Karl Rove: Doing It His Way

At the end of August, Karl Rove will be stepping down as White House deputy chief of staff, and whether you view him as the antichrist or a loyal Republican soldier, his mark on contemporary presidential politics is undeniable.

So, how did a man who lacks a college degree become one of the most influential White House aides and successful political strategists of modern times? By utilizing unconventional and often polarizing tactics, he made the system work for him.

Decades from now, pundits may dispute the pivotal moment that permitted Rove to burst onto the political scene. Some may argue this occurred when he overcame controversy to become chairman of the College Republicans because this allowed him to form a close personal friendship with George H.W. Bush and in turn George W. Bush. Others may argue that it occurred when he formed Rove and Co. and he became one of the first to demonstrate the effectiveness of direct mail as a campaign tool, thereby cementing his name as one of the preeminent campaign consultants. Either way, Karl Rove became a household name in the late 1990s when he sold his company and devoted his time to George W. Bush’s presidential bid.

For a good portion of the 2000 Republican primary season, the prospects of a Bush 43 presidency were bordering on doubtful. All then frontrunner, Sen. John McCain of Arizona, needed to do was secure the South Carolina primary, and the current president’s fate would have been sealed. Under Rove’s guidance, the Bush campaign machine went into overdrive and turned the tables on McCain in South Carolina.

How did Rove achieve this result? By painting McCain as being “too liberal,” while simultaneously marketing Bush as a “compassionate conservative.” This brash and allegedly sleazy tactic not only secured victory for Bush in South Carolina, it also led to his earning the nomination long before the Republican convention.

Next on Rove’s campaign docket was the 2000 presidential election. The Democratic candidate, Vice President Al Gore, proved to be a formidable opponent for Bush 43. Instead of focusing on Gore, Rove focused on Gore’s former boss, President Bill Clinton. As Paul A. Gigot of the Wall Street Journal notes, Rove successfully chipped away at Gore’s candidacy by marketing Bush 43 as “both an alternative to Bill Clinton’s scandalous behavior and “a different kind of Republican.” Of course, the Supreme Court also played a crucial role in the 2000 election when it declared Bush the winner in Florida.

Some would argue that Rove’s greatest accomplishments as a political strategist came in 2002 and 2004. In 2002, the president’s party gained seats in both houses of Congress in a first midterm election; a feat last witnessed in 1934. Not to be outdone in 2004, the “Boy Genius” helped to orchestrate a feat that had only been accomplished one other time in history, the president not only won reelection but he helped his party gain seats in both houses of Congress.

Though Rove’s achievements as a political strategist are unparalleled, the 2006 midterm elections proved to be a nightmare. The GOP lost control of both houses of Congress. Should Rove shoulder all of the blame for the 2006 midterm mishap? No, but at the same time, because he operates in a “what have you done for me lately” environment, the 2006 midterm election did deliver a crippling blow to his legacy.

With 14 months until the 2008 presidential election, Karl Rove says he is stepping down because it is in the best interest of his family, the typical, cliché refrain of those whose time in the spotlight has ended for reasons beyond their control. Do I buy it? Of course not. This is the same man who, upon taking the office in the White House once occupied by Hillary Clinton, allegedly invited priests to perform an exorcism to drive her evil spirits away. Karl Rove clearly wants one more bite at the proverbial political apple. He wants to atone for 2006. Unfortunately, Karl Rove recognizes that it is in his party’s best interest to just retreat quietly into retirement. For this reason, we as Republicans have to thank Karl Rove for putting the party and president before himself. Just maybe, this noble deed on his part will pave the way to a Republican victory in 2008.