Audio: ‘Optimistic’ Rove challenges bias of NPR correspondent
posted at 1:44 am on October 26, 2006 by Ian
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NPR’s Robert Siegel spoke with White House political strategist Karl Rove earlier this week on the state of the upcoming mid-term elections. When Siegel said Rove was the “optimistic end of realism”, the President’s aide sarcastically remarked that he was not “exhibiting bias” with a made up comment. Full transcript of the exchange below:
MR. SIEGEL: You’re saying, in fact, the top three issues for the GOP this fall are the war on terror, the war on terror and the war on terror?
MR. ROVE: No, no. I gave you three examples of the war on terror. We can talk about taxes where 85 percent of Democrats in the Congress voted against cutting taxes on income, cutting taxes on families with children, cutting taxes on married couples at work. So my point is, make it a choice between two different candidates.
MR. SIEGEL: We’re in the home stretch, though. And many might consider you on the optimistic end of realism about –
MR. ROVE: Not that you would be exhibiting a bias or anything like that. You’re just making a comment.
MR. SIEGEL: I’m looking at all the same polls that you’re looking at every day.
MR. ROVE: No you’re not. No you’re not!
MR. SIEGEL: No, I’m not –
MR. ROVE: I’m looking at 68 polls a week. You may be looking at four or five public polls a week that talk about attitudes nationally, but that do not impact the outcome.
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How nice would it be if the White House was more aggressive more often against these smug reporters. Like President Bush’s “measuring the drapes” response earlier today at the press conference.
Mallard T. Drake on October 26, 2006 at 1:49 AM
Rove you magnificent bastard!
Citizen Duck on October 26, 2006 at 1:50 AM
So what are these polls that the public is not made aware of?
Polls that may actually have some basis in the real world?
Are there such polls?
bbz123 on October 26, 2006 at 1:53 AM
Agreed. There’s something to be said for letting your opponents overextend themselves and to use it to your advantage.
However, it’s gotten to the point where some on the other side of the aisle are so sure of their electoral victory to come, they’re threatening to “take to the streets” if they lose.
Citizen Duck on October 26, 2006 at 1:53 AM
There’re polls inside of polls man. Polls wrapped inside riddles, wrapped inside enigmas, wrapped inside mysteries.
Citizen Duck on October 26, 2006 at 1:55 AM
We can tell what reality is–we don’t need some leftist NPR nitwit to tell us that we’re already beaten when we’re still in the fight. Not only can you not trust the polls, polls don’t predict turnout anyway. The GOP has traditionally done well in that area–for all of their “Rock the Vote”/”Vote or Die”/whatever programs, a lot of Democrats register and then don’t vote. That’s one of the many advantages to actually believing in traditional American values–voting is important to us, no matter what it takes or how bad the weather is. On Nov. 7th, I hope we get some more global warming (i.e., unseasonably cold and crappy weather) like they had in St. Louis tonight, except worse.
I also wish the White House and the Republican leadership had the spine to go for the throat like this more often, instead of being on the defensive all the time. A guy can dream, right?
ReubenJCogburn on October 26, 2006 at 2:28 AM
Citizen Duck wrote: “However, it’s gotten to the point where some on the other side of the aisle are so sure of their electoral victory to come, they’re threatening to “take to the streets” if they lose.”
Making this “threat” has been a common occurrence since the 2000 election and the court fight over Florida.
They talk tough, that’s for certain.
However, THEY believe in gun control. The right doesn’t. There are at least 85 million gun owners, maybe more. According to John Lott, most gun owners are “right-oriented” as opposed to liberal. Seems they’d be massively outgunned if they tried.
And as the military is (according to Stars and Stripes) somewhere around 85% Republican, they’d get little help from members of the military going “rogue” and joining in.
So, my guess would be that should the nutroots attempt a “Putsch” because they lost this election, many of them would be found face down in the gutter, cooling down to ambient temperature, while the remainder would be in FBI custody, in handcuffs, and on their way to either death row or life in a federal maximum security prison.
And that’d be the end of the Democratic Party, forever.
For their sake (and America’s) I hope they forgedaboutit!
georgej on October 26, 2006 at 2:49 AM
The nitwit tried to downplay the extent of the genius’ mind.
Ouabam on October 26, 2006 at 3:24 AM
Listening to NPR for the past 2 weeks has been particularly painful. Even disregarding the advertisements begging for money to keep the pro-Democratic news coming. It’s painful to listen to ‘all things considered’, but I’m holding out for some kind of government grant to get Sirius or XM radio. Isn’t it a right or something, like free health care?
Also, I need the government to get me a 50″ HDTV. Just a heads up.
Kevin M on October 26, 2006 at 3:36 AM
From one bubblehead to another:
…and they wonder why Messrs Bush and Rove are serene?
Entelechy on October 26, 2006 at 4:33 AM
And then there are women…. but I guess that’s off topic.
Scotsman on October 26, 2006 at 5:11 AM
Great Job Karl as akways
jeglinas on October 26, 2006 at 5:35 AM
Yeah, Vidal checked out a long time ago. That man has been bats**t crazy for ages. It’s actually sad to watch him in interviews. You quickly realize that he isn’t connwcted to reality in any discernable way.
He was always a mean bastard too. He deserves his senility.
The Apologist on October 26, 2006 at 6:15 AM
The magnificient bastard Rove-machine does non-stop internal polling. They know what’s really going on. If he’s telling the truth, I trust his knowledge of the subject.
Do they ignore the polling on illegal immigration??? *sigh*
stenwin77 on October 26, 2006 at 7:22 AM
This is why we follow the Dark Lord…
Parker on October 26, 2006 at 7:44 AM
Gore Vidal wouldn’t know totalitarianism if it jumped up and bit him on the ass. He (and others of his ilk)apparently won’t be happy until we are all wearing burkas and praying toward Mecca.
Ann on October 26, 2006 at 8:07 AM
I just wish Bush would stick it to them like this every once and a while. Specifically with David Gregory and friends. But he always seems to think he has to take the “high road”.
RightWinged on October 26, 2006 at 8:14 AM
Entelechy quoted Vidal:
Six years of Bush and still there are no moonbat gulags, no martial law, no missing liberties. The best they can seem to come up with is “They’re looking at us! The evil! The horror!”
Sometimes, I wish they were right.
Pablo on October 26, 2006 at 8:50 AM
While watching my beloved Vols this past weekend, a moonbat friend actually told me that he was voting democrat because republicans are restricting free speech. I asked him to provide one single case where someone had been jailed, threatened, or coerced by a government entity because of something he/she said. I was shocked that he couldn’t. I mean, we do have detention and re-education centers for that kind of thing, don’t we? I thought Rove was on top of that one. /sarcasm off. What a shame that stupidity isn’t painful.
Barntender on October 26, 2006 at 9:05 AM
Off topic but:
Now that Argentina has indicted the former Iranian president and several revolutionary guards how long before Iran/Chavez sends them another ‘present?’.
Way to go Argentina!….now go get the pukes.
Limerick on October 26, 2006 at 9:09 AM
You know, I was living in a tent in the middle of the desert in Kuwait during the 2004 election. We were pretty isolated from society at the time and all we had to go on were the MSM news feeds over Armed Forces TV. From what we heard over there, it seemed that Kerry was going to CRUSH Bush in the election. All they talked about were the polls and how bad it looked for Bush. The liberal in my unit, the ONE liberal, was constantly gloating over the fact that we would soon have a new commander in chief. He was so heartbroken when Bush won. Moreso, he was completely confused on how wrong all the polls and the MSM hype was. Later, we would understand that he was suffering from Post Election Selection Trauma, but that’s a different story.
BohicaTwentyTwo on October 26, 2006 at 9:09 AM
Bohica: Oh great!…now another moonbat investigation into PEST……………:)
Limerick on October 26, 2006 at 9:12 AM
Gore Vidal is a toolbag. He, and all his lefty troglodytes, can shove their age of Aquarius pipe dreams up Ted Kennedy’s sizeable Soviet posterior.
Man, it would be great if the Reps could keep both houses, if for no other reason than to watch the moonies shard themselves on a mass scale. Just imagine the smell in Berkeley on Nov. 3rd.
spmat on October 26, 2006 at 9:22 AM
The great hope (other then the Reps stay in control) is that if the Dhimmi’s loose it will force their 08 platform so far left that the 08 election might look like 80.
Limerick on October 26, 2006 at 9:25 AM
OMG, I just read the post and many of the comments that Citizen Duck mentioned at HuffPost; WOW are the wacky liberals out in force.
If/when we DO win in 2 weeks, no matter what election we win, the liberals are going to whine again about how the nasty Republicans stole the election.
They’re absolutely convinced that if the Democrats win, martial law will be imposed. Can you believe it? MARTIAL LAW. This belief, more than any others, outlines the incredible disconnect they have. Don’t they understand that if ANYBODY (Repub or Dem) would try to invoke martial law to stay in power, conservatives would be the FIRST ones on the streets; guns in hand.
I can just see MKH mobilizing her “Chicks with Guns” :-)
dalewalt on October 26, 2006 at 9:35 AM
Not that I expect a moonbat to see the light, but what did your friend have to say when they couldn’t provide a single example? I mean, they couldn’t possibly have been like, “whoa, I guess I was just reciting what the DailyKos told me and never actually thought about it”, so what was their excuse for not being able to cite an example? Just curious.
RightWinged on October 26, 2006 at 9:47 AM
The verbal onslaught coming from the left has been non-stop lately. One need only flip through the channels, any time of day or night, and you will find ABC, CBS, NBC, MSNBC, CNN, PBS, CSPAN1, CSPAN2 ripping into our president, his administration and his policies. None are bothering to hide their bias anymore. They are desperate for a win and willing accomplices of the DNC.
With the war in Iraq strung out and stuck in neutral, with the MSM in lockstep with the Dems, attacking all that is wrong with the Bush administration 24/7 and ignoring all of the positive economic indicators, if the Dems can’t gain control of the House and Senate in this one-sided environment they should pack it in for good.
The MSM still believes they can control the masses the same as they did 25 years ago. That’s their mistake. The Dems, putting their blind faith in the hypnotizing powers of the MSM, will wake up the morning after the election and say, “wha happened?” again.
I on the other hand will be listening to the sweet sound of liberal jounalist’s eyes popping out of their heads and jaws hitting the floor. I can’t wait to watch the talking heads talley up the results of the one poll that counts. Only then will they come to the realization, while not admitting it, that their pollsters never dialed up the groundswell of silent, loyal conservatives who, as Rove knows already, will show up at the voting booth and will turn the tide in this election.
National Polls ….. *pftewy*. They’re nothing more than a Democrat wet dream.
fogw on October 26, 2006 at 9:55 AM
I can’t believe that any journalist would even have the nerve to get snarky with Rove. He’s one incredibly intimidating guy, intellectually.
DaveS on October 26, 2006 at 9:57 AM
All Your Polls Are Belong To Us
infidel4life on October 26, 2006 at 10:13 AM
If gay marriage passes and Al Gore and Gore Vidal got married, they’d become Al Vidal and Gore Gore. Just something to think about. VOTE OR DIE or whatever!!!!
jdpaz on October 26, 2006 at 10:53 AM
The moonbats take to the streets if they lose? How would they do it- by assaulting us with lattes, slap fighting and screeching incoherently? Could be fun to watch.
Trooper on October 26, 2006 at 10:59 AM
….&^%$#@!%$#…trying to carve this Karl pumpkin for the doorstep……^%$#@!@#!…..there, thats better……..that will keep the Moonbats children away………..
Limerick on October 26, 2006 at 11:05 AM
I see similarities between the disinformation campaign of MSM domestically and the propaganda campaign of our foreign enemies. The problem I have is that our administration seems to be incapable of countering either because they’re trying to be too nice. I say drop the gloves and come out swinging. It is, afterall, what the base is yearning for.
TexasRainmaker on October 26, 2006 at 11:38 AM
Kind of you to omit everything Rove said previous to that… which is what Siegel was responding to.
Constantine on October 26, 2006 at 11:41 AM
This is the first time I have ever actually heard the voice of Karl Rove.
To be honest, he sounds like a nerd*.
Yet from what I read on liberal left wing blogs, this guy is Satan incarnate, the Dark Lord himself.
Who would have thunk that Satan would sound like that?
Go figure.
*Not that there is anything WRONG with nerds…
Anyway, way to go Karl. Nothing beats tweaking the nose of a smug journalist.
EFG on October 26, 2006 at 12:25 PM
and Al Gore Gore Vidal has a catchy beat
Ann on October 26, 2006 at 12:26 PM
Constantine wrote: “Kind of you to omit everything Rove said previous to that… which is what Siegel was responding to.”
Yawn….
On, “Die Tag” — the day after the election — when you find out that you lost and the Republicans are still in power, are you gonna take to the streets, too, boyo?
Tell us, how are the plans for the Putsch coming along?
Just curious….
georgej on October 26, 2006 at 12:52 PM
I’ve been telling people for months that the MSM, and other misleading liberals will be trying to sell the idea that liberals will win big again this year. I point out how the Democrat Party is so badly fractured that liberal candidates are bound to upset at least 1 faction of their base. Blacks, homosexuals, Kos kooks, NOW, christian men, christian women; They cannot appease them all, and that is their inherent problem at the polls.
All democrats have offered America is cut-and-run, raise taxes, and impeach Bush while they started a homosexual witch hunt. Yeah, I’m sure they can win with that platform. Not!
DannoJyd on October 26, 2006 at 1:02 PM
Tell me, Mr. Magic 8 ball, what will be the composition of the House and Senate? Care to put money on it?
Not that you’re ignoring the point or anything.
Yes, you are.
Constantine on October 26, 2006 at 1:22 PM
Remember 2004. By 1PM EST on election day MSM will be screeching about early exit polls pointing to a resounding Donkey Win. It’s so fun to watch Moonbats re-enact Groundhog Day every election cycle.
I and George Zimmer Guarantee It.
StusBeef on October 26, 2006 at 1:29 PM
They’re vowing to ‘take it to the streets’ if they don’t win? Isn’t that pretty similar to the vows they made in 2004 to move out of the country if Bush took the White House? They’re still HERE aren’t they? Talk about deranged….. Hey people – Venezuela might appeal to you.
In any case, my compiments to all above posters. I have learned so much from you since finding this site. Serious knowledge and entertainment at the same time. You can’t beat that combo!
dbdiva on October 26, 2006 at 1:48 PM
If the Democrats fail to win any majority, you won’t find liberals abandoning the United States. Leaving this country to be run by the neocons would be like leaving a retarded kid alone with a loaded gun.
Constantine on October 26, 2006 at 2:01 PM
“Kind of you to omit everything Rove said previous to that… which is what Siegel was responding to.”
It *was* kind, I would say even merciful. Did you imagine, Constantine, that in what came before Siegel’s IQ was magically 40 points higher, and Rove’s 40 points lower? I was so enjoying the floor-mopping job Rove was doing with Siegel in this sadly short clip, that I was on the verge of nipping over the NPR website to see if I could find the audio of the interview, and enjoy rest of the mop-job, which would doubtless be followed by the buffing, and polishing of Siegel’s lameness by Rove’s superior knowledge and argumentation skills. I was only stopped (so far) by the fact that I can’t imagine NPR would leave something like that up for all to hear, any more than Youtube would leave a Michelle Malkin video-blog segment up on their site. But now that you brought it up. . .
smellthecoffee on October 26, 2006 at 2:21 PM
God bless Karl!
(Wishing for Rove/Rice in 08)
Jose Chupacabra on October 26, 2006 at 2:23 PM
Rick on October 26, 2006 at 2:28 PM
Well that sucks. What happened to the rest of my post?
Anyway, the point I was trying to make is that their “threatening to take to the streets” if they lose is just like their muslim counterparts in France.
Rick on October 26, 2006 at 2:31 PM
And then when polygamy passes, they can add Jamie “Whatever you do, don’t let the FBI and the CIA talk to each other” Gorelick.
ReubenJCogburn on October 26, 2006 at 2:35 PM
You have a rather creative interpretation of the exchange; I suppose in your mind interrupting the interviewer = winning the argument. Rove did, in fact, mention nothing but the WoT before Siegel made the comment. The fact that Rove has emerged from under his rock to speak in person is an indication of White House panic. That, and the fact that the President is Iraqbacktracking… “No, wait, we were never about staying the course! where did you get that idea?” Funny stuff.
Constantine on October 26, 2006 at 2:41 PM
georgej, that would be “Der Tag”, just like “Der Wienerschnitzel” correctly is “Das Wienerschnitzel” – just for the vault :)
Love your posts, short and extensive, one and all.
Entelechy on October 26, 2006 at 2:45 PM
I must correct myself; the story is up on NPR.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6376549
So, yes it’s up, and no, Siegel didn’t do any better before the beginning of the Hotair clip than after. There are a couple of different audio clips on this page to savor. I can only imagine the gnashing of teeth and tearing of hair that was taking place in Saabs and Volvos across coastal America as these were being aired.
smellthecoffee on October 26, 2006 at 2:49 PM
Au contraire, the WH, Messrs Bush and Rove in particular, don’t look/act panicked at all. I see much panic on the HuffPo, about these gents not being panicked. It is pretty amusing, especially for someone who thrives on political psychology.
Nov. 7th, late and Nov. 8th, 2006 will be one of the most interesting dates in our political history.
Entelechy on October 26, 2006 at 2:50 PM
Nothing wrong with interrupting a cheap tactic just to hear the smarmy reporter blubber. The old ‘ive seen or heard sources that suggest or say blah blah blah’ routine has gone way past it’s espiration date, manager’s special, and into the dumpster where it belongs.
sirmyth on October 26, 2006 at 2:51 PM
Thanks for the link… that is entertaining, especially when Turd Blossom stammers when asked how close we are to winning in Iraq. You can almost smell the smoke as his memory banks strain for an answer, finally offering nothing more than irrelevant references to WWII and the Cold War.
Stereotype much?
Constantine on October 26, 2006 at 2:59 PM
“I suppose in your mind interrupting the interviewer = winning the argument.” No, interrupting the interviewee means interviewing by Chris Matthews, and most lefty interviewers. Siegel just had the sense to shut up and listen.
“. . .the President is Iraqbacktracking… ‘No, wait, we were never about staying the course! where did you get that idea?’” Staying the course by the President always meant not leaving before the job was finished. Staying the course by the Dems always meant not changing a single thing you are doing, not changing tactics in response to changing conditions, for example, which is why the Dems always said, “Bush has no plan.” They meant he had no strategy, and no flexible tactics to implement that strategy. So President Bush meant he was never about staying the course *as Dems define it*–he was saying this in the context of revealing a change of strategy, remember–of working to create benchmarks with the Iraqi military, etc. As *he* defines staying the course–he’s still doing it, thank G-d.
“Funny stuff.” Yeah, ha ha. Would you still be laughing when your head is pressed against the floor five times a day, Mr. Cutnrun? Go to Eurabia where they all agree with you.
smellthecoffee on October 26, 2006 at 3:04 PM
Hey Constantine, what’s with the “If”? I thought the Dems had a lock on taking over both houses. Losing faith are we?
Here’s an update for you. Conservatives have been running the country for the last six years. So where’s the evidence it’s like leaving you alone with a loaded gun?
fogw on October 26, 2006 at 3:11 PM
Of course! The President redefines what he’s been saying all along, and it’s all good. Just like he never said Iraq had anything to do with 9/11.
Would you still be laughing when your head is pressed against the floor five times a day, Mr. Cutnrun?
I have no idea what this means, except perhaps you might have anger issues.
And no, thanks, I’ll stay here where roughly 64% of Americans agree with me.
Constantine on October 26, 2006 at 3:22 PM
Please cite the speech/time/place when Bush linked Iraq directly to the attacks on 9/11.
Amazing how libs always use polls as a crutch to support their positions, while conveniently overlooking the reality of the situation. Polls taken by them, for them. It’s like a warm cuddly blanket giving momentary comfort.
……. DATELINE Nov 2004 ….. Exit polls declare Kerry winner in landslide victory ….. Oh, wait ….. Nevermind.
fogw on October 26, 2006 at 3:41 PM
Constantine, answer the question:
On, “Der Tag” [thanks, Entelechy] — the day after the election — when you find out that you lost and the Republicans are still in power, are you gonna take to the streets, too, boyo?
Tell us, how are the plans for the Putsch coming along?
Just curious….
Oh, and if you need a ride to the airport because you’re moving to France, just post it here and we’ll (NO DOUBT!!) find lots of volunteers to drive you.
georgej on October 26, 2006 at 3:50 PM
I’ll be quietly celebrating a Democratic majority in one or both houses. My offer still stands to place a wager on that, but obviously you’re reluctant to put up or shut up.
Constantine on October 26, 2006 at 4:39 PM
They won’t “take to the streets”, they’ll be too busy bellowing about the “fraudulent voting machines” (I’ve seen the myriad of articles already in the MSM) and claiming the elections were “stolen” again…
Hmmm, anyone curious how many stories we’d see concerning “fraud” if the Dems won????
Let’s see now…
Moses99 on October 26, 2006 at 4:41 PM
Absolutely on target, smellthecoffee! Unlike the Democrats, President Bush actually possesses a backbone, and doesn’t just surrender at the first sign of trouble. Men like Franklin Roosevelt and Harry Truman would be disgusted at what a bunch of chickensh-ts their party has become. I swear, along with the jackass, the symbol of the Democratic Party should be the weather vane.
Democrats don’t get to redefine “stay the course” to mean whatever they want it to mean, not when there’s already an existing definition out there. (Any more than they get to redefine marriage to encompass any random grouping of animals, vegetables, or minerals.) “Stay the course” means to “hold or persevere to the end”. (Thank you, answers.com.) Now I realize that the whole concept of perseverance is a tough one for the party of flipfloppers like John Kerry, but even Democrats should be able to figure out that no one ever won a war by surrendering. “Surrender NOW!” isn’t a plan either, or at least not a plan for victory.
ReubenJCogburn on October 26, 2006 at 4:57 PM
The Left and the Right stand to learn much from this article, if they calmly and carefully digest it. Camille Paglia tells her party the bitter truth. Alas, do they listen and internalize?
Entelechy on October 26, 2006 at 11:34 PM
“Would you still be laughing when your head is pressed against the floor five times a day, Mr. Cutnrun?”
“I have no idea what this means, except perhaps you might have anger issues.”
Not by me, ace. I was referring to Muslim prayer, Constantine. I know, I know, religion isn’t your shtick. Well, if you do move to France it will be. (Then you’d be staying where 99% of the people agree with you.) Yes, soon once again there will be prayer in Europe. Imagine all those post-modern, auto-alienated, multi-culti, effete Frenchies praying five times a day. Eet ees to laugh. Perhaps praying in crowded situations will lead them to shower more frequently. Perhaps this will be the only reason to feel good about Eurabia.
smellthecoffee on October 27, 2006 at 1:28 AM
How sensitive of you.
Rick on October 27, 2006 at 2:23 PM
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