# Karl Rove Says McCain Attack Ads Go Too Far

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/karl-rove-says-mccain-attack-ads-go-too-far/463593>\
**Category:** Great Debates\
**Created:** [September 14, 2008, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/karl-rove-says-mccain-attack-ads-go-too-far/463593 "2008-09-14T20:09:15Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\
**Post date:** [September 15, 2008, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/karl-rove-says-mccain-attack-ads-go-too-far/463593/21 "2008-09-15T01:57:40Z")

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Could be Rove’s just having a Legacy Moment, aware that he has little time left to mitigate what his obituary will say.

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**Author:** ![Mosier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ea924/32.png) [@Mosier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mosier)\
**Post date:** [September 15, 2008, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/karl-rove-says-mccain-attack-ads-go-too-far/463593/22 "2008-09-15T02:09:46Z")

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> [@Squink](#):
>
> I expect that Karl is just tossing out a few soundbytes of dissatisfaction so that when POWboy goes down in flames _again_, Mr. Rove can point to his own wise council and say “if only John had listened to me…” This will help Rove achieve more $$$ in the 2012 election cycle.

Karl Rove absolutely does not intend to lose this election. Whatever logic you used to come to this conclusion is wrong.

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**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\
**Post date:** [September 15, 2008, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/karl-rove-says-mccain-attack-ads-go-too-far/463593/23 "2008-09-15T02:26:27Z")

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> [@ElvisL1ves](#):
>
> Do you think MSNBC would do the same favor for Obama that Fox did for McCain?

Well, the OP’s link is to CNN, so they’re apparently reporting it. And I’d be pretty surprised if the quote wasn’t mentioned on _Countdown_ and some other of the MSNBC analysis shows over the next few days.

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**Author:** ![Menocchio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de053/32.png) [@Menocchio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Menocchio)\
**Post date:** [September 15, 2008, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/karl-rove-says-mccain-attack-ads-go-too-far/463593/24 "2008-09-15T02:29:30Z")

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> [@Simplicio](#):
>
> Well, the OP’s link is to CNN, so they’re apparently reporting it. And I’d be pretty surprised if the quote wasn’t mentioned on _Countdown_ and some other of the MSNBC analysis shows over the next few days.

Plus you know that Obama will use it in his ads and stump speeches.

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**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\
**Post date:** [September 15, 2008, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/karl-rove-says-mccain-attack-ads-go-too-far/463593/25 "2008-09-15T02:30:00Z")

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> [@Menocchio](#):
>
> Here’s what I said about it on another thread here.

I think you’re spot on. Rove was trying to soften the sleaze of the McCain ads by _tu quoquing_ Obama and all that got quoted was his tepid concession that “McCain might have gone a step too far.” Rove got Roved.

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