Political Animal
Blog
The Republican attack operation, Crossroads GPS, led in part by Karl Rove, has had a difficult time over the last month or so.
A few weeks ago, for example, a Montana station pulled a Crossroads ad that misled the public. Rove’s outfit was also caught blatantly lying about former President Bill Clinton, then got caught pushing obviously bogus claims in Massachusetts, then got caught making even more demonstrably false claims about former Gov. Tim Kaine (D), running in a competitive U.S. Senate race in Virginia.
But the new Crossroads lie is easily the funniest. Greg Sargent has a report today on a Crossroads attack ad targeting Elizabeth Warren that’s almost hard to believe.
A few weeks ago, the Rove-founded Crossroads GPS spent six figures on an ad that was all about Occupy Wall Street, falsely insinuating that Warren supports protesters’ violence and slamming the protests for advocating “radical redistribution of wealth.”
Today, with Warren edging into a lead over Scott Brown, Crossroads GPS is out with a new spot that doesn’t mention Occupy Wall Street at all, and actually tars Warren as too cozy with the big banks at the expense of the middle class.
I wish this were a joke. In early November, Rove’s attack operation wanted voters to believe Warren was in league with radical, violent leftists. In early December, Rove’s attack operation now wants voters to believe Warren was in league with Wall Street, handing out TARP checks to fat-cat bankers.
There are a few lessons to take from this. First, given the recent track record, I don’t think it’s the least bit unreasonable to start characterizing Crossroads GPS as less of an “advocacy organization” and more a group of professional liars. Objectively, that’s what they do.
Second, Rove and his cohorts really do believe voters are idiots.
Third, Warren clearly scares the hell out of Rove and his financiers, enough that they’re already prepared to throw the kitchen sink at her, even if it leads to incoherent, obviously-ridiculous smears.
And finally, if this ad is a sign of things to come, and 2012 comes down to which side of the political divide is too close to the Wall Street elite, Republicans are in for a very long, unsuccessful year.
Facebook
Twitter
martin on December 08, 2011 4:43 PM:
I don’t think it’s the least bit unreasonable to start characterizing Crossroads GPS as less of an “advocacy organization” and more a group of professional liars.
Which, sadly enough, is completely legal and exactly what their funders expect.
estamm on December 08, 2011 4:48 PM:
Warren for president, 2016.
Yellow Dog on December 08, 2011 4:57 PM:
The question is not "which side of the political divide is too close to the Wall Street elite"
The question is "which side of the political divide can Rove convince low-information voters is too close to the Wall Street elite."
And the answer is obvious.
Warren supporters better get an ad up right now this instant ripping Brown a new one for the bribes he takes from Wall Street. If they don't, he's going to win.
schtick on December 08, 2011 4:58 PM:
The tealiban has been a professional group of liars for years. That statement won't make a ripple anyway. It's a known fact.
Now calling it an advocacy group would probably make a stir with the people that don't watch Faux and don't listen to Rush.
crapcha....testican railroad....what a railroad!
exlibra on December 08, 2011 5:17 PM:
In England, they used to hang and bury (unhallowed ground) criminals, at the crossroads. Here, the criminals at the Crossroads are trying to bury us under a pile of BS (also unhallowed)
Jon on December 08, 2011 5:30 PM:
"Rove and his cohorts really do believe voters are idiots."
And they've been very successful acting on that belief.
jjm on December 08, 2011 5:39 PM:
Monumental ineptitude -- can't even make their lies even semi-credible any more.
worcestergirl on December 08, 2011 5:41 PM:
I live in the Boston media area, and so far, Warren has been running really good ads fairly frequently.
I know Crossroads bought airtime, but the few times I saw those ads, they were blatently silly. But I don't watch Fox, so maybe that's where they are running.
If that is the case, then Crossroads is preaching to their choir of idiots.
DonBoy on December 08, 2011 5:50 PM:
But that's classic/essential Rove: him them where they're strong, and try to destroy that.
kevo on December 08, 2011 7:09 PM:
Ol'Turdblossom Rove is the Honorary President of our National Liars' Club!
Wherever Karl Rove goes, his lies are always present! Americans need to beware, this man whores for untruths! -Kevo
Bob M on December 08, 2011 11:09 PM:
Rove's proof: Elizabeth Warren is obviously in league with Wall St because she didn't even bother to serve as the head of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Ought to get few votes.
Netizenforabetterday on December 09, 2011 12:02 PM:
This is classic R attack doctrine of attack your opponent's strength early & often. If your candidate is a draft dodging some national guardsman vs a decorated combat veteran. Attack the strength. No surprise just sad.
jerry on December 13, 2011 2:36 PM:
Karl is really a pesky little Turd. People like him must really be very miserable inside.And now Newt is running on being the "restoring family values" candidate. Epitomy of hipocrisy.... But the lemmings will always follow