Posted on 12/21/2007 7:22:12 PM PST by dixiechick2000
*snip*
RUSH: Okay, folks, let me tell you what's going on now. I sadly, and unfortunately, must make this point reacting to our last caller. What we have going on here is identity politics, I think, in a large swath of support for Governor Huckabee. Identity politics is what the left does. Do you know what I mean when I say "identity politics," Rachel? Okay. Identity politics is: You vote for the Christian. You vote for the black. You vote for the woman. This is traditionally how the left looks at people. We, as conservatives, don't. We don't see you, for example, in a political sense, and see a woman first. We might see a woman first because you're beautiful, but we're men and we can't help it. In a political sense, we wouldn't say, "You don't qualify. You're not smart because you're a woman," and we wouldn't say you deserve anything special because you're a woman. We wouldn't look at a black and say, "Oh! Poor, disadvantaged, slavery heritage, presidential material!" without knowing anything about the guy. We wouldn't if there was the first admittedly open gay running, we wouldn't say, "Oh, terribly discriminated against, really has had no chance! We're going to vote for the gay guy because it makes us feel better about ourselves."
That's identity politics, or a little strain of it, and that's what's happening in the Huckabee race. The identity of Huckabee is: "Christian, Southern Baptist minister," and that identity is covering and is being translated by supporters as meaning whatever they want it to mean, as opposed to actually looking at how he's governed. Like the pastor who just called and said Huckabee is a light at the end of the tunnel. Pastor, the light at the end of the tunnel is the oncoming train, and you can't get off the track! That's the light at the end of the tunnel, and I think identity politics was a fundamental feature of the Perot campaign as well. People really didn't even care what his policies were. He didn't even have to articulate policies. Remember that? (classic Ross Perot impression) "I'll tell you, Larry, here's what we're going to do! We're going to get rid of all these 737s, going to hire a bunch of Lear 55s. We're going to have smaller airplanes." He cares so much! "You own this country! You own it. This is your country. We're going to give this country back to you." That's identity politics, and this is traditionally not what conservatives and even Republicans, right-wingers, do.
We're a little bit more serious about it, and this is also one of the things that I detect. Of course, one of the things that makes me convinced I'm right about this is that Governor Huckabee is doing what he can to avoid discussing his record and his policy beliefs and is, in fact, relying on his identity to keep people on his side, in his camp, and perhaps even grow it. In one way, you'd have to say it's pretty smart because on the other side his opponents, you've got admitted conservative flaws -- admitted conservative flaws which do trouble the Christian right, which is a large part of the Republican base. Either support for abortion or gay marriage, things that would be disruptive to the culture, and many people are very, very concerned about the culture. So with Huckabee, the identity is, Christian. That means hundred percent thoroughbred on social issues, the cultural issues. Yet you dig deep, and you find the policy on immigration. If you look at Huckabee in an identity sense and yet at the same time you really think illegal immigration is destroying this country, then your identity association with Huckabee as a Christian likely will make you overlook the fact that he's opposite your belief on illegal immigration. Jimmy Carter was a Southern Baptist and he ran on that and he tried to capitalize on that. He ran on the religious identity, too. (rare Jimmy Carter impression) "I will never lie to you," except when I see the giant rabbit attacking my canoe. Remember that? (laughing)
Glad Rush exposed the Huckster today though, classic. God bless Rush. I'm going to join his 24/7 subscription. Rush is doing a great thing , saving the Republic and freedom from this Huckster. Check out Rush's web site to get the transcript:
http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_122107/content/01125107.guest.htmlRush:" So Huckabee goes out and hires the DC-Manhattan axis campaign manager, who then starts ripping people like me for being part of the DC-Manhattan axis! I'm part of the Cape Girardeau-middle America axis. I grew up in Missouri! I think Rollins and his candidate need to stick to the issues. They need to stick to the record. They need to stop with this Clintonesque spinning that they're doing out there. You know, McCain's starting to look better to me than this guy -- and that's saying something! More I see what Huckster's -- Huckabee's (laughs) record was in Arkansas, there's a lot of liberalism in there. There certainly isn't a lot of Reaganism in there, and I think that the Huckabee campaign is trying to dumb down conservatism to comport with his record, and now they focus on me, challenging me on a personal level here like the libs do. I told you the other day, we had a caller that wanted to know what I thought of the Huckabee campaign. I said, "Look, I see a lot of Perot here in terms of the support that Huckabee has," and I remember back in 1992, I did everything I could. By the way, Ed Rollins worked for Perot, too. But let's go back. I said something I learned during the Perot campaign. I tried to warn people every day: "This guy is not who you think. He's not really serious about this. There's a vendetta or a something that's driving this, but he's not who you think he is. There's something about this that's not right."
I think Rush’s misses the Huckster’s real appeal. He is funny, and people like his personality. Kind of like Colbert and Stewart, the politics is secondary to their humor and personality.
Thats still shallow and superficial. No way to pick a leader.
Yeah, he’s a real Huckayucka!
I remember saying to my wife that he seemed intelligent and well-spoken. She replied that he was cunning.
Hince we have Huckabee denying his floating cross in the background of his Christmas Message. What most do not notice in the add are the three Christmas balls in the ad, depicting the Holy Trinity. Huckabee used those symbols , and lied that he had no intent to use them.
Good post!
Thank you!
Wouldn't be the first time...
Fine let him run for Jay's job!
Huckabee would be our Jimmah Carter.
Not good.
Thanks for posting this. I was out for most of the day, so I missed all discussion of what Rush said. Rush is right. If anything, Huck represents the Christian left more than the Christian right - and in the end, you have to remove the similar adjective (Christian), and see where he is on the fiscal issues (left), and realize he is no conservative. I think everyone who understands Huckabee is trying to find away to explain this to Huck’s supporters in a way that won’t make them feel dumb or in a way that won’t cause them to be reactive. I hope Iowans are doing their research because a President Huckabee would be a disaster.
Do you think 30 million illegal aliens being given amnesty is funny? Cause that is also what huckleberry will bring with him.
Given the chain migration that will result from amnesty, we could easily be flooded with 100,000,000 uneducated, mostly illiterate, unemployed, uninsured, unvaccinated, high disease rate welfare cases.
Goodbye United States of America.
Hello Second American Revolution.
no kidding "not good." Wanna see what J.C. "leadership" looks like in the short term? Look at the US in his administration. Wanna see what J.C. "leadership" looks like in the long tearm?
Look at Rhodesia.
Huckabee has surged because he won a couple of debates and he’s got evangelical support. If a quick rise can happen to the liberal pro-life evangelical Huckster, it can happen to the conservative pro-life evangelical Hunter.
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According to Intrade, the winner of the December 12th GOP debate was... Duncan Hunter.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1938773/posts
Rush has Huckabee summed up correctly, I call Huckabee “ a one trick pony”, because he only knows Baptist. Huckabee educated at a Baptist College, Baptist theology, and a Baptist Minister, and it is all he has to draw on, besides his personal experience of growing up in Hope, Arkansas... Well Bill Clinton was from Hope, Arkansas, and they said he was a charmer too, but Clinton is a LIAR also.
Could it be that many in the “christian right” actually agrees with Huckabee about taxes, govt programs,...? Thats what I think people are missing. Many of “religious right” never was on board with the economomic conservatives. They have always been “populists”, but couldnt vote for democrats because of their liberalism on social issues. Huckabee is conservative on the social issues and populist on economics; that may actually be a better fit for the RR base than even Reagan was.
If Huckabee wins the nomination you can kiss conservatism goodby for at least a few election cycles. Huckleberry will be lucky to get 40% of the vote and may not win a single state.
The republican congress will distance themselves from the Huckleberry Hindenberg and run to the middle. RINO’s will seize the party, claiming that Christian “conservatives” are an electoral disaster, and RINO’s will rule a potentially permanent republican minority.
Ironically Giuliani, Romney, or McCain is better for conservatism than the so called Christian conservative minister.
Kinda like the fat boy (RUSH) himself ...
He's wrong. A whole hell of a lot of people (of all political persuasions) do this. I hear it all the time.
The best that might be said is that more people on the left do this ... but that's as far as it goes.
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