Andrew Nyerere
JF-Expert Member
- Nov 10, 2008
- 3,007
- 2,429
Axelrod To Bush Advisers: Butt Out
David Axelrod, a senior adviser to President Barack Obama, had harsh words for some of former President Bush's closest advisers during an interview with the Post's Lois Romano yesterday, dismissing as "intramural stuff" the critiques offered by the former Administration.
Axelrod praised Bush for his handling of the transition while sharply criticizing some of the former president's advisers.
Axelrod said he was "disappointed" by former Vice President Dick Cheney's comments regarding the planned closure of the Guantanamo Bay prison and the suggestion that it would increase the likelihood of a terrorist attack; he described himself as "surprised" by former White House chief of staff Andy Card's remark that not wearing a jacket in the Oval Office was disrespectful. (Make sure to read the Post's Dan Eggen's terrific piece on the variety of criticism from former Bush aides toward the Obama White House.)
But, Axelrod saved his strongest condemnation for the man who held his job in the Bush White House: Karl Rove. Of Rove's criticism of Obama's economic stimulus plan, Axelrod said: "The last thing that I think we are looking for at this juncture is advice on fiscal integrity or ethics from Karl Rove -- anyone who's read the newspapers for the last eight years would laugh at that."
Rove did not return an email seeking comment. But, he did pen an op-ed today in the Wall Street Journal in which he starkly criticized the way Obama has gone about addressing the financial crisis and heaped praise on congressional Republicans for how they have handled the matter.
"Mr. Obama, for all his talents, has already re-energized the GOP and sparked a spending debate that will last for years," wrote Rove. "The president won this legislative battle, but at a high price -- fiscally and politically."
White House officials have generally been loathe to criticize the Bush administration directly -- believing that the American people want to move forward, not look backward.
But, Axelrod's comments show the disdain that he clearly holds for some within Bush's inner circle.
David Axelrod, a senior adviser to President Barack Obama, had harsh words for some of former President Bush's closest advisers during an interview with the Post's Lois Romano yesterday, dismissing as "intramural stuff" the critiques offered by the former Administration.
Axelrod praised Bush for his handling of the transition while sharply criticizing some of the former president's advisers.
Axelrod said he was "disappointed" by former Vice President Dick Cheney's comments regarding the planned closure of the Guantanamo Bay prison and the suggestion that it would increase the likelihood of a terrorist attack; he described himself as "surprised" by former White House chief of staff Andy Card's remark that not wearing a jacket in the Oval Office was disrespectful. (Make sure to read the Post's Dan Eggen's terrific piece on the variety of criticism from former Bush aides toward the Obama White House.)
But, Axelrod saved his strongest condemnation for the man who held his job in the Bush White House: Karl Rove. Of Rove's criticism of Obama's economic stimulus plan, Axelrod said: "The last thing that I think we are looking for at this juncture is advice on fiscal integrity or ethics from Karl Rove -- anyone who's read the newspapers for the last eight years would laugh at that."
Rove did not return an email seeking comment. But, he did pen an op-ed today in the Wall Street Journal in which he starkly criticized the way Obama has gone about addressing the financial crisis and heaped praise on congressional Republicans for how they have handled the matter.
"Mr. Obama, for all his talents, has already re-energized the GOP and sparked a spending debate that will last for years," wrote Rove. "The president won this legislative battle, but at a high price -- fiscally and politically."
White House officials have generally been loathe to criticize the Bush administration directly -- believing that the American people want to move forward, not look backward.
But, Axelrod's comments show the disdain that he clearly holds for some within Bush's inner circle.
