Karl Rove is a moderate "who never cared about conservatism and has spent his entire career opposing any Republican who might be successful in promoting or implementing a conservative agenda," Media Research Center president and conservative activist Brent Bozell writes in
Politico.
In a biting opinion piece, Bozell accuses Rove and his fellow moderates of helping defeat Republican presidential nominee Barry Goldwater in 1964, of trying to keep Ronald Reagan out of the White House in 1976, and of making things difficult for him again in 1980.
"They said Reagan would be a disaster for the party and even the country," according to Bozell.
Rove's tradition of fighting true conservatives has transferred to tea party candidates, who Rove "kneecapped" in 2010, Bozell writes.
"He called Rick Perry's policy prescriptions, many which have had great success in Texas, 'toxic,'" he writes. "Rove said Sarah Palin lacked 'gravitas.' He has said Rand Paul 'causes GOP squeamishness.'"
Offering a historical perspective, Bozell notes that Rove and his supporters "have opposed every significant conservative leader who has ever dared to challenge liberal or moderate Republican orthodoxy. A history lesson: Moderates wanted Gerald Ford and then George H.W. Bush over Ronald Reagan in 1976 and 1980. Similarly, Karl Rove and his friends wanted Arlen Specter over Pat Toomey in 2010. They wanted Charlie Crist over Marco Rubio in 2010. They wanted David Dewhurst over Ted Cruz in 2012."
Rove came under fire early last year after creating the Conservative Victory Project, intended to help "rebuild the Republican Party and win control of the Senate,"
The New York Times reported at the time.
"Their pledge to take sides in primary races in an effort to pick candidates they see as more electable has set off a fierce backlash from conservative activists," the Times reported.
Almost immediately, a line was drawn between Rove and the GOP establishment and the tea party faction. Conservatives would be foolish to heed any advice offered by Rove, Bozell writes.
"The last thing the GOP needs right now and in the future is for the anti-conservative professional political class to continue infecting its ranks, and the last thing we need, as conservatives, is having these same moderates infiltrating ours," Bozell writes. "As a party, we must work together as a coalition to win elections. This has never been in dispute.
"But that coalition can no longer be comprised of conservatives always being told to stand down in promoting their agenda, while moderates like Rove continue to lose elections in spectacular fashion," he adds.
"Conservatives have had enough. Our days of playing second fiddle to moderates are over. We should always be open to good and helpful advice — but with the hindsight and history of knowing that none of it will ever come from Karl Rove."
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