Rush Limbaugh: Republican Party Leader?

CBS Evening News: Democrats Think That Tying The Party To The Radio Host Is A Political Winner -- Is It?

(CBS)  Want a formula for a diverting political tempest? CBS News senior political correspondent Jeff Greenfield breaks down the steps:

Step 1: Take a provocative speech by the most popular conservative voice in the land - that would be Rush Limbaugh, who asked, "What is so strange about being honest and saying, 'I want Barack Obama to fail?'" at last week's Conservative Political Action Conference.

Step 2: Add an observation by the White House chief of staff that has the subtlety of a hand grenade - Rahm Emanuel saying that Rush Limbaugh is the leader of the Republican Party.

Step 3: Throw in a comment by chairman of the Republican National Committee, the newly-elected former Maryland Lt. Gov. Michael Steele, who said Limbaugh is only an entertainer and that some of his remarks are "incendiary." Follow that up with a hat-in-hands apology from Steele to Limbaugh.

Step 4: Then, well, just stand back and watch the mixture come to a boil on cable news.

Republicans charge the White House with unleashing a "weapon of mass distraction." Democrats, including the party's national chair, counter that the Republicans are cowed by a commentator who is wishing the nation ill.

"When Rush made the statement of, 'Look, I want the president to fail,' that was just a very important thing to point out right there," said Tim Kaine, the Virginia governor and Democratic National Committee chairman. "We're gonna shine a spotlight on that. We're gonna ask the American people, 'Is this the way you want your politics to be?'"

So what's going on here? At root, this issue (or argument or sideshow) is a tangled mix of arguments about what was said, who said it, and when it was said.

It is also the latest example of an old political tactic: trying to define the other party by its most polarizing figure.

In an ordinary time, what Limbaugh said would have been completely conventional. Why would a dyed-in-the-wool conservative want a Democrat with an ambitious agenda to succeed? For that matter, did Democrats want President Bush to succeed in cutting taxes for the well-to-do, or changing Social Security?

But nobody wanted Bush to fail in the days after September 11th. And today, in the midst of a global economic crisis, "failure" can imply that very hard times will befall the country - a point that ex-House Speaker Newt Gingrich made this weekend.

"I don't think anyone should want the president of the United States to fail," he said. "I want some of his policies to be stopped. But I don't want the president of the United States to fail."

That, according to Limbaugh's defenders, is exactly what he was trying to say.

"Rush wants Barack Obama to fail in implementing his agenda," said Rich Lowry, editor of the conservative National Review. "And he thinks that is what's good for the country. That is a perfectly respectable point of view. That's what the opposition usually believes."

But for some conservatives, Limbaugh appeals to the converted, while appalling those in the middle.

One poll shows why Democrats may relish the idea of Limbaugh as the face of the GOP. By a 27-46 margin, Americans view him unfavorably. And this would hardly be the first time a political party has tried to attach an unpopular face to the other team.

For decades, Republicans tried to identify Democrats with Jane Fonda, Jesse Jackson, even with a city.

"The San Francisco Democrats," Jeanne Kirkpatrick said at the 1984 convention, "always want to blame America first."

In 1996, Democrats tried to make then-Speaker Newt Gingrich the running mate of Bob Dole.

This time around, it's a tactic, says one of Limbaugh's least favorite Republicans, that could backfire.

"They made a tactical, political mistake," said Arlen Specter, the moderate Republican senator from Pennsylvania. "If you fight with the White House and the White House fights with you, you must be a pretty big guy."

But for most Republicans, the notion of Limbaugh as leader is an idea whose time has decidedly not come. What Republicans need, says one veteran strategist, is not a new face or voice, but a set of ideas.

"The next election's not going to be about Rush Limbaugh. That only happens in James Carville's dreams," said strategist Michael Murphy. "Next election is going to be about who's better for the middle class: big spending Democrats, or free enterprise Republicans? And we Republicans have a lot of work to do to be able to make that case now, and win."

And if the Republicans are looking for a leader, a new poll suggests how daunting that search may be. Sixty-eight percent of Republicans say the party has no leader. As for Rush Limbaugh - he gets the nod from just 2 percent of Republicans.

[analogdigital]

When I think of someone who is Republican, I think about people that love this country with a vengeance, support family values, god fearing and believe that hard work and perseverance will get you through life. These are important values. People who practice these values are the backbone of America. Trouble is, with members of the Republican Party who are also on the radio and in public office, they only preach these values to other people, but do not practice them. This is why they have no leaders.

Examples, when Clinton was getting impeached and one of his biggest opponents, Newt Gingrich had a mistress on the side. Recently, Govenor Sanford disappeared for a few days to see a mistress in Argentina. Rush is no angel neither, was he divorced four times and accused of abusing pain pills? Not really a role model for family values or the Replubican Party. He just a talk show host with a big ego. If he is the spokesman of the Republican Party, then the party is in deep trouble.

Republicans, need a leader who practices what they preach. That way they can gain the respect of the majority of the people and more importantly, win the trust of the people.

[sonofsatan]

Rush Limbaugh is nothing but a fat f*%#ing demagogue! Odd that the people who listen to him cannot comprehend what this really is!

[bigbro1a]

The GOP does not hate America. They hate the road that America is taking to becoming a socialist country. We have allowed too many people to become accustomed to getting everything from the government instead of working for it. They stand there with their hand streched out in order to get, get, get and never contribute anything.
Obama wants that for America. He wants to take more money from people that have worked hard to make something of themselves and give it to the deadbeats.
I understand that there are those that need help, but that help should be to get them back on their feet, not help them depend on free handouts at the expense of hard working Americans. So far Obama has proven to be the biggest disater this country has ever seen. All he wants to do is spend, spend, spend and lie to Americans about the reason that he is doing it. Wise up America you put a tyrant in the White House.

[JamesB621]

Just give the overweight wind bag some more Oxycontin and he'll be even more entertaining.

[realityzone]

Limbaugh's health is deteriorating, we'll be rid of the fat windbag soon enough.

[guitpic1]

Rush Limbaugh...biggest windbag in history to actually be broadcast to a multitude of folks.

The DFL should pay him to stay on the air.

Just goes to show you how far ignorance can succeed.

[smvdriver]

Carville Wanted Bush to Fail? - They all wanted Bush to fail, you can tell by they way they report the news. They just read their ?Teleprompters? and expect us to us to accept opinions and surveys as news. They being the Carville News Network, Jeff Greenfield and _____. To many to list here; you can fill in the blank with your favorite teleprompter readers. And CBS News wonders why their ratings suck! You need to fire your writers and get some real reporters in there. Your writers are making Katie Couric sound like a lib.

[apostasyusa]

Why Does the Leader of the GOP Hate America?

[apostasyusa]

Here's what some real Republicans think about Rush Bimba:

"A man who is aggressive and bombastic, cutting and sarcastic, who dismisses the concerned citizens in network news focus groups as ?losers.? With his private plane and his cigars, his history of drug dependency and his personal bulk, not to mention his tangled marital history, Rush is a walking stereotype of self-indulgence ? exactly the image that Barack Obama most wants to affix to our philosophy and our party."
David Frum

"Nature abhors a vacuum, and there is no vacuum in nature as empty as the leadership of the Republican Party today."
Conservative columnist Richard Viguerie

[rccpepper]

always interesting to see the msm vilify a Real American in defense of the party of tax cheat cabinet, radicals, domestic terrorists, rights for terrorists over American citizens and proven murderers for leaders/lions (kennedy).

obama, msm and democrats continue the destruction of the American culture and leading the Real Americans to consider them to be America haters in the first degree.

[bigbro1a]

How easy it is to forget for all these liberals.

[bigbro1a]

You need to get your facts straigth. I saw the speech on Fox News and just for your information he was talking about Obama's socialistic programs. So be careful who you call a bonehead without having all the facts. The quote you posted is incorrect, you probably got it from the liberal media and not from a reliable source. The big three CBS, NBC, & ABC. The New York Times, CNBC, MSNBC etc all also included as part of the liberal media.

[Paulrapaul]

For all you bone head neo-cons who keep repeating that Rush, never said I want Obama to fail. Here is his Quote, " I don't need 400 words I only need 4, " want him to fail". If Rush had other intention then he should have stated them. he did not. The quote stands on its' own.

[bigwhtpony]

Limbaugh, a staunch conservative, emphasized that he is rooting for the failure of Obama's liberal policies.

"The difference between Carville and his ilk and me is that I care about what happens to my country," Limbaugh told Fox on Wednesday. "I am not saying what I say for political advantage. I oppose actions, such as Obama's socialist agenda, that hurt my country.

[bigwhtpony]

"On the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, just minutes before learning of the terrorist attacks on America, Democratic strategist James Carville was hoping for President Bush to fail, telling a group of Washington reporters: "I certainly hope he doesn't succeed."

[bigwhtpony]

"Carville Wanted Bush to Fail
The press never reported that Democratic strategist James Carville said he wanted President Bush to fail before the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. But a feeding frenzy ensued when radio host Rush Limbaugh recently said he wanted President Obama to fail."

Something you'll never hear on the LAMEstream media. So, James (the cajun) Carville is the HEAD (no pun intended) of the democrap party. How revolting!!!!!

[bigbro1a]

So what is the big deal? The far left and the democracts were guilty of "Bush Bashing" for the better part of his term in office. Now they get offended because someone is brave enough to stand up to their so-called "savior". Even the secular news media is afraid of saying anything negative about Obama. In fact Obama wants to slience talk radio and cable news because he does not want America to know what he is really up to. So far he has demonstrated that he can and will bend to public opinion.
Now he wants to redistribute wealth. Why should anyone that worked hard to achive a goal be forced to give to someone that never even tried. I don't mind helping out someone down on his luck, but I am tired of my money being given to "dead beats" that only want something for nothing in return. I don't want Obama to fail, but just like Limbaugh I want some his socialistic programs to fail. There are too many "closed minded Americans" that do not want to listen to the truth so they bad mouth people like Limbaugh. We will never be silenced. We have every right to protest just as the liberals did during the Bush Administration.

[bumpedoff]

What smoke screen watch the right hand while the left steels penny you got

[stillwaters6]

Whether or not it is a winner is irrlevant.

The actions or the inaction of the REPUBLICAN PARTY says Rush Limbaugh is the leader of the Republican party. Anytime party members cannot come to the defense of their own chairman and request that the chairman of their own party apologize to Mr. Limbaugh for decisive and inflammatory rhetoric speaks more volume than the White House.

The fact that the Republican Party has remained silent on this issue with respect to their national leader speaks greater volume than anything coming from the White House.

[bigbro1a]

I was completely irate at your coverage on Rush Limbaugh. You chose to edit his speech to make it look as if he wants Obama to really fail. Why doesn't the liberal loving
media get their act together and show the explanation on the statement he made? I always had respect for CBS news, but that went down the drain last night. As I see it the media is afraid of saying anything against Obama because they do not want to be labeled as "racists".