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RUNNING INTERFERENCE

GOP Iowa Gov. Tells Karl Rove Not to Meddle in State Races

Gov. Terry Branstad says Rove's candidate-steering plan is 'counterproductive'

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by Lisa Fine

Staff Writer t +

Image: AP

Iowa Republican Gov. Terry Branstad has come out against a new candidate-steering plan by Karl Rove and told him not to interfere in state races, the Associated Press reports.

"I basically told Karl Rove that what he was doing is counter-productive and he needs to stay out of it," said Branstad.

Rove's new group, the Conservative Victory Project, is planning to raise money and run ads in primary election campaigns to help candidates deemed appealing to general election voters. GOP party leaders are attempting to ward off unpredictable candidates like Todd Akin, who lost his Missouri Senate race after making controversial comments about rape, the AP reports.

Branstad reportedly objected when he got indications that Rove might target ultra-conservative Rep. Steve King if he tried to run for the state's open Senate seat in 2014. "If some outside group that has no connection to Iowa attacks somebody from Iowa, that is not smart," Branstad said.

Via the Associated Press
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50 Comments (view in Forum)

  • Keyjo
    !
    Karl Rove has become poison to the G.O.P. and their candidates. He is a political has been, hack.
    Best advice to any young, contemporary Republican; if Rove wants to help you with your campaign, run very fast and very far.
  • jessejaymes
    !
    You are so very wrong. Rove is the bag man for the Ultra rich segment of the GOP. He's like Meyer Lansky was for the Mob back in the day. Forget politics except for one focus. His job is to get people in office and re-elected who will funnel money, tax breaks, subsidies, contract to the ultra rich and snuff out an competition from the middle class. The Tea Party is not bought and paid for by the ultra rich. The are manipulated and steered by the ultra rich but they are not the "mob" in the GOP. Just like the Mob had black people selling drugs in Harlem for them but who were not members of the Mob, The Rove Republicans have the Tea Party selling their BS across America but they are not members of the Rove Republicans.

    In the war of the rich on the middle class, the Rove Republicans are the most dangerous people in America.
  • Sonny
    !
    Well its just like I predicted....And again, you will see more & more of the "grown-ups" of the Republican party start to stand up against people like Rove, and other groups of extremism on the right fringe....Good for Iowa!---And Good for America!
  • drpeeper
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    You realize the people wanting Rove out are Conservatives right? Rove is the one attacking the tea Party now. You know, those fringe folks who want responsible gov't and responsible spending. Those wackos !
  • Sonny
    !
    @drpeeper Those "wackos"---your word not mine...don't want any such thing. Their ONLY job is to oppose Pres. Obama...Because if what you say were true then...Why do they support an issue---but then turn around and oppose that very same issue, once Pres. Obama supports that very same issue???---And, is they were so concerned about "responsible government & responsible spending"...then where were they when GW was spending us into oblivion????

    No, I firmly believe that they are indeed a fringe element of the Republican party---and ONLY exist to oppose the first black president of the United States.
  • drpeeper
    !
    @Sonny Well, of course, that is the simpleton's view. As a man of color & tea party member, I know better.

    They came into prominence once an unpopular healthcare mandate- was hustled into law. They were the ones saying how expensive it would be to us. they were the ones saying we couldn't afford it. They were the ones who exposed the kickbacks and crony deals to get the law passed. The 2010 elections showed that. Couple that with a president who spent more in 3 years, than the previous 43 Presidents combined.

    With your logic, Occupy Wall Street is racist too, where were they in the Bush years?
    But, OWS is not seen as 'radical' even with their murders, attempted bombings of bridges, drug use, drug deaths, rapes etc.....

    Funny world we live in.
  • Sonny
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    @drpeeper I'm sorry...but you lost your chance to exchange thoughts with me on this issue, once you started calling people "simpletons"...But you, of course are still free to talk with anyone else here---I'm just no longer interested. Have a nice day.

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  • stepped_in_it
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    Though the governor is right, what exactly can he do (except get in his additional 15 minutes of fame). Governors now control their air waves in their state? Governors now control the candidates for their state/fed congress and senate. Governor.....it's follow the money (do I need to spell it out for you?)
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  • Jean
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    He has done so the last two presidential races and look where that has gotten the Republican party? he wants moderates and that propels the Conservative base to stay hojme as they did in this last Presidential race.
  • Cheenoguy
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    @drpeeper
    You misunderstand my post then. I am saying that when someone like Rove is the moderate the rest are really freaking crazy. I hope he fails because I think moderate Republicans would do better then the TP types will.
  • drpeeper
    !
    @Cheenoguy Might make sense. But, Romney won the Ind/Moderate Vote in 2012. Didn't really help. I do find it odd, between Reid,Frank,Pelosi,Boxer,Jackso n Lee, Waters,,Van Jones,Anita Hill, I'm curious who Dems think is crazy on the Dem side.
  • Cheenoguy
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    @drpeeper
    Jackson Jr is a crook. His dad is a schiester like most preachers. Anita Hill? Is it 1995? Did we accidentally get in a car with Doc and Marty?
    Sadly this country has gone so far to the right that the vast majority of Dems that get elected are slightly liberal centrists. The only major liberals in federal office are Warren and Sanders and time will tell if Warren sticks to it.
    We got crazies they just don't get through the primaries on the left. Republicans actually got a state senate candidate through the primaries who believes parents should be allowed to execute their children (ironically he is anti-abortion). Thankfully the Arkansas people at large had the good sense not to elect him but Republicans ran him. You telling me your party doesn't have a problem with bat crap crazy?

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  • DARSB
    !
    The Republican Civil War is still raging, but I'm optimistic about the health of the GOP when it's over. There's a great piece in today's NYT about the divide between the up-and-coming digirati and the aging power structure. Another ten or fifteen years...
  • AlexMIA
    !
    Anything ultra-conservative unfortionately usually means homophobes, racists, and anti-abortionists. These people are not true conservatives. They won't help! Pushy people are just as off putting on the right as they are on the left!
  • Fishbone345
    !
    Well said my friend! Lets hear it for the Small Government Conservatives, the Fiscal types. Those are the ones that will make the GOP good again.
  • Rogue
    !
    Rove is trying to set himself up as a kingmaker. He was ousted from this position during Bush's presidency. More GOP politicians should stand up against his "dirty" politics.
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