Conference call for BIG Republican donors: Karl Rove has some 'splainin' to do--today

[ProgressiveEconomist]

WHAT'S YOUR OPINION?

From http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1112/83534.html :

'The billion-dollar bust? The $1 billion blitz may have hurt Republicans almost as much as it helped.

By KENNETH P. VOGEL 11/7/12 5:36 PM EST Updated: 11/7/12 11:53 PM EST

Big outside money fundamentally changed American politics in 2012 — just not the way the Republicans who planned a $1 billion blitz to defeat President Barack Obama wanted. Ultimately, in fact, it may have hurt Republicans almost as much as it helped.

The high-dollar barrage spurred once wary Democrats to launch their own big money machine — which ended up nearly matching the GOP’s overall spending and actually put more ads on the air than the Republicans. Mega-donors dragged out the primary and exposed Mitt Romney to damaging attacks on Bain Capital and social issues, some of the same attacks that Obama used to take him down. And outside money weakened the traditional party establishment’s hold on the process and propped up insurgent Senate candidates who lost on Tuesday. ...

Karl Rove's Crossroads outfit is holding a phone call for its big donors Thursday to sum up the race, said Stan Hubbard, a Minnesota media mogul and mega-donor. "Obviously, somebody made a mistake and didn’t do things right. There’s no question about that," he said. ... Nearly 40 percent of Team Romney’s spending came from super PACs and other unlimited outside money groups, compared with about 12 percent for Team Obama.

But the final tally for 2012 might never be known because some of the biggest spending outfits, particularly on the right, are nonprofit groups that are allowed to keep their donors and many details of their spending a secret from the public. With slim prospects for any significant clampdown on campaign cash from Congress, the Internal Revenue Service or the courts, a $2 billion presidential campaign could seem quaint in 2016, especially with competitive primaries on both sides. ...'

[msongs]

1. hope somebody tapes this call and releases it as a viral nt

[dchill]

3. Yes in-freakin-deed!

[ProgressiveEconomist]

4. Not as far-fetched an idea as it may seem--usually there's a temporary phone number

each person needs to call to join the conference. Usually, that's all you need; numerous staffers may have it; and reporters can offer cash for it.

[dchill]

2. "Obviously, somebody made a mistake..."

Meaning what? "We bought and paid for this election with a money-back guarantee."

These rich a**holes are showing that they're dumber than the rest of us 47 per centers.

[CorBlimeyGuvnor]

5. Understatement of the century n/t

[ProgressiveEconomist]

6. IMO the worst thing about this fiasco is where the money went--to media

whose "journalists" did not confront the LIES their ad departments were spreading for Romney. And, because the proportion of campaign spending by outside groups rather than political parties was threefold higher for Romney, the lies brought in top dollar rates. Media must give political parties their lowest ad rates.

From the OP quote: "... Nearly 40 percent of Team Romney’s spending came from super PACs and other unlimited outside money groups, compared with about 12 percent for Team Obama."