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."

Appearing 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.