Karl Rove is not a nice man.
Even his friends admit he's as cuddly as a scorpion.
So why do Republicans in Washington state care what he has to say about the future of their party? That future is going to include years of living down the legacy of Karl Rove.
Some people describe Rove charitably as a scrappy political fighter who doesn't always play by the Marquis of Queens-berry rules.
You could say that. You could also say this is a guy who - as aspiring national chairman of the College Republicans in 1973 - advised his fellow students to literally root through opponents' garbage in search of political advantage.
When Ralph Smith of Illinois ran for the Senate, a young Karl Rove went into the offices of a Democratic candidate for state treasurer, stole stationery and used it to send fake invitations to "free beer, free food, girls and a good time for nothing." The phony party was set for the same time Smith's opponent was opening a campaign headquarters.
How do we know this? Karl Rove himself admits it, as documented on the public television series "Frontline."
Rove's names has been linked to countless dirty tricks over the years. His involvement can't be proved, but there's one thing even the man himself won't deny:
Karl Rove plays rough.
Do Republicans - especially in a moderate state like Washington - really want to associate with a guy who prides himself on nastiness? Apparently. Rove will be discussing the future of the Republican Party before the King County Republicans April 14. With any luck, it will be a future without him.
Rove embodies much of what is dysfunctional and flat-out wrong with politics. Forget his reputation for devious and underhanded shenanigans. Rove is also a bitter partisan player who turns into a rabid dog when anyone questions the Gospel According to Bush.
Ask Bob Barr. The former Republican congressman from Georgia was about as right-wing as you can get. When he questioned the USA Patriot Act, he found himself out of favor with Karl Rove and, soon thereafter, out of a job.
If Republicans really care about their future, they need to get as far away from Rove as possible. He should be a pariah, not a guest speaker. - T.H.
