Karl Rove defends new group sending shockwaves through GOP

This transcript is automatically generated

They battle between conservatives and the GOP establishment may soon hit critical mass now the issue is a new group called the conservative victory project.

That was started by -- rove and a super pac American crossroads is drawing the ire of conservatives and the Tea Party -- in just a minute Karl Rove will be joining me to respond.

But first the goal of this group is to protect incumbent Republicans against primary challengers.

And avoid what they -- losses like the GOP saw -- 2012 when conservative candidates like Todd Aiken and Richard Murdoch.

Lost what we're largely seen as winnable races.

How conservatives and Tea Party members they're responding by accusing call roll -- putting the establishment ahead of conservative principles.

Here with his side of the story Fox's contributor the architect Karl Rove for the -- welcome back -- Thanks for having me.

Let me start by correcting you you you've got something badly wrong there's this is not to protect incumbent Republicans.

It's to get in maybe it is -- races where -- is it's important to have a winning candidate.

It's to try and find the most conservative candidate who can win the so called Buckley rule our -- not to protect incumbents it's to win races by.

The stopping the practice and given away some receipts like we did in Missouri.

And in Indiana this past year and that may mean -- an incumbent Republican -- if he's going to be in the race.

He shouldn't expect any any funds from cross -- -- a general election.

I wanted to talk they can get out of the race after he made that huge blunder and but there are other Tea Party conservatives for example the Governor Palin supported a woman in that race.

The hero would -- human the first to -- -- yeah.

Yahoo! who -- wanted who would have who is an you had been elected state treasurer did not have the baggage that.

That that Todd Aiken had it's amazing to me that people think -- -- the best we couldn't come up with he wasn't even a Tea Party here.

He's one of the biggest advocates of the earmarks in the congress and for some reason another we've got a bunch of Tea Party people for their own reasons Tea Party professionals.

Who are out there trying to suggested he was the best we could come up with a look I want to be clear about this.

Crossroads.

Is second to none in our support of Tea Party candidates.

In 2010.

And twelve.

We spent over thirty million dollars for senate candidates who were Tea Party candidates we spent almost twenty million dollars.

For house candidates who were Tea Party candidates -- give an example of our support.

We stayed two point nine million dollars from Marco Rubio more than any other group.

We spent two point seven million dollars for Rand Paul.

We spent five point one million dollars for Sharon angle in Nevada we spend eight million dollars in Colorado for Ken Buck.

We spent one point four million dollars in Pennsylvania for Pat -- the former president's Club for Growth we spent more money on his behalf in the group that he used to head.

And then in 2012.

We spent five point nine million dollars in Indiana for Murdoch and 3.3 million dollars in Missouri.

We ran -- up until the point where -- -- made his stupid comment now hard donors say to us look we don't mind given money.

But why are we backing candidates.

Like -- can why are we stuck in the general election with candidates like hey can I guess I feel like -- still win -- all.

So there was against conservatives like me -- before the deadline I was begging somebody like hot they can get out of the race the the only thing I fear I may be called.

I I read the article reads differently than your explaining it frankly beat you the New York tunnels drilled by the New York Times -- and had hard -- and I want to hear but so here's what I ask you this is really -- -- there is the Reagan eleventh commandment.

You see the reaction of Tea Party groups -- my -- Markel and then was excoriating you on radio yesterday.

I -- -- the Tea Party movement and I consider myself a Tea Party conservative.

Ted Cruz.

Marco Rubio we've got Tim Scott Deb Fischer.

Mike Lee Ron Johnson Pat -- there are instances there in the case of to -- going back to what 20042000.

Specter was chosen by the establishment.

Over to me well -- he was incumbent he was incomes and President Bush did support -- as well look here's a deal I supported Pat -- when he ran in 2000.

And -- I gave him money in September of 2009.

Because I wanted him to -- -- US senator.

I personally contributed my own money try to Marco Rubio in October of 2000 you mentioned Tim Scott.

Tim Scott was in a tough primary with a lot of -- establishment Republicans I gave him money my own personal check in June of 2010.

Crossroads not involved in primaries but I personally backed -- because I like to block.

You talk about -- -- this year we were the biggest outside groups spending in Nebraska in order to make sure in the dead fish.

During what are conditions so we know so it's -- misunderstood now this is important because look I wanna win Carl and -- in my fear is is that if Karl Rove is fighting the Tea Party and conservatives are battling establishment candidates battle which happened with Charlie Crist and Marco.

I am contrite and -- -- if we're fight he had no look first well first of all our.

Object is not to be for the establishment is to be for the most conservative candidate who could win.

And it NF -- -- who were involved in 2009 -- -- in primaries.

I would suspect that we would have been involved on behalf of Marco Rubio because he was the most conservative candidate who could win.

This is not Tea Party vs Dallas and I think it's interesting.

The groups that have mostly gone on with their little emails and their fundraising pitches.

Our groups that are not like crossroads in that they are fundraising Kennedy's where most of the money gets sucked up into overhead and goes into the pocket of the person who owns the for the website or owns the political action committee remember.

-- I'm a volunteer I don't take a dime from crossroads we raise 200 should be 328 million dollars last year.

And any Haley Barbour and I are -- -- salary or we don't get a percentage of the money I got paid my -- XP.

Chances -- -- so I please let me say this.

-- look there war.

Prominent people that didn't support Ted -- early they supported Charlie -- -- early.

I just think that if you put the Republicans are fighting Obama's happy I don't wanna see that have looked like Clinton local and local I don't want to fight.

But but -- you mentioned Ted Cruz we didn't even know what they need to be involved in the Texas primary we have three good candidates in the best 11.

So we didn't need to be involved -- that kind of thing but but if if if people some people think the best we can do is -- is.

This time Murdoch.

Actually -- -- and and Richard Murdoch they're wrong we need to do better if we hope to take over the United States senate but not -- went better conservative candidates and win.

All right I I wish they can would have gotten out of that race it would have helped give us a chance Missouri death are Carl wolf we'll talk more about it in the days in the weeks ahead and thanks -- what's.

You -- thank you.

Watch Live

Karl Rove defends new group sending shockwaves through GOP

Details

Clips

Powerful Politics

Sen. Rand Paul: Obama's speech is a 'misdirection campaign'

Is the administration mastering the art of evasiveness?

What is so dangerous about the truth?

House of Scandals: Where was Obama?

Rudy Giuliani says DOJ spying is 'totally unethical'

What did IRS insiders know and when did they know it?

Newt Gingrich: Americans need to know facts behind IRS probe

Gingrich says Benghazi is a 'willful hiding from the truth'

Sen. Lindsey Graham on Benghazi: 'Stop the stonewalling'

Will Washington overcome its latest credibility crisis?

Donald Rumsfeld hopes Benghazi narrative is exposed

Obama's web of scandals continues to grow

Transcript

Recommended