Rove: Thanks, Obama, for Boosting the GOP Republican opposition to bill 'redefined' the party By Matt Cantor Posted Feb 12, 2009 8:15 AM CST Copied President Barack Obama speaks during a town hall style meeting about the economic stimulus package, Monday, Feb. 9, 2009, at Concord Community High School in Elkhart, Ind. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak) The Dems may ultimately have gotten their way with the stimulus bill, but the GOP has gotten a lift from the debate process, Karl Rove writes in the Wall Street Journal. Republicans pointed out specific flaws in the bill while introducing ideas of their own, thereby reducing popular support for the bill. “Obama has already re-energized the GOP and sparked a spending debate that will last for years.” Republicans pulled support from the bill by showing “that it is a massive spending spree, not an economic stimulus,” Rove writes. But they maintained a gracious image in a continued dialogue with Obama. Still, “if Republicans predict economic doom, they will overplay their hand”—the economy will recover on its own, and the Dems will take credit for it. Read These Next And ... 23,000 pages of Epstein files are now out. Warren Buffett is changing how he's distributing his vast wealth. Chaos for travelers who are abruptly booted as startup falls apart. Breaking Bad creator's new show is wowing critics. Report an error