Karl Rove Quotes
Karl Rove denied that there was any political attempt to use the war in the campaign and President Bush made a similar statement. Bush may or may not have known the truth but Rove was lying baldly. Politicizing the war was the basis of his entire campaign strategy and he had presented it earlier to the Republican National Committee. See {35759}. However, the public who may or may not have believed McAulliffe's accusation in the face of Rove's denial, voted to re-elect the President. However, there was another dirty trick that the Republicans used very successfully–the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth. So it is hard to tell which was more effective, but the Democrats were totally outclassed in this election. Ironically, Bush's popularity sunk to record lows in this second term with even many in his own party turning on him. The issue that made people most unhappy with Bush was the essence of Rove's original strategy�the ability to handle the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq properly.
Rove had bridged the traditional gap between the right wing Religious fundamentalists and large business, industrial, heavy donors to the party. These groups usually diverged on economic policy and cultural values however Rove had convinced both that they should tolerate the other for the sake of maintaining power for President George W. Bush who delivered enough to each to hold them in coalition. Rove’s style tended to moralize everything for the religious right including their cooperation with major exploiters of economic self-interest. Rove’s religious tactics which were so successful was a subject of great interest and analysis, especially since Rove himself was an agnostic.
