We all know that, a week or so ago, Karl Rove speculated on Hillary Clinton\’s health by pointing out that she spent time in the hospital for a concussion, and came out wearing the kind of glasses typically used by people who have had brain trauma. His exact words:
“Thirtydays in the hospital? And when she reappears, she\’s wearing glassesthat are only for people who have traumatic brain injury? We need toknow what\’s up with that.”
Since then, Rove has been attacked, nonstop, for this comment by Democrats, the leftward blogosphere, “women\’s groups” and much of mainstream media.
This being the case, I thought you might be interested in how Mr. Rove has responded to these attacks. Here, excerpted from Todd Beamon\’s article at newsmax.com, is what he had to say on Hugh Hewitt\’s Friday radio show:
“The Clintons are now saying how dare you bring uphealth and age, and they were doing it with abandon in 1996,”Rove told conservative radio talk show host HughHewitt,according to a transcript of Friday\’s program.
In his Hewitt interview, Rove noted that duringPresident Bill Clinton\’s re-election campaign in 1996, the Democratsran television ads featuring the GOP presidential candidate, KansasSen. Bob Dole, 73, “looking about as old as he possibly couldlook.”Dole was pictured with then-House Speaker NewtGingrich, Rove added. Then an announcer in the spot says: “Theirold ways don\’t work. President Clinton\’s plan – the newway.”
In another case, White House counsel Jack Quinn”pointedly described a Dole speech that year as \’tired, old,worn-out rhetoric,\'” Rove said.
He also highlighted areport in TheNew York Timesin which the deputy campaign manager of the Clinton campaign, AnnLewis, “implies feebleness when she ridicules remarks by [Dole]as disconnected and dysfunctional.”
The Times reportdescribed such Democratic inferences as “the old-guy bashing”of Dole during the campaign.
Interesting rejoinder.
Please not that Rove does not specifically address the attacks being made on him: i.e. that he suggested Hillary Clinton might have had a brain injury (not “brain damage”, though the way he said it might put that in some people\’s minds – intentional on Rove\’s part, I\’m sure). Instead, he responds by pointing out that the Clintons attacked Dole by implying – though not specifically stating – that his age made him doddering and debilitated.
But, in fairness to Rove, the premise is the same: a candidate, whether due to injury or age, may not be operating at 100%, thus should not be in the oval office.
Bottom line: Rove has a right to accuse the Clinton\’s of hypocrisy for complaining about his comment, given that they went after Dole that way. But, when it comes to these kinds of attacks, Rove lives in a glass house.
Politics is a dirty business. There are very few clean hands in it….and, believe me, neither Rove\’s nor the Clintons are among them.
In any event, I hope you have a strong stomach. Because there is sure to be more of the same.
