Posted on 03/02/2009 5:26:46 AM PST by Delacon
As soon as the sun rose on the day after Limbaugh's CPAC appearance, three of the four of the phone call participants attacked Limbaugh with the same talking points. It seems obvious that they coordinated their attack together in the Obama secret strategy session. It is amazing that a president's staff can have such power over major media figures without a peep being heard from those that only months ago bashed former presidents over a perceived undue, even "dangerous," control of the media.
The morning after Limbaugh's CPAC speech, Obama Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel appeared on CBS News' Face the Nation [2] and told Bob Schieffer that Limbaugh was the "voice of the Republican Party," and that he "hasn't stepped back from" the "hopes for failure" he expressed for Obama's administration.
James Carville, obeying his Obama marching orders, said pretty much the same thing in his CNN commentary headlined, "A history lesson for Rush Limbaugh [3]," where Carville began by saying that Rush is the "moral and intellectual leader and most influential person in the Republican Party."
As for ABC's George Stephanopoulos, he employed the same talking point [4] about Rush's hope that Obama's socialist policies would not succeed -- though it is sure that Stephy didn't call Obama's policies socialist. In an interview with Eric Cantor, Stephanopoulos said, "So the Rush Limbaugh approach of wanting the president to fail is not the Eric Cantor, House Republican approach?"
So, what we see here is the combined attack emanating out of the secret phone call strategy session pushing the themes that Rush is the "voice of the GOP" and that he wants Obama to be a failure -- both talking points that are not exactly in context with the facts. The strategy at work is that these three Democrat activists pretending at members of the media have concocted with the White House through Emanuel an effort to tar all Republicans with the Rush brush.
These Obama strategists think that making Rush the "voice of the GOP" will drive away moderates and make the GOP seem to be leaning toward right-wing extremism. And, by adding Rush's hope that Obama's socialist policies fail, these strategists are attempting to claim that Republicans hate Obama merely because he is president (veiled racism) and not because the GOP is against these unAmerican polices Obama is pushing.
Once again, I have to ask, why are these secret phone call strategy sessions not a matter of public discussion? That the White House is orchestrating media messages with the supposedly independent press corps, is it nothing to raise an eyebrow about? Should we not see this as the sort of collusion between the press and the White House that leads to public information controlled by political spinmieisters in the belly of the White House instead of journalists interested in truth? Where are those that only until recently claimed to be interested in a free press dedicated to the real story? Why are they so suddenly quite?
Lastly I’d like to suggest something. These folks are all eager to reinstate the Fairness Doctrine, of course. So, I am wondering if it would be “fair” that Rahm include a few conservatives in the secret phone sessions he has with his lap dog media pals? Let’s say along with Stephy, Carville and Begala, Rahm might include Rush and Sean Hannity?? Seems pretty fair to me, anyway!
I would quibble somewhat about characterizing this as a “secret” strategy. They don’t bother hiding it anymore.
BTW, add me to your ping list.
“I never saw any reports of behind the scenes manipulation of media such as this one.”
I can’t think of an example that was made public, but if you think this didn’t happen in previous administrations (Bush, Clinton, etc.) you really don’t know how this stuff works. I know there were cases where Bush and Clinton people put HEAVY pressure on media not to run certain stories or to change the stories.
They also used “contacts” or people outside the adiminstration to influence the news behind the scenes. Believe me, it was a LOT more than just common phrases or lingo. And on the days when talk show hosts are all talking the same line, do you really think that’s just coincidence?
“As soon as the sun rose on the day after Limbaugh’s CPAC appearance, three of the four of the phone call participants attacked Limbaugh with the same talking points.”
Of course they did, they’re all Democratic hacks. Including the loathesome hypocritical Carville, who accused Bob Novak of seeking favor with the RNC.
Re Rush’s speech: Put that in your tutu, Rahm.
I don’t think Rush will appreciate being analogized to a white whale.;)
“They are all crooks and liars - I hate generalizations but I can’t fine one upright man among them.”
They cut their teeth in the Clinton Administration. Lying is their M.O. They don’t remember what principles are, or what they’re for.
I will be disappointed if "Faux News" does not highlight this blatant compromise to journalistic integrity.
re: they release one giant Fairness doctrine strike and take down the entire media.
Really??? How did I miss that. Seems like it would have been in the papers on certainly on the news from MSM.
Liberals think if they treat something as a fact enough times it will become a fact. The Fairness Doctrine is under attack, no doubt about it. It’s our job to see to it that that attack is repelled, and Rush is a big part of our defenses.
To paraphrase Mark Twain, I think reports of the death of the fairness doctrine are premature. I don’t want to minimize the danger facing it, but I also don’t want us to underestimate the power we have in our grasp if we will use it. Part of using that power means dropping the idea that we have to be so damned nice about our conservatism. The Liberals are evil and nasty for a reason and that’s because they know it works. We need to borrow a page from their playbook and turn that tactic back on the once in awhile. They use it as their weapon of first choice. We need to see it as a weapon of choice in certain clearly defined instances, then turn it loose with gusto.
That’s been my view of him from the jump. He IS the de facto President, all that spouts from Oboomba’s mouth has his spin on it. But I never thought Obama had an original thought anyway...
This will all blow up in Rahn’s face.
why are these secret phone call strategy sessions not a matter of public discussion? That the White House is orchestrating media messages with the supposedly independent press corps, is it nothing to raise an eyebrow about? Should we not see this as the sort of collusion between the press and the White House that leads to public information controlled by political spinmieisters in the belly of the White House instead of journalists interested in truth? Where are those that only until recently claimed to be interested in a free press dedicated to the real story? Why are they so suddenly quiet?
It is none of our business what people discuss among themselves. If some people who happen to be employed as reporters do, or do not, talk to a particular member of the administration that is not our business. What is our business is the fact that those reporters are members of a cartel known as the Associated Press which illegally controls the journalism business. Because of that, the employers of those reporters should have their socks sued off. Whether or not those individuals talk to administration sources.
Yea, me too.
Yes, but when a high ranking member of the whitehouse staff colludes with high profile members of the MSM to target and attack a leading conservative talk radio host, that is news and it is our business.
Rahm Emanuel, Propaganda Czar.
Start asking for a release of Obambi’s crackberry missives.
“The Fairness Doctrine is under attack, no doubt about it. It’s our job to see to it that that attack is repelled . . . .”
Actually, it’s our job to see that the attack is successful. The deceitfully named “Fairness Doctrine” (dare I call it a “misnomer”?) is really censorship. Nothing “fair” about it at all.
Perhaps the MSM should just get it over with and register as a Democrat Political Action Committee or 527.
Rush is right! Any Republican, any conservative who does not CRAVE the failure of Obama’s Socialist Agenda is an idiot or a tool of the left.
Shame on Eric Cantor for hoping for Obama’s success at instituting radical socialism.
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