Posted on 07/15/2008 3:00:55 AM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif.—Mitt Romney failed to win the Republican presidential nomination because of inexperience and inconsistency, according to GOP political guru Karl Rove.
Rove, who grew up in Utah and masterminded President George W. Bush's election and re-election campaigns, told those gathered at the Television Critics Association press tour that the former Massachusetts governor didn't understand what he was getting into.
"Running for president is unlike any other political task that anybody has ever taken on," he said. "So running for governor of Massachusetts, while it prepares you to some degree for running for president, there's nothing like running for president.
"Mitt Romney's problem was uneven performance."
Rove stepped down as a top White House adviser in August 2007 and signed on as a Fox News Channel commentator. And he had high praise for Romney's campaign organization — its fundraising, organization, state committees, volunteers and more.
In those areas, "He did probably the best job of any of the Republican candidates. But when it came to his own performance, the kinds of thing he was used to doing when he ran in a relatively small geographic area over a relatively short period of time didn't serve him well in running across the large number of states over a very long, extended period of time. And, as a result, it was an uneven performance.
"You'd hear from people, 'You know, I was in a private meeting with Mitt Romney and, boy, he was great!' And the next day you'd hear from people saying, 'You know, I was in a private pitch by Mitt Romney and, oh, he was terrible."'
Rove said he believed Romney's exit from the GOP campaign was a high point for the former Massachusetts governor, offering high praise for his speech before the Conservative Political Action Conference.
(Excerpt) Read more at deseretnews.com ...
Mr. Rove, you forgot to mention, Romney is a LIBERAL
It’s been an odd election cycle. Republican election consultants have been all over the map but neglected to listen to the base. State parties are in mass confusion and damn few elected Republicans are willing to take a stand. Rove’s point in a nut shell is stay on message.
Even today the DC crowd refuses to fight back....they are hiding under their desks and whining. Romney has a lot of fight in him but mistakes as mentioned left him outside. Id be a lot more comfy with him at the head of the ticket over McCain. Maybe he’ll get the VP nod.
So’s Rove.
I still want Rove to explain how the party went from its strongest position in modern times after the 2004 election to one of its weakest now.
These political consultants seem to receive far more credit than they deserve for success, then just fade out as if they had nothing to do with failures.
I think that’s like blaming one’s car mechanic when one drives drunk and smashes into a tree. Karl Rove isn’t a magician.
“I think that’s like blaming one’s car mechanic when one drives drunk and smashes into a tree. Karl Rove isn’t a magician.”
I think Rove’s strategies of isolating this group and that group and pandering to them had more direct relationships to elections than your example. The question was, did his pandering result in net gains or net losses in voter support since his pandering to one group usually offended another.
Cite some examples for us...
To this day it is clear that Romney is so scripted that even a simply conversation seems tortured as he considers every single word before he speaks.
Rove is shilling for Romney as VP. The Bushes and Rove have made no secret that he is their preference for the slot.
Immigration and the entire seven year pandering to Hispanics strategy, faith based initiatives, the marriage amendment which went nowhere in two or three tries. The entire Bush presidency has been a series of departures from conservatism, masked by the patriotic support after 9/11 and a couple of SCOTUS appointments.
Maybe you can cite some areas where you think Rove strategies were a great asset during specific elections?
newt gingrich’s public implosion
didn’t help.
and then he wrote a diet book
after he figured out that media photographers used his fat face and butt
to belittle him.
“newt gingrich’s public implosion”
It didn’t help, but the party had a great deal of success after his departure. The real implosion started after November of 2004.
Not sure you can blame Rove for:
1) Congress spending like drunken sailors
2) Corruption charge after corruption charge
3) The arrogance of Republican leadership in congress and the administration
4) Administration officials inability to articualte conservative talking points (think former Attorney General, Alberto Gonzales...that guy was in way over his head)
Rove’s primary job was to win elections for Bush. He finished 3-0 (going back to the Texas gubanatorial race).
“Not sure you can blame Rove for:”
Haven’t blamed him for any of that, though he’s often mentioned as a prime source of the administration’s arrogance.
I think 9/11 and all the support that accrued to the administration after the attack has masked a great deal of ineptitude by the Bush administration, and the mask began to come off after November of 2004. Sometimes people get credit for things they had nothing to do with. I think 9/11 offset many dumb moves on the part of Rove and the administration in general. Things will probably be more clear after a few more years pass.
If Republicans will not nominate a LIBERAL then how did McCain get the Nomination?
Things were clear to me in Jan. 01. That "...setting a new tone..." BS was in evidence after the sacking of the White House and continues to this day. One would think the GOP would tire of being bit on the butt for that, but maybe they enjoy it.
So ..... why do so many people regard Rove as a genius?????
I don’t get it.......
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.