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."

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Read the full "Face the Nation" transcript here.

[rwj1941]

he is a war criminal

[rwj1941]

rove is thumbing his nose at those investigating his actions as bushs adviser..refusing to testify because he is a war mongering low life who belongs in chains for all of his lies..you also are disgusting for promoting more wars..go away with this nonsense,we are aware of your war for oil..ali hussein was 2 when bush dropped a bomb on head.he will never participate in the olympics,his eyes were shut forever by your fricken bombs..kucinich the only one brave enough and the congress does nothing..you disgust me pelosi.we said no more war funding and what did we get,more of rove and dickmccainbush..food..water..shelter..lets talk about what we need..food..water..shelter..are you listening? FOOD WATER SHELTER

[notignorant]

The irresistible irony behind Rove''s comments cannot possibly be missed.

The individual who could be held to be singly most responsible for getting the most unqualified candidate in the history of the united states elected to the Presidency stating that whoever Obama''s VP is, they won''t be qualified. It will be all about politics.

Like Bush''s election wasn''t all about politics? His presidency was an unprecedented disaster, and he has ruined the Bush name, which is all that elected him in the first place.

Shame.

[go2targo]

Shame on Face the Nation to have a war criminal on to share an obvious political agenda. Why is this thing not in jail for treason? Putting your political party score sheet ahead of the Constitution is illegal and this Rove should be in jail. I can''t believe your company gave this criminal AIRTIME. And an unbalanced presentation with no discussion. Such a shameful display of corporate agenda.

[go2targo]

Shame on Face the Nation to have a war criminal on to share an obvious political agenda. Why is this thing not in jail for treason? Putting your political party score sheet ahead of the Constitution is illegal and this Rove should be in jail. I can''t believe your company gave this criminal AIRTIME. And not a balanced presentation with not discussion. Such a shameful display of corporate agenda.

[go2targo]

Shame on Face the Nation to have a war criminal on to share an obvious political agenda. Why is this thing not in jail for treason? Putting your political party score sheet ahead of the Constitution is illegal and this Rove should be in jail.

[davzapen]

The only question that Karl Rove should be asked is why the U.S. House''s Sergeant-at-Arms wasn''t there to arrest him for being in contempt of Congress. It''s amazing how much Monica Lewinski and the McDougals were prosecuted over nothing and Rove walks freely. Wasn''t Rove the same genius who predicted that the Republicans would keep Congress? If Florida''s votes from 2000 were counted as reported on 9/12/2001 or if Ohio''s votes from 2004 were counted as reported by Greg Palast, then Bush #43 would not be enjoying an eight-year presidency. Have fun with the caging lists; they are out to protect candidates from their voters. I would love to watch him on TV ... under oath while questioned by his victims including Don Siegelman, David Iglesias, and Valerie Plame.

[sigmonde]

"Why is CBS giving this fascist pig a forum to spread his dangerous nonsense?"

For the same reason CBS gives a nitwit like you the ability to post your hatred. It''s called free speech, in case you don''t know.

[caliguy55]

Why is CBS giving this fascist pig a forum to spread his dangerous nonsense?

[sigmonde]

Rove is not a criminal, so why call him a criminal?. If he has committed a crime, why has he not been indicted? When was the trial? I thought liberals stood for justice. No? Should we just lock Rove up, pronounce him guilty without an indictment or trial and deny him habeas corpus?

[mblee1]

I agree with other comments. This is insulting that Mr. Shieffer would actually have a criminal on his show and expect that the American public would value anything he has to say! THi sis an insult and I am outraged. I too don''t plan to have Face the Nation on my list of must see in the future!

[tx2democrats]

Good Bye Mr. Schiffer.

CBS''s support for Criminal Rove is the reason we are leaving your show off our list on Sunday mornings. You can thank them for your lower rating, we will be informing everyone we know about this.

[tx2democrats]

I tivo''d Face the Nation 8/10. I didn''t realize Rove was on it. I will quickly delete this show from line up and will remove my tivo settings to not record Face the Nation any longer.

To read that Bob did not question Rove on his Contempt to Congress charge is the most dissapointing news I''ve had today. Bad enough to learn that Edwards and his lies had something to do with Hillary not getting the nomination then to read that Rove was on FTN and Bob asked no questions about the real issues with Rove, is just totally unacceptable to us.

Bob, your obviously being held back by CBS, this is not the Bob we came to know and love. I guess we''ll move on to Stephanopolous.

[blkpresident]

Obama-Patrick 2008(Duval Patrick(D), Governor of Massachusetts

or

Obama-Wilder 2008(L. Douglas Wilder(D), former Virginia Governor and present Mayor of Richmond, Virginia.

[vinhouston]

Dear Mr. Scheiffer,

I was watching Face the Nation with my 16 year old son when Rove was introduced. My son asked a very valid question. Why is Rove speaking on TV - Isn''t he a criminal? I couldn''t answer him. Perhaps you can tell me, how can CBS news give voice to Rove? What constitutes a valid reason to shun someone from society these days? By giving Rove voice, CBS news effectively validated his actions as being within the norm of acceptable in our society. It is not. He is a pariah, and should be treated as such. Did he not "out" a CIA agent, lie to investigators, misuse government resources for political aims, snub Congress? May I remind you that Rove is in CONTEMPT OF CONGRESS.

CBS may want to use the hackneyed argument that they weighed the cons against that fact that Rove is a political mastermind, and so his opinion matters. To that I would like to assert that a mastermind is someone that can work within a system of rules and laws and nonethless accomplish his/her political objectives. Rove''s actions are more reminiscent of a megalomaniacal sociopath. When someone will say or do anything, it is not the mind that stands out, it is the audacity!

[kate1149]

So we are listening to the Karl Rove who is in contempt of Congress, ran the dirties most underhanded, devisive campaign in history, and advised a Bush White House that has been incompetant, inefectual, and corrupt? Why do we continue to care what anyone in the Bush Administration has to say - they have created a huge mess and now the rest of us are left to clean it up. Bush and Rove should both be in jail - they have broken the law in hiring and firing practices and are guilty of treason for leaking the name of a CIA agent to the press. Since when do we ask felons for political advice? Karl Rove should shut up about the election and talk to congress about his crimes.

[ez2rock2]

Mr. Shieffer: All of these comments are true. Maybe, as a"white hair dude" you should retire, since your journalistic instincts are SO WORN OUT. When my car gets old I replace it.
In seven minutes you never brought up Rove''s contempt of congress or his resisting arrest and a WHOLE LOT MORE. Here, you "white hair dude" failed all of us. You are so dissappointing. Like McCain...you truly are washed up. We don''t need our great granddaddy''s running our industries. We don''t need the advice of runaway criminals. We need answers to crimes. Thanks Mr. Shieffer. You failed. Perhaps due to age.
I am an old dude too. A republican,old dude, I am so dissappointed in all of the major medias. You''re broken. Somebody bought you. You did sell out. I don''t need McCain to push Russia...he''ll probably bust his hip.

[ellisonhorne]

Shame on CBS! Shame, shame, shame! The segment with Karl Rove should have been taped from jail, with Rove behind bars. How dare CBS do such a thing!

What are our children to think of CBS giving Rove so much credibility when they should be asking him about why he is dodging the Congressional committee, and the law.

So many in our nation, and the world, are in pain and suffering because of the Neo-Con-men like Rove and the other White House officials. They fooled us into a needless war, and now CBS has failed America by giving one of the key figures of this monstrous misadventure a platform to speak, as though nothing happened.

There are many who weep at the mere sight of the empty chair at the dinner table, knowing their loved on will never return to break bread in the sacred fellowship of family.

Karl Rove is a monster and should be put in jail, along with George w. Bush and *** Cheney, among others.

Shame, shame, shame on CBS!

[davewrite1]

The world once knew America as a beacon of hope, freedom, and democracy. Thanks to the likes of Bush, Rove, and Cheney, America has revealed its darkest and most sinister side to the world. Increasingly, we stand for war, cruelty, self-interest, and hegemony. It now seems almost pollyanish to hope for leaders who once again will bring out America''''s more positive character, winning us a little of the esteem we once took for granted.

Stupidity and arrogance -- especially the fundamentalist notion that one has a lock on truth -- go together. The Hitlers and Stalins of the world cared nothing for the tears amd opinions of humankind. Neither do our current leaders.

[davewrite1]

The world once knew America as a beacon of hope, freedom, and democracy. Thanks to the likes of Bush, Rove, and Cheney, America has revealed its darkest and most sinister side to the world. Increasingly, we stand for war, cruelty, self-interest, and hegemony. It now almost seems pollyanish to hope for leaders who once again bring out America''s more positive character, winning us a little of the esteem we once do.

Stupidity and arrogance -- especially the fundamentalist notion that one has a lock on truth -- go together. The Hitlers and Stalins of the world cared nothing for the tears amd opinions of humankind. Neither do our current leaders.