Limbaugh Takes Center Stage In Dem Ads
The Americans United for Change and AFSCME released a new television commercial today that claims that House and Senate Republicans are getting their marching orders from the conservative talk show host. The advertisement will play on national cable and in Washington, D.C., Politico reports.
The commercial begins with a shot of a foreclosure sign juxtaposed with a still of President Obama signing a bill (presumably the stimulus act).
"An economy in crisis, a president determined to act," the narrator intones. "But what did Republican leaders say to President Obama's jobs and recovery plan?"
The ad soon cuts to a series of Republican congressional leaders saying "no," before the narrator asks rhetorically, "So who are Republican leaders listening to?"
Footage of Limbaugh flashes across the screen.
"I want him to fail," he says.
The commercial closes with the narrator urging viewers, "Tell them America won't take no for an answer anymore."
Limbaugh has long been a source of liberal animus, but there has been something of a resurgence in disdain for the talk show host in progressive circles lately. This is not the first time he has appeared in television advertisements that accuse the GOP of standing in the way of economic recovery: The same two groups released radio commercials during the debate over the stimulus bill that urged Republican senators not to listen to Limbaugh and oppose the legislation.
Mr. Obama also used the specter of Limbaugh last month to try to make a pitch for bipartisanship.
"You can't just listen to Rush Limbaugh and get things done," Mr. Obama said. "There are big things that unify Republicans and Democrats. We shouldn't let partisan politics derail what are very important things that need to get done."
Click below to watch the full advertisement: