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Will Rush Endorse in GOP Primary?
Excellence In Broadcasting ^ | March 25, 2011 | Rush Limbaugh

Posted on 03/25/2011 5:44:32 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet

BEGIN TRANSCRIPT

RUSH: Craig in central Florida. You are on Open Line Friday. Hi.

CALLER: Hey, Rush. Dittos. It's great to talk to you.

RUSH: Thank you, sir, very much.

CALLER: I'll get right to my point here. I just have a simple question for you. Are you going to endorse a GOP candidate?

RUSH: You mean in the primaries?

CALLER: Yes.

RUSH: It would only be the second time if I did it. I know, the pressure is on, the pressure is on. Everybody says look what happened last time when I didn't, I know.

CALLER: If you don't plan to, I beg you to do it, you know, considering the circumstances in the country right now, and based on the results from last time, getting McCain.

RUSH: Yeah, I know. You're blaming me for that?

CALLER: No, no, no, I'm not blaming you. I mean, everybody has a reason for what they do but, you know, the country needs conservatives, in particular need that kind of leadership.

RUSH: Let me ask you a question. I'm gonna turn it around on you. You know who the field is right now pretty much, right?

CALLER: Yeah.

RUSH: Who do you endorse?

CALLER: If I had to vote for somebody right now I'd probably vote for Bachmann.

RUSH: Michele Bachmann.

CALLER: I mean I like Palin. I don't really understand all the hatred for Palin. I think it's almost like an infection that a lot of even conservatives buy into that --

RUSH: Fear. It's fear.

CALLER: I don't understand it, but I would vote for Bachmann. But you know it's gonna save the candidates a ton of money, a tone of hard feelings and backbiting. And it's gonna allow them to save their money to go up against Obama who's gonna have, they say, a billion dollars in the bank.

RUSH: Well, some of that goes beyond the scope of my responsibilities here, saving money. But nevertheless, I understand your concerns. It's a question I've been asked by many. If you look at the way this field is shaping up, you've got Bachmann, you have Palin, Christie, Trump, any number of people here that you could coalesce behind. It will be an interesting period of time. Did I hear you say that you like McCain or did you say Palin?

CALLER: No, no, no, I like Palin.

RUSH: Palin.

CALLER: McCain, I feel the same way that you do about McCain. I mean I voted for him but I held my nose when I did it, though.

RUSH: Well, the real question is who is Colin Powell going to endorse because he is said to be the prototypical Republican and he's not gonna be running and we've always been told that General Powell, keep a sharp eye on how he's thinking, who he endorses, that's probably the best route the Republican Party could take.

CALLER: Well, I could kinda care less about that, but I think you're ducking me here. You're really not gonna give me a yes or no?

RUSH: (laughing) I'm just having fun with you.

CALLER: I know.

RUSH: No, I don't know. Look, what do you want me to do? If there's nobody in the field that I am jazzed about, which is entirely possible, if there's nobody in the field, what I'm gonna have to do then is say, okay, this election had better be about Obama, and I think it ought to be anyway. This election should be all about Obama because, frankly, I would vote for Elmer Fudd than Obama. I would vote for whoever the Republicans nominate.

CALLER: Of course.

RUSH: I don't care.

CALLER: Everybody would. Any conservative would, but you're in a unique position to just clean out the field, allow all these candidates to back up the person --

RUSH: No. No wait a minute, now. Wait a minute -- (crosstalk)

CALLER: -- spending their money trashing them.

RUSH: I'm not trying to slither out of this. I'm trying to tell you as honestly as I can, what if there isn't anybody I'm passionate about? I could do that, I could pick somebody, but if I don't have passion about it, I can't. I'm not a liar. I can't come in here and tell you I'm razzmatazz, rolled, and ready to go.

CALLER: Nah, you don't have to be passionate to endorse somebody.

RUSH: Thanks to you my own staff is ganging up on me in here.

CALLER: Good.

RUSH: The election is going to be about Obama. (interruption) I'm suggesting to you that it is entirely possible a loser candidate will get the nomination. That's what I'm telling you. It has to be about Obama, it has to be. That's what all this is about. It has to be about Obama. We can't handle four more years of this. What do you mean, if it's you-know-who? Who the hell is you-know-who? (laughing) Now they're throwing names at me, folks, they're telling me, "If you know it's such-and-such it's gonna be a disaster and if it's that person it's gonna be a disaster." It may well be. That's what I'm telling you. It may well be a disaster, and regardless what it is, the election has to be about Obama, it's got to be. That's the only logical thing anyway. We have got to stop this, even if it's a stopgap, Elmer Fudd, I don't care, pick a name. This is why I don't understand all this talk, and I hear about people, "I don't think Palin's the one, do you, Rush?" Well, she's a lot better than some of the others already in the field, all right? We could say that about a lot of them. (interruption) Yeah, I know, I know, I need to -- (interruption) No, because nobody knows that.

Snerdley's just said, "You gotta pick the person who can win." I gotta pick the person who could best beat Obama, who has the best chance of beating Obama, that's what you think? Who can win the nomination or beat Obama? Saving the country is about getting rid of Obama, and I'm telling you, you guys are not hearing me. You're not hearing me because you don't want to face the truth. The truth is, the sad reality is we may end up with Milquetoast as a nominee. We still have to get rid of Obama, in which case it has to be, the election has to be about Obama. It has to be. You'll see. You'll see. Staff still doubts me. I know some of you people do, but they know me best, they still doubt me. I'll tell you this. Whoever in this field takes it to Obama the straightest, the hardest, and the most direct is who's gonna win. Somebody's gonna have to take it to Obama. This is not a pussyfoot around type election. This is not, "Well, we gotta worry about what they say about us, gotta worry about our PR, we gotta worry about charges of racism." Somebody's gonna have to be willing to take it to Obama. It's going to be about him and four more years of this stuff, and we'll see if there's anybody in this field willing to do that. All right. Thanks for the call out there. I appreciate it.

BREAK TRANSCRIPT

RUSH: I'll tell you something else. This Libya stuff and the Japanese earthquake has created an impression that might not be accurate. Let me just put it this way. Do not believe that the Tea Party has forgotten about this budget business, the spending, what the Republicans on Capitol Hill are doing, make no mistake. They are as focused, they're gonna be as demanding, they're gonna be watching. It's only intensifying. This reluctance on the part of the Republican leadership to deal seriously with spending and defund Obamacare, there is a lot happening, it's not being reported on 'cause the press shoves it aside for this sexier stuff, the Japanese earthquakes, the tsunami, the Japanese syndrome and all that stuff, then Libya and everything else, but the pressure being brought to bear on Republicans regarding spending, Tea Party, they're swelling in their ranks, their enthusiasm's growing, their demands are intensifying. Just 'cause you're not hearing about it doesn't mean that it's been forgotten or the energy or passion has evaporated, because that isn't the case at all.

END TRANSCRIPT


TOPICS: Issues; Parties; State and Local
KEYWORDS: 2012; bachmann; congress; obama; palin; rushlimbaugh; talkradio; teaparty
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To: Windflier

Would you look at the times on our posts? First time I have eve seenthat. LOL


41 posted on 03/25/2011 6:55:42 PM PDT by MestaMachine (Note: I do NOT capitalize anything I don't respect...like obama and/or islam...but I repeat myself.)
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To: PaleoBob
I wonder if Rush spoke up for Reagan in 1976 or even 1980 BEFORE he won the nomination. I really wonder.

You'd have to ask David Limbaugh. No one else was listening to Rush at the time.

That said, this election is for all the marbles. Rush wants our nominee to be Sarah Palin, and this time, he needs to drop whatever considerations he has, and endorse her for the nomination.

If there was ever a time for him to come to the aid of his country, this is it. If he fails to do this, he will carry that shame to his grave.

42 posted on 03/25/2011 7:00:36 PM PDT by Windflier (To anger a conservative, tell him a lie. To anger a liberal, tell him the truth.)
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To: filbert

Cain is a nice guy and a good businessman, but he is not presidential material. OTOH, a Palin/West ticket now might well see us have our FIRST, REAL black president after Palin’s two terms.


43 posted on 03/25/2011 7:00:48 PM PDT by MestaMachine (Note: I do NOT capitalize anything I don't respect...like obama and/or islam...but I repeat myself.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
Rush gave his mission statement today.

He simply wants zero out of office and will support anyone on our side.

He claims any candidate will do however we all know that some are far more equal than others.

Hard to tell if and or when he will enter into the fray.

Just guessing,his worst nightmare scenario is that he supports a candidate and then they lose. He's afraid the wind would be out of the sails of his audience and they might not support the candidate as hard as is necessary to win.

With 20 million listening you have to be careful what you do,and or say, he is.

44 posted on 03/25/2011 7:02:45 PM PDT by rodguy911 (FreeRepublic:Land of the Free because of the Brave--Sarah Palin 2012)
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To: MestaMachine
Would you look at the times on our posts? First time I have ever seen that. LOL

Gotta admit - they're pretty tight.

45 posted on 03/25/2011 7:03:23 PM PDT by Windflier (To anger a conservative, tell him a lie. To anger a liberal, tell him the truth.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
TRUMP That's who he'd endorse if he endorsed anyone. TRUMP
46 posted on 03/25/2011 7:04:44 PM PDT by PENANCE
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To: jessduntno

Chances of two females on our ticket are probably remote. That would make Michelle a VP possible only if Palin is not selected as our candidate.Interesting scenario.


47 posted on 03/25/2011 7:05:24 PM PDT by rodguy911 (FreeRepublic:Land of the Free because of the Brave--Sarah Palin 2012)
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To: upsdriver

LI think what Rush meant was the election is about getting rid of Obama.


48 posted on 03/25/2011 7:07:09 PM PDT by rodguy911 (FreeRepublic:Land of the Free because of the Brave--Sarah Palin 2012)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

I think you’re right. Rush really likes Palin. He was holding his cards in that phone call because she hasn’t declared.

But he quotes Palin and defends her far more than he does anyone else.


49 posted on 03/25/2011 7:08:01 PM PDT by altura
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To: Windflier

Unfortunately Palin/West or Palin/Rubio won’t happen they are too green. In addition zero has ruined any chance of a newcomer for either party for some time to come,he’s just too big a disaster.


50 posted on 03/25/2011 7:09:29 PM PDT by rodguy911 (FreeRepublic:Land of the Free because of the Brave--Sarah Palin 2012)
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To: Andy from Chapel Hill

Good pick


51 posted on 03/25/2011 7:10:51 PM PDT by rodguy911 (FreeRepublic:Land of the Free because of the Brave--Sarah Palin 2012)
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To: MestaMachine

I think you’re right. She needs a man as VP. Not sure who yet, but it’ll be a good choice.

Not sure about West or Cain yet. Need to know more about them.

How about someone like Mario Rubio or Paul Ryan?


52 posted on 03/25/2011 7:12:42 PM PDT by altura
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To: rodguy911
Just guessing, his worst nightmare scenario is that he supports a candidate and then they lose. He's afraid the wind would be out of the sails of his audience and they might not support the candidate as hard as is necessary to win.

With 20 million listening you have to be careful what you do, and or say, he is.

I think you've hit on one of Rush's chief considerations about publicly backing a candidate during the primary, but once Palin declares, it would be dishonest of him in the extreme, to not do something to indicate his support for her to his audience.

I know that this is a delicate matter for radio talk show hosts. Rush isn't the only one who has to carefully watch how he treads during a presidential primary. We're only talking about him, because he's the most influential and well-known conservative talker, but all of them will have to face the same question.

53 posted on 03/25/2011 7:13:12 PM PDT by Windflier (To anger a conservative, tell him a lie. To anger a liberal, tell him the truth.)
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To: Windflier

Rush wants our nominee to be Sarah Palin, and this time, he needs to drop whatever considerations he has, and endorse her for the nomination.

If there was ever a time for him to come to the aid of his country, this is it. If he fails to do this, he will carry that shame to his grave.


Hey, I’m with you on this, Windflier.


54 posted on 03/25/2011 7:13:14 PM PDT by PaleoBob
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To: Windflier

I disagree,Rush has already stated his mission and its to get rid of zero,period.


55 posted on 03/25/2011 7:13:52 PM PDT by rodguy911 (FreeRepublic:Land of the Free because of the Brave--Sarah Palin 2012)
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To: filbert
I’m enamored with the possibilities of a Cain/Palin 2012 ticket.

No way Palin takes the second spot two tickets in a row. I see lots of people thinking that somehow she would just settle for number two. If Sarah is in it, she's all-in.

56 posted on 03/25/2011 7:14:04 PM PDT by Colonel_Flagg ("It's hard to take the president seriously." - Jim DeMint)
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To: Windflier

West might swing a FEW black votes, but blacks do not seem to have any respect for conservative blacks.

It’s a mystery.


57 posted on 03/25/2011 7:14:28 PM PDT by altura
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To: MestaMachine

Ryan would only be out of pocket from July 2012 until the election. If they won, he could have Palin put him, as VP, as the person in charge of balancing the budget. He would have more power as VP than in the House, IMHO.

He might be able to run for re-election in the house at the same time, a la Lieberman.


58 posted on 03/25/2011 7:15:58 PM PDT by Andy from Chapel Hill
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To: Windflier
I see your point and its hard to disagree.

My guess is Rush is paranoid about a possible scenario where Palin declares she is running and then a Romney or Newt wins the nomination.

At that point he does not want his audience to stay home or lose enthusiasm as the stakes are just too high.

Keeping that in mind,and it's a possibility however remote,its hard to see him coming out,but you never know.

59 posted on 03/25/2011 7:18:58 PM PDT by rodguy911 (FreeRepublic:Land of the Free because of the Brave--Sarah Palin 2012)
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To: Colonel_Flagg

I think the same way. However, if we get another RINO and the right person asks her to come on as # 2 or we stand a 50/50 chance of losing, my guess is she will come on. But thats a lot of speculation at this point.


60 posted on 03/25/2011 7:21:27 PM PDT by rodguy911 (FreeRepublic:Land of the Free because of the Brave--Sarah Palin 2012)
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