Posted on 03/04/2009 10:04:32 AM PST by Zakeet
According to the Politico Democratic strategists, months ago, planned to paint Rush Limbaugh as a bad guy to hurt the GOP and on Wednesday, the "Today" show followed that blueprint as Matt Lauer pilloried RNC Chairman Michael Steele over his flap with the talk show host:
Doesn't Rush Limbaugh put people like you in a very tough position? If you agree with him publicly it sounds like you're rooting against the economic recovery and yet if you disagree with him and call him an "entertainer" and say he's provocative and sometimes what he says is "ugly," you're put in the position where you gotta run and apologize to him.
Lauer repeatedly misinterpreted Limbaugh's comment that he wants Obama's to fail, never clarifying that Limbaugh is rooting against his policies precisely because they will hurt the economy as Lauer presented the false choice of, you're for Obama or you're against the economic recovery, to Steele:
Mr. Steele, let me try it this way, there are as many Republicans out there as well as Democrats who are unemployed right now. People are hurting across this country. Republicans, as I mention, like Democrats are losing their homes, they're unable to send their kids to school. Do you think those Republicans want the policies of Barack Obama to fail right now?
Lauer began the "Today" show this morning by greeted viewers with news that the GOP was in dire trouble due to Limbaugh:
Good morning. Who's the boss? The GOP facing a major image problem. Its leaders quick to attack controversial comments made by Rush Limbaugh and even quicker to apologize to him, as our new poll shows the party's rating has sunk to a new all-time low. What's going on and how will they turn things around? We'll ask RNC chairman Michael Steele.
After Lauer noted a new NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll shows: "Only 26 percent of voters have positive feelings toward the party. That's an all-time low," NBC's political director Chuck Todd came on to discuss the GOP's unpopularity with a report headlined with the graphic: "Republican Rumble, GOP Infighting Hurts Party Support," and relayed that, "The White House is borderline giddy about the entire episode," between Steele and Limbaugh.
The following is a complete transcript of the intro, Todd set-up piece and then full interview with Steele as it was aired on the March 4, "Today" show:
Meanwhile MSNBC goon Chris MAtthews call pro-lifers “terrorists,” with no corresponding demands for repudiation.
What, is he on a media tour to see how quickly he can dump his own party??
WASSUP??
Kinda like the Iraqi Card Deck.
I make Obama the Queen of Hearts.
Lauer: “So Mr. Steele, when did Rush stop beating your wife? And when did you stop liking it?”
How is this wrecking the GOP?
Looks the opposite to me.
Thank you Rush!!!
True. Plus, he's not the only one. A few others (Cantor, Sanford et al) have been caught off guard on the Rush issue. They should be savvy enough to answer the question, appropriately distancing themselves (if necessary) or, more importantly, clarifying the Rush statement, WITHOUT throwing Rush under the bus.
Liberals never liked Rush Limbaugh. It wasn’t Rush but Bush, Cheney, and Rumsfeld who generated the wave of hostility toward Republicans that led to Obammunism. If you take away the unpopularity of the war and the downward economic turn, there would have been a different outcome.
Not KCRA-TV in Sacratomato. They are as Kommie-like as their parent.
-PJ
WSAZ TV Huntington, West Virginia
WCMH TV Columbus, Ohio
WLWT Cincinnati, Ohio
WHO TV Des Moines, Iowa
...GOOD STATIONS
It's about time the high-minded party got down in the dirt with the Democrat dirt-slingers.
I see clips from Today on The Soup and I agree with you wholeheartedly.
Yep.. Just like it was Sarah Palin that was the reason McCain lost the election.
I’ve had libs tell me this!
They don’t care, why would they?? The day to day public are a bunch of idiots, so why would they not just believe what Matt says at face value??
I’m more frustrated at Steele, I mean hes been an epic fail. Hes completely wish washy and I saw this coming ever since he surfaced down here in Maryland.
Very true. Clearly shows Lauer as just another ‘tool’ of the DNC house organ. This timing is orchestrated.
ping!
Hey, Matt, when you’re finished getting spanked by Ann Coulter then you can take on RL.
J. Fred Muggs was the last good host of the “Today” show. It’s time for that irrelevant little production to fold up its tired, old tent.
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.