Character counts, Rove tells graduates

LYNCHBURG, Va. (AP) -- President Bush's chief political adviser told graduates of the Rev. Jerry Falwell's Liberty University on Saturday to judge leaders on the basis of character.
America needs people who have "the moral clarity and courage to do what's right, regardless of consequence, fashion or fad," Karl Rove said.
"You either have values ingrained in your heart and soul that will not change with the wind or you don't," he said.
Rove also reminded the 2,041 graduates to pay off their credit cards and to never act smarter than their bosses. "Even if you are," he added.
Liberty University is a private school affiliated with Falwell's Baptist ministry.
Rove, who said he never earned a college degree, was presented an honorary doctorate of humanities by Falwell for his "commitment to conservative ideas."
Rove also shared how he persevered in politics from an early age.
"At the age of 9, I put a Nixon bumper sticker on the wire basket in the front of my bicycle. Unfortunately the little Catholic girl down the street was a couple years and about 20 pounds on me. She was for Kennedy.
"When she saw me on my bike with my bumper sticker for Nixon, she put me on the ground, flattened me out and gave me a bloody nose," he said.
"Despite that beating I never lost interest in politics."