Exclusive: Inside Karl Rove's Billionaire Fundraiser

[highplainsdem]

Source: Bloomberg Businessweek


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!”

Then Rove pleaded with his audience for more money—much more.

This rare look at the mechanics of SuperPac fundraising and electoral strategy was likely not intended for reporters. I was invited as the guest of a financier who is a significant Republican donor. The financier knew that I was a journalist. At no point was I presented with, nor did I agree to, restrictions regarding the information I heard. Upon my arrival at the breakfast, I was not asked if I was a journalist. I gave my name, identified the person who had invited me, was handed a wristband, and ushered into the dining room. American Crossroads disputes this version of events, but a spokesman did not immediately return calls to elaborate.

The morning began with an address about the urgency of defeating Obama by Florida’s Republican Senator Marco Rubio. Crossroads Chief Executive Officer Steven Law followed and introduced some of the super PAC’s staff, referring to general counsel Tom Josefiak as “the guy who keeps us from ever having to wear orange jumpsuits.”

-snip-

Read more: http://mobile.businessweek.com/articles/2012-08-31/exclusive-inside-karl-roves-billionaire-fundraiser

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Oh, that wacky GOP sense of humor! They need a really good lawyer to keep them (maybe) within the law (just barely) as they work to undermine our democracy and replace it with a plutocracy.

[Berlum]

1. Mammon (R) on the march for the Mormon (R)

[wordpix]

2. "the guy who keeps us from ever having to wear orange jumpsuits.” Now they ADMIT they're

skirting the law or outright breaking it.

FBI should call on Mr. Josefiak and ask him a few questions about his work.

[Surya Gayatri]

3. Not to mention the IRS!

[wordpix]

7. that, too!

[Surya Gayatri]

4. This piece needs to be pared down to

Last edited Fri Aug 31, 2012, 12:31 PM - Edit history (1)

a few eye-popping paragraphs and made to go viral.

What a damning, behind-the-scenes glimpse of the RW's criminal attempt to subvert democracy.

edit: typo

[woodsprite]

5. I'll be doing my duty tonight once I get home.

I don't FB during the day.

[Surya Gayatri]

11. Good initiative, ws. I don't do social media, or

I'd give it a shot myself.

[mojo2012]

9. I think you're right

I don't have all the social media stuff to do this. But I agree, if someone can pare this down to the key points, I think this absolutely needs to be out there for the world to see.
Enough is enough. These crooks need to be in the orange suits and outed for what they are doing. Buying the election for outcomes they want should be criminalized....

[Surya Gayatri]

10. I don't "do" FB or twitter either. That's why I

threw the suggestion out there for more "socially networked" people.

[JudyM]

6. cajoling them to give so their kids will "inherit" the same country... how transparent

It's all about low taxes on the wealthiest, keeping/building their estates.

If this doesn't say it all... re: the importance of the CT vote:
“Those affluent, socially liberal, economically conservative people in Fairfield County and the New York suburbs have finally figured out that their pocketbooks matter more than abortion.”

[wordpix]

8. I used to work down there & all I can say about the rich in FField County is

Typical is a mom on a private school trustee board screwing a dad (not her husband) on same board, both families extremely rich. Both parties end up divorced, screwing their kids even worse than they were before. Once both families are broken up, both parties do not keep up their relationship and move on to new people.

All this drama and mayhem is great for the kids

I could tell a bunch of stories from FField County but there's no time. Maybe I'll write a book.

[JudyM]

12. Sounds perfect for a new "reality" series. nt

[SaveAmerica]

13. I was going to post this here! So much info to share, this was in the news, right?

It drives me nuts that he's still out there directing these groups.
And I guess he knows he can get away with anything now, otherwise why would he say this publicly and not even think twice about it?

{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!”}