New book alleges Rove agnostic, step-father gay

[Fridays Child]

Edit: This is Raw Story's big scoop, so I posted it. The fact that I posted it is not, in any way, reflective of my personal views on sexuality or religion.

A new book by Austin-based journalist James Moore and senior political reporter for the Dallas Morning News Wayne Slater to be released Tuesday will allege that Karl Rove's step-father, Louis Rove, divorced his mother and lived the rest of his adult life as an openly gay man, RAW STORY has learned.

This is one of many bombshells delivered by reporters James Moore and Wayne Slater in The Architect: Karl Rove and the Master Plan for Absolute Power. RAW STORY obtained an advance copy of the book.

There is much to digest in The Architect, but new details of Rove's family history, self-proclaimed agnosticism, and the political machine built by friends such as the scandalized lobbyist Jack Abramoff, are certain to raise the heckles of Rove's Republican base.

Citing on the record sources including close friends of the elder Rove, Moore and Slater reveal he lived openly as a gay man and remained close to his son throughout his life.

More: http://www.rawstory.com/news/2006/New_book_alleges_Rove_agnostic_stepfather_0902.html

[CatholicEdHead]

1. If this is true

I can see where a vindictive motivation comes from for some "issues".

[Maddy McCall]

4. Rove knows how to manipulate people to political ends.

It doesn't have to be any deep-rooted childhood issue to motivate him.

We all know that most of the BFEE are not what they appear to be.

[Maddy McCall]

2. So?

His dad was probably a nice guy.

[Fridays Child]

13. So, is right. Nevertheless, this is Raw Story's big scoop, so I posted it.

[EFerrari]

3. The "scandalized Jack Abramoff"?

Isn't that, "the scandalous Jack Abramoff"?

[Taxloss]

5. What does the sexuality of Rove's stepfather have to do with anything?

I don't like it when the unknown relatives of public figures are "exposed" like this. I wonder if it's meant to damage Rove in the eyes of Conservatives, or paint him as a hypocrite for serving a homophobic administration.

As for his agnosticism, he always struck me as being far too clever and cynical to have faith in anything.

[Maddy McCall]

8. Yes. This is against everything I stand for, as a Democrat.

As for your question about hypocrisy--what his father does really doesn't have any bearing on Rove, as far as hypocrisy.

I agree with you. This is the kinda trash that should be reserved for the tabloids. It has no place in intelligent political discourse or debate.

[Taxloss]

10. Exactly.

:hi:

[Hawkowl]

51. Hypocrite

Rove portrays himself and his masters as gay-hating, god fearing fanatics. This article doesn't attack his stepfather for being gay, it merely exposes Rove as a hypocritical, amoral, mayberry Machiavelli.

It is fair game to expose a hypocrite and demand an explanation.

[hedgehog]

53. Maybe Rove hated his step-father.

He'd still be an amoral, mayberry Machiavelli

[Fridays Child]

16. I assume that these things are supposed to be revelatory of Rove's psyche.

But, in any case, I started the thread to solve Raw Story's big mysterious "developing story" banner.

[Taxloss]

20. Oh, right, one of THOSE ...

I don't go to Raw Story, every time I try to it opens a remarkably irritating and intrusive "systemdoctor" popup that fouls up things royally.

I know you weren't making any comment yourself, just relaying the story.

[MikeNearMcChord]

42. Like the Roman politician Gracchus in the movie "Spartacus"

when asked by young Ceasar, about his decision to sacrifice a dove for the Roman Army, when he thought the politician did not believe in the gods
"Privately I believe in none of the gods, Publically I believe in them all"
Many bible thumpers are very naive, when it comes to politics, and even those who are pushung theocracy, use religion as vehicle for power.

[Canuckistanian]

50. I'd say it has a lot to do with it

Remember, Rove has consciously used homophobic issues to keep Shrub's base hot. And not in a shy way.

Now, whether this is a real hatred of gays or an in-the-closet self-loathing, I think this has been VERY significant.

As for his faith, using "bearing false witness" as a career should make him realize that he's not going upwards in the afterlife.

[magellan]

6. Rove isn't agnostic

He's a Bush** Christian, which is quite different from an agnostic...and from a Christian.

[Botany]

7. Rove agnostic

That is big for 2 reasons:
1. It could strip a few born agains from the GOP vote in 06



2. It also could explain how he can do all his evil shit ..... he does not believe that a "just God"
will judge him

[Taxloss]

9. Steady there - atheists and agnostics are as capable or incapable of

evil as anyone else. The flipside of your assertion is that he's not following what he considers a divinely inspired agenda, with all that that implies.

[Botany]

11. I did not mean to cast atheists and agnostics as evil

by any means.

I just meant that Rove's criminal acts and treachery
makes me believe that he has no moral compass and that his judgement
of "right v wrong" is guided by one idea ..... can he get away w/ it?

[SmokingJacket]

18. But there's no one to forgive his sins, either!

So it works both ways.

[flyingfysh]

12. So what?

What does this have to do with anything? It is only an issue if he was claiming to be religious.

There are lots of things one can say against Rove, but these just don't qualify.

[Fridays Child]

14. See edited original post.

[JohnnyLib]

15. Overcoming my "liberal guilt,"

I'm thinking that what goes around, comes around, as the saying goes. Maybe at least a few of the righteous right will understand thoroughly they've been conned by this guy.

[Taxloss]

17. That would be sad, if he was persecuted on the basis of his family

and beliefs (or lack of them) rather than simply discredited politically. It's the wrong thing to do to anyone. And talk about ungrateful if they did turn on him on that basis, after all he's done for them!

[AlCzervik]

19. i'm interested in his connections, i don't really care about the family

aspect unless they're also criminals and even in that case i don't care about their sexual identities or religious beliefs.

[Fridays Child]

22. Unfortunately, these things are "sins" only when they...

...happen to or emanate from, Democrats. The GOP has a long history of everything from the outright denial to the total embrace of behavior that they are lightning quick to excoriate Liberals for.

[sandnsea]

21. Yaawn

When will Raw Story do something useful, like hound on the Mariana Island abortion story every day, or highlight someone who died because of no health care every day, or remind people of all the corruption in this administration - every day. I am so sick of the people who could use their readership and notoriety for real change, choosing to hype scandals instead.

[Taxloss]

24. Not much of a "scandal" at that.

I bet the author of this book was intensely disappointed when this is all that his muckraking could bring up - either that or he didn't try very hard.

[dsc]

23. So now being one step removed from gay is big news

How many generations does it take to remove the stink of gayness? If he had a gay grandfather would we reveal in that? A gay great uncle? A lesbian second cousin? Why do we allege people are gay? Why not simply say it? I know you aren't responsible for what Rawstory prints. But I also am getting so tired of all roads leading toward gay when it comes to the evil hand men of the current administration.

[Fridays Child]

25. Roger that...

...and thanks for acknowledging that I'm just the DU messenger, in this case. :hi:

[Bucky]

32. What do you mean by "Roger" that? Such salty innuendo!!

[Fridays Child]

33. LOL!

Had to look it up, myself, actually: Roger that

[Bluebear]

28. Some big fucking "bombshell".

This whole thing is framed horribly.

[dsc]

29. I really do wonder at times

Will it ever not matter that I am gay? Will I ever be thought of as just an average Joe? Why on God's green earth does it matter if Rove's step father is gay?

[Bluebear]

34. "_______ADMITS they are gay!"

Another favorite headline of mine. Like they are admitting to some big crime.

I have no earthly idea why anyone would care that his stepfather is gay or not.

[sandnsea]

35. My great uncle never married

He lived with his sister, and later my grandmother. My cousin is gay. We are also French.

I can never run for public office.

:evilgrin:

(Since you know me, you also know all of that would be the LEAST of my problems, lol)

[ruggerson]

37. Holy shit.

You're FRENCH????!!!!

[ruggerson]

48. I think it's a very valid story

But I agree about the word "allege".

Totally pisses me off.

Isn't Raw Story supposed to be progressive.

[applegrove]

26. I think that he has so much unelected control & sway over Bush..

and thus the country...that it is fine to treat him like a candidate. Especially since he has plans for a 30 year career running the country and using government to create a Republican Empire (politics) instead of actually governing. he has been in power somewhere..for the last decade. Time to own up to his issues if he is going to be running things. Just like the neocons. Would be lovely if politicians and power-mongers could hide behind the proverbial curtain forever.. but people have a right to know..his character.

Go back and read the newspapers from the 1920s and 1930s when class warfare was ripe. Open season on character when there is a struggle over the "character of the nation". The two are tied.

I hope that the book writes nothing more sensational that what we have already seen (that's usually what comes out first before publication). But further in depth study of the man.. well that is about right. He will be running the Repuke Presidential campaign come 2008. And perhaps the Canadian Conservative campaign next fall (or his minions will be).

So - go ahead. Look under every rock. You have the right. It is your country and your lives on the line.

As to the father being outed..well if his friends were honest about it.. then that is okay. It tells a story. I don't think simply saying that someone out is out..is wrong. Would go to Rove's character if he were traumatized by a divorce and then managed to put a new version of family together. And that is not a bad thing. Poor mom though.

[Fridays Child]

27. Well said!

[Bucky]

30. The best way to stop Republicans from prying into private lives is to, um

...pry into their families' personal lives? I just don't see how this does a damn thing to help us, but I can see how it'll add more poison to an already poisoned political sphere. Shit, even La Cosa Nostra had rules about not going after families.

[yurbud]

31. stepdad is gay but got married anyway....sounds like Rove and W...

[UTUSN]

36. MOORE&SLATER, the next James HATFIELD

KKKarl gives agnosticism a bad name. I hope that this book lives up to the hard hittingness that Kitty KELLEY's didn't (that much).

But the O.P. is hilarious with a disclaimer at the beginning. I have to do that fairly often, too, in frequently failed attempts to preempt flamings to a crisp.

[ruggerson]

38. I guess I must be in the minority here

as I DO think this is newsworthy.

Karl Rove masterminded the entire plan regarding the GOP's new boogeyman under the bed for the last few cycles: gays and lesbians.

Therefore, if this man who venally utilized bigotry and took advantage of stupid fundamentalists by playing on their idiocy and fears, actually had a gay father figure to whom he was close, it stands to reason that Rove doesn't believe any of the shit he's spewing - he's only doing it for political power.

If he fervently, religiously believed that gays are evil, he would just be a stupid, ignorant mook. The fact that he knows better (And, I believe, so does Bush), makes him truly, calculatingly evil to the core.

[deadparrot]

39. So?

:shrug:

His stepfather's gay, and came out late in life. It happens. It's not my business or my concen. He's an agnostic? Doesn't surprise me all that much (not to make a statement on any one religious belief or another, but somehow I didn't see him as a fundie Bible-beater.).

This is more to horrify the religious right than for us, I suppose, but I don't see why I'm supposed to care. I loathe Rove, and it's not because of his family or his religion (or lack thereof).

[ruggerson]

40. Because it's further proof

that he's a calculating, amoral human being.

Of course we knew that already.

But this just emphasizes it.

[deadparrot]

41. I knew that before this story came out.

I don't need to look at his (or his stepfather's) personal life to know that.

[ruggerson]

44. For gay people

who are the subject of this vitriolic campaign, this is a very specific glimpse into Rove's character.

His father was "openly" gay. (a stupider term was never invented). There are no privacy concerns. Therefore, this highlights yet another facet of Rove's evil.

[deadparrot]

49. Again, he was evil enough before knowing this.

If he's anti-gay, then he's anti-gay. He's a bigot and a generally nasty human being (using the term "human" generously). That's why I don't like him. It doesn't matter to me how he got to be that way.

[LeftCoast]

45. The fact that his step-father is gay is further proof that he's a

"calculating, amoral human being?"

:wtf:

[ruggerson]

46. Yes.

You don't follow my point?

[Name removed]

43. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[chat_noir]

47. Austin-Statemen article posted by FReeper with "HOMOSEXUALAGENDA" ping

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1694616/posts



Book review

James Moore and Wayne Slater's 'The Architect: Karl Rove and the Master Plan for Absolute Power'

Chapter 5, "Not as I Say: Gay in the GOP," discusses prominent conservatives who have been rumored to be gay and declined to confirm or deny the charge; particular attention is paid to Republican National Committee chairman Ken Mehlman. The subject has already been grist for blogs and gay publications, but it has been handled gingerly and rarely in the mainstream media. Moore and Slater take care not to apply labels or draw clear conclusions, instead reporting on the reporting of others. They seem to conclude — reasonably, I think — that because Republicans have made gay identity a national issue, reporting such ambiguity is fair.

In Chapter 9, "A Few Simple Questions: What's in Karl's Closet?," the authors draw on interviews with gay acquaintances of Rove's stepfather, Louis Rove, as well as an interview with a circumspect Karl Rove, to reveal that Louis was openly gay after getting divorced from Rove's mother. The chapter jabs hard at Rove, pointing out that Louis Rove, who was clearly Rove's primary father figure, died in Palm Springs just as "his son was in the midst of launching the antigay issues campaign that was to lead to the re-election of George W. Bush."

The authors quote Rove and friends of Rove's stepfather to illustrate that Rove was close to him throughout his life, and seemed not to judge his sexuality. This, and Rove's self-professed agnosticism, are major exhibits in Moore and Slater's claim of hypocrisy. It's hard not to wince at the invocation of such intensely personal material, but it's a testament to the politics that Rove has helped create that it doesn't seem out of bounds.

While the material on gay Republicans and their families has earned the book some advance buzz, "The Architect" also offers an informative look at the nuts and bolts of political strategy that should prove interesting to readers geared up for the coming election season. The account of how Rove and his allies turned conservative Protestants and evangelicals, practicing Catholics and intensely pro-Israel Jews into active members of the Republican coalition is particularly insightful. Though this alliance seems obvious in retrospect, peeling off factions of these traditionally Democratic constituencies took strategic targeting and extended negotiations, which the book examines in interesting if overly Rove-centric detail.

http://www.statesman.com/life/content/life/stories/books/09/02/2rove.html

[Seabiscuit]

52. And we should give a shit exactly why?

[Fridays Child]

54. This was the climax of Raw Story's big developing story banner ,yesterday.

Which is why I posted it.

I guess you had to be there.