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Report: Rove Talks "Fairly Regularly" With McCain Camp; Getting Six Figures From Freedom's Watch

In a new National Journal article (not available online), writer Peter Stone dives deep into the conservative establishment and gets campaign staffers, movement operatives, and the ubiquitous "strategists" and "consultants" to talk about Karl Rove's current role in presidential politics. The takeaway? Rove is back. In fact, he probably never left. The campaign that is trying to prove it's not a second coming of George W. Bush is using the President's former chief strategist on a regular basis.

Stone says not to be fooled by Rove's hesitance to be identified with John McCain publicly.

...away from the spotlight, Rove has been busy pitching in by giving informal advice to McCain’s team and spending a considerable amount of time as an outside adviser to Freedom’s Watch, the conservative political group that is expected to spend tens of millions of dollars to help elect House GOP candidates. William Weidner, a Freedom’s Watch board member, recently told National Journal that Rove has offered strategic advice to both the group and its major financial backer, Las Vegas casino tycoon Sheldon Adelson. Weidner, president of the Las Vegas Sands Corp., which Adelson chairs, called Rove "an invaluable asset" to the group....

While the top of McCain's campaign won't admit to extensive conversations with Rove, fearing that Rove is too closely associated with the Bush Administration and its worst scandals, some folks are willing to spill the beans off the record.

"Generally speaking, Rove's advice is action-oriented and useful," said another senior consultant to the McCain camp. "It's always well received." This McCain adviser noted that Rove talks periodically to Black and a few other top campaign aides on several key matters. "It can be policy ideas, messaging ideas, fundraising prospects, or people who need calls from someone in the campaign." Rove is "part of the information network that the campaign has," this adviser said, adding that Rove talks fairly regularly to such key people as Wayne Berman, a major fundraiser for McCain; Nicolle Wallace, a communications adviser; and Steve Schmidt, a senior aide.

And Rove is even more deeply involved with Freedom's Watch, the internally troubled right wing group that seeks to make trouble for Democrats throughout the campaign season.

[William] Weidner [a Freedom’s Watch board member] stressed that Rove has been "very generous with his time and ideas. He gives up his time for those things he believes in."

Two GOP strategists said they have heard that Rove has worked out a private consulting deal with Adelson; this arrangement, one strategist reported, pays Rove in the mid-six figures for giving speeches and providing assistance to Freedom’s Watch on labor union issues, a top priority of the group.

Comments

It is time for Rove to be brought up for war crimes in the Hague, and be put away for life. Rove epitomizes Satan.

Posted by: MarthaA on 06/13/08 at 1:35 PM Respond

That reporter guy went on a vacation overseas and got home and just died.

Posted by: Fes on 06/13/08 at 5:40 PM Respond

Why isn't Rove in an orange jumpsuit pressing license plates? Instead he's working for Freedom Crotch. Wow. The perks of a god damned booshie.

Posted by: StirFry on 06/16/08 at 9:09 AM Respond

Thank God, finally something on the Rove McCain connection. Now we need a video. Didn't Fox Recently describe Rove as a McCain adviser? We can't be scared of the Right-Wing anymore. Just watched a Bill Moyers program where the guest described the GOP's tactics as getting think tanks and conservative elites to basically dress up in Blue Jeans and convince uninformed voters to vote against their self interests. As we can see Mr. McCain's tax plans already benefit the wealthiest Americans while giving subsidies to Corporate America.

Posted by: J.Johnson on 06/16/08 at 9:23 AM Respond

THE CASE AGAINST MCCAIN ,
1) PTSD - Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.-Ask Dr. Michael M. Ambrose if there was a cover -up when he made his statement 1999.
2) Does McCain has Stockholm Syndrome.
look how he embarces his former Torturers.
BUSH /CHENEY /ROVE. 2000 Election. Col.Bui Tin , Von Van Kiet& MaVan On.
3) Calling his former mistress , elevated to wife Cindy McCain " Cu-T

Posted by: Health Angel on 06/16/08 at 9:36 AM Respond

Rove wants McCain elected , because he is going to need a hundred pardons.
Major problem to come Fitzgerald is not done with him. he his watching the -Don Siegelman case.
Also looking back @ Rove's potential criminal activites , from past campaign. AS the saying goes , Forget the pass , you are doomed to repeat it. Champaigns are on ice around the world , waiting for the day. Rove is in leg irons like they did to Susan McDougal.

Posted by: Health Angel on 06/16/08 at 9:43 AM Respond

Given that it's illegal for the campaign to coordinate with a 527 group like Freedom's Watch, how is it legal for Rove to do consulting for both of them on message and strategy?

Posted by: Wes on 06/16/08 at 10:06 AM Respond

Remember the "would you vote for a candidate if you knew that he had fathered a black child" conducted against McSame?

What kind of woman would be married to the man who embraces the person responsible for this?

Is this the value McSame places on his adopted child and wife?

Posted by: Detroit Sam on 06/16/08 at 11:19 AM Respond

Rove and his cronies are out of touch with the country. Thanks to Bush's disastrous foreign and economic policies, we've grown up in the last four years. Their slanderous tactics will backfire on them.

Posted by: Debra on 06/16/08 at 1:13 PM Respond

Rove loves pounding the Democratic folks long and hard, over and over again, day in and day out. Then he likes to settle back and watch it all on TV.

Posted by: Tiagra on 06/16/08 at 6:25 PM Respond

Yes, Rove and the RIGHT WING EXTREMISTS are mighty smug with what they have gotten away with, but just wait, their day is coming. Rove is not doing as well as he used to, the Congress and the 70% MAJORITY COMMON POPULATION are getting wise to the RIGHT WING EXTREMIST'S lies, fraud, and manipulating propaganda. Rove will get exactly what he deserves before long.

J. Johnson:

Thank God in the name of Jesus for Bill Moyers. May angels protect him internally, high and low and from all sides; so that no harm will come to him as he goes forth so brilliantly, valiantly and patriotically telling the truth that has been subverted for so long by the CONSERVATIVE RIGHT WING EXTREME and their CORPORATE MEDIA.

Posted by: MarthaA on 06/17/08 at 8:21 AM Respond

Hire a criminal to help elect John McCain. But of course!

Posted by: Sue on 06/17/08 at 9:04 AM Respond

Demonizing Rove may divert attention away from the real problem -- voter gullibility in the face of massive ad campaigns.

Posted by: kathy Giannini on 07/01/08 at 7:14 PM Respond

May I be the first on the web to suggest that the choice of Palin has Rove written all over it:
First knock Hillary out of the race with the whole "Republicans for Obama" business, and then sucker punch the dems with a woman VP. I only wonder who Karl had pegged for the black VP had Hillary still won!

Posted by: bushbitesthebigone on 08/30/08 at 4:14 PM Respond

Alot of things have "rove" written all over them. Like the fact that Rove and Donna Brazile have been quite friendly over the last few years. Fishy as hell considering the behavior of the D.N.C. this election.

Posted by: Alice on 11/14/08 at 2:46 AM Respond