I wouldn't ordinarily focus on Karl Rove twice in one afternoon, but this latest development suggests the Republican strategist is losing it.
Hmm. So now we're to believe Obama was "suppressing the vote." It reminds me of Rove complaining in June that Democrats are "trying to take their wallet and buying" the election -- while he raised millions from billionaires so he could buy the election.
But putting that aside, this notion that negative ads constitute voter "suppression" is important because it's crazy.
On the one hand, we see Rove's party, which spent two years imposing the most sweeping new voting restrictions seen in the United States since Jim Crow, targeting likely Democratic constituencies. On the other hand, we see the president, who ran television commercials that criticized his opponent.
One party engaged in voter suppression through legal disenfranchisement, while the other party shaping its message to maximize the electoral impact. For someone to see these as comparable is to strip the word "suppression" of any sensible meaning.
I realize Rove is having a tough time right now, but this is deeply ridiculous.
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51% to 49% and is voter suppression??? OMG!!! what else will these crazy people pull up their butts? This guy is willing to blame everybody instead of recognizing that President Obama got re-elected because of his character, and maybe because not all republicans are crazy and they voted for the guy that seem sane...Rove, start packing, your train left a looonngg long time ago...
Only people watching Fox would believe such nonsense.
Ooops, that includes millions.
Fortunately, however, many more millions don't watch Fox (or at least don't take it seriously), and President Obama won a second term.
Does anyone have a big cork?
The Republicans (Rove) have been doing this all year- taking a term, or allegation, from the democrats and using it back at the democrats, whether it fits or not - with enough noise in the public domain, ignorant people may not know the difference, but will recognize the term from being 'out there', and know it is bad, and voila, suddenly Obama is into voter suppression. He co-ops words and claims from our side and turn them back on the dems.. Coming from Rove's face directly, though, I don't know that this one sticks... that, and what he is describing is clearly not voter suppression.
If Dems are suppressing the vote, then there's only one thing to do: Mandate that everyone MUST vote. There you go - no more suppression. When you turn 18, you need to register to vote. Now we just have to figure out what to do for those who choose NOT to vote. That's an easier task.
The biggest crook around is accusing Obama of suppressing the vote, what a JOKE. Mr. Rove, your gig is up. As for the millionaire and billionaire donors, it serves you right to not have gotten a return on your investment. What you tried to do, was hijack democracy. As the old folks use to say, don't put your trust in man, because they will often disappoint you.
Once again, it's-everyone-else's-fault-except-mine syndrome. Someone should tell Rove about how difficult it was for many of us to get a handle on Mitt's positions due to his switches. The most impressive Romney was the one who made the concession speech. He might have been more impressive as The Candidate if he had presented himself in the same manner throughout the campaign.
It's "The height of silliness!"
So... millions of Americans would have said that Romney cared about them if only they hadn't been exposed to ads? If they couldn't have afforded a television or computer, they would have believed that the guy with a car elevator was the one who would have the better understanding of their plight and would do more to help them? Okay.... *backs away slowly from the crazy*
Deeply Delusional Douchebag Of The Day.
While you can argue over the semantics of the word "suppress," his underlying point is correct. The campaigns spent a lot of time demonizing each other (Rove, of course, being a prime offender), and persuading voters to vote against their opponent. In the end, Obama's campaign was better at it. "What do you do about it?" End corporate personhood. End the electoral college. Have shorter campaigns, with free public airtime and REAL debates with ALL candidates. Then let's have a ranked choice popular vote, or at least a secondary run-off.
This is when you know the Tea Party is seriously losing touch with reality!
Technically negative ads rarely pursuade people to actually vote against a candidate, but they do persuade people not to vote for the bastard. In that sense they do suppress the vote. They also suppress supporters of the person running the add. Karl Rove is a master of those kinds of ads. That kind of "voter suppression" has been going on for ages.
When Democrats and the media talk about voter suppression, however, they are talking about elected officials misusing their official power to make voting difficult for voters. As far as I know some Republicans such as the governor of Florida or the Attorney General of Ohio, are the only people actively engaged in real voter suppression.
This is funny. I independently thought Romney suppressed my vote for Romney. Every time he said something and shook his head, his body didn't believe what his mouth was saying. Really, Karl? You think so much of us, that we are all walking around lamenting "If I only had a brain...oooh, Romney will do!" Hardly. Found where yours is stuck though...
Why does Rove not make that type of claim anywhere but on Fox. Then he could be asked questions about his parties ILLEGAL attempt at voter suppression. Fox anchors and pundents have cornered the market on folks wearing blinders. Rove just cannot stand the thought that his day in the sun is over. I wonder how many promises he is now unable to fulfill.
Let them believe what they want then they will never adjust and will continue to lose elections way into the future. Voter suppression really?? Their base is so easily dissuaded? If I were the Republicans I would be looking for the guy who started the rumor about "momentum" and the fact they we're going to win when most polls said Obama would win. Oh but I forgot they didn't really want to hear the truth. So they went on their merry way thinking Romney would be the next president. I guess they like suprises.
When corporations spend millions of dollar on attack ads targeting Democrats, it's "free speech" but when Democrats do it to Republican candidates, it's "voter suppression." Hmmmmm. I am going to have to think on that one for a while.
Karl Rove is so full hate, it is oozing out of his pores. I was just waiting for the day he self-destructed. I knew it was just a matter of time. So glad to see his ilk loosing their relevancy.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voter_suppression
Voter suppression is a strategy to influence the outcome of an election by discouraging or preventing people from exercising their right to vote. It is distinguished from political campaigning in that campaigning attempts to change likely voting behavior by changing the opinions of potential voters through persuasion and organization. Voter suppression instead attempts to reduce the number of voters who might vote against the candidate or proposition advocated by the suppressors.
Just in case any republicans are reading this.
He needs to cork it!! enough is enough get over it move forward....
Since when does telling the truth=suppressing the vote? If this keeps up the GOP will lose even bigger in 2014 and 2016. On second thought, let's just keep quiet and let them think they have it all figured out.
Karl Rove has become unhinged. His donor base must be running for the hills or knocking down his doors with pitchforks and torches. You can see he is unhinged. Voter suppression by showing Romney is a filthy rich guy who cannot relate to the common man? PUULLEASE. That is pathological- blame it on the other guy instead of yourself and your out there right wing nutter fundi politics.
https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/59659_10151091485266254_619294771_n.jpg
To quote David Simon: Change is a mother@!$%#er when you run from it.
Saw an interesting video today. For those of you too young to remember what hardcore racism was like in the 1950's, it's an eye opener. With the republicans, it's always been about racism and it's not going to change anytime soon.