Karl Rove continued on Wednesday to defend the remarks he made about Hillary Clinton’s medical issues even as he played down her “traumatic brain episode” as a “minor” issue for a potential 2016 campaign.
The Republican strategist caused a stir when the New York Post reported over the weekend that Rove suggested the former secretary of state suffered a “traumatic brain injury.” That reported comment was widely mocked and dismissed by Democrats, including White House spokesman Jay Carney, former President Bill Clinton and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA).
“Now, is this going to be the issue of the 2016 presidential campaign if she runs?” Rove told Fox News’ Sean Hannity. “No, it’s going to be a minor thing.”
Still, Rove said that Clinton will need to be more forthcoming about her health records if she launches a presidential bid. He cited former Vice President Dick Cheney, whose doctors gave a press conference after he had a defibrillator put into his heart in 2001, as an example. He also said the New York Times had ripped Bill Clinton in a 1996 editorial for being the “least cooperative” presidential candidate in releasing his health records.
A Clinton spokesman had responded to Rove’s reported “brain injury” comment by assuring that the former secretary of state was at “100 percent.”
“Karl Rove has deceived the country for years, but there are no words for this level of lying,” the spokesman told the New York Post.
Hannity did point out to Rove that Clinton spent just 4 days in the hospital in 2012 for treatment of a blood clot, not 30 days as Rove said in his reported remarks.
So Rove gave a lengthy explanation of how he came up with that 30-day figure. He began with the former secretary of state’s last public appearance on Dec. 7, 2012 after she came down with a virus in Europe, then traced her health complications resulting from a fall through the end of that month. He ended with Clinton’s reappearance at the State Department on Jan. 7, 2013.
“Now, do I think she has brain damage? No, I think she had a traumatic brain episode,” Rove equivocated. “You know, she had a concussion and a blood clot. That’s serious.”
Watch below, courtesy of Fox News:
This post has been updated.
Astonishing diagnosis Dr Karl. I’m sure HC is relieved by no longer having to go to ‘real’ doctors anymore with your crazy-rad remote diagnostic skills.
I continue to find it amazing how you can do such detailed analysis on topics you are totally uninformed about with your head lodged so far up your ass.
Still, Rove said that Clinton will need to be more forthcoming about her health records if she launches a presidential bid. He cited former Vice President Dick Cheney, whose doctors gave a press conference after he had a defibrillator put into his heart in 2001, as an example.
Yes, because when I think of an example of a forthcoming politician, Dick Cheney immediately comes to mind.
Gotta love it when the turd gets slapped.
“It’s a minor issue that I intend to keep on answering questions about. Thanks, media. Don’t ever change.”
Signed,
Karl Rove
Not to mention that the Dickster was already Vice President at the time. Dickster wasn’t at all forthcoming when he was a candidate.
In any event, I’d be ok with President Hillary Clinton releasing her health records.