Meghan McCain: ‘I hate Karl Rove’; John McCain: ‘I don’t’

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) said Thursday that he has moved past tactics attributed to Karl Rove in the 2000 campaign, after his daughter said she hates Rove.

It has long been a theory that Rove started rumors before the 2000 South Carolina presidential primary, when George W. Bush and John McCain were competing for the nomination, that McCain had an illegitimate black child. Rove has denied any involvement.

{mosads}“I hate Karl Rove, and I think he still needs to apologize to my family, which he has not done for the things that happened in 2000,” Meghan McCain said in an interview with Ora.tv’s Larry King, set to air Thursday night. “And I think there was an era where Karl Rove was relevant, and I don’t know why people still give him attention.”

Asked about his daughter’s comments on Fox News, the elder McCain said, “I don’t hate Karl Rove at all. The campaign is over.”

“As far as my daughter’s emotions are concerned, it’s the family members that always take these things the hardest,” he continued. 

The younger McCain also said Rove’s recent remarks that Hillary Clinton wore glasses that people only need when they have “traumatic brain injury” were “disgusting.”

The senator and his daughter have also split in terms of policy. Meghan McCain supports gay marriage, while the senator does not. 

“I do appreciate her perspective on her generation,” John McCain said. “I have learned a lot from her.”