Rove calls Obama self-centered

WASHINGTON, June 26 (UPI) -- Karl Rove, the man often credited with making George W. Bush, governor of Texas and U.S. president, attacked Barack Obama as arrogant Thursday.

In an op-ed piece in the Wall Street Journal, Rove cited Obama's distancing himself from his longtime pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, saying it showed him to be self-centered, and his "chutzpah" for redesigning the presidential seal. He also accused Obama of displaying an "alpha-male attitude" in his treatment of U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton.

Earlier in the week, Rove was even blunter in his description of the presumptive Democratic nominee in an appearance on Fox News.

"Even if you never met him, you know this guy," Rove said. "He's the guy at the country club with the beautiful date, holding a martini and a cigarette that stands against the wall and makes snide comments about everyone."

Rove has morphed into a political pundit since he left his job as Bush's deputy chief of staff. He is also a supporter of Sen. John McCain, Obama's Republican rival.