Back in July, David Corn reported on the Groundswell group's "secret war" on Karl Rove. Ted Cruz is a Groundswell invention, a favorite. Heavily funded by oil billionaires and beloved by the Heritage Foundation, Cruz is considered the far right fringe hope for 2016.
Well, that war is secret no more. During his interview with Ted Cruz Sunday morning, Chris Wallace revealed that Karl Rove's people sent over opposition research on Cruz in advance. Via Mediaite:
“This has been one of the strangest weeks I’ve ever had in Washington,” Wallace said. “As soon as we listed Ted Cruz as our featured guest this week, I got unsolicited research and questions, not from Democrats but from top Republicans, to hammer Cruz.”
“This was a strategy laid out by Mike Lee (R-UT) and Ted Cruz without any consultation with their colleagues,” said Karl Rove. “With all due respect to my junior Senator from Texas, I suspect this is the first time that the end game was described to any Republican Senator. They had to tune in to listen to you to find out what Ted’s next step was in the strategy.”
“You cannot build a Congressional majority, in either party, for any kind of action, unless you are treating your colleagues with some certain amount of respect, and saying, ‘Hey, what do you think of my idea?’” Rove said. “Instead they have dictated to their colleagues through the media, and through public statements, and not consulted them about this strategy at all.”
Heads are exploding all over the Internet over this. Malkin has turned her Twitchy bots on him, too!
'See your filthy paw prints, Rove' Who sent oppo research on Ted Cruz to Chris Wallace? http://t.co/kkh3t8WpFp
— Michelle Malkin (@michellemalkin) September 22, 2013
For some, like American Majority's Drew Ryun, hope springs eternal:
Ha!RT @jasonsjohnson: Rove said Cruz could not win '12 senate primary, said NO way Obama on ELECTION NIGHT, then no way House defunds Ocare.
— Drew Ryun (@DrewRyun) September 22, 2013
The "grassroots" weigh in:
Karl Rove and his cabal would sell out on any issue if it means more power in the short-term, for they don’t stand for anything.
— JohnGaltTx (@JohnGaltTx) September 16, 2013
Sarah Palin opines. Doesn't she have a new contract with Fox?
@FoxNewsSunday Keep it TRULY fair & balanced. Release the GOP names encouraging you to trash @SenTedCruz. No more anonymous sources.
— Sarah Palin (@SarahPalinUSA) September 22, 2013
When directly confronted during the interview about how he actually plans to win this, Ted Cruz fell silent. That speaks volumes for this ill-conceived effort. However, there has been another intended consequence:
Maybe the House GOP can't actually Defund Obamacare, but they still managed to distract everyone while they killed immigration reform.
— Top Conservative Cat (@TeaPartyCat) September 22, 2013
Cruz and Lee know the fight over the Affordable Care Act is a dog, but they have managed to create a distraction to save Republicans on both sides from a vote on immigration. If the House can't manage to pass any budget resolutions, what makes anyone think they can do something meaningful, like immigration reform?
