Rove at Newsweek? Is Newsweek on its Last Legs?

Maybe Newsweek is in financial trouble. I find it quite incredible that Newsweek would be willing to tarnish its journalistic reputation by hiring Karl Rove as a commentator. Rove is one of the last decade's most ingenious manipulators of the press. This is not in dispute. He was a master of limiting access to journalists, leaking when it served the Administration, and disclosing sensitive information to protect the Administration's war agenda. He gave public speeches in support of Republican candidates using the war as political propaganda while he repeatedly insinuated that anyone, especially Democrats, who did not support the Administration agenda was in league with terrorism. He was a confirming source of Valerie Plame's identity to Robert Novak and an originating source to Matt Cooper.

Karl Rove is the closest the United States has ever come to having a full time propagandist on the public payroll. That Newsweek would so easily give him a public microphone speaks volumes about the mainstream media, and Newsweek in particular.