check, in a big way, and Erick Erickson of RedState hit it perfectly.The Democrat-turned-born-again-journalist posted the following story on his ABC News blog today, claiming that Eric Cantor had repudiated Rush Limbaugh's CPAC rhetoric:
“Defending his attacks against President Barack Obama's economic plans, Limbaugh said Saturday to the conservative conference, "What is so strange about being honest and saying I want Barack Obama to fail if his mission is to restructure and reform this country so that capitalism and individual liberty are not its foundations?"First, if one actually pays attention to the construction of the argument, Rush Limbaugh is being grossly misquoted. Limbaugh has said from the beginning of this coordinated-media attack that he hopes the President fails to implement a socialist agenda. Go back, read what Limbaugh said again, and determine for yourself if that is a true statement.
Cantor today rejected Limbaugh's rhetoric.
"So the Rush Limbaugh approach of hoping the president fails is not the Eric Cantor, House Republican approach?" I asked.
"Absolutely not," Cantor said. "And I don't -- I don't think anyone wants anything to fail right now. We have such challenges. What we need to do is we need to put forth solutions to the problems that real families are facing today."
Second, Cantor's comment is incomplete. The full comment, according to the show transcript, is:
“CANTOR: George, absolutely not. And I don’t — I don’t think anyone wants anything to fail right now. We have such challenges. What we need to do is we need to put forth solutions to the problems that real families are facing today. And our common-sense, conservative principles of limited government, and the belief in free markets, and the belief that really opportunity can only be created by the private sector are going to undergird our proposals going forward.”Third, as pointed out by Red State, Rep. Cantor does not ever repudiate what Limbaugh actually said! Instead, Cantor repudiated what Stephanopoulos said. You see, there are no Republicans that want the President to have a failed presidency. Nor do Republicans want America to fail under the Obama presidency.
Conservatives want Obama to fail to implement a socialist agenda. It really isn't that hard to figure out. Stephanopoulos is being completely disingenuous for continuing to portray White House spin as news, and call it unbiased journalism.
Stephanopoulos needs to figure out if he's a journalist or a Democratic mouthpiece. It's a no-brainer connection to see an aggressive, White House-driven spin being preached as truth by a major network correspondent.
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
Opinion on Stephanopoulos
Wed, 03/04/2009 - 18:06 ET by ApplyCS"Stephanopoulos needs to figure out if he's a journalist or a Democratic mouthpiece."
Stephanopoulos is a Democratic mouthpiece. He is wound up every week during his call with (by) Rahm and Carville. Then sat down on Sunday like the cymbal clapping monkey he is to bleat out their mandates in praise of O.
He is a perky Obama Girl.
He has figured it out.
Wed, 03/04/2009 - 18:20 ET by superconHe's a mouthpiece.
Because with a name like Obama... you know it has to be good.
Somebody, anybody, please
Wed, 03/04/2009 - 18:26 ET by SickofLibsSomebody, anybody, please take out a Terminix contract on this insect.
"It's less than a dollar a day."
Georgie can't help himself,
Wed, 03/04/2009 - 18:26 ET by bigtimerGeorgie can't help himself, he's been an operative for the demo party forever now, we all know it...he loves his 'station' in life, problem is these leftist enemies within took on the wrong man, and he's not taking it lying down, he is fighting back, as anyone should if you believe in your own convictions and have a love for this country like Rush and millions of us out here do...he is using his bully-pulpit to fight back, and good lord is it ever working, too bad a heck of a lot of other repub congress-critters don't take heed, and watch the support they too will receive.
Btw...I just heard Ari take on Shuster...and my oh my he did one heck of a job!
Pure class.
I saw it
Wed, 03/04/2009 - 18:45 ET by SickofLibsAri = 10
Shuster = did not even register on scale.
Ari was NOT amused by Shyster's babygames - he looked he would have ripped his lungs out if they had been in the same room.
Gibbs vs Ari? Ha ha ha!
Little George
Wed, 03/04/2009 - 18:34 ET by JohnJDunbarThe Napolean of the airwaves should restrict his comments to revealing how he and the wife (schmoopie from Seinfeld) were in tears while watching the Messiah being crowned. Other than that, just shut up!!
But they're SOO cute
Wed, 03/04/2009 - 18:41 ET by SickofLibsBut they're SOO cute together.
Plus they share each other's tampons... what could be more perfect!
I'm going to sound like a demolib!
Wed, 03/04/2009 - 18:46 ET by FastEd"Obama LIED!" - It needs to be said and repeated. We need to be as loud our louder than the dummy libs and their cowardly water carriers, the "media", and remind everyone we meet, that Obama Lied! - Where's the transparency? The public being able to comment on bills (5 days? [now less than 3 - guess when you have 57 states, numbers don't mean much]). What about earmarks Mr. President - that was one of your bigger whoppers. Lobbyists?
A simple and easy question - don't want to stretch the media's brain power - Can you, Mr. President, define socialism, and how does it differ from what you are doing/propsing? (anyone think the cowards have it in them to ask?) An easier question - Mr. President, have you gone back on anything you said during the campaign? (will ANYONE ask that?)
Look up the definition of coward and you'll find the medias picture, and soon, you will see our president there too - he doesn't have the character to answer these simple qeustions, asked by a tax payer - quarenteed.
There is no sense in being stupid, if you can't prove it! - my dad V
I still don't see how he got the job
Wed, 03/04/2009 - 19:20 ET by mvfreemanGeorge has worked for no one except dems his entire political career, has degrees in poli-sci and theology, yet somehow ABC felt he could be an impartial and objective "journalist".
The same people that look down their noses at bloggers, yet they hire some one without a journalism degree who was previously the chief mouthpiece for a democrat administration.
I can't think of anyone who worked for a republican administration that became a correspondent of similar stature. (No pun intended.)
This little boy that sits
Wed, 03/04/2009 - 19:58 ET by obxrayThis little boy that sits when he pee's has know idea how lucky he is that he does not walk pass me in public.
George has been an embedded "propagandist"...
Wed, 03/04/2009 - 20:09 ET by ThalpyGeorge has been an embedded "propagandist" from the day he left the Clinton White House. It would no doubt be difficult for anyone to remain truthful or objective in his situation given the crowd he shills for, but if you were a "true believer" like George, it would be impossible. He has shown this to be true. Does anyone watch his program believing that he will present the truth? I can't imagine.
Rush made a mistake
Wed, 03/04/2009 - 21:05 ET by KC MulvilleOK, I know people are going to jump on this, but hear me out. Despite the fact that we all know what he meant, Rush Limbaugh's comment that he wanted Obama to fail ... was a mistake. He didn't express what he meant, and he said something that could be taken the wrong way ... and they did. I completely agree that he's getting screwed by a pack of jerks who fancy themselves as clever. In a perfect world, the world would have heard and accepted Rush's explanation that he was referring to Obama's political agenda to fail, but the jerks are too busy spreading poison.
When you're swimming in the shark pool, you can't make mistakes.
If I was Rush, I would make a public statement that ...
KC... I have nothing but
Wed, 03/04/2009 - 21:19 ET by bigtimerKC...
I have nothing but total respect for you, love your posts, they make me think a lot, as I have said before...but this is one time I totally disagree...Rush is fighting for this country against complete socialism that is being crammed down our throats...and I don't think he owes anyone an apology or to say he was wrong, when in my eyes he isn't....especially when he would be doing exactly what the leftist with their agenda want to happen.... this has been the problem with why we are losing seats...no backbone and no sticking to your very values regarding the words you express...the repubs have been doing what you desire for years now...and where has it got us...in the minority, that's where.
I don't want to see anybody on the right side of the aisle fold like tents anymore....it is killing the party...and as far as I am concerned, the backbone of this country.
Just my two cents for now... ;-)
The feeling is mutual, bigtimer, but ...
Wed, 03/04/2009 - 21:52 ET by KC MulvilleLet me take you back in time. Remember the context in which Rush first uttered that statement. It was that some news outlet was sending out invitations for celebrities to proclaim how they wanted to support Obama.
Let's go back and stop there. Suppose you could have answered this invitation in one of several ways. Let me give you some options, and ask which option you wish he had chosen (first impression is probably the correct one):
Number 1. is the coward's choice, and I knew Rush wouldn't have taken that. But between 2. and 3., which would you have preferred? He meant 3. but he said 2. That's what I think was the mistake.
But so what? He made a mistake. Big deal, I make mistakes all the time. I already know what he meant, and I agree with that wholeheartedly.
KC, it does not matter a
Wed, 03/04/2009 - 22:36 ET by motherbeltKC, it does not matter a whit how much explaining Rush would do at this point, and because of that I agree with bigtimer. It was Rush's fault that he didn't provide adequate context for his assertion; but explaining it now or apologizing or clarifying until he is blue in the face isn't going to change anything. They have their money quote and they are going to beat it to death.
I hope Rush continues to say that he supports the President, but not his agenda. Now that's sauce for the gander!
I didn't think it was physically possible, but this both sucks and blows. -Bart Simpson
Plus he has explained it
Wed, 03/04/2009 - 23:12 ET by bigtimerPlus he has explained it until he has already had to been blue in the face on his radio shows forever now it seems...I think he feels enough already...what more can he do, we need someone strong...the left wants to throw Rush's carcass away, they have since the Clintoons got in (Hillary and beginning of Soros connections) and wanted to shut Rush up....and they will attempt this one way or the other, as they have been for years.
Rush isn't about to back down....nor should he in my opinion.
KC: Limbaugh
Thu, 03/05/2009 - 01:23 ET by stratmanKC:
Limbaugh painstakingly provided both pretext and context to his conclusionary statement - "I hope he fails". In fact , he reiterated the full meaning behind that statement on numerous occassions before speaking at CPAC. Limbaugh's plainspoken statement was nothing like the one-off, 2 cushion bank shot, satirical statement by Ann Coulter concerning John Edwards.
In expositions like this, the speaker cannot and should not provide context in every declarative statement. The redundancy would kill the message. The construct was provided in several minutes of preceeding monologue. The final declarative statement needed no further explanation at that point.
A problem may arise when the condensed final statement is publicized without the context originally provided. The Dems and Media sit back and wait for that opportunity, then hammer the abbreviated statement without the foundation from which it was derived. Countering the opposition better is one thing Steele and the GOP need to concentrate on sooner rather than later.
Limbaugh did his job of building an argument and delivering a conclusion that was logical, concise, educational and entertaining. It was the Dems and the MSM that (once again) perverted his words.
LOL
Thu, 03/05/2009 - 02:22 ET by KC MulvilleMust be the liquor. I'll have to start drinking again.
→ I understand, KC
Wed, 03/04/2009 - 21:29 ET by Cool ArrowI felt a bit squeamish as he described how he wanted Kurt Warner to make a fool of himself in the Super Bowl.
But I thought his explanation of his hope for Obama's failure parallels my own 100%.
Right now, Obama is succeeding in his goal. I want him to fail at his attempt to bring the rich down to poverty. I am not an entrepreneur, but I'm a pretty darn good worker. I appreciate my bosses and the corporation that, for 34 years, has provided me with an avenue to a better life.
We won the cold war! Why did we surrender?
Not what he said
Wed, 03/04/2009 - 21:30 ET by Miket53Rush was right. Many do not want Socialism. No one wants a failed presidency but we don't want policies that hurt businesses or people who work hard and pay thier bills. With this bailout and tax changes coming...there are people who should not have gotten a mortgage being bailed out by those who took out an affordable mortgage and are paying it. All the Cap and Trade regulations coming down will add cost to most goods which all will pay for. Any tax savings will be wiped out. So how does the country win?
Miket53 http://mtaricani.blogspot.com/
Re Rush made a mistake
Wed, 03/04/2009 - 21:46 ET by slickwillie2001I have to disagree as well wadr. I can't read Rush's mind, so I don't know if it was a slip; it doesn't matter anymore. An apology at this point would make the democratics simply double down and demand more. Just as with Sharpton and the New York Post, a simple apology never satisfies the liberals. They don't want a chunk of flesh, they want your head on a pike. Rush would become the weak animal in the herd, and the jackals would close in for the kill.
Understood
Wed, 03/04/2009 - 22:08 ET by KC MulvilleYou might be right. I'm certainly no perfect judge.
But I don't want Rush to speak to the liberals. I want him to speak to the public. He's been doing it on his radio show, but no one will report that. However, if he releases a "public statement," that will get reported. And if you don't mind my saying so, my phrasing wasn't exactly a complete surrender ...
Besides, if it was a mistake, why not say so? Since when does conservatism need to protect its public image? Conservatism believes that real, adult, responsible power has to be modest. What better way to lead the movement than to be modest himself?
I keep thinking of what great coaches say when the team falls behind. Don't try to win it all back on one play. Instead, get the first down, and then the next, and then the next. Don't try to jump over them, march through them. Hey, it's two years until the next election - we have plenty of time to build up. But you build momentum one play at a time. And when it comes to politics, you gotta play by the truth.
However, if he releases a
Wed, 03/04/2009 - 22:49 ET by motherbeltHowever, if he releases a "public statement," that will get reported.
Doesn't matter, KC...see my reply above. They never accept an apology!! They only use it to beat someone over the head with.
The one thing Rush should absolutely NOT do, IMO, is apologize.
Let's face it, they think they have him in a corner, but it's the other way around. He has the White House spokesman responding to radio personality, for crying out loud! How pathetic is that? Now he's challenging the President to a debate! After publicly participating in a third-person debate with him, how is Obama going to now re-demote Rush to a nonentity and refuse, when he himself, through his spokesman, has given him more importance than he should have, if he were smart, and intended to?
Rush has them on the defensive.
Update: I just watched the Ari Fleisher clip with Shuster. Fleischer said exactly what I have said in this comment. It is unseemly indeed for this "post-partisan" President to be engaging in a tit-for-tat with a radio personality!! And beyond stupid for the WH to demand that Republicans denounce him!
And when the hell are Republicans going to grow a collective pair and quit apologizing and shooting their buddies to in a futile attempt to curry favor with Democrats who will never give them credit for it anyway?
I hope this is it!
I didn't think it was physically possible, but this both sucks and blows. -Bart Simpson
KC...Politics is a blood
Wed, 03/04/2009 - 22:43 ET by bigtimerKC...
Politics is a blood sport...and it is about time the republicans got into the mix and inflict some scars on the enemy without backing down one iota... fight to win, no backing down...turn-about is fair play...and it way past time the republican party start doing so...before it is too late.
Things happen for a reason, and this Rush thing was a big mistake by the left, even though I think they are trying to use him to also intertwine the FCC/Fairness Doctrine into all of this when it comes down the road using Rush and all of this to do so, they think they are killing two birds with one stone...this will all back fire...as long as the strong survive and do not back down...and Rush is the one starting the fire and leading the way out of the wilderness...and God knows we need it!
GMTA, bigtimer....look
Wed, 03/04/2009 - 22:54 ET by motherbeltGMTA, bigtimer....look above! LOL
Republicans have backed down consistently and gotten nowhere; nothing is ever enough for liberals and their willing accomplices in the media -Rush
I didn't think it was physically possible, but this both sucks and blows. -Bart Simpson
mb... Now I am laughing
Wed, 03/04/2009 - 23:05 ET by bigtimermb...
Now I am laughing out loud...I just sat back down and GMTA indeed....we have to have some candidates with a voice that won't back down with cowering fear of what the msm will say, because they will twist and spin it no matter what you say if they are out to get you and they usually are unless you are a RINO, then they treat you with adoring kid gloves until they want to feed you to the lions, just ask McC...please repubs, buy a vowel, get a clue, learn a lesson by now...say what you mean, be proud of it and don't back down...you will WIN if you do just that.
Btw mb...I saw that about Ari and Shuster too and posted about it here and there also...what a job Ari did, he creamed Shuster, with pure class.
Two of my favorites ganging up on me
Wed, 03/04/2009 - 23:10 ET by KC MulvilleMaybe I'm the one who made a mistake?
Nah....I just think you
Wed, 03/04/2009 - 23:13 ET by motherbeltNah....I just think you have misplaced optimism. LOL
I didn't think it was physically possible, but this both sucks and blows. -Bart Simpson
KC... You have me
Wed, 03/04/2009 - 23:44 ET by bigtimerKC...
You have me laughing here...gang up on someone like you...that would be the 12th of Never...
Just one of the first times I have respectfully disagreed with you...and said as such, as I can't help myself here in not doing so...or I wouldn't be me....and that wouldn't be any fun, now would it?
....Now be careful how you answer that KC.... ;-)
The whole thing is absurd, when you think about it
Thu, 03/05/2009 - 00:22 ET by KC MulvilleAs I say, I really don't have a developed plan here. When it first started, I didn't realize it was a coordinated thing. I thought the Obama Gang was just overreacting stupidly. But today we find out that they've actually been planning this. I mean, how juvenile is that? And as I've responded to a couple posts, the immaturity of it strikes me more and more - and others feel the same way.
So after a while, I step back and say - what is this about, after all? I read the Politico report, and that the evil little smurfs were targeting Limbaugh, and then --like a bolt of lightning!-- Rush made that comment and they thought they had scored a great victory. And I thought, jeez, is this how these little creeps get their kicks? Get a life.
And that's when I thought - stop giving them the satisfaction. Blow 'em off. Screw 'em. Why are we fighting over this? Put the fire out and move along.
...and I say keep that fire
Thu, 03/05/2009 - 00:30 ET by bigtimer...and I say keep that fire moving...
We need some fire in the party...maybe they will wake up before the smoke overcomes them for a change.
→ Rush apology
Thu, 03/05/2009 - 00:48 ET by Cool ArrowI don't see Rush apologizing to a public segment starved for diversion.
Americans know the absolute depravity to which they've sunk, but can't bear that face in the mirror, knowing that last bag of government heroin they bought was also the last of the grandbabies' college money.
That's how successful Obama has been. We're arguing over semantics, but we'll feel a whole lot better once we get that rubber strap around our arm.
How many government addicts must Obama hook before our country is lost? I don't know, but the President is succeeding.
AAAAHHHHHH. Stiiimmmmmuluuuusssss!
We won the cold war! Why did we surrender?
The Gladiator Theory
Thu, 03/05/2009 - 00:56 ET by KC MulvilleBread and circuses. But if you have no bread, circuses will do.
→ Another theory
Thu, 03/05/2009 - 01:04 ET by Cool ArrowAnd the final one:
If we had some ham, we could have ham & eggs, if we had eggs.
We won the cold war! Why did we surrender?
Smurfs who turned to the Dark Side
Wed, 03/04/2009 - 23:33 ET by KC MulvilleLOL! It's two years away from the election, but everyone has become Winston Churchill.
It's a quote, for God's sake. I mean, let's step back and look at ourselves. Let's not misplace out readiness to fight for conservativism (which I will happily do) with the idea that we have to go to the mattresses over a poorly contexted quote. After all, I don't want to fight with the Begalas and Emanuels and the Stephanopouloses. They're too small.
They've openly said that they want to use Rush as a distraction, so why let them do it? Rush should dispense this kerfuffle, gracefully, and have some fun with it. Just because they take themselves seriously doesn't mean we have to take them seriously.
contexted?
Thu, 03/05/2009 - 10:25 ET by CTcontexted?
Sure
Thu, 03/05/2009 - 10:27 ET by KC MulvilleThank God the English language is an evolving, vibrant instrument.
→ LOL KC
Thu, 03/05/2009 - 10:30 ET by Cool ArrowIt's a bit much for my constitution.
Obama - Change you can bereave in
Rush would never do this.
Wed, 03/04/2009 - 22:16 ET by balboaRush would never do this.
I am kind of speechless
Wed, 03/04/2009 - 21:17 ET by seesalrunwatch the pig try to feed this honorable man. Can someone tell America to wake up? Please? He denied the trough then was spewed on without mercy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dl8nruZTXm0
This is Ari vs this teleprompter Obamaphite. Jesus.
Gold Help Us.
and
Wed, 03/04/2009 - 21:23 ET by seesalrunI think of the masses that ingest this venom and the untruth. Rush is trying only to awake the masses to question. It's not about the almighty quote of "fail". It's about the utter absurdity of this administration. We the TV Generation must wake up for our Children's Sake. Oh, BTW loved Brown's pleading today - on so many levels. Hell let's make it global.What's with Sovereignity anyway.