Ouch! Rove Takes Shots at Obama Inner Circle

By Neal Colgrass, Newser Staff

Posted Nov 14, 2008 8:15 PM CST

(Newser) – Take that, Joe Biden. And Rahm Emanuel. And you too, New York Times Magazine interviewer. In a recent chat, a testy Karl Rove says the VP-elect "has an odd combination of longevity and long-windedness that passes for wisdom in Washington." Asked if he engages in negative politics, the former Bush adviser says "No"—but insists Thomas Jefferson did by hiring "a notorious slanderer" to badmouth John Adams.

Rove also calls Rahm Emanuel a "head-in-your-face, scream-and-shout, send-them-a-dead-fish partisan," and denies having been booed off stage recently. "I’ve been booed on stages," he says. He saves his last barb for interviewer Deborah Solomon. "You're the one who hurt my feelings," he tells her. "I’ve got it on tape. I’m going to transcribe this and send it to you."

Republican strategist Karl Rove addresses delegates at the Republican state convention at the Mayo Civic Center on Saturday, May 31, 2008 in Rochester, Minn. (AP Photo/The Star Tribune,Jennifer Simonson)

Karl Rove watches a baseball game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Washington Nationals, Tuesday, July 29, 2008 in Washington. The Phillies won 2-1. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

This photograph, courtesy of The Richard Avedon Foundation, is part of the exhibition, Richard Avedon: Portraits of Power, opening Sept. 13, 2008 at the Corcoran Gallery of Art. (Associated Press)

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Karl Rove • Rahm Emanuel • negative campaigning • George W. Bush

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Santorum Ad Goes After Mud-Slinger 'Rombo'

Romney's negative attacks will backfire, it warns

Detroit Bust Would've Been Better Than Bailout

Ex-Prez Bush says bailout his idea, and a good one

Negative Attacks Souring Colorado Voters on GOP

'Anybody but Obama' not enough for crucial independents in swing states

How Much Did Obama Really Add to Deficit?

Ezra Klein crunches the numbers and comes up with a lower total than you think

Limbaugh Blasts 'Whining' Over Negative Campaigns

Right-wing radio host slams Gingrich and Tom Brokaw

About Us

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Newser By Users

Community

Site Maps

Tools

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What is Newser?