Karl Rove: Throw Me In Jail!

[kpete]

VIDEO: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UMFvoMh_-OI&feature=player_embedded

Karl Rove: Throw Me In Jail!

By Satyam Khanna

Karl Rove being hypocritical and disingenuous is pretty run-of-the-mill stuff by now. But occasionally, the irony rises up to hilarious territory, such as here, when he inadvertently gets himself into some trouble. Here’s Rove last night on the so-called Sestak-gate:

Somebody violated the law! … There’s a third part of the code (that may have been violated). 18 U.S.C. 595, which prohibits a federal official from interfering – a government employee – with the nomination or election for office. … Joe Sestak said somebody offered him a job! That’s a violation of the law.

Here’s what 18 U.S.C. § 595 says:

If a federal employee uses his official authority for the purpose of interfering with, or affecting, the nomination or the election of any candidate for the office of President, Vice President, Presidential elector, Member of the Senate, Member of the House of Representatives … shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.

No one expects much from Fox, but could they have brought on a worse messenger to argue that the federal government should keep its hands out of elections? Remember GSA chief Lurita “cookies on the table” Doan and Rove’s powerpoint? The U.S. Attorney scandal? That whole year-long investigation into the Bush White House’s political activities? The list is endless. I guess all those guys should have been fined or thrown in the slammer.

MORE:
http://yglesias.thinkprogress.org/archives/2010/05/why-is-karl-rove-on-tv-talking-about-politicizing-government.php