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| 2005-06-24 |
| WASHINGTON - A White House official said Friday the administration finds it "somewhat puzzling" that Democrats are demanding presidential adviser Karl Rove's apology or resignation for implying that liberals are soft on terrorism. "I think Karl was very specific, very accurate, in who he was pointing out," communications director Dan Bartlett said. "It's touched a chord with these Democrats. I'm not sure why." Rove, the architect behind President Bush's election victories, on Wednesday night told a gathering of the New York Conservative Party that "Liberals saw the savagery of the 9/11 attacks and wanted to prepare indictments and offer therapy and understanding for our attackers." Conservatives, he said, "saw the savagery of 9/11 and the attacks and prepared for war." He added that groups linked to the Democratic Party made the mistake of calling for "moderation and restraint" after the terrorist attacks. Bartlett, appearing on morning news shows Friday, said that Rove was referring in his talk to Moveon.org, a liberal group that has been identified with movie producer Michael Moore. "It's somewhat puzzling why all these Democrats ... who responded forcefully after 9-11, who voted to support President Bush's pursuit of the war on terror, if you supported the President, why would you think you were being criticized? are now rallying to the defense of Moveon.org, this liberal organization who put out a petition in the days after 9-11 and said that we ought not use military force in responding to 9-11," Bartlett said on NBC's "Today" show. "That is who Karl Rove cited in that speech ... There is no need to apologize." If the shoe fits, wear it! Appearing on CBS's "The Early Show," Bartlett said that Rove was "just pointing out that MoveOn.org is a liberal organization that didn't defend or accept the way that we prosecuted the war in the days after" the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks on New York and Washington. Bartlett told interviewers that he didn't understand why Democrats "are throwing up such a huff." Sen. Charles Schumer of New York, in a letter to Rove co-signed by Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Democratic senators from Connecticut and New Jersey, called the presidential adviser's speech "a slap in the face to the unity that America achieved after Sept. 11, 2001." And the liberals - and several democrats - have been eroding ever since. White House press secretary Scott McClellan said Thursday there was no reason for Rove to apologize because he was "simply pointing out the different philosophies when it comes to winning the war on terrorism." "Of course not," McClellan said when asked by reporters whether Bush would ask Rove to apologize. Democrats said Rove, and his Republican allies, were now trying to change the subject when Democrats, and many Americans, are becoming increasingly critical of the course of the war in Iraq. For Rove "to try to exploit 9/11 for political purposes once again just shows you how desperate they are," said House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi of California, who is getting pretty desperate, herself in recent days has been the target of Republican attacks for saying that the Iraq war was a "grotesque mistake." |
| Posted by:Bobby |
| #18 I am no Trent Lott fan, but if I am him, I am scratching my head on this. Trent gets dumped for his stupid comment; Durbin gets to skate with a phony half-apology. It is foolish to make the comparison between Durbin and Rove. Only the Dummycrats would try to equate the two. But, Rove gave his remarks at a conservative conference in NY. Durbin gave his assinine remarks on the floor of the Senate. Rove has plenty on the public record to support his statement; Durbin is using a classified, unvetted written statement by an FBI person. |
| Posted by: Captain America 2005-06-24 21:31 |
| #17 I think that Karl Rove should immediately apologize for his comments. I have learned from my statement that historical When he delivers it, he should remember to sob with emotion - or at least not burst out giggling. |
| Posted by: Darth VAda 2005-06-24 20:17 |
| #16 I am still mad as hell over being attacked on Sept 11, I am livid. I am in the mood to kill everytime I hear the words Al Qaeda, or Wahabbi for that fact. I want to hand Osama's mother his ass and his head on separate silver platters. Who is stronger on the War on Terror, none of the Chickenhawk neocons or the Far lefty "lets reform them freaks" are doing anything that can be legitimately referred to as a significant and directed effort to destroy the enemies of the US. What the F$%k did Saddam have to do with Terrorism, much less than Iran or Syria I assure you. However we did not attack them, why because terror wasn't why we went to Iraq, energy and regional dominance were, which I'm cool with, but what about our Sept 11 revenge, justice? Let's finish that job first. Im want blood, not excuses about Tora Bora or lack of Human intelligence. I want Osama's head on a platter, period. I want Saudi Arabia, Iran, Syria, and Palestine to all submit or be destroyed, none of this "we cant intrude on their sovereign territory bullshit." They finance, encourage and breed terrorism, therefore, they are our enemies. Osama wanted a war against he and his Wahabbi brothers, guess what, we've got a special on whoop ass today, and we'll open a can just for you! Bombs, bullets, nukes, chemicals,biological terror I don't care. I want our enemies to die, period. I want their wannabe suicide bomber 10 year olds dead, and I want their dancing in the streets on Sept 11 bhurka wearing sisters dead, and their poor old "kill the jews" grandad dead too. I'd like to see our boys give Meccah a new Napalm makeover. No excuses, no "we've got to secure a pipeline rather than capture Osama", no "we have to gather more allies", no "we can't institute a draft" bullshit. I want blood, and a short list of those who remain to be killed. Whatever happened to you're with us or against us from George? Nothing because he didn't mean it, he meant watch me act like this Iraq war is more important than catching Osama. Because catching Osama isn't profitable for George or Dick's buddies. So none of you give me this the righteous neocons are the saviours of Democracy bullshit, because it aint true. They and their liberal counterparts both are corporate whores and we all know it, we just don't want to look soft by supporting the other side because all we see in our media is the partisan bullshit that says one side is right and the other is wrong. As far as I've seen both sides suck ass in their efforts, they are boot licking politicians that don't know shit about sacrifice. My best friend is in Kirkuk biting at the bit to kill our enemies, and he can't get armor for his humvee, but Halliburton charges us $1000 a barrel for the gas they buy in Iraq. And nobody questions this? Where the hell are our priorities folks? Let's put politics aside and see the truth that we are getting screwed by both sides, because they are all bootlicking piss ant politicians. Nuke North Korea and Iran, and tell Pakistan they're next if they want to step when we "infringe on their sovereign territory" to catch Osama and his boys. Syria is a given, hopefully the fallout will blow over from Iran. I don't give a shit about Rove, Pelosi, Bush, Dean whoever they are or whatever party they represent they are all letting their own personal interests get in the way of my righteous bloodlust. Never forget, this is about America folks, not the Republican Party, Democratic party or whoever, this is about killing those who threaten us, and dragging their bullet-ridden bodies behind a New York city firetruck right down the main street in Riyadh or where the hell ever. Death to our enemies!And death to whoever stands in our way of protecting America from these enemies. Kill em all and let God sort em out! I welcome your comments suggestions and thoughts. Mountain Man |
| Posted by: Mountain Man 2005-06-24 19:23 |
| #15 I wish they would have gotten as agitated about Durbin's stupid comments, but I must be asking for too much. |
| Posted by: Desert Blondie 2005-06-24 13:51 |
| #14 I'm surprised H Clinton fell for this one, perhaps she's worried about her left flank, still a stupid move politically. |
| Posted by: Shipman 2005-06-24 13:28 |
| #13 Howard Dean was on Comedy Central's news last night. Listen to what he said. BTW... he also lashed out at FOX and bloggers. |
| Posted by: 3dc 2005-06-24 12:57 |
| #12 Rove could have said that not all liberal want to fight terrorism through therapy since some liberals actually are basically terrorist apologists or even terrorist supporters. |
| Posted by: mhw 2005-06-24 12:39 |
| #11 Hmm... Mehlman makes a good point, but what doe Howard Dean say? -snicker- |
| Posted by: Bobby 2005-06-24 12:08 |
| #10 See Hugh Hewitt's 3:00 PM posting on June 23. He cites several RNC chairman Ken Mehlman's quotes from the LLL which fully support Rove's contention that the liberals wimped out over 9/11. The money quote: "Itâs outrageous that the same Democrats who stood by Dick Durbinâs libeling of our military are now expressing faux outrage over Karl Roveâs statement of historical fact. George Soros, Michael Moore, MoveOn and the hard left were wrong after 9/11, just as it was wrong for Democrat leaders to stand by and remain silent after Dick Durbin made his deplorable comments.â - RNC Chairman Ken Mehlman |
| Posted by: GK 2005-06-24 11:46 |
| #9 I think the Dems got blind-sided here. Who could have foreseen that in the wake of 9/11 people would actually start listening to the words coming out of their mouths? |
| Posted by: BH 2005-06-24 11:06 |
| #8 This gets more brilliant every time I think about it. Every time the Donks bring this up, the Trunks are going to get to use the words Liberal and Democrat in the same sentence. Welcome to the 2006 mid-term election campaign. It's going to be a laugher. Rove will have picked up House seats in all four elections, will he not? |
| Posted by: Mrs. Davis 2005-06-24 11:03 |
| #7 Karl Rove just makes me proud to be an American. He got ALL of them in one shot and they didn't even see it coming! I am betting about now Clinton, Polosi, and Shuma are trying desperately to find a sound bite by Rove that equates Dhimicrats and Liberals. Good show Karl! |
| Posted by: Cyber Sarge 2005-06-24 10:58 |
| #6 Seems to me the party that gave Michael Moore a place of honor at its national convention has no business complaining about anybody "exploiting 9/11 for political purposes". |
| Posted by: Dave D. 2005-06-24 10:56 |
| #5 You wanna see "grotesque" Nancy, go look in a mirror. |
| Posted by: tu3031 2005-06-24 10:51 |
| #4 Mrs. D - They probably did. The Dims are getting easier all the time. |
| Posted by: SR-71 2005-06-24 10:43 |
| #3 The Donks are soooo stupid. Rove said nothing aboput Democrats, only liberals. Now they go caterwauling and Bartlett can rightfully extend the charges to Democrats instead of just liberals. Did the evil genius Rove have that figured out beforehand? Ya really think? I'm surprised nobody had a hernia laughing when they planned this thing. |
| Posted by: Mrs. Davis 2005-06-24 10:39 |
| #2 Karl Rove's secret weapon against the Democrats revealed |
| Posted by: 2b 2005-06-24 10:36 |
| #1 "I show you a coat of general cut and you claim it's tailored to you? Fascinating." |
| Posted by: mojo 2005-06-24 10:20 |