Was Karl Rove behind the McCain "Black Baby" smear?

[ck4829]

I have various clues that have led me to believe Rove has to accept some responsibility in the smears. I think this is bigger than Rove though, and I don't know who else was involved with this.

I have collected various posts on this.

"Karl Rove set up a "push poll" phone bank in South Carolina. The callers were not actually taking a poll -- they were not recording the answers they were getting. Their purpose was to ask pointed, deceitful questions that were intended to dispense rumors and lies. The attack worked. Here is an example of one of Karl Rove's questions: "If it was true that John McCain fathered an illegitimate child with a black woman, would you vote for him?"

In the bible belt that is a loaded question. People hearing it began to believe that the question was a reflection of fact. However, the truth is that Viet Nam Veteran, POW, War Hero John McCain legally adopted a Cambodian refugee girl and raised her as his daughter."

"Bush’s campaign strategists, including Karl Rove, devised a push poll against John McCain. South Carolina voters were asked "Would you be more likely or less likely to vote for John McCain for president if you knew he had fathered an illegitimate black child?". They had no interest in the actual percentages in the poll, the goal was to suggest that he had. This was particularly vicious since McCain was campaining with his adopted Bangladeshi daughter. The sight of the little dark skinned girl made the seed planted earlier grow and John McCain lost South Carolina, effectively ending his run for the presidency."

"Bush’s campaign strategists, including Karl Rove, devised a push poll designed to degrade the character of the senator in the minds of the voters. Voters all across South Carolina were called and asked the question, "Would you be more likely or less likely to vote for John McCain for president if you knew he had fathered an illegitimate black child?" A push poll by its nature is designed to plant a seed in the minds of those participating and its end result percentages are really just beside the point."

"Rove masterminded a deluge of disinformation against John McCain, whose upset victory in New Hampshire had given him a shot at the Republican nomination. Word was spread among South Carolina voters that McCain had fathered a black daughter out of wedlock"

[murielm99]

1. Al Franken's book discusses this.

I don't have the book in my house any more, but he documented everything.

Look in the back of the book for the documentation and footnotes on this story.

That's the only suggestion I can come up with.

[kikiek]

2. Read "Bush's Brain" it will erase any doubts. Of course he was!