Rove: Obama building an enemies list
posted at 8:48 am on October 19, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
What does Fox News’ Karl Rove and Baltimore Sun’s David Zurawik have in common? Both of them have called the Obama administration’s weird war on Fox News Channel “Nixonian.” In this clip, Rove — who knows a thing or two about being in a beleaguered White House — answers Terry McAuliffe’s defense of Barack Obama that a little demonization is perfectly acceptable in order to get health reform passed:
“Undignified” is the least of the problems. Nixon built his enemies list as an extension of his general paranoia, but it took a little longer than the first few months of his presidency for that to reveal itself in that way. The bunker mentality that produces this kind of thinking reflects a failure of the President himself to lead, and a search for scapegoats. The public-relations mission of Anita Dunn and others serves no other real purpose except to have someone handy to blame when Obama’s agenda fails.
The truth is that Obama has lost the public debate on health-care reform, and he’s left with only the option of slamming something through Congress that will be incredibly unpopular, and then blame its unpopularity on Fox News. That’s undignified, Nixonian, and futile, all at the same time.
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Enemies list? Sign me up.
katy the mean old lady on October 19, 2009 at 8:52 AM
Mark Twain: Never pick a fight with people who purchase ink by the Barrel… Obama obvious fail American Literature in college or he would have known that quote.
doriangrey on October 19, 2009 at 8:53 AM
JUST RELEASED: Rove said that slavery was super-great and we’d all be better off if we raised James Earl Ray from the dead and made him Czar of the coming plantation of NFL black players.
I swear!
mankai on October 19, 2009 at 8:53 AM
Seems to me there’s a redundancy in the above (and my observation is coming from someone who generally sympathized with Nixon).
apostic on October 19, 2009 at 8:53 AM
Rove is awesome, you can see why he was so influential…
right2bright on October 19, 2009 at 8:54 AM
Prescription drug entitlement…
I’m just sayin’
mankai on October 19, 2009 at 8:55 AM
Quick! Time for another speech from The One!!! That oughta fix everything. It’s worked so well up to now.
Sugar Land on October 19, 2009 at 8:56 AM
Honored to be on the list of enemies of these ass clowns
ReaganConservative3 on October 19, 2009 at 8:56 AM
Can you blame Nixon for having an enemies list after sitting on the HUAC? HUAC gave spineless liberals the ability to scream ‘McCarthyism!’ and ‘Blacklisting!’ at the first sign of opposition for sixty years.
daesleeper on October 19, 2009 at 8:58 AM
so the article is saying that Bambi has lost the health care debate? then why am i not sleeping worrying that the Senate & then the Congress are going to socialize medicine.
this fight IS NOT over.
kelley in virginia on October 19, 2009 at 8:59 AM
Time for the One to go on Letterman again! Oops, no, wait….
Wethal on October 19, 2009 at 8:59 AM
I hereby open the Enemies of Barack Obama group.
steveegg on October 19, 2009 at 8:59 AM
Good job Rove, but this crap is only getting started. We’re not even a year into the communist regime of Obama and he’s virtually mirroring Chavez in Venezuela.
2010 can’t come fast enough. Desperate, paranoid people like Obama and the democrats will say and do anything to hold onto and expand their power. I look for their attacks on Fox and Americans in general to get much, much worse.
darwin on October 19, 2009 at 8:59 AM
Amen, brother. I long for the day when one of our political parties works damn hard again to shrink government and not expand it.
beatcanvas on October 19, 2009 at 9:00 AM
I honestly can’t see any benefit for the administration in keeping up this attack. Even the legacy media is calling Obama out on this, but he keeps it up. He must really be thinking that Obama Care is gonna bomb and quick and he needs to divert the blame and this is the only thing he and his staff can come up with.
Johnnyreb on October 19, 2009 at 9:01 AM
I recall how Ann Coulter said a few years back that the phrase “Merry Christmas” had become subersive; therefore, she took greater than usual delight in using it. Perhaps some of us will find a similar subersive delight asking for FNC while at the airport, bar, gym, etc.
apostic on October 19, 2009 at 9:02 AM
Funny, that’s exactly what I was thinking, that this is all about their failure to accomplish anything, so they go on the offensive. FOX tells it like it is, and if they had positive things coming out of the WH to report on, they’d report it. They ask the tough questions the other “news” channels won’t.
scalleywag on October 19, 2009 at 9:02 AM
johnnyreb: though i don’t watch SRM, who among them is whispering that Bambi shouldnt’ attack Fox?
kelley in virginia on October 19, 2009 at 9:02 AM
Wow, who knew they were so good at multi-tasking. Kudos!
milwife88 on October 19, 2009 at 9:03 AM
Gee, you mean the White House that came up with “flag@whitehouse.gov” is making an enemies list? That’s just crazy talk.
LibTired on October 19, 2009 at 9:03 AM
yes, apostic, i always ask for FNC.
kelley in virginia on October 19, 2009 at 9:04 AM
Enemies List? no kidding.
These people are desparate and lead by a true narcissist. Criticism is forbidden and when that doesn’t work, well……well…you’re in timeout.
Obama already has a list of bodies, I keep waiting for that to expand. Clearly, the time outs aren’t working.
ORconservative on October 19, 2009 at 9:04 AM
When even Dem hack Donna Brazile won’t agree with you…
Wethal on October 19, 2009 at 9:05 AM
Don’t think they aren’t monitoring sites like this one.
mankai on October 19, 2009 at 9:06 AM
saw this as well…
dear leader has blinders on…
cmsinaz on October 19, 2009 at 9:07 AM
Either Obama is leading and the demonization of Fox is his idea, which means he is incapable of good judgement, or he is being led by Axelrod, Emmanuel, and Soros, which means he is weak and incapable of true leadership.
Two scenarios, same result.
pugwriter on October 19, 2009 at 9:07 AM
I was a little disappointed that Karl Rove wasn’t more critical in this interview- he just kept saying “It isn’t dignified”. How about it was ridiculously childish and petty? Two attributes that more often than not, apply to our man-child President.
anniekc on October 19, 2009 at 9:08 AM
Sure they are monitoring sites like this, I delight in that possibility.
The fact that Axelrod or some of the other toddlers would read something besides adoration is delightful.
ORconservative on October 19, 2009 at 9:08 AM
Terry McAuliffe went away hungry because Karl Rove just ate his lunch and bagged his sister to boot.
It is truly far beneath the office of the president to engage in such childish behavior. However, when I was a child I thought like a child, but once I became a man, I thought like a man. Someone else up there maybe should take some of that biblical guidance.
But he probably writes his own guidance.
Childish.
ted c on October 19, 2009 at 9:08 AM
the chicago way?
cmsinaz on October 19, 2009 at 9:08 AM
When do we appoint a Special Prosecutor to investigate the misdirected loyalties of the president?
IntheNet on October 19, 2009 at 9:08 AM
Building scapegoats.
Searching for someone to blame when the One’s sh!t won’t float…..
Playgrounds.
ted c on October 19, 2009 at 9:09 AM
Does he have a czar working on this list?
cmsinaz on October 19, 2009 at 9:10 AM
And by the way, I love the people that do the monitoring. They are part of a great administration, maybe the greatest administration. Certainly the greatest administration in terms of sheer greatness. THANK YOU
LibTired on October 19, 2009 at 9:10 AM
Bless you. I often find myself in the following position:
apostic on October 19, 2009 at 9:10 AM
This appears to be madness without method. Does the filthy lying coward in the White House think that FNC is going to wither away and die by continuing to deny them any access to administration officials? FNC beats the pants off of every other outlet in the ratings. It is sheer stupidity for this corrupt failed administration to continue acting like FNC doesn’t even exist.
highhopes on October 19, 2009 at 9:12 AM
There was at least on guy on CNN this weekend saying it was a mistake.
Johnnyreb on October 19, 2009 at 9:12 AM
Video: Seeking to Avoid Tough Questions, Obama Appears on Sesame Street for Elmo Interview http://optoons.blogspot.com/2009/10/seeking-to-avoid-tough-questions-obama.html
Mervis Winter on October 19, 2009 at 9:14 AM
Chris Wallace stuck it to McAuliffe, too. Wallace ran a tape of McAuliffe after the PA primary last year gushing how “fair and balanced” Fox was for calling PA for Hillary when other networks wouldn’t.
McAuliffe kind of laughed and gave a “that was then, this is now” excuse, but looked like he knew he’d been nailed.
Wethal on October 19, 2009 at 9:15 AM
The end justifies the means.
Johan Klaus on October 19, 2009 at 9:15 AM
karl rove whining about nixonian tactics: priceless!
sesquipedalian on October 19, 2009 at 9:16 AM
Yes, the Whiner and Chief has spent a lot of time demonizing private citizens,news networks,and insurance agencies in trying to revive his inept health care policies.
Wish he had the same anger and vitriol for our real enemies…you know…the jihadist and rogue regimes like Iran and N. Korea.
The demonization has not worked and only made the White House look paranoid,petty,and without competent leadership.
I noticed that the insurance groups and Chamber of Commerce have started their ad campaigns.
The ads are straight forward and believable, especially
the Chamber of Commerce ad that focuses on the over 300 billion dollars in new taxes.
If the White House is going to replace strong and competent solutions and decision making with demonization and cries of bigotry everytime someone dissents,it won’t be long before everyone in America will be considered “racist” and “militant”.
These erratic and ignorant moves by the White House do nothing more than showcase their fear in the fact they are losing this debate with the majority of the American people.
Baxter Greene on October 19, 2009 at 9:16 AM
Earth to Obama; Er, ah, ole buddy, Fox News is on our side. Al Qaeda are the bad guys, turn your guns in the other direction.
Herb on October 19, 2009 at 9:16 AM
Media Matters?
Joe Caps on October 19, 2009 at 9:16 AM
This is much like the race card tactic–instead of hitting you find yourself on the defensive. Energy is wasted answering back frivolous charges. FNC is falling into the snare. Last week’s programming (mainly primetime) was spent in this pissing match with the WH. When FNC is defending itself from stupid charges–as they should do but then move the eff on–they are not hitting this incompetent adminstration.
Stop parrying and start punching, FNC.
RepubChica on October 19, 2009 at 9:16 AM
Soon, Obooba’s enemies will be Enemies of the World!
Akzed on October 19, 2009 at 9:18 AM
Barry reminds me of the “Boy Wonders with Harvard MBA’s” that the big bosses would bring in to “turn things around” at a company I used to work for- They had zero ability to grasp the delicacy of a “salesman relationship” with customers. They always had a dogged determination that if they just impressed upon the potential customers that they were smarter than them, they could MAKE them buy our products.
Didn’t work then, isn’t working now.
anniekc on October 19, 2009 at 9:18 AM
FNC should go on the offensive even more than they have.
Honestly, I think this really boils down to ego and the fact that Fox only ran the filthy lying coward’s prime-time propaganda on FNC with the result that more people tuned into “So You Think You Can Dance” instead of hearing the corrupt narcissist yet again make a speech all about himself.
highhopes on October 19, 2009 at 9:19 AM
My gym never has Fox News on the large tvs. I’ve changed a couple when I’m the only person. Luckily most of the equipment have their own tv screen. I was so happy the other day when the guy on the treadmill next to me was also watching Beck. I have never seen anyone watching Beck before.
sammypants on October 19, 2009 at 9:21 AM
I suspect the “Dancing Show” that ran opposite the Obama tapdance hour, yielded higher viewer numbers than the other cable news network! Personally feeling relieved that I won’t have to look at the 2-faced lying sob on every channel — so for that small favor THANKS FOX!
Come an get me Acorn! Better bring an Army of SEIU purple pansies with you!
“Let’s Roll”
On Watch on October 19, 2009 at 9:21 AM
It only makes sense if they know Fox (Glenn Beck maybe?) is working on a story that is incredibly damaging. That would explain Rahm on CNN Sunday AM threatening other news organizations not to follow Fox.
PatMac on October 19, 2009 at 9:22 AM
Where do I sign up?
Mojave Mark on October 19, 2009 at 9:22 AM
The truly sad part is that Elmo is indeed a tougher interview than some of the outlets that the filthy lying coward actually has appeared. Unless Sesame Street is brought to us by the letter O, the rat bastard traitor in the White House doesn’t care.
highhopes on October 19, 2009 at 9:23 AM
Where did the “flag@whitehouse” list go?
the_nile on October 19, 2009 at 9:23 AM
Obama is paranoid.
Could it be because he creates enemies?
He fired the chairman of GM without a GM board meeting. There are people that noticed that.
seven on October 19, 2009 at 9:25 AM
Yeah …..but….BOOOSH did it!!
It’s incredible how stupid this administration is.
Really.
B Man on October 19, 2009 at 9:25 AM
Barack, it’s just not working out.
Yes, America had a crush on you. You were the cool kid that everyone like.
But now, we’ve moved on. After spending time with you, we found out you really suck at being President.
So no hard feelings dude.
Just resign and we’ll both move on.
It’s been real.
NoDonkey on October 19, 2009 at 9:25 AM
Maybe they should ask their Secretary of State which news network is fair.
LibTired on October 19, 2009 at 9:26 AM
Some day the Republican party will decide that it’s job is to shrink govt, rather than just grow it more slowly than the Democrats want.
MarkTheGreat on October 19, 2009 at 9:26 AM
This corrupt administration does not need a scandal in the midst of trying to salvage something on the healthcare front.
That said, I can’t imagine what would be so big to make this adminstration run scared. There has been so much corruption, so many lies, so many unsavory ties with terrorists and criminals, so many unethical associations with racists and despots… What is still out there that would trump all that we’ve already seen?
highhopes on October 19, 2009 at 9:27 AM
Whitehouse Enemies List:
1. Fox News/News Corp.
2. TXUS
3.
TXUS on October 19, 2009 at 9:28 AM
Every minute that Glenn Beck is on is damaging to the WH and they know it. I suspect this has a lot to do with FNC’s centerpiece show–the Glenn Beck show–and his unyielding reach towards insider mega power players in this admin, namely Valerie Jarrett, Podesta, and all the organizations under their wings.
I suspect Jarrett–an insidious beyotch by all acounts–is after the network for exposing her hand during the 2016 Olympic bid fiasco.
RepubChica on October 19, 2009 at 9:29 AM
Fixed.
LibTired on October 19, 2009 at 9:29 AM
Enemies list eh….I am going to have to check it twice to find out who is naughty or nice.
hawkman on October 19, 2009 at 9:30 AM
You’re a mean old lady. Sign me up, too.
Daggett on October 19, 2009 at 9:30 AM
Fascists always hate it when there is some media that doesn\’t kowtow to their views.Dear Liar picks on Fox because The Whine is a fascist and wants the media to only report what He wants it to report.
rbj on October 19, 2009 at 9:30 AM
As Team Obama has his College transcripts sealed and hidden We will never know how or what he did in college.
old trooper2 on October 19, 2009 at 9:31 AM
Now THAT is scary.
Daggett on October 19, 2009 at 9:31 AM
Rove is great for analysis and am a huge fan…but where was this brillant analysis and strategy during the last year of the Bush Administration when the wheels started flying off \”compassionate conservatism\”? Or was he overruled by GWB? Curious.
bhawknine on October 19, 2009 at 9:32 AM
The Gold’s gym I go to went from MSNBC to FOX about 7 months ago. I am in the free weight area most of the time so I don’t watch TV while I am working but it is nice to see so many people tuning the Olberman/Matthews whine fest channel out.
Another liberal cut and paste idiot that is getting tuned out:
Micheal Moore’s : CAPITALISM: A LOVE STORY
Box Office receipts:$11,600,000.00
Epic Fail!!!
Baxter Greene on October 19, 2009 at 9:32 AM
liberals coming to the defense of a WH that bitches about the one MSM outlet that doesn’t have their nose up Dear One’s as$.
Priceless!
hawkdriver on October 19, 2009 at 9:32 AM
If that Gergen transcription is accurate (“for goodness sakes”), he sounds as exasperated as a wet blanket like him can get.
Funny thing is that he thinks the debate can be won by the Left. They lost “the debate” in 1980, but these things take time to play out, just like the death of the monster in a horror movie.
venividivici on October 19, 2009 at 9:33 AM
Glenn Beck is a feature show on FNC but I wouldn’t call it their centerpiece show. Personally, I think that honor goes to Special Report.
highhopes on October 19, 2009 at 9:33 AM
Wow. If the Won is this paranoid already, can he even make it to the end of his first and only term?
parteagirl on October 19, 2009 at 9:34 AM
The RNC and Fox News offices in DC better upgrade their door locks…
Caper29 on October 19, 2009 at 9:36 AM
In all honesty, GWB didn’t have much use for political strategy during his last year in office.
I’d like to see Rove take over as the head of the RNC and get serious about running the filthy liar and his corrupt party out of office. Michael Steele, much as I like him, is like sending a poodle to do a pit bull’s job.
highhopes on October 19, 2009 at 9:36 AM
And how can we, as good Americans, add to his paranoia and hysteria?
highhopes on October 19, 2009 at 9:37 AM
The buck stops over at the socialist mop which the conservatives refuse to wield.
unclesmrgol on October 19, 2009 at 9:37 AM
Obama should be awarded the Nobel prize in physics for making us all physically ill.
csdeven on October 19, 2009 at 9:38 AM
Why Rove is still using the “Chicago” style politics line is beyond me.
Hey Karl… try “Kremlin” and you’ll be right on the money!
katy on October 19, 2009 at 9:38 AM
I hope the voters of Illinois are happy about the misery they have inflicted on the US and by extension the rest of the world.
Does Obama have an international “enemies list” yet?
Crux Australis on October 19, 2009 at 9:39 AM
liberal’s b1tching about the one MSM News outlet that doesn’t have their nose up Dear One’s AS$.
Priceless!
hawkdriver on October 19, 2009 at 9:41 AM
Obama is a crybaby who is incapable of accepting his own failures. Pretty much – this is the mark of one who’s been given everything in his life and never had to produce a thing.
The bottom line is we have a bunch of titty babies in this White House who’ve done nothing but whine and complain for their entire lives. Now – through a total freak of nature – they find themselves in charge of things (for a temporary period) … but they they don’t know how to lead. They never learned to lead. In order to be a good leader – you have to first be a good follower. These creeps never were good followers.
HondaV65 on October 19, 2009 at 9:42 AM
+1
Hi, comrades!
Long live the revolution, hope and change, yes we can!
mankai on October 19, 2009 at 9:42 AM
Thug government.
obladioblada on October 19, 2009 at 9:42 AM
Just watched The Last King of Scotland this past weekend. Forest Whitaker plays Idi Amin. Amin comes to power in Uganda and enacts his very own personal agenda by not distinguishing between himself and the Nation. He becomes more and more paranoid after all of his programs fail. Obama voters strike me as Amin supporters. Ignorant and devoted to His Highest Cause. The movie is based on real events.
daesleeper on October 19, 2009 at 9:42 AM
When are they going to open the enemies list for registration?
Pelayo on October 19, 2009 at 9:43 AM
i’m with ya there…
cmsinaz on October 19, 2009 at 9:45 AM
“Undignified” is the perfect word to describe this. I went to Whitehouse.gov a few days ago and there is a headline there about “taking on the insurance companies.” How freaking horrible is that? People who run insurance companies are Americans and everything they do is legal. How in the world is that kind of rhetoric acceptable on the freaking WHITE HOUSE website? It’s one thing to political, it’s another to be blatantly populist and attempt to antagonize one segment of Americans against another. Last I checked, the White House belonged to all Americans, including those who own and work at insurance companies, no?
These people have no shame.
johnmackeygreene on October 19, 2009 at 9:45 AM
My thoughts exactly. Steele’s been completely ineffective, and his “What Up” blog somehow seems to underscore the fact that he has no idea what he needs to do.
mr.blacksheep on October 19, 2009 at 9:46 AM
The two 24 Hr Fitness locations I go to have CNN on one TV and FoxNews on the other. No prize for guessing which one I tune the frequency to.
I know others have mentioned this already, but it bears repeating. What specifically does the White House object to with FoxNews? I get that they think the network leans right(it does, but not as much as many insinuate). But what news stories or commentaries offended them?
Obviously the cynic in me thinks this is a counterattack launched after FoxNews helped drive the Van Jones, NEA, and ACORN stories, not to mention the way they’ve highlighted the negative aspects of Obamacare. But if that’s not the case, then it would be helpful if the White House elaborated on why they consider the network to be an “enemy”.
Doughboy on October 19, 2009 at 9:47 AM
I think they object to the lack of pure adoration, frankly.
ORconservative on October 19, 2009 at 9:49 AM
You can walk on my lawn.:)
katy the mean old lady on October 19, 2009 at 9:50 AM
brave soldier too timid to spell “bitching” and “ass”: ?
sesquipedalian on October 19, 2009 at 9:52 AM
The closer we get to Halloween, the creepier these clowns get.
PatriotRider on October 19, 2009 at 9:53 AM
So! Why doesn’t BIG BAD OBAMA take on Rove like he does plumbers?
Never mind answering that; I know.
Obama’s not much smarter than your average plumber.
Cybergeezer on October 19, 2009 at 9:53 AM
William Safire, who died about three weeks ago, had an On Language column in March on the Obama administration’s initial attempt to go after Limbaugh. Rove was quoted and the origin of enemies list was discussed.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/29/magazine/29wwln-safire-t.html?_r=1&pagewanted=print
FWIW: McAuliffe is one of the sleaziest pieces of sh*t under the Dem tent. I love it that in the Virginia Democratic primary he couldn’t defeat a meathead country bumpkin who can’t communicate effectively.
BuckeyeSam on October 19, 2009 at 9:54 AM
It’s amateur hour at the White House.
Our enemies may not hate us anymore, but the problem is, they are laughing at us now. And while they laugh, the American people are in fear of what congress might do. Scary times.
Hey Mr. President,
I pray that a reality check flies in and smacks you upside your head and soon.
bridgetown on October 19, 2009 at 9:55 AM
Every few days ought to be sufficient; if they do it too often, they risk legitimizing Obama’s own paranoia.
Once upon a time, one went to whitehouse.gov to see the positive things the White House claimed it was doing. Now, a trip over to whitehouse.gov is a trip into a sewer where personal attacks by the rats upon the citizenry abide.
As the above link to the Clinton White House shows, an occasional chiding of the Republicans was acceptable, but he never attacked the media. And the Bush White House link shows an even higher standard — the opponents were not referred to by name — only the dread effects of their vision.
There’s one advantage to the new politics. The White House elevates the message of those whom it personally disparages.
unclesmrgol on October 19, 2009 at 9:55 AM
There are too many waiting in line, so they hold open registration for a day every three or four months.
BuckeyeSam on October 19, 2009 at 9:57 AM
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