Karl Rove, speaking to a meeting of Republican insiders, describes Barack Obama's character:
"Even if you never met him, you know this guy...he's the guy at the country club with the beautiful
date, holding a martini and a cigarette that stands against the wall
and makes snide comments about everyone who passes by."
It's an odd and somewhat confusing characterisation, given the historical associations that country clubs have with racist admission policies. Something about it doesn't quite work. Sounds like it would have fitted John Kerry much better. In fact - that's it! - Karl Rove wishes his candidate were up against John Kerry again so fervently that he has persuaded himself it is so. Here he is comparing Obama to Kerry in the wake of Obama's 'bitter/cling' gaffe:
But was John -- was John Kerry liberal? Yes. Was he an elitist? You bet
you. Is Barack Obama a liberal? Yes, he is. Is he an elitist? I think
we're beginning to see that he is.
Ah, things were so much simpler then.
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