Political Hotsheet
By

Michelle Levi /

CBS News/ March 1, 2009, 1:10 PM

Emanuel: Rush Prays For Obama's Failure

Asked to comment on the status among conservatives of radio commentator Rish Limbaugh, who gave a keynote address at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington yesterday, White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel said, "He is the voice and the intellectual force and energy behind the Republican Party."

4836717Appearing on CBS News' Face the Nation, Emanuel said that the conservative commentator was very straightforward regarding his views about the new adminstration and its efforts to rescue a suffering economy — to which Emanuel said the Republican Party clings.

"He has been upfront about what he views, and hasn't stepped back from that, which is he hopes for failure," Emanuel told host Bob Schieffer. "He said it. And I compliment him for his honesty, but that's their philosophy that is enunciated by Rush Limbaugh. And I think that's the wrong philosophy for America," Emanuel said.

Schieffer asked if Emanuel really believed that Limbaugh was such an influential force within the GOP, to which his guest said, "I do think he's an intellectual force, which is why the Republicans pay such attention to him.

"But our goal, Bob, is to continue to reach out," Emanuel added. "And it's our desire that the Republicans would work with us and try to be constructive, rather than adopt the philosophy of somebody like Rush Limbaugh, who is praying for failure."


More from Face The Nation (3.01.09):
  • Emanuel: Obama Doesn't Like Spending Bill
  • Read the full transcript> (pdf file)

    To watch video of Rahm Emanuel on Face The Nation click below.

  • © 2009 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    516 Comments Add a Comment
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    annaamed says:
    Rush a drug user and smuggler needs to be in jail. Why he never gave a real or better idea to his buddy BUSH the loser. Reality is he need money for drugs and need to talk on radio. A cave man can do a better and sensible show. Hell with Rush the felon !!
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    annaamed says:
    Rush a drug user and smuggler needs to be in jail. Why he never gave a real or better idea to his buddy BUSH the loser. Reality is he need money for drugs and need to talk on radio. A cave man can do a better and sensible show. Hell with Rush the felon !!
    reply
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    annaamed says:
    Rush Limbaugh (a drug user and a felon) need to shut up. He is the biggest hypocrite in the radio history, actually he is making money by providing wrong information. John McCain voted for BUSH stimulus and he is saying it is generational theft. Also don?t forget new Joker known as Bobby Jindal, on the other hand another loser Arnold Schwarzenegger is begging for the stimulus money and bankrupting California. Actually republicans always supported rich and hated poor people, because they love slavery. Remember south, mostly republicans always supported slavery. Herbert Clark Hoover and Bush tried to bankrupt America, and Richard Nixon was a disgraced. Bush and Paulson spent our tax money and gave it to their buddies in Citi bank, AIG, GM and others, but no republican ever talk. Actually republican supported it and nobody has any record where the money go. The truth is Bush is the biggest ponzi scheme in American history not Madoff. How far these republican will go in their hypocrisy.
    Obama will lose next election if he did not bring real change, we are waiting for. No more war, which has no result except we will lose money and soldier.
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    snooppoliticaldog says:
    Rush Limbaugh is a gossip monger! All for the benefit of his personal gain. Why does Bob Schieffer and other smart talk show hosts continue to keep his comments relevant?

    Rush Limbaugh is Wally George with a big show budget. Time for us to wake up and stop accepting overpaid out of touch entertainers as educated journalists.

    Bob on Sunday morning's can you do us working folks a favor? Stop advertising millionaire court jester's as relevant political leadership.
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    workinginflorida2 says:
    Can you do nothing but criticize? At least offer a BETTER idea! I heard a 6 year old child recently comment after hearing nothing but criticism of our new President saying "nobody likes him but he's doing the best that he can". His best might not be perfect but are we all doing the best that we can? Probably not. Laziness, cheating, shortcuts, greed - that's waht got us into this mess and people who cause the trouble belong to both political parties.
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    Lingo2 says:
    If Rush , OXY BOY, says it, I know it a lie or the twisted near lie. The man is a menace to society same as Bush and his thugs were. Anyone who cannot see that is blind.
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    thadius5 says:
    Does Rust Limburg care about America and the state of the nation's economy? I think not. He is a fat (really fat) cat who has plenty of dough and Oxy to last him. He cares not if this recession last for years and years while the rest of America suffers and goes without. Ah yes a true patriot!
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    GORUSH says:
    I can not believe President Obama keeps puting in tax fraud canidatates for his cabinet post. Maybe this is his way of paying off the Socialist stimulus bill keep going Obama. Keep catching those mean oh rich money grubin Republicians. I'm sorry their not Republicians
    their Obomanite Socialist Democrats. The Donkey symbol for Democrat party says it all. A picture says a thousand words. Thank you RUSH for sitting it straight
    GORUSH!!!!!!!!!!
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    beth7777 says:
    Really? Could you please tell me the title of the books you read that support your comment? I think you need to provide a reading list for us so as to educate your nation since you are so well informed.
    Posted by beth7777 at 3:07 PM : Mar 1, 2009
    + report abuse + permalink

    I think all you need to do is read the two books he wrote in his own handwriting...and research the net just like I have for almost two years now...

    Enlighten yourself once in awhile instead of just sucking up the dumpocrapic pig trough of lies and propaganda...

    For a real whiz bang, research Comrade Obama's support of his cousin Raila Odinga in Kenya who riled up their Luo arabic/muslim brethern and murdered the Christians in Kenya to gain control of the government...the gentle Christian tribes in Kenya had built the country into a wealthy agricultural center...but the arabic/muslim immigrants in Kenya couldn't stand it...demanded their separatism and with the complete support and rousing effort by your Comrade Obama in 2006 went on to murder them and take the government anyway..

    That little ditty will give you total admiration tingles down your leg for your new arabic/muslim communist president!.

    I've read both of his books, and have done a tremendous amount of research on the candidates online. I haven't seen anything to support your theories. Again, please state your sources specifically, and preferably without spewing. People would take you more seriously if you weren't vomiting all over the place.
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    beth7777 says:
    raflin1: Rush never said that he is praying for the country to fail. I challenge you to show me where he did! Rather than continuing to call Rush names, why don't you dispute any of his points? All you're doing is just showing that you are not intelligent enough to do anything but engage in childish name-calling.
    As I said earlier, I too hope that Obama fails....just like I sure a lot of people hoped that Hitler would fail.

    to dandyandy93: Rush in undisputed heavy-weight King of Childish Name-Calling. He has been dishing it out for years and deserves some to fly his way.
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