Cato Institute Says Its Data Misued By Karl Rove Anti-Union TV Ads

Is nothing sacred? Even among friends?

Plenty of Democrats and liberal groups have found themselves on the receiving end of Karl Rove's political cheap shots, but who'd have thought that the Koch-founded libertarian/conservative Cato Institute would say it was the latest Rovian victim?

A Cato research official is claiming that Rove's new conservative fund-raising and advocacy machine "Crossroads GPS" - - it has pledged to spend $120 million in the presidential year 2012 - - twisted Cato data about worker salaries to fit the narrative in anti-union TV ads aired by Rove's group in Wisconsin and elsewhere.

The Washington Post has the details.

You can see the ad - - and data about union wages purportedly exceeding private sector wages by 42% attributed to the Cato Institute, but twisted, Cato says - - here.

Crossroads GPS says the ad was inspired by what's happening in Wisconsin.

I'd say the ad buy suggests that Walker needs some support.