Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Barack Obama's push: Make Rush Limbaugh appear to be the face of the GOP
Chicago Tribune ^ | 3-2-09 | Peter Nicholas

Posted on 03/02/2009 9:27:45 PM PST by STARWISE

he Obama White House has begun advancing an aggressive political strategy: convincing the country that the real power behind the Republican Party is not the GOP leaders in Congress or at the Republican National Committee, but rather provocative radio talk show king Rush Limbaugh.

President Barack Obama, top presidential aides and outside Democratic allies have been pushing the message in unison.

*snip*

With the White House working to make Limbaugh the face of the GOP, it is getting some outside assistance.

A tax-exempt group that supports progressive causes — Americans United for Change—is helping finance a television ad that claims GOP leaders are beholden to the radio host. The ad closes with Limbaugh saying of Obama, "I want him to fail."

*snip*

Brad Woodhouse, president of Americans United for Change, said the group has discussed the ad campaign with the Democratic National Committee. Woodhouse is joining the DNC next week as its communications director.

Asked whether the White House was notified about the ad, Woodhouse said: "They certainly are aware—I'm sure they're aware of what we're doing."

(Excerpt) Read more at chicagotribune.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: bho2009; bho44; democrats; dnc; drivebymedia; enemedia; fundedbysoros; gop; liberalmedia; limbaugh; obama; rahmemanuel; republicans; rulesforradicals; rush; rushlimbaugh; saulalinsky; sorocrats; soros; talkradio; waronrush
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 161-180181-200201-220221-223 next last
To: Big_Monkey
"If by "Republican Elites" you mean people that have an appreciation for well-reasoned, intellectually convincing and factually supported argument and not just ideological drivel..."


Alrighty, then!

If what you think of conservatives wasn't apparent before, it is now.


"...when I read your post I think bathroom attendant."


You stay classy...

181 posted on 03/03/2009 12:55:08 PM PST by dixiechick2000 ("Most Effective Obama Critics: Charles Dow and Edward Jones" ~ John McCormack ~ The Weekly Standard)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 180 | View Replies]

To: STARWISE

Looks like Rahmbo’s work behind the scenes since Rahmbo detests the Rushster.


182 posted on 03/03/2009 1:16:42 PM PST by lilylangtree (Veni, Vidi, Vici)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 162 | View Replies]

To: Darkwolf377

I still find it interesting that Obama is more worried about Rush than they are about anyone in the Republican Party.


183 posted on 03/03/2009 1:19:30 PM PST by RC2
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Big_Monkey
This strategy of Obama doesn't reflect foolishness. Rather, it reflects a cunning strategy on behalf of Obama that doesn't seem to be losing any effectiveness in the foreseeable future.

The proper response is to belittle this strategy. The GOP leadership ought to say something like this:

"Rush Limbaugh is not an elected official, nor a party leader. He's just a citizen with strong opinions who happens to be a talk show host. We find it rather sad that the president would choose to distract the voters from the real issues by attacking a citizen who has no formal position either in government or our party. In fact, we find it beneath the dignity of the office of the presidency."

After saying that, they ignore the attacks and never mention Limbaugh again, unless asked. If asked, they simply repeat that Limbaugh has no position within government or the party and that discussing him is distraction from the real issues.

184 posted on 03/03/2009 1:24:57 PM PST by curiosity
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 48 | View Replies]

To: dixiechick2000
The main reason for the objections to many grassroots heroes is not that people like Wurzelbacher lack forceful, clear articulation. Rather, it’s that they espouse traditional conservative positions. The suggestion by the elites is that those principles need to be ditched if Republicans want to regain power. The major critique is not whether they are effective spokesmen for the cause.

Sorry, but that's exatly the critique. Palin and Wurzelbacher are terrible spokesmen for the cause. The only people they connect with are the base. They have zero appeal to the middle.

The trick is to find someone who can make conservative values appeal to the middle. Reagan mastered that art. Palin, Jindal, Wurzelbacher and the rest of the rising "stars" are hopeless in this regard.

Too many conservatives today seem to think we can win elections without appealing to moderates. I've got news for you: we can't.

On the other hand, it's true that too many influential people in the party think that the only way to appeal to moderates is to nominate a squishy RINO like McCain. The last election proves that doesn't work.

No, we need a candidate who can articulate an authentically conservative vision, with fresh ideas consistent with conservative principals, in a way that can win over moderates. Palin is not that candidate. Neither is Jindal.

185 posted on 03/03/2009 1:40:21 PM PST by curiosity
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 177 | View Replies]

To: RC2
I still find it interesting that Obama is more worried about Rush than they are about anyone in the Republican Party.

If you think he's worried about Rush, you are engaging in some serious self-delusion.

186 posted on 03/03/2009 1:42:02 PM PST by curiosity
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 183 | View Replies]

To: Big_Monkey
If by "Republican Elites" you mean people that have an appreciation for well-reasoned, intellectually convincing and factually supported argument and not just ideological drivel,

Sadly, just about every single Republican either in elected office or in a formal party role today seems incapable of anything other than ideological drivel.

We used to be the party of ideas. What happened?

187 posted on 03/03/2009 1:44:08 PM PST by curiosity
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 180 | View Replies]

To: curiosity

Exactly. Underestimate Obama at your peril. He may be a commie, but he’s not stupid. One doesn’t go from state rep to President in four years without serious political skills. He’s extremely dangerous.


188 posted on 03/03/2009 1:48:29 PM PST by Tequila25 (Conservatism is common sense.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 186 | View Replies]

To: curiosity

So why all the attention? Democrats know Rush has conservatives ear more than they do.


189 posted on 03/03/2009 1:50:19 PM PST by RC2
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 186 | View Replies]

To: RC2

Rush has 20 million listeners. Over three times that number pulled the lever for Obama a few months ago. Do the math.

Dittoheads can’t do this on their own.


190 posted on 03/03/2009 1:54:49 PM PST by Tequila25 (Conservatism is common sense.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 189 | View Replies]

To: RC2
So why all the attention?

To distract the voters from the issues, and to try to tar the entire Republican party with Rush's image, which, outside of conservative circles, is not good.

Democrats know Rush has conservatives ear more than they do.

They could not possibly care less who has conservatives' ear. They are not trying to reach conservatives.

191 posted on 03/03/2009 2:03:04 PM PST by curiosity
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 189 | View Replies]

To: curiosity
"After saying that, they ignore the attacks and never mention Limbaugh again, unless asked. If asked, they simply repeat that Limbaugh has no position within government or the party and that discussing him is distraction from the real issues.

Yes, yes, yes. Why is it that some guy posting on a web site in the middle of the day can understand this, but six and seven figure political consultants can't convince the GOP leadership and rank & file of the same.

NBC just released a new poll that has Dems winning the "economy debate" 48% to 20%. Why? Because our Republican representatives are too worried about defending Rush Limbaugh.

192 posted on 03/03/2009 2:22:02 PM PST by Big_Monkey
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 184 | View Replies]

To: Big_Monkey
An NBC poll for Obama is really big news. Pretty predictable.

Please; Don't site anymore polls; who watches or looks at NBC stuff?

193 posted on 03/03/2009 2:35:01 PM PST by napavet
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 192 | View Replies]

To: napavet
"An NBC poll for Obama is really big news. Pretty predictable."

Right. Just like all those polls that were wrong when they predicted an electoral trouncing in last November's election.

And, who's the other half of the poll sponser - The Wall Street Journal. Do you read the WSJ? Is the WSJ a liberal rag and tool of the socialist pigs?

194 posted on 03/03/2009 2:37:48 PM PST by Big_Monkey
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 193 | View Replies]

To: Big_Monkey
NBC just released a new poll that has Dems winning the "economy debate" 48% to 20%. Why? Because our Republican representatives are too worried about defending Rush Limbaugh.

We makes me want to bang my head against the wall even more is that people like Steele, who are refusing to defend Rush, are going to the other extreme and joining in the attack on him. That's just as bad, even worse.

If someone else attacks Rush, and defending him is not policially smart, it doesn't mean to you have to join in the attack.

Why can't these idiots understand that it's best not to offer an opinion on an unimportant, irrelevant subject?

Here, pubbies, here's your talking point:

"Rush Limbaugh is neither an elected official nor a party leader. His opinions are his own, not the party's, so discussing them is a distraction from the real issues at hand. I nothing more to say about him. Can we now please get back to the business of the American people? We have much more important things to worry about than some talkshow host."

Now why is that so hard to say?

But no, instead of that, Steele goes out an insults Rush, and then makes himself look like even more of an ass by groveling and apologizing to him.

Ugh.

195 posted on 03/03/2009 2:58:04 PM PST by curiosity
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 192 | View Replies]

To: napavet
Please; Don't site anymore polls;

You're welcome to keep your head buried in the sand. I wouldn't recommend it, however.

196 posted on 03/03/2009 2:59:03 PM PST by curiosity
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 193 | View Replies]

To: Big_Monkey
Boy you didn't know that Obama was gonna win. No vetting process from the MSM.

Very predictable. The fix was on. MSM sure propped up our candidate to win. I wonder why. If you really liked John McCain and thought he was gonna win then I would really seek some help. We all knew who was gonna win. But I can bet you, as folks start losing there jobs and the economy goes South. Then I would be very surprised that a lot of Obama folks who are now regretting there vote would agree with your NBC poll. He isn't qualified to be President. When folks vote on emotions, then I know why we get poll results like you do. But I will guarantee you, when a person loses there livelihood, trying to support a family, not the MSM or any poll is not going to be able to hide Americans disgust. So please no more polls. History always repeats itself.

197 posted on 03/03/2009 3:10:54 PM PST by napavet
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 194 | View Replies]

To: napavet
"History always repeats itself."

History does repeat itself, right up until the time it doesn't. I'm hoping it doesn't, but I'm not optimistic it won't.

It is known as the "Hoover Depression" and not the "Roosevelt Depression". It certainly could and most certainly should be the Roosevelt Depression because it was Roosevelt's policies that prolonged. But, at the time (and still by most historians) Roosevelt is seen favorably because he delivered ideas, plans and actions. They all may have been wrong. I would argue that they were. But, it doesn't matter because the impression felt by the electorate at the time was that Roosevelt was doing the best he could to clean up a mess by the previous administration.

Sound familiar?

No matter how much worse it got under Roosevelt's leadership (and it got worse), it was still blamed on Hoover.

I'm sorry you don't give polls (apparently no matter who the pollster) any credibility. I do. Polls are empirical evidence of a studied group's opinion. They aren't someone's feelings or emotions or "gut-instincts" on a subject, they're objective data.

Right now, and by a wide margin, the American people believe that it's Barack Obama and the Democrats that are best suited to fix the economy. If that doesn't trouble you, give me some of what you're drinking, because I really need it.

198 posted on 03/03/2009 3:27:51 PM PST by Big_Monkey
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 197 | View Replies]

To: STARWISE

And make Lincoln the founder of the Democratic party. Forever associated with Obama in the popular “mind.”


199 posted on 03/03/2009 4:09:49 PM PST by firebrand
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: gunnyg

Dick, I’m lost.

The president by rank officially has a higher position
and status than any civilian, including Limbaugh.


200 posted on 03/03/2009 4:34:13 PM PST by STARWISE ( They (LIBS-STILL) think of this WOT as Bush's war, not America's war- Richard Miniter))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 172 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 161-180181-200201-220221-223 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson