Yes Rush, it’s true: RNC chief rejects GOP traditions (follow-up Union Leader editorial)

Manchester Union Leader ^ | 9-3-03 | Editorial oard, Manchester Union Leader

[GraniteStateConservative]

RUSH LIMBAUGH read from one of our editorials yesterday, and a lot of people have asked if what he said was true. It is.

The editorial was titled GOP, MIA and it was printed in last weekend’s New Hampshire Sunday News. Because of all the interest, we have reposted it on the Web site.

We wanted to take this opportunity to assure Rush and everyone else that the editorial was and is 100 percent true. Over the course of an hour-long meeting with Ed Gillespie, the chairman of the Republican National Committee, we took great care to give him every opportunity to explain himself fully so that nothing could be misunderstood. The result was a surprisingly frank admission that the Republican Party defines “fiscal responsibility” as increasing the federal budget at “a slower rate of growth” than the Democrats (his words).

We asked him three times to explain why President Bush and the Republican Congress have increased discretionary non-defense spending at such an alarming rate, and why the party has embraced the expansion of the federal government’s roles in education, agriculture and Great Society-era entitlement programs.

“Those questions have been decided,” was his response. The public wants an expanded federal role in those areas, and the Republican Party at the highest levels has decided to give the public what it wants.

We were fully aware that publishing those comments — all made on the record — would mean we would never be invited to any $1,000-a-plate Republican dinners in Washington. But the rank-and-file Republicans, the men and women who vote GOP because they believe in federalism and limited government, deserved to know what we knew. Now they do. And they can use the information as they see fit.

[xzins]

Filibuster? You must mean "threat" of filibuster.

Perhaps the Pubbies don't bring it up because they're afraid of the RinoPublicans.

[Dane]

Being the least bit pro-Life can get us stationed in political Siberia quicker than anything else I know

Did you check out reply #34.

[alnick]

Just as I suspected, the quote is quite different than what was claimed.

[wgeorge2001]

"Thinkers know that ALL politics is religious.

Relig. conservatives have supported the Repubs for years and have NOTHING to show for it.

Abortion: no progress. In fact, regression.

Judges: not only is there no progress, there is no willingness to fight for constructionist judges, AND there is a "no religious need apply" line on the application forms.

Culture: continued state hostility to things religious.

Education: no advancement at fed level (any level?) for tax relief to parents sending their kids to private religious education.

Morality: continued state approved enforcement and funding of a homosexual culture on the rest of the nation.

I could go on.

The "Log Cabins" have their caucus. It's time for the religious conservatives to group together.

"The Valley Forge Republicans."



Bravo, well said, well thought out, well obeserved; absoulutely true.


John 1

1. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2. The same was in the beginning with God.
3. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
4. In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
5. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

[Pikamax]

sounds like a nice little hit piece that some are all too willing to believe. It would be nice to see a transcript instead of their interpretation of what was said.

[justshe]

Thanks for posting the statement from Rush's website.

You know.....if RUSH had WAITED....instead of 'dedicating a lot of Tuesday's program to this story'........we wouldn't be having this discussion.

IMO......Rush ran with an unsubstaniated ASSERTION made in a newspaper editorial....and created heartburn BEFORE it was even confirmed.

Shoddy work on Mr. Limbaugh's part, imo.

[billbears]

We asked him three times to explain why President Bush and the Republican Congress have increased discretionary non-defense spending at such an alarming rate, and why the party has embraced the expansion of the federal government’s roles in education, agriculture and Great Society-era entitlement programs.

“Those questions have been decided,” was his response. The public wants an expanded federal role in those areas, and the Republican Party at the highest levels has decided to give the public what it wants.

Well at least they're getting back to their roots as the 'bigger government' party

[alnick]

IMO......Rush ran with an unsubstaniated ASSERTION made in a newspaper editorial....

That's why I don't listen to Rush any longer. He does that type of thing far too often. Gotta fill up those hours, I suppose.

[MinuteGal]

I, too, want to see the actual transcript. However, if Ed was misquoted or his remarks taken out of context, why didn't he immediately issue a personal and definitive refuttal instead of having flunkies and mouthpieces floundering around issuing lame denials?

Too many Republican leaders have a penchant for screwing up one-car parades. But we all know that.

Leni

[MissAmericanPie]

I think I had rather believe my lying eyes. It doesn't matter if the article is true or not when their actions speak louder than these few words ever will.

[whd23]

Honestly, who cares what the Republican party says, just look at what they do:

• Campaign Finance "Reform" (anti First Amendment)
• Huge expansion of Medi-fraud "entitlements"
• No Child Left Behind (read: Kissing Kennedy's Behind)
• Complete inability to stand-up for conservative judicial nominees

I submit that it is time for the RNC to prove to conservatives that they are still represented under the "big tent." It is not the job of conservatives to prove that they are deserving of representation.

[raybbr]

I agree in principle. However, Rush has recently shown that he will not pass up a chance to "hook" his listeners, so to speak. He throws something like this out, talks about it, then tells you to listen in for further information. Or, better yet, go to his website, subscribe and you'll get all the inside stuff. (I found this doing a Google search. I will not subscribe.)

I am getting a bit tired of Rush's pomposity. It's a wonder his arm doesn't lock up from patting himself of the back.

[dogbyte12]

Is President Bush going to veto anything? Is he going to propose cuts in spending next year? That is where the proof in the pudding is in all this nonsense.

What size will the budget be next year in non-defense spending? Will it be bigger or smaller?

[reelfoot]

I'm not nearly as concerned with what some political operative SAID as with what elected officials are DOING. What I see our president and republican congress doing is spending like drunken sailors. Even if Gillespie's views were distorted in either of the two editorials, the republicans sure seem to be doing exactly what Gillepie was cited as advocating: giving full rein to huge central government spending. And from what I have observed, it has not been a matter of the president and a majority of republican congressmen opposing the massive spending, only to be outvoted by the RATs and RHINOs; the huge majority of republicans are leading the big-spending parade.

[Walkin Man]

The RINO / country club libs rule the Republican Party for sure. Their silent coup is complete. No wonder they are backing a leftist lib like Arnold to the hilt over a real conservative like Tom McC!

Gee, who do I vote for now? Lib Party R or Lib Party D?

Either way I lose!

[Pikamax]

So this is the whole snatch victory from the jaws of defeat bit. Look for the sake of actually being in power, the GOP cannot under any logical, rational circumstances just shut down spending without damage to the cause.

You are dealing with 40+ years of social rearing by the demos who have grown up at least 2 generations of a population that expects the government to provide for them in some way. You have to slowly take them off that behavior.


Medicare is something that is pushed and loved by the older generation, the best you can do at this time is to slow down the growth while working behind the scenes to roll it back, the same for child education, thats another loser issue if you just slash and burn in one swoop that can come back to haunt the GOP, that has to be slowly taken away.

This is politics, I have gotten far more from the GOP(tax cuts, enviro wacko laws roll back for example) that I realize the GOP has to pick and join when to move the agenda than just lose the advantage to make some in the party totally happy. This is not just a 4 year fight, this is going to be ongoing decades long fight.

[xzins]

How to start the caucus?

Ideas?

Corin, you've been there before. How is this done?

[Pikamax]

"So this is the whole snatch victory from the jaws of defeat bit"

of course I had to screw up the opening line..grrrrrr

"...defeat from the jaws of victory."

[raybbr]

The GOP is doing some things right. I wish they would toot their own horn once in awhile. Loudly.

[BureaucratusMaximus]

I'm not nearly as concerned with what some political operative SAID as with what elected officials are DOING. What I see our president and republican congress doing is spending like drunken sailors. Even if Gillespie's views were distorted in either of the two editorials, the republicans sure seem to be doing exactly what Gillepie was cited as advocating: giving full rein to huge central government spending. And from what I have observed, it has not been a matter of the president and a majority of republican congressmen opposing the massive spending, only to be outvoted by the RATs and RHINOs; the huge majority of republicans are leading the big-spending parade.

BUMP!