter, any more accomplished? What about Cheney?? Was against invasion of Iraq before he was for it. Years of expericence; has proven to be the most inept and unpopular vice-president in recent (and not so recent) history.

I''m interested in good judgement and there are a number of democratic candidates who possess that.

Carl Rove needs to take a hard look back at the last eight years.

[deberry10]

Karl Rove obviously feels out upon because McCain is following his play-book without any increase in McCain''s poll numbers.

Must be alarming for Rove to see that the American electorate is no longer falling for his techniques of discrediting the opposition, rather than building up your own candidate. It worked with Bush; it''s not working now.

Karl: keep it up. Your reputation dwindles every time you open your mouth.

[obbcbs]

The closeness in the polls is a reflection of four things.
1. many people are ill-informed and ''believe that Obama is a Muslim.
2. many people are racists.
3. FOX tv refers to the Senator Obama as Osama to confuse the rubes.
4. People dont yet realize that McCain was part of the lies that lead us into the war against Iraq, based on WMDs. He was not a maverick on the war.
He was a propagandist, on Letterman. We have two months to show the USA what McCain did, in reality. The debates will be useful.
Nothing we can do about the 27% fundamentalists that "believe'' in the tooth fairy.

[boatdocster]

Gee Karl, you mean he will pick a VEEP for political reasons?

Just like every other president has done?

Just like Bush, having Cheney change his state of record before the election so he could deliver another%u2019s states electoral votes?

So what you are really telling me is he took a page out of your playbook... But it''s OK if a GOP man does it, not a DEM??

What a self effacing hypocrite!

[deberry10]

Must be alarming for Mr. Rove to see that McCain is following his patented technique of smearing the opposition - to no effect. McCain''s poll numbers are getting worse all the time, precisely because he''s following Karl Rove''s play-book.

Keep it up, Karl. Every time you open your mouth, you lose more credibility.

You are Barack Obama''s not-so-secret weapon and you''re doing a fantastic job!

[larysinclair]

It won''t matter, as soon as the Republican''s release the information that Obama has held citizenship in another country,...it''s over!!

[asdfasdf3333]

"He''s going to pick?" All he is doing in this article is spreading more rumors. While reading it, I could not help, but notice how assured he was when he has no idea what will happen. It annoys me so much to hear things like this.

[moss_adams]

No matter what people may think of Rove, he is a stratigist that knows "the game". I know I would not bet agains him. After closely observing Obama''s "actions" in this campaign, I believe Raove is correct in his assessment. Obama is playing on the voters emotions, which in the big picture is not a good thing for our country for the type of leadership we need right now. If he picks Kane, it will make his purpose for running more vague than it already is.

[samgunn-2009]

I agree with Rove''s comments. Obama is just someone who had talked about change but he had not really listed what exact change he''s talking about. He had already acted like he''s the next president. I find him quite overconfident and arrogant. Its scary for americans to vote for someone who really has no experience and had fallen to someone who is just an excellent speaker. The next president will inherit a messy economy, war and a lot more problems to list. It has nothing to do with race. Its more of who is the real Obama. This is not a matter of black, brown, white or yellow. Its a matter of choosing the right president for america. Someone who will be able to improve our economy, free us from war and help us regrain the respect that we''ve lost to other countries.

[omega39-2009]

It won''''t matter, as soon as the Republican''''s release the information that Obama has held citizenship in another country,...it''''s over!!

Posted by LARYSINCLAIR

Another talking point that will gain as much traction as the talking point you are named after.

[fnlorrain]

Wow! I''m shocked and amazed that Rove would have something negative to say about his guess of Obama''s future VP pick! (NOT!) CBS did a good job of squeezing Rove''s entire "talking points" into the headline, way to report the "news" guys! Oh yeah, lets not forget that the media is in the tank for Obama...

[wellhell3]

Old Karl is sitting back in his chair chuckling since he hasn''t had to do a thing but sit back and watch Obscamma''s scams and the DNC''s scams implode right on top of their heads!

Should Obscamma really scam his way into the nomination, I suspect all hell will break loose when they really open up about who Obscamma really is.

[rayuk-2009]

Democrats should continue with; "This is the same old Rove politics". Every new Republican talking point should receive the Rove treatment. We should drive McCain and Rove into the ground once and for all.

[hbrownbag]

Why does this man even get a microphone and a stage?

I thought CBS did news.....

[jgault5]

Karl Rove has done more to split up the coalition that Ronald Reagan put together then anybody in in recent memory. So, as a Democrat thank you Mr. Rove!

[giantrobot2]

*** NEWS FLASH ***

transcript 157.03-0.1 dated 8/8/8

... update released 8/9/8 @ 5:37pm EST

Secret sources have clarified Senator McCain''s "CODE WORDS" have been released to let others know of the pending VP announcement.

..."McCain said Huckabee "has earned a very large role in the future of the Republican Party."

Secret sources have indicatd that Senator McCain decided to make a offer to his preferred VP candidate on the same day of the Olympics grand opening. It is a symbolic gesture to his running mate and for the history books.

On 8/8/8 Senator McCain flew to Little Rock, Arkansas to meet with Mike Huckabee to offer him the VP position.

It was said Governor Huckabee accepted the Vice President offer from Senator McCain.
News reports are indicating Huckabee was selected because he met Senator McCain''s top 3 priorities:

1. A conservative.
2. A nationally recognized politician.
3. A superb speaker like Ronald Reagan.

It was said the presidential debates have the greatest influence on the presidential election. Sources are saying only Huckabee had the polished speaking skills to persuade the American people on national TV.

The official announcement will be made to the public the day after the DNC convention to slow the momentum of Senator Obama and increase the momentum of the Republican National Convention starting immediately after the DNC convention.

end transcript 157.03 dated 8/8/8

[tawpdawg111]

I am hoping Obama would give the US Senator from Virginia, Jim Webb a look. I saw him talk for an hour on Charlie Rose Show and he is GENIUS former US Secretary of the Navy. Here is a link. It takes an hour but you will be engrossed by his knowledge and common sense:

http://www.charlierose.com/shows/2008/07/21/1/an-hour-with-us-senator-jim-webb

[davidk46]

A running mate based on political calculation instead of competence? Does he mean like George Bush Sr.''s selection of Dan Quale?????

[omega39-2009]

LOL! That McCain has one "well oiled" campaign strategy.

Two weeks ago, he publicly disagreed with his own spokeswoman, Jill Hazelbaker, after she used a line of attack against Senator Barack Obama that he had approved after careful strategizing within his campaign. Ms. Hazelbaker raced out of the Virginia campaign headquarters and refused to take Mr. McCain%u2019s calls of apology, aides said, and a plan to have Republican members of Congress use the same critical line about Mr. Obama%u2019s foreign trip fell apart.

[ssparimi]

Carl Rove epitomize evil and never lose a chance to throw dirt on obama. if you can''t say good about yourself(Mccain), lie forcefully, it is american way. Republicans of this administration mastered it. Rove and fox news always try to confuse with lies. Ultimately truth prevails.

[newsreader7]

Rove worked for Bush, who had minimal, indistinguished experience as a governor, so I guess that''s what he means by an "intensely political" choice. Too bad the U.S. has had to live through the error. Why isn''t CBS asking Rove to talk about something he knows about--he''s obviously got no role in the Demo VP choice.

[seanoneill5]

Okay, lets put aside the fact that this Karl Rove, for whom rapt attention to prognostications is truly only for the hope-less. But, truth be told, if Obama were going to make an "intensely political" choice, it would have been Clinton. And yet it may be, but probably not based on the fact that he is more likely (this is not Karl Rove, just an average schuck with more veracity) to pick someone that he can work with in a productive fashion. This is not a knock on Clinton, just a fact: they don''t mesh and it would be tough. As to ''intensey political" choices, that adjective should be Rovian style decision making; who else would push his party to intentionally mislead the public at a politcally opportune time for this party''s misguided mission?
While I lack the disdain for McCain that I do for Mr. Rove, I also predict his choice will be "political", without the hyperbole- ummm, this is about" elections" , right?

[tylenol6]

Tell me, who really cares what this criminal has to say?

[davidk46]

A running mate based on political calculation instead of competence? Does he mean like George Bush Sr.''s selection of Dan Quale?????

[hensley5571]

Why do you have Karl Rove, a known liar, reporting on anything? He has proved he is a liar and not reliable.

[element51]

Some are posting here that there are horrible things about Obama that are being held in reserve to be released possibly after the convention that will totally destroy him. If that is, in fact, true what could it be? With the media coverage as close as it has been, and I know the first thing out will be that it''s ALL liberal media which is ridiculous, there are right wing media too, it stands to reason that if something had been discovered it would have made it''s way to the public by now. And if it is something bad enough to destroy him, the democrats would be able to remove him and put up someone else. I keep hearing this stuff and wonder when these astounding revelations are going to surface. On a humorous note, Rove should hire WellHell3, put her on the air and she alone would bring it home for McCain. This woman is probably the most passionate individual I have ever seen. Put her on with Limbaugh and he would soil himself as he ran for the door. Get em Rowdy!

[tawpdawg111]

Its scary for americans to vote for someone who really has no experience The next president will inherit a messy economy, war and a lot more problems to list. It has nothing to do with race. Its more of who is the real Obama. Its a matter of choosing the right president for america. Someone who will be able to improve our economy, free us from war and help us regrain the respect that we''''''''ve lost to other countries.

Posted by samgunn at 02:05 PM : Aug 10, 2008
********************************


Sam - For all his experience, McCain doesn''''t get anything DONE!

A simple thomas.gov search tells me:

Obama has sponsored or cosponsored 570 bills in three years (more than McCain in the same timeframe); he has directly introduced 15 bills that have become law (more than McCain); he has introduced amendments to 50 bills, of which 16 were adopted by the Senate (more than McCain). Most of the bills he sponsored were in: energy efficiency (25 bills), health care (21 bills), public health (20 bills), consumer protection (14 bills), Veterans bills (13 bills) and ethics bills (12 bills). He hasn''''t set any kind of record, but his record IS above the average for a freshman Senator. On a related point, let''''s note that Obama has voted on more than half of all bills this year vs McCain who has missed every vote since April

Be it work ethic or old age, whatever. The Jr Senator from Illinois runs rings around the old-timer from Arizona. We need RESULTS now and Obama DELIVERS them.

[willowing]

Obviously Rove is not trying to be helpful to Obama, for heaven''s sake! And what a ruse, too. Rove is trying to make it sound like Obama has made the choice, and then "explains" why it''s wrong. But, my my, Obama has not announced any choice yet! So it''s a straw man argument all around for Rove.

[jsilver2th]

Of course this is the brain that picked Cheyney- ha ha ha ha ha---

[ron1bo-2009]

I won''t even read an article published by this immoral bum and neither will any of my friends.

[jjhaflac28]

How can the American public believe anything Carl Rove has to say. The man is a complete liar. I truly have no idea how he sleeps at night. I hope Americans wise up and see that the Republicans have no answers for our problems, just the same old negative campaign tactics. McCain=Bush. Did I mention, I was a hard core Republican before Bush took office. Times have changed. It''s time for change and Obama will bring that needed change. Vote Obama 08!

[4avocats]

This is not news. This is filler with a misleading headline. We''ve had eight years of Karl Rove''s "genius." Isn''t the country screwed up enough? Stop making him even richer. I''d rather watch old movies than "news" shows with stuff like this.

[nonegs]

Of all the people with relevant things to say, CBS News had to pick Karl Rove instead.

He''s still just slinging dirt--trying to pre-emptively take out any popular governor on the ticket--and, just in case, flaunting the race card again. What a sad example he is of 21st century politicking--and an equally sad example of CBS News'' judgment.

Get someone to explain the candidates'' energy plans, economic programs, healthcare reforms, views on the war, etc. Not this kind of cheap horserace jabbering. The only place Rove should get to sling this kind of mud is in his backyard sandbox.

[rosej6]

WHY give Rove a platform for his opinions at this point? He is likely to go to jail, for contempt of congress at the very least.

[ramos937]

Rove is a biased right wing conservative. His political judgments are tainted by that. What criteria does he think McCain will use to pick his VP? Ron Paul is probably the best qualified VP but he is not even in the running for GOP VP candidate.

Rove had better hope and pray that Bush grants him a pardon before 1/20/2009. If not, then Obama will waive any executive privilige and Rove will take that hard long walk down the media lane in handcuffs.

[irishorse]

Considering the current world situation, no VP candidate can ameliorate Obama''s lack of experience. Iran, Syria, Russia and China will eat him alive.

[wellhell3]

Wow! What happened to my post?

Old Karl is chuckling in his chair because he has to do nothing but sit back and watch the scams of The ONE, and the DNC implode!

If Obscamma does scam his way into the nomination, then the real Obscamma will be revealed along with his screeching wife.

[mrtutto]

Why is anyone listening to this idiot Karl Rove ? He is the Guru of the Republican Party. I guess John McCain forgot what he did to him in 2000, but in Conservative circles it''s OK to sleep with the DEVIL.

[tbweb]

"With a restive electorate, with an economy that''s sort of chugging along, with a war in the background, at the end of eight years of Republican rule in the White House, Obama should be way ahead," Rove said. "...the fact that he isn''t says that there are grave doubts about Senator Obama."

Serious doubts placed there by Sen. Clinton`s negative campaign! The Republicans wisely ended their Primaries early and didn`t destroy each other in the process feeding the Democratic database. In her effort to win at any price and any cost, Sen. Clinton did serious, but not `fatal` damage to Sen. Obama and in the process ran up over $25 million in campaign debts by not knowing when to quit and now wants Sen. Obama to bail her out!

[pvperson]

By the way, shouldn''t Rove be looking for an attorney instead of voicing stupid comments or does he think Gonzales will defend him. I would think he would prefer a competent lawyer rather than the usual Bush variety.