Karl Rove Slams Journalists During Commencement Address

July 29th, 2006 9:17 PM

So, let’s assume that you’re giving the commencement address to political management graduates of a major university. Would you use this as an opportunity to bash journalists? If you were White House advisor Karl Rove, the answer would definitely be “Yes!”

As reported by the Associated Press Saturday:

"Some decry the professional role of politics, they would like to see it disappear," Rove told graduating students at the George Washington University Graduate School of Political Management. "Some argue political professionals are ruining American politics _ trapping candidates in daily competition for the news cycle instead of long-term strategic thinking in the best interest of the country."

"It's odd to me that most of these critics are journalists and columnists," he said. "Perhaps they don't like sharing the field of play. Perhaps they want to draw attention away from the corrosive role their coverage has played focusing attention on process and not substance."

Rove then seemed to be taking a whack at the liberal media modus operandi:

"There are some in politics who hold that voters are dumb, ill informed and easily misled. that voters can be manipulated by a clever ad or a smart mind," said Rove, who is credited with President Bush's wins in the 2000 and 2004 election. "I've seen this cynicism over the years from political professionals and journalists. American people are not policy wonks, but they have great instincts and try to do the right thing."

Rove said it is "wrong to underestimate the intelligence of the American voter, but easy to overestimate their interest. Much tugs at their attention."

To be sure, many conservatives believe that this has been the failed strategy of the left in recent elections. Are there any indications that things will be different in this election cycle?