Karl Rove sees evidence of 'Chicago-style politics' in Chrysler ad

Breaking! Karl Rove is blaming something
on Obama! (Jim Bourg/Reuters)

Count Karl Rove among those who think the Chrysler Super Bowl ad was good for Barack Obama:

“I was, frankly, offended by it,” said Karl Rove on Fox News Monday. “I'm a huge fan of Clint Eastwood, I thought it was an extremely well-done ad, but it is a sign of what happens when you have Chicago-style politics, and the president of the United States and his political minions are, in essence, using our tax dollars to buy corporate advertising.”

Notice that if the ad was pro-Obama—something Chrysler denies—Rove is still twisting himself in knots to be sure he doesn't blame its content on Chrysler. No, as a corporation, Chrysler must remain blameless. And Clint Eastwood? He's what passes for a Hollywood Republican, so he's blameless. Instead, Chrysler's advertising featuring Clint Eastwood is somehow a result of the president's "Chicago-style politics." That's the Chicago-style politics of saving America's auto industry and the hundreds of thousands of jobs it provides.

It's not clear whether Rove is implying that Obama saved Chrysler in 2009 in order to get a 2012 Super Bowl ad that some would interpret as positive about him, or that Obama actually called up Chrysler and demanded the ad, but whatever. We knew Republicans were rooting against the economy improving. But claiming that any implication that Obama's policies have improved the economy is all a nefarious political plot on his part takes the desperation a little far.