NBC’s Chuck Todd Knocks Rush; ‘Backward,’ ‘Dying Medium’ of Radio

NBC White House political director Chuck Todd appeared on MSNBC’s "Morning Joe" on Monday to dismiss Rush Limbaugh as "looking backward" and deride the radio industry as a "dying medium." Todd (see file photo above), who was talking with co-host Mika Brzezinski about Limbaugh’s role as a leader in the Republican Party, also suggested a linkage between the radio host and far left bomb thrower Michael Moore.  He insisted, "They [Democrats] want to do to the Republican Party what Republicans tried to do to the Democrats with Michael Moore and all that stuff."

Speaking of radio, Todd sniffed, "But, it’s that idea that Limbaugh- even the whole- even the venue that he’s on, radio, not the internet.  You know, it’s very ‘90s.  It’s very backwards- is looking backwards." He added, "And, you know, radio is a dying medium, potentially- as it is just in general."

He concluded, "It is a backward-looking technology." Of course, it’s the newspaper industry that many would call a "dying medium." (The San Francisco Chronicle is just one of many papers to face bankruptcy recently.)

Regarding Todd’s comment about Limbaugh, fellow guest Pat Buchanan, joked, "Don’t worry about that crack from Chuck. After he compared Rush Limbaugh to Michael Moore, we’ll be on radio from 12 to 3."

On a side note, Todd referenced NewsBusters on the December 3, 2008 "Morning Joe." After being told by co-host Willie Geist that an argument he made sounded very similar to the aforementioned Michael Moore, Todd lamented, "By the way, I can't wait 'til our friends at NewsBusters, you know, compare, compare me to Michael Moore. I appreciate that. I appreciate that, Willie."

A transcript of the exchange follows:

7:51

MIKA BRZEZINSKI:  And Chuck, let’s finish our conversation about this and about Rush and about Rahm and whether or not, I guess, the Republicans, do they like what’s happening here?  Did Rahm Emanuel just grab a great opportunity?

CHUCK TODD:  I think the younger generation of Republicans are a little concerned, not because of Rush, because he can be a polarizing figure.  But, because, the fact of the matter is, look at who was the cover of the New York Times magazine yesterday as sort of seen as the face of the new ideas for the Republican Party. Newt Gingrich. Rush Limbaugh. This feels like you’re looking backwards. Right? The problem the Republicans have right now is they don’t have enough leaders looking forward. Now, there’s some out there. Eric Cantor. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin could be one. You’ve got some folks that want to be that future of the party. But, I think that’s the real danger here with Rush. On one hand, we see the politics of it and they say, Oh, yeah. You see what Democrats are trying to do. They want to do to the Republican Party what Republicans tried to do to the Democrats with Michael Moore and all that stuff.  But, it’s that idea that Limbaugh- even the whole- even the venue that he’s on, radio, not the internet.  You know, it’s very ‘90s.  It’s very backwards- is looking backwards. And, you know, radio is a dying medium, potentially, as it is just in general.

BRZEZINSKI: Really?

TODD:  Not to- Not to- Yeah, well- Sorry.

[Cross talk.]

BRZEZINSKI: I was told it was the next big thing.

TODD:  It is a backward-looking technology.

PAT BUCHANAN:  Mika- Mika- Don’t worry about that crack from Chuck Todd. Don’t worry about that crack from Chuck. After he compared Rush Limbaugh to Michael Moore, we’ll be on radio from 12 to 3.

TODD: I’m in trouble today.