Posted on 03/04/2009 3:18:37 AM PST by Sub-Driver
Inside the Dems' anti-Rush plan By: Jonathan Martin March 4, 2009 04:04 AM EST
Top Democrats believe they have struck political gold by depicting Rush Limbaugh as the new face of the Republican Party, a full-scale effort first hatched by some of the most familiar names in politics and now being guided in part from inside the White House.
The strategy took shape after Democrats included Limbaughs name in an October poll and learned their longtime tormentor was deeply unpopular with many Americans. Then the conservative talk-radio host emerged as an unapologetic critic of Barack Obama shortly before his inauguration, when even many Republicans were showering him with praise.
Soon it clicked: Democrats realized they could roll out a new GOP bogeyman for the post-Bush era by turning to an old one in Limbaugh, a polarizing figure since he rose to prominence in the 1990s.
Limbaugh is embracing the line of attack, suggesting a certain symbiosis between him and his political adversaries.
"The Administration is enabling me, he wrote in an email to POLITICO. They are expanding my profile, expanding my audience and expanding my influence. An ever larger number of people are now being exposed to the antidote to Obamaism: conservatism, as articulated by me. An ever larger number of people are now exposed to substantive warnings, analysis and criticism of Obama's policies and intentions, a story I own because the [mainstream media] is largely the Obama Press Office.
The bigger, the better, agreed Democrat James Carville. Its great for us, great for him, great for the press, he said of Limbaugh. The only people hes not good for are the actual Republicans in Congress.
(Excerpt) Read more at politico.com ...
How much money, taxpayer money, has been spent by the White House to try to personally destroy a private citizen.
What is CNN’s response that two of their "journalists" actively participated in a conspiracy with government officials in direct violation of journalistic ethics to help in this destruction.
How many people on the White House staff are participating or working on an enemies list and who are they.
It has been reported George Stephanopoulos of ABC News has also been talking with these three conspirators on a daily basis. What did he know, when did he know it, and what part, if any, did he play in it. What is ABC's response?
What did Barry know and when did he know it?
No GOP politician needs to attack or defend Rush. What we DO see is a lot of squishy RINOs hurrying to attack him.
Until the moderates turn their fire on the Democrats they certainly have no reason to criticise Rush for being the only one to actually try to put lead on a hostile target.
If they have better criticisms, they need to get out there with them and show Rush where he could do better. Right now, he’s the only one who seems to understand this is an all-out brawl for control of the political high ground for the next generation.
One other thing, since you've got me going. So many people are insanely worried about labeling Obama, or any Politician as a Commie, or a socialist, or a marxist or a RHINO or a whatever. McCain tried ad nauseum to define Obama as a socialist. He and Palin said it ever opportunity they could. But, it didn't work.
Why doesn't this work.
I don't have any specific data to point to, but I would wager a month's salary that the if you asked Americans to define capitalism, socialism, Marxism, communism no more than 5 in 20 could give accurate and complete definition of all the "isms".
So, when Limbaugh, McCain, Palin, Jindal and other GOP politicians call Obama a socialist - it means almost nothing to the average American. They have no idea what Socialism is and they certainly don't understand how it negatively impacts their daily life.
If the GOP doesn't stop name calling and start to develop economic, social and international policy ideas, it will never win another national election, at least in the foreseeable future.
You can't just keep saying Government is the problem, taxes are bad and Obama is evil. You've got to clearly articulate why those things are important to the average voter and what your plan is to counter them.
Well stated.
> Limbaugh is less popular in this country than Jeremiah Wright. What part of that is so confusing to so many?
OMG, what????
That, and the fact that you paired “MASTERFUL” with the frikkin “DNC”... well, words fail me.
I'm not quite sure why words are failing you. Which part don't you understand? The part where Wright is less destructive to the DNC than Limbagh is to the GOP? Or the other part where this is a brilliant political strategy by Emmanuel and Obama?
http://www.gallup.com/poll/107215/Bush-May-Harmful-McCain-Wright-Obama.aspx
The above Gallup poll taking in 05/08 (the height of the Wright affair) found that only 33% of American's were less likely to vote for Obama because of Wright. Compare that with the poll below conducted last week by Gallup.
http://www.gallup.com/poll/114163/Limbaugh-Liked-Not-Republicans.aspx
Some people act like this is pretend or made up - I would argue it's denial. It doesn't help conservatism to ignore empirical evidence and not learn from mistakes.
Thanks ;)
I saw it and “got it”.
I didn’t respond out of kindness.
You joined up today just to post this nugget of wisdom?
Without conservatives there is no Republican Party--no funds, no ground game, no campaign get out the vote workers.
My statement stands. And with the amount of newly minted, Obama commissioned trolls out there, your statement is suspect,newb.
Gallup polls are not infallible.
Most people polled didn’t know jack about Rev. Wright, nor do they know about Rush Limbaugh—what they actially said, nor their long held positions.
These polls are more an indicator of how effective the MSM controls the perception of people they are either protecting
(Obama) or destroying(Limbaugh).
Quite frankly, your analysis is not up to the standard around here.
The DNC is not “brilliant” nor “masterful”. It is the same old demonizing game that has gone on since 1992.
Except this time, someone is fighting back.
Their “brilliance” is only momentary. That you can;t see that, says a lot about where you really stand.
Everyone's got a reason why polls that they don't agree with are wrong. And like something else everyone's got, those reasons all stink.
I live in a world of reality, data and empirical evidence. I accept that evidence when it validates my world views, and I accept that evidence when it invalidates my world views.
Rush Limbaugh, for whatever reason you wish to assign, is extremely unpopular with the overwhelming majority of Americans. If you can't understand or accept that premise, your thinking with your heart and not your head.
Rush always comes out on top. This may just be the match that lights the powder keg.
A Gallup poll is not reality.
Depending on the make up of the respondents, the locale, the time of day people are polled can affect the results you get.
And in polls, you can get any result you pay for.
Most Americans have only heard about Rush through the media filter. And that is reality.
This is like polls showing that most Americans were in favor of Obama’s stimulus plan. They didn’t even know what was in it, nor had they read it. Heck, even the people that voted on it in Congress didn’t read it or understand what was in it. But they all thought it was great!
Polls are not infallible. Statistics can be made to say anything you desire.
If by disaster you mean, the RINO’s are going to pay for it - you’re damn right it’s a disaster. And about damn time too.
Cedric: I saw it and got it. I didnt respond out of kindness.
"Yawn..." Cedric, you've become merely a self-parody... truly sad...
G.Mason, the Rodney King allusion was amusing, but I've come to view Cedric as more like a pale imitation of sinkspur (minus his knowledge, his reasoning ability, and of course, his wit... /g)
And Cedric, should you choose to "not" respond again, "out of kindness", the answer, in advance, is, of course, "whatever..."
I guess what your saying is the future if the entire free world rests on one man shoulders?No. That is not what I am saying. That is what you are saying that I am saying. And you are wrong.
But let me ask you this:
Did Ronald Reagan make a difference?
Do heroes matter in history?
Or do the communists have it right, that no individual matters, that only Historical Force matters? (Whatever the F they mean by that... I haven't a clue... but maybe it means something to you.)
Politics and talk show hosts are not going to get us out of this morass. Waiting for the real “unpleasantness” to begin. Fort Sumter II....
A big factor in Reagan’s campaign was his radio show. I’m not saying Limbaugh is a Reagan or that he has a chance in h* of becoming president. What I am saying is, don’t underestimate the power of communication.
Ever hear of the Iranian revolution? It was basically fomented by fax machine.
And, while the eventual obsequious praise was inadvertently condescending, the response to that praise was utterly, albeit predictably, pathetic.
Through my great leadership by example, standards have been raised here at Free Republic.
Step up your game, boys, lest you further irritate Cedric The Magnificent.
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