Karl Rove snubs Congress but gabs with TV critics

He may be snubbing Congress, dismissing a congressional subpoena as just another scrap of paper caught in the war between the White House and a House committee over executive privilege.

But former White House aide Karl Rove, now a Fox News analyst, wasn't too proud to be a prop for Fox News in a Q-and-A session the network laid on Monday at the Television Critics Assn.'s summer press tour in Beverly Hills. On a panel that also included Fox analyst Howard Wolfson, a former acolyte of Hillary Clinton, Rove opined aplenty. Among other things, he:

-- Warned conservatives to stop insinuating that Democrat Barack Obama is a Muslim when he is in fact a Christian. "I don't think it's particularly healthy for the right blogosphere to harp on this," he said. "The voters who are up for grabs in this election...are going to respond badly to it."

-- Defended his argument that George W. Bush's election signaled a shift to a dominant Republican majority in Congress, even though Democrats are now running the place. "It's going to take some period of time for one party to gain advantage over the other," he said noting that absent a huge event such as the Depression, "It's going to be what they call a rolling realignment."

-- Deflected questions about the Bush administration's incompetence. Asked about his views of the appointment of Bush contributor Michael Brown as head of FEMA, Rove said, "You'll have to wait for my book, unfortunately, which will be available in the fall of 2009 for $29.95."

-- Dismissed critics. Asked if he watches animated shows on FOX that regularly bash him, Rove said, "A lot of people beat up on me. ... My attitude is, you know, I know who I am. I'm not the myth that I've been developed into and there's nothing I can do -- I'm like Grendel and Beowulf."

Read more on the interview at the L.A.Times' Show Tracker.

-- Johanna Neuman

Photo: Karen Bleier / AFP/Getty Images

Comments

[Bob]

We do have the RIGHT to revolt. Certainly Rove is Revolting, isn't he?

We need to organize our revolt.
Of course the courts try to tell us what the Founders mean by revolt. It is simple...revolt!

[Worrywart]

The real question goes to Senator Dianne Feinstein, a senior member of the Senate Judicial Committee.

Why are these individuals who ignore the Judicial Committee's subpeonas not in jail? Why are their assets not frozen, and confiscated, like other criiminals who run?

Because the Judicial Committee believes there are 2 sets of laws in the United States. One for citizens, and the ones for public servants only consist of being faithful to marriage vows or in matters involving party politics.

Heck with the constitution or "justice for all".

[Nicolas Berube]

Memo to Ms Neuman : Karl Rove is not "snubbing" congress. He is breaking the law. Please tell things for what they are.

NIcolas Berube
Venice, Ca