Karl Rove: I’m Not Part Of The Establishment

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Written By:
Rob Port

Sep 16, 2010
1:46pm

Uh, yeah you are Karl.

Karl Rove is someone I respect. I think he’s a brilliant political operative and analyst, and when he gives his opinion of a campaign or a race I listen.

But on matters ideological, Karl Rove is about the last person I listen to.

I’ve long said that there are two parts to politics, both equally important. There’s the nuts-and-bolts side that’s about organizing, messaging, branding, getting out the vote and winning elections. Then there’s the ideological side, which is about why we try to win elections.

I think that Rove is excellent at the former, but not very good at the latter. Though we need both. We can’t accomplish anything without winning elections. But winning elections is pointless if we don’t stick to principle.

I think the problem people like Rove have is that they let their desire to win elections overpower why we want to win elections.