Media Matters And Right Wing Watch Only
Karl Rove Supports The Plan His Group Is Attacking Democrats For Backing
A political group headed by Karl Rove is spending big money on hypocritical attack ads against Democratic candidates for supporting elements of the Simpson-Bowles plan. But the Fox News contributor has previously been a supporter of the plan, calling it a "blueprint for righting the nation's finances" and repeatedly attacking President Obama for not enacting its recommendations. At one point in 2013, Rove told Fox viewers that if Obama had adopted Simpson-Bowles, he "would have had an easy reelection and his popularity would be sky-high today."
Rove is the co-founder of Crossroads GPS, an IRS 501(c)(4) group that funds attacks against Democratic candidates across the country. Their latest salvo criticizes Democrats for supporting elements of the Simpson-Bowles plan, named after the co-chairs of the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform. The commission's leaders proposed an unsuccessful 2010 plan that aimed to reduce the federal deficit.
GPS recently released an ad claiming that Sen. Kay Hagan (D-NC) "is a 'big believer' in a controversial plan that raises the retirement age, reduces the home mortgage deduction, and increases out-of-pocket Medicare costs." The News & Observer reported that "GPS is putting $1.12 million toward" the ad, which the Hagan campaign has dismissed as misleading
Rove's group also devoted $705,000 to an ad attacking Rep. Scott Peters (D-CA) for supporting elements of Simpson-Bowles.
