Karl Rove: Palin Lacks Gravitas to be President
Does Sarah Palin live up to the "high standards" of the presidency? Does she have the required "gravitas"? Is she "up to the job"?
Karl Rove doesn't think so. In an interview with The Daily Telegraph, Rove took a dig at Palin's forthcoming reality show, saying that the path to reality TV stardom does not lead to the Oval Office (via Hot Air):
“With all due candour, appearing on your own reality show on the Discovery Channel, I am not certain how that fits in the American calculus of 'that helps me see you in the Oval Office’,” Mr Rove told The Daily Telegraph in an interview....
He said Mrs Palin had done a “terrific job” in 2008 when Senator John McCain took her from near obscurity to the vice-presidential nomination, but added: “Being the vice-presidential nominee on the ticket is different from saying 'I want to be the person at the top of the ticket’.
“There are high standards that the American people have for it [the presidency] and they require a certain level of gravitas, and they want to look at the candidate and say 'that candidate is doing things that gives me confidence that they are up to the most demanding job in the world’."...
But Mr Rove suggested that “outside of the true believers”, most Republican primary voters were still watching the race and would choose the candidate most suitable for the role. “They are going to be saying 'the person who can win is the person who proves to me that they are up to the job’,” he said.
As Allahpundit points out, this is Rove's third strike: "First came the criticism of O’Donnell on the night she won the primary, then came the knock on tea partiers for being unsophisticated, which earned him Rush’s ire. Now this."
I can see Rove's point, though. Is it really wise to appear on reality TV unscripted and perhaps uncensored if your next move is to run for high political office? When Diane first alerted us to Palin's reality show, she wrote:
While Palin runs the risk of overexposure, I think the show has the potential to actually help Palin's future political career. Providing viewers with access to her personal life will help reinforce the fact that she's a real person that ordinary Americans can relate to.
I think Diane makes a great point, but I just wonder: don't ordinary Americans who are fans of Palin already feel like they know her and can relate to her? If so, then the reality show will just provide entertainment for those who already like her and fodder for those who don't.
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Comments :
Jul '10
Re: Karl Rove: Palin Lacks Gravitas to be President
Methinks Karl Rove is desperate to be in the spotlight, and this poking at bees nests with sticks is his way of doing so. Perhaps if we ignore him, he'll go away.
Sep '10
Re: Karl Rove: Palin Lacks Gravitas to be President
Is this the same Karl Rove that was advising Bush to pass a prescription drug entitlement, a campaign finance law that restricted free speech, to support Spector over Toomey, to campaign for Obama supporter Linc Chafee?
Anyway, I don't see myself jumping on the Palin 2012 bandwagon, but the country could do worse. Heck, the country is doing worse.
May '10
Re: Karl Rove: Palin Lacks Gravitas to be President
Rove is the ultimate cynic, which as a strategy can work short-term but fails miserably long-term as his career demonstrates. He is perhaps more responsible than any other single individual, save W, for the near-terminal status of the Republican party after the 2008 election. For someone that is supposed to be so politically adept he oversaw the most crushing defeat of the party in a generation (arguably more devastating than post-Watergate) all thanks to a series of unsuccessful and ultimately unpopular policies that neither silenced the left, succeeded for the center nor satisfied the right. The idea that anyone would still be listening to what he has to say is absurd. He needs to retire to some southern university (no offense guys, just being honest about who would have him) for about 20 years and then, maybe, if he's very contrite, he can return and attempt to rehabilitate himself.
Sarah Palin could do a lot worse than engage him in a flame war. She would obliterate him, make him utterly unhirable and relegate his cable new career to role of nominal voice of the right on MSNBC after Pat Buchanan passes.
Edited on Oct 28, 2010 at 6:59amRe: Karl Rove: Palin Lacks Gravitas to be President
Since you all seem to agree that Rove is a bit washed up, is Rove just trying to throw bombs in the direction of the tea party to garner attention for himself? What's his strategy here?
Oct '10
Re: Karl Rove: Palin Lacks Gravitas to be President
Oh really, Karl? I suppose the path to the WH also doesn't run through the SAG or Hollywood...or does it? These preconceived notions of what does and doesn't "make a president" are part of the problem, residing solely in the minds of the political elite. (I use the term "elite" loosely...and pejoratively.)
If the first thousand names in the Boston phone book were good enough for WFB Jr (RIP), they're good enough for me.
Re: Karl Rove: Palin Lacks Gravitas to be President
I'm just trying to think ... who were other celebrities that have been elected to high office, who have had to--like Palin may--worry about overexposure? Of course, the two that come to mind are Reagan and Arnold, both in California, a state that is not exactly representative of the rest of the country. Will Americans be turned off by Palin's overexposure in a reality show--overexposure which may in fact diminish her in the eyes of some?
Jul '10
Re: Karl Rove: Palin Lacks Gravitas to be President
I'm still underwhelmed by Palin and struggling to keep an open mind, but feel a slight warming going on. I can't think of anyone in public life who grasped as quickly as she that the Old Media chokeholds on news and information have gone the way of the dodo. She need never do another interview with the left wing media, which describes its entirety outside of Fox and talk radio. Sarah will present herself the way she wants in the future. I would expect she will have authority over the final cut of any reality show, which means any gaffes would be intended. If she is nominated through some chance, the choice will be between a warm, vivacious woman and a cold and distant quasi-intellectual with what looks like will be four years of failure behind him.
Aug '10
Re: Karl Rove: Palin Lacks Gravitas to be President
Karl Rove is not being paid to win any elections at present. He is being paid to be a pundit in a voracious 24 hour news cycle that demands fresh commentary.
I think he is being paid for his thoughts and he is being candid.
Sarah is justified in being skeptical of the mainstream media, as they have tried to chew her up. She needs a conduit to the MSM, Discovery probably allows her more latitiude in setting the direction of the content. That she understands the zeitgeist,perhaps she feels that something like this is a natural response to what we saw last night as Stewart hosted Obama for the tongue bath that is the Daily Show.
Trading snarkiness for some family time, some hunting, some minor drama, and probably alot more honesty can't harm her.
Karl has to figure out how to control the new media outlets, he'll get there being smarter than most. Never misunderestimate a Bushy.
Aug '10
Re: Karl Rove: Palin Lacks Gravitas to be President
I love Sarah Palin. She's a charismatic star and a capable administrator who is contributing enormously to our national rebirth. She definitely deserves a role in a conservative administration; how about Secretary of the Interior? She would be outstanding.
But Sarah wouldn't make a good president. She says openly on her upcoming show that she longs to be, loves to be, out-of-doors, hunting, fishing, and playing with her family. In some ways she's too good to be president, too self-sufficient. It's a compliment to say this, I think.
Sarah's smart, but her misuse of the English language and lack of exposure to the rest of the world all work against her.
Many of our greatest leaders have been needy and dependent people, unlike Sarah.
Karl Rove has made some grave errors, such as discouraging Bush from defending himself. But he's not washed up, and does what he does very well.
Edited on Oct 28, 2010 at 7:24amOct '10
Re: Karl Rove: Palin Lacks Gravitas to be President
I, too, am still somewhat underwhelmed by Palin, but I'm going in the direction of being whelmed, and I'm not averse to being overwhelmed. I want to see what she's got in terms of presidentiality, and the passage of time will tell. In that passage will be, apparently, a reality TV show. Unless everyone already holds immutable opinions about her, then it seems possible that benefits will redound to her from the show. Her political and media instincts over the past 18 months haven't exactly been harmful to her. And let's not forget this possibility - maybe she's NOT eyeing the 2012 presidency. Maybe she has something else in mind. Maybe Karl is barking up the wrong tree. Wouldn't be the first time.
Sep '10
Re: Karl Rove: Palin Lacks Gravitas to be President
What Sarah Palin really needs is a guest contributor spot on Ricochet, though I shudder to think what kind of armed encampment she'd create with Ryan & Berlinski. If nothing else, it would have one heckuva sound track.
Edited on Oct 28, 2010 at 7:32amOct '10
Re: Karl Rove: Palin Lacks Gravitas to be President
I'm not sure I agree with the premise that being on a Discovery Channel reality show will result in "overexposure." Are the Deadliest Catch guys overexposed? Her "exposure" will only be to those people who choose to watch that cable channel (IF they even get it) and who choose to watch her program. I think overexposure exists today in pop culture and in politics because of the way the people who travel in those realms are followed 24/7 by the media. e.g. Will the six o'clock news lead off with Palin's reality show the way they lead off with every speech the (overexposed) president gives?
Oct '10
Re: Karl Rove: Palin Lacks Gravitas to be President
"I can see Rove's point, though. Is it really wise to appear on reality TV unscripted and perhaps uncensored if your next move is to run for high political office?"
IMHO, I think most Americans WANT to see their politicians "unscripted" and "uncensored." We're tired of the packaged politician. Just look at Chris Christie's popularity and the popularity of his unscripted and uncensored YouTube clips from face-to-face interactions with political opponents and the media (sorry, didn't mean to be redundant there).
I want to know the REAL person who wants my vote. I'm tired of the charlatans who portray themselves as one thing and then morph into something unrecognizable when they get to the swamp. Sarah's the real thing, it appears. BHO is not, for sure. I'll take someone who's flawed over someone who thinks they're flawless every time.
Oct '10
Re: Karl Rove: Palin Lacks Gravitas to be President
I think the Palin moment will largely diminish once this mid-term election cycle is over and the presidential race begins. She has benefited from a vacuum of effective political leadership in the Republican party. It's safe to assume that the congressional GOP leadership will remain uninspiring. However, as more interesting candidates enter the race after this election, she will have to share the spotlight and she might not look nearly as good in comparison.
While I've never been impressed with Karl "Permanent Republican Majority" Rove, I'm finding it hard to disagree with him on Palin. I'm on record here at Ricochet as agreeing with Claire on Palin and if she hasn't achieved media overexposure yet, she will get there very soon.
Look, McCain didn't do her any favors if her ultimate goal was to be President. He plucked her off the vine, so to speak, before she was ripe and I don't think there is any way to undo that. Having a couple terms as a successful governor might have turned her into presidential material, but I just don't see that happening now given her current strategy.
May '10
Re: Karl Rove: Palin Lacks Gravitas to be President
About Rove, I agree entirely with Trace.
About Palin, I remain sort of nervously expectant. I can't help hoping she'll keep surprising the world, outwitting the eggheads and exposing the vacuous nastiness of what passes for sophisticated opinion these days. I do wish she were more articulate, though, and less excessively folksy in her way of speaking and relating. And I wish she'd had her national debut during her second term as governor, rather than her first.
But I want to make a point about this "should she worry about overexposure?" question. I think it betrays a basic lack of understanding of the evangelical mind. Christians who try to live by faith tend not to strategize in the way a person driven by political ambition does. I suspect she's not so much deliberately working her way toward a presidential run as she is trying to be herself, and trying to let America know who she really is, so that they are in a better position to decide if she's the right one to lead the nation.
May '10
Re: Karl Rove: Palin Lacks Gravitas to be President
Show is fully in the can and she purports to like it all. I think it's one brilliant gargantuan advertisement. I doubt there will be much that she perceives as negative though it will be endless mocked by left.
May '10
Re: Karl Rove: Palin Lacks Gravitas to be President
Surprisingly, very few actors have made federal office and done so with success.
Sonny Bono (R)
Edited on Oct 28, 2010 at 7:46amAl Franken (D)
Helen Gahagan (D) Broadway actress and wife of actor Melvyn Douglass
Served three terms in the House (1945-51)
Fred Grandy (Republican)
Ben Jones (D)
George Murphy (R)
Fred Thompson (R)
Oct '10
Re: Karl Rove: Palin Lacks Gravitas to be President
Could someone explain (in 200 words or less!) what the evidence is that Palin is, or nearly is, "overexposed?" Seems to me this is a premise that is presumed to be true by some people, yet I haven't heard or read anyone describe with specificity just exactly how she's overexposed. It's as if the statement alone serves as proof. But it doesn't.
Maybe she is overexposed and I'm not up to speed on it. So please, someone, provide the evidence, and especially the manifestation, of her overexposure...or near-overexposure.
Jul '10
Re: Karl Rove: Palin Lacks Gravitas to be President
Fred Thompson. Jesse Ventura. Al Franken. Tom Osborne. Sonny Bono. Ted Grandy. Bill Bradley. Jim Bunning. George Murphy. There's more...
May '10
Re: Karl Rove: Palin Lacks Gravitas to be President
1) Rove is a smart guy, always was, and the TEA Party folks would be wise to listen to him. He has done infinitely more for conservatism than any person here, and still has a lot to contribute. He doesn't need ego strokes or cash (as far as I know), his current work with Gillespie is purely intended to help elect center-right people for the good of the country. Bravo, Karl, despite the one McCain-Feingold error.
2) The question about Palin is more complicated. The show could go either way in terms of help/hurt- but we don't really know the ultimate objective. I suspect that it could help her with the moderates and the female swing voters, which may be the purpose of doing it.
The biggest problem with "reality" shows is that the people on them are not particularly real. Palin and her family, regardless of what you think of them otherwise, are quintessentially real.