Karl Rove Asks Juan Williams: How Can an Obscure Guy Who Did Diddly Squat in the Senate Become President?
Karl Rove and Juan Williams had quite a lively debate Friday evening about politics, the economy, and who can beat Barack Obama in 2012.
With Williams acting as substitute host on "The O'Reilly Factor," guest Rove asked the question that has been plaguing conservatives for approaching three years - "How can an obscure United States senator from Illinois who had done diddly squat in the senate become the nominee of the Democratic Party and the President of the United States?" (video follows with transcript and commentary):
JUAN WILLIAMS, SUBSTITUTE HOST: The question I had for you that I want to get back to is, beat Obamawith, what?
Here is a full screen. And it's going to show you Obama matched up against Romney, against Pawlenty, against all of them, even generic Republican. Not one of them beat President Obama.
(CROSSTALK)
KARL ROVE: He is -- he is the incumbent president of the United States. And he's 45 percent against a generic Republican in one poll, against Pawlenty who nobody in America knows who was only five percent of in the Republican primary he gets to 50 percent, against Romney, again -- this is one poll where's it's 49 percent -- 43 percent. But there are other polls where it's flipped; it's 48 percent, 46 percent Romney.
And I repeat. He is the President. He ought to have a bigger lead right now than he does particularly against people who -- whose name awareness is so much less than his. I mean, who knows Tim Pawlenty outside of the State of Minnesota. Not a whole a heck of a lot of people.
WILLIAMS: It doesn't matter if none of them can beat him.
(CROSSTALK)
ROVE: Yes -- it matters if you can't get above 50 percent. He can't get above 50 percent against -- he can't get above 50 percent against people whom nobody knows.
WILLIAMS: Ok.
(CROSSTALK)
ROVE: That's a -- that -- just trust me, Juan. If I was sitting here and saying a Republican president was getting 50 percent against no named Democrats, I would say -- I would be worried if I was sitting there in the West Wing.
WILLIAMS: Ok and let me just say to you I would be worried if I was setting on the Republican side and I said as you seem to be indicating oh, well look at Mitt Romney he is the closest of any of these Republicans, he can beat President Obama. Look at Mitt Romney.
(CROSSTALK)
ROVE: No I'm just saying --
WILLIAMS: Hang on --
ROVE: Hey, hey. You are just -- Juan, with all due respect, you're distorting what I said.
WILLIAMS: Right.
ROVE: I was pointing out that in a public poll Mitt Romney is beating --
(CROSSTALK)
WILLIAMS: I don't know what kind of poll that is.
ROVE: And you -- and you -- well, it's -- I hate to say it.
WILLIAMS: It's sure isn't "Wall Street Journal" and NBC.
ROVE: It's "The Washington Post"/ABC.
WILLIAMS: Yes that was -- and that was a while back. But anyway --
ROVE: No, no it's like two weeks ago, Juan. Please, keep your facts straight.
(CROSSTALK)
WILLIAMS: No that's two weeks ago it's a while back because NBC/Wall Street Journal poll is good.
ROVE: That's 10 days ago. Juan, what's the difference between 10 days and two weeks.
For the record, the ABC News/Washington Post poll which found Romney with a three point lead over Obama was published June 7. The NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll finding Obama with a six point lead over Romney came out June 16.
But who's counting?
WILLIAMS: All right, but let just say, here is what would worry me if I was Karl Rove -- are you backing Romney by the way.
ROVE: No, I'm not. I'm not backing anybody. But here -- here is my point.
WILLIAMS: Ok.
ROVE: It's early in the Republican primary process. We don't know who the nominee is going to be.
WILLIAMS: Ok.
ROVE: And I don't -- and I don't -- but the price is --
(CROSSTALK)
WILLIAMS: It's early -- it's early for President Obama and he has the pulpit. The economy could get better.
ROVE: It could.
WILLIAMS: The economy could get better, gas prices have been going down.
ROVE: You tell me, hey, 10 cents a gallon.
WILLIAMS: 21 cents in the last two weeks.
(CROSSTALK)
ROVE: The price of gasoline is still twice what it was when he came in office. And Juan, are you going to sit there with a straight face and tell me --
(CROSSTALK)
WILLIAMS: Yes.
ROVE: -- that you think the economy next year is going to be going and blowing and we're going to have millions of people with jobs? Because, if you are, you are the only person in America who thinks that.
(CROSSTALK)
WILLIAMS: No.
ROVE: The Federal Reserve this week dropped its forecast for growth and jobs next year.
WILLIAMS: Correct.
ROVE: This week the -- the -- the blue chip forecast dropped its estimates for growth this year. You know what the administration is thinking? That we're going to have growth next year of 4.5 percent. And the Federal Reserve is saying we're going to have three percent or less.
(CROSSTALK)
WILLIAMS: And here's what -- let me tell you.
(CROSSTALK)
ROVE: So if you think the economy is going to be -- all right, let's have a bet right now, Juan, who is going to be -- who's going to be -- you take the administration's estimate for economic growth and I will take Federal Reserve's.
WILLIAMS: In fact, when you ask Americans is the economy getting better they're saying no, no. But then, you ask them about their personal finances and they are much more optimistic --
(CROSSTALK)
ROVE: 48 percent of Americans -- 48 percent of Americans think that the economy is going to be in a great depression next year.
WILLIAMS: No filibuster Dr. Rove, just hang on let me just --
ROVE: No, I'm just -- I'm just setting the record straight I know it's painful for you.
WILLIAMS: No it's not for me, it's not -- I'm just saying don't get overly optimistic.
ROVE: I'm not.
WILLIAMS: Because what you're doing is saying oh, you know, this guy can't win and he may surprise you.
ROVE: Juan, I'm saying he is likely -- I wish you would read my columns. I said he is likely to lose.
(CROSSTALK)
WILLIAMS: Yes that's what you're saying.
ROVE: And I didn't say he will lose. I said he is likely to lose. In fact, let me read you. Let me read you --
(CROSSTALK)
WILLIAMS: Wait, wait. We only have 30 seconds, Karl -- Karl --
(CROSSTALK)
ROVE": "Objective circumstances like an anemic economy and bad decisions not only matter they become very nearly (INAUDIBLE)."
WILLIAMS: Karl.
ROVE: "Mr. Obama is now at the mercy of policies and events he set in motion. He can't --
WILLIAMS: All right. But Karl --
ROVE: He is not done yet but it will be tough to recover.
(CROSSTALK)
WILLIAMS: But Karl, how do you recover if you are Mitt Romney and you have health care. How do you recover if you're Tim Pawlenty and nobody knows you? How do you recover if you are Michele Bachmann and everybody thinks you extremist?
(CROSSTALK)
ROVE: Look, there is a presidential primary campaign and the cream tends to rise to the top.
How can an obscure United States senator from Illinois who had done diddly squat in the senate become the nominee of the Democratic Party and the President of the United States by running a good campaign in the primary? By running a good campaign in the primary.
WILLIAMS: Karl doesn't want me to talk. You know why he doesn't want me to talk? I love him, I respect him and I don't want you disappointed but I'm afraid you may be setting yourself up.
Thanks so much for joining us.
Well, I think it was more than just running a good campaign.
Obama had more assistance from the media than likely any presidential candidate in the modern era.
But who's counting?
- Noel Sheppard's blog
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Comments
"How can an
Submitted by UpNorth on Sat, 06/25/2011 - 4:47pm.
obscure United States Senator from Illinois" end up ruining the economy and the country? Easy, when no one properly vets him, because they're all on planes flying off to Anchorage to dig through the dumpsters to find something on Palin.
Not to mention, flipping off Hillary in a debate, and the liberals hee-hee'd it, but let him get away with it, because he's "black". And, they let him get away with the asinine statement that he got his "job experience" from running his campaign.
There's so much low-hanging fruit out there, Juan, that it would take days to point it all out. But, you choose to ignore the truth. See, I didn't even mention Rev. Wright, Bill Ayers, or his lack of a public record.
Two words
Submitted by DontFeedTheTrolls on Sat, 06/25/2011 - 5:01pm.
White Guilt.
If your kids are white, hug them and tell them they are not responsible for the sins of our ancestors.
I had to turn this off
Submitted by Blonde on Sat, 06/25/2011 - 5:08pm.
Juan was so obnoxious and so into his full-tilt boogie BOR imitation...there is nothing worse than an idiot blatherer (BOR included)....but when the blatherer in question is spouting liberal talking points, screaming over his guest.....totally unwatchable.
I gave a half a second thought to writing to the BOR show, but on reflection, it's not worth my time. If I happen to be flipping through the channels and nothing else is on, I might watch. But never again w/Juan as host. Or a guest. He's a lost cause, an an idiot to boot.
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)
Don Juan.
Submitted by Newsbubba on Sat, 06/25/2011 - 5:21pm.
Fox News answer to Special Ed, Prissy, Maddow, Larry, etc, etc, barf, etc.
It was actually more entertaining watching my favorite Homo-American, Ronnie Reagan, Junior host the Prissy Chrissy Show this week!
Nailed it.
Submitted by Blonde on Sat, 06/25/2011 - 5:55pm.
Spot on.
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)
I turned it off the minute I
Submitted by ricklail on Sat, 06/25/2011 - 6:08pm.
I turned it off the minute I saw he was hosting and went back to watching Burn Notice. I had DVRed it. Watched a little of the VA-SC game. Went to sleep with the game on the radio only to be woken up when the announcer went wild on the error that won it in the 13th. I'd much rather see Laura Ingrahm hosting. She is a lot prettier and a damn sight smarter than Juan.
Disappointed with Burn Notice
Submitted by Blonde on Sat, 06/25/2011 - 6:28pm.
They better pick it up...the season opener didn't live up to the rest of the series.
Unfortunately, I think the story is played out. And the non-Miami locations don't do it for me, either. Oh well.
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)
It was lacking something. It
Submitted by ricklail on Sat, 06/25/2011 - 6:52pm.
It was lacking something. It was better than anything else that is on. Ive got to where I listen to the radio more. I've got to have my Cam and Company at 9. That is mainly why I DVR many shows.
Agreed,
Submitted by UpNorth on Sun, 06/26/2011 - 1:29pm.
there was just something that seemed lacking in the opener. It may be that it's running out of story lines, don't know, but this episode really wasn't worth the wait.
Answer to the question
Submitted by jon_torlin on Sat, 06/25/2011 - 5:41pm.
Here's a simple answer to the question. The Lame Stream Media(with a little boost from Soros)
Before this "obscure guy" came around, I never even HEARD of Soros. I don't keep up with the Billionaires.
That's how.
-Jon
Waaay too early
Submitted by MidAmerica on Sat, 06/25/2011 - 5:42pm.
Ronald Reagan was not going to beat Jimmie Carter at this point either. And another thing, voters do not like uncertainty. The Republican candidates are pretty much unknowns at this point. But at the end of the campaign next year that will all be erased. The race may not be decided until the last week if the economy still is shaky. What happens is that voters who would probably vote for obama will decide we have to try something different. That's what happened in 1980 for Reagan and those voters were tagged as Reagan democrats.
i will never forget the night
Submitted by ricklail on Sat, 06/25/2011 - 6:16pm.
i will never forget the night that Jimma made the comment about asking Amy about nuclear weapons during the debate. We were working at Oconee Nuclear Plant and eating supper at a Hardee's in Clemson, SC. The guy I was rooming and I spewed Coke all over each other when he said that. Lidge told me that Jimma was through over that comment. There is hope for a Obama having a Jimma moment. I am not too sure we are going to make it to a debate in 2012.
We've had 2.5 years of O
Submitted by jkwtrading on Sat, 06/25/2011 - 6:40pm.
We've had 2.5 years of O bummer doing Jimma moments... the R's could run them successively and not have enough time.
Rick....
Submitted by Blonde on Sat, 06/25/2011 - 7:00pm.
"Twas "Nukweeuh Weaponwy".....in the same vein of the "Killah wabbits".
This current administration is about as mature as that one.
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)
Government education
Submitted by Dave. on Sat, 06/25/2011 - 6:15pm.
That's how.
And it might just happen again for the exact same reason.
May God help us if it does.
-Dave
Vote for the American in November
The state of NC just added 5
Submitted by ricklail on Sat, 06/25/2011 - 6:19pm.
The state of NC just added 5 more days to the school year. I told my wife those days would be for putting the cream on the crap. Five more days or 25 more hours to dumb down.
ricklail.....Have you heard of the new Maryland law that
Submitted by Rush Fan on Sat, 06/25/2011 - 7:30pm.
requires students to pass an "Environmental Literacy" or "Green" test before they can graduate? The left's indoctrination agenda is proceeding on schedule.
RF, They're hoping the brainwashed little sheep will keep their
Submitted by Dave. on Sat, 06/25/2011 - 8:08pm.
...parents from shooting the (probably armed) blue-helmeted Agenda 21ers when they come knocking with the smart meter and the rest of the utility monitoring/shutoff equipment.
Assuming their parents still have their guns, I mean.
-Dave
Vote for the American in November
rick,
Submitted by Dave. on Sat, 06/25/2011 - 8:22pm.
Yep, five more days to get their claws into them even deeper.
-Dave
Vote for the American in November
Typical of Liberals everywhere. Whether you are Juan Williams
Submitted by Rush Fan on Sat, 06/25/2011 - 6:26pm.
badgering and interrupting Karl Rove on Fox, or Piers Morgan harassing and interrupting Ann Coulter on CNN, or Chris Matthews badgering and interrupting Michelle Malkin or [insert name of Republican or right-leaning person], a basic technique of the left is to suppress speech they don't like.
“It takes two to speak truth, one to speak and another to hear.” ~ Henry David Thoreau
By the way, Michelle Malkin was on CSPAN the day after her dustup with Chris Matthews, and discussed it HERE.
Bumper sticker of the year?
Submitted by motherbelt on Sat, 06/25/2011 - 7:25pm.
Can't find the link again...
If you voted for Obama in '08 to prove you're not a racist, you have to vote for someone else in '12 to prove you're not an idiot.
Obvious
Submitted by locomotivebreath1901 on Sat, 06/25/2011 - 7:57pm.
"How Can an Obscure Guy Who Did Diddly Squat in the Senate Become President?"
$700,000,000.00 in campaign contributions.
And a whole army of propagandists - otherwise known as the main stream media.
Blah blah blah blah blah
Submitted by GregE on Sat, 06/25/2011 - 8:03pm.
blah blah blah blah blah. What month and year is it? June 2011. When is the election? blah blah blah blah blah
Karl misspoke
Submitted by alvin on Sat, 06/25/2011 - 8:53pm.
He meant to say "diddly squat in the House", not "diddly squat in the Senate". I'm sure he was referring to that other Illinois president - Abraham Lincoln - who did diddly squat in the House - served one term.
Karl rove might as well have
Submitted by Thoreau on Sat, 06/25/2011 - 9:53pm.
Karl rove might as well have been dancing around with a dildo up his ass last election cycle. He couldn't get anything right. He still doesn't grasp the fact that the Tea Party has his monkeys by the balls. Maybe a moment of clarity will descend on him next election cycle, but I ain't holding my breath.
As much as I'm not a fan of Rove
Submitted by Radical1979 on Sat, 06/25/2011 - 9:58pm.
you're post is over the top crude.
I agree
Submitted by Rukus on Sun, 06/26/2011 - 9:23pm.
Come on, clean it up Thoreau, we aren't Kos here. Thanks.
I remember watching Karl Rove
Submitted by Hoosier Conservative on Sat, 06/25/2011 - 10:42pm.
the night of the election in 2008 when they announced Obama the winner, Karl compared Barack and Michelle to the Cosby Show. Then he got right to work destroying Christene O'Donnell in 2010. Sorry Karl, but you want a reason why, look in the mirror.
Rove
Submitted by jessieH on Sat, 06/25/2011 - 11:15pm.
That's a simple question. George Soros "bought" our media.
From Obscurity to the Oval Office
Submitted by Galvanic on Sun, 06/26/2011 - 12:40am.
ROVE: " How can an obscure United States senator from Illinois who had done diddly squat in the senate become the nominee of the Democratic Party and the President of the United States . . . ?"
Change Illinois to Massachusetts and you've got John F. Kennedy.
Only the rich guy changes...
Submitted by Tom1969ca on Sun, 06/26/2011 - 1:25am.
1960: Jospeph P. Kennedy
2008: George Soros
At least Ambassador Kennedy was an American...
Karl; Rove Is In Need Of A Tin Foil Hat Seminar
Submitted by Avitar on Sun, 06/26/2011 - 1:40am.
Guys in the tin foil hats with the propellers on top are still about two jumps off the line ahead of old Karl. Thoreau is incredibly crude but at least he does not need to buy a clue.
Rove needs a clue how repulsive the American people find voting for Bob Dole, John McCain, Mitt Romney, Richard Nixon or George H. W. Bush and watching the country sink ever lower. "Voodoo economics"" should have been a carreet ender but professional political operatives like Karl got him the VP slot. Each of these men are all character flaws more than George W. Bush who is a mix. They may do a sales job but the Democrats keep winning because same store sales for Mr. Rove' brand keep dropping. You know what you are getting with the Democrats and most of us don't want it. That does not mean that we will buy toys with lead paint for children.
We know that villains out a James Bond movie like George Soros are behind the Democrats. Take that as a given, and go out a find a 007 who will knife the currency speculator who is wrecking American Industry and robbing 80% of the value of every dollar we put away for retirement.
Karl Rove may like selling crap but we the people are not that short on brains. We know that the average American family today is living on half of the average family income in the 1920's. There is nothing he can do or say that will change the results of 75 years of decline. We know it and we just want to know what the Republicans propose to do about returning to increases, if anything. If nothing then get out of politics.
Rove is purely an arithmetic strategist
Submitted by Galvanic on Sun, 06/26/2011 - 2:31pm.
He built his reputation as a 'brilliant' GOP strategist by looking at what numbers it would take to win office at national and state levels, and convince the party where to direct its $$$ and where to save its efforts. He also relies heavily on polling and focus groups. This is why one sees him on television explaining the pure math of winning and losing. And his success has made him a target of the Left on par with Cheney.
But he isn't clever enough to truly grasp 'disruption in the Force' that is the Tea Parties. He expects them to either fall into line with the GOP elite, or go away.
And this is why he has become as increasingly irrelevant as the likes of Bob Bechel and Susan Estrich on the Dem side.
Irony, thy name is Juan Williams...
Submitted by Tom1969ca on Sun, 06/26/2011 - 1:33am.
WILLIAMS: Karl doesn't want me to talk.
Really? Is that the reason why the word "CROSSTALK" appears 17 times in the transcript of a four-and-a-half minute intereview? (For those who took math in an American public school, that's one interuption every 15.9 seconds!)
I should also point out that Williams is a nominee for this week's "Unintentional Honesty Award":
ROVE: Hey, hey. You are just -- Juan, with all due respect, you're distorting what I said.
WILLIAMS: Right.
At least he admits it ... :)
The outcome of the presidential election will let us know
Submitted by gmaniac1 on Sun, 06/26/2011 - 4:51am.
the future of the voting public. This is the reason a worthless nobody like Obama becomes president of the most prosperous country ever. The ill informed dictate a lot of what's going in this county unfortunately!
A Twain (allegedly) said:
Submitted by Tom1969ca on Sun, 06/26/2011 - 7:38am.
As Mark Twain (allegedly) said:
If you don't read the newspaper, then you're uninformed. If you do read the newspaper, then you're misinformed!
It raises an intereesting question: which is more dangerous - an uninformed electorate, or a misinformed electorate?
which is more dangerous?
Submitted by jon_torlin on Sun, 06/26/2011 - 8:55am.
You raise the question, which is more dangerous, uninformed or misinformed?
The answer is misinformed because by that time, the those that are misinformed are acting on false information thus causing problems. Kinda like the global warming crowd. With the uninformed, there's a 50-50 chance of them not doing anything, whereas the misinformed, there's a 75-90% chance of them doing the wrong thing.
I'll take the uninformed any day under those circumstances.
-Jon
Oh it's definitely a double edge sword which
Submitted by gmaniac1 on Sun, 06/26/2011 - 9:09am.
I assume Twain was referencing in that question. I think Sean Hannity put it best one time to a liberal caller who never watched FNC bu was critical of it.
He informed the caller that though he disagrees with some newspapers he reads them every day. Hence it is responsibility of the reader to dissect the truth from what it is out there. So I'd rather catch someone trying to misinform me than to not know whatsoever.
The voting public seems to fast track the dissemination of facts of these politicians like our president instead of listening/reading as many outlets as they can.
Good Video
Submitted by CT on Sun, 06/26/2011 - 12:03pm.
That was fun to watch.