Karl Rove needs to go

After Senate candidate, Rep. Todd Akin (R-MO) made that 'legitimate rape' comment, forces within the Republican Party began working furiously to force him out. The RNC stopped contributing to his campaign; ditto for the Super PAC headed by Karl Rove. The comments made by Akin made him unelectable according to the Republican establishment. The fact that he was a social conservative likely made the attempts to force him out all the more forceful.

Akin refused to budge, which significantly rankled the Republican powers that be, including Rove. The degree to which Rove was rankled seemed to be made a bit clearer by what the former senior advisor to George W. Bush said a breakfast with some high dollar donors last week. A reporter for Bloomberg Businessweek was invited to that breakfast by one of the donors. She recorded Rove's comments and what he said was far more egregious than what Akin had said.

Via Bloomberg:

On the final morning of the Republican National Convention, Karl Rove took the stage at the Tampa Club to provide an exclusive breakfast briefing to about 70 of the Republican Party’s highest-earning and most powerful donors. During the more than hour-long session, Rove explained to an audience dotted with hedge fund billionaires and investors—including John Paulson and Wilbur Ross—how his super PAC, American Crossroads, will persuade undecided voters in crucial swing states to vote against Barack Obama. He also detailed plans for Senate and House races, and joked, “We should sink Todd Akin. If he’s found mysteriously murdered, don’t look for my whereabouts!”

After this story broke, Rove would apologize to Akin less than 24 hours later.

Via NewsDay:

Missouri U.S. Senate candidate Todd Akin said he accepted an apology from Republican strategist Karl Rove for a joke about the congressman being “found mysteriously murdered.”

Akin said in a Facebook posting on his campaign website, “I appreciate the call from Karl Rove, and accept the apology.” Rove called Akin Aug. 31, Rick Tyler, an Akin campaign adviser, told the Associated Press. A message seeking comment from Akin’s campaign wasn’t returned Saturday.

Of course, using Rove's standard for what should be cause for Akin to step down would assuredly require Rove himself to step down from having a position of influence in Republican campaigns. Telling jokes about the murder of people who you don't want representing your Party should qualify.

Two highly respected conservative stalwarts - William Murray and Phyllis Schlafly - have both called on Rove to step down. Incidentally, it was Murray who in the days after 9/11, enunciated perfectly who was behind the attacks; he wanted the Bush administration to target the Saudi government. As it turns out, Murray was right and Bush / Rove were wrong.