"It's up to him to be clear about what he means if he says something like this."
Yes. But as with Rush Limbaugh, if you are constantly talking and there are detractors just looking for error, they will find it. This guy is not Jesus, nor is he even the apostle Paul. He is a mere man with some good ideas and some not so good ideas. And even then, I am not the final arbiter on which is which. If someone has a problem with something he says, they should ask him to explain what he meant and then see what he has to say.
For this one man, you seem to have set the bar too high. He WILL fail you, for he is not the Christ. He is merely a flawed human being as are we all.
I'm not comment on anything else except his choice of words. I assume he is smart enough to know how that phrase would be taken. I am sure he got a lot of approval for it in some quarters.
I don't agree with Rush on everything but he is a far better communicator and doesn't leave you sitting "what do you really believe, Rush?"
Besides, Rush hasn't been entrusted with this infinitely precious Gospel.
"Be not many of you teachers, my brethren, knowing that we shall receive heavier judgment. " James 3:1