Rove: Powell endorsing Obama removes his moral authority to lecture Republicans on it's Future

(On Foxnews)ROVE: Well, Secretary Powell had endorsed Senator Obama for president last fall, not his close personal friend, Senator McCain. Secretary Powell has talked for years about his close friendship with Senator McCain. And yet when push came to shove last fall, he endorsed Senator Obama.

So I think Vice President Cheney was naturally responding to Secretary Powell criticizing the Republicans, but then himself not even having the courtesy to endorse his long-time friend, who represents the kind of values and direction that he says he wants for the Republican Party.

VAN SUSTEREN:Why do you think Powell endorsed President Obama over Senator McCain?

ROVE: Well, I just think that having done that, that removes his moral authority to come and lecture every other Republican about how we should have supported more moderate candidates and a more moderate future for our party, like that represented by his friend, Senator McCain.

I didn't hear a word from Secretary Powell advocating a positive and optimistic agenda. He didn't spell out what it is that he wanted the Republican Party to do, except for Rush Limbaugh to shut up. And I thought that was sort of short-sighted and narrow-minded. If Secretary Powell wants to advocate a positive course for the Republican Party, he's got every right to do so. Let him back it up by going out and helping candidates whom he thinks represent that kind of spirit within the Republican Party and let him spend his time and effort advocating a positive course.

Frankly, I think the American people are fed up with people who just walk into politics and tear down somebody, rather than building up somebody something, who tear down a philosophy rather than building a positive view of what they want to achieve. I'd feel far more comfortable if he were going out there and saying, Here's what I, Secretary Powell, want to see for the future of the Republican Party, I'm going to back my words with actions to support those kind of candidates, instead of just going out there and saying, If you disagree with me, shut up. I don't think that's a very constructive way to go about it.

It's not a very comforting to say, My vision for the Republican Party's future is for Rush Limbaugh to shut up , that's not a very compelling and positive observation. It's not the kind of thing that causes people to stand up and say, yes, that's the kind of Republican Party I want. Rush Limbaugh, shut up. that's a very limited and narrow description of what ought to happen.