Limbaugh's calling for Obama to fail, I said --when failure means economic disaster for the whole country-- made him a useful lever for the Democrats to use against the Republicans. By pointing out the practically treasonous posture of Limbaugh --so caught up is he and the whole Republican Party in simply seeking to win in political combat and damn any sense of common purpose-- could force the Republicans into a difficult position: either repudiate the darkness that Limbaugh represents, or we will hang him around your neck as a visible sign of the terrible spirit that still possesses the Republican Party.
I had intended to write a full-length piece about that. But instead I executed that same strategy myself on the radio here in Virginiam. where the great majority of the listeners are people who voted for Bush.
And now I come across this article from today, which demonstrates that the Obama people have come to the same conclusion and are taking advantage of the door Limbaugh re-opened to make him into just such a weapon against that dark Spirit of the Republicans.
If the economy works out, Obama will have a stronger hand against his opposition than any president since FDR.
Big If, though.
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Rahm On Rush: He's The Voice, Energy And Intellect Of The GOP
by Sam Stein
Huffington Post, March 1
Not missing any opportunity to make Rush Limbaugh the figurehead of the GOP, White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel called the brash talk show host the "voice and the intellectual force and energy behind the Republican Party" on Sunday.
Appearing on CBS's Face The Nation, Emanuel brought up Limbaugh without being prompted. Applauding the conservative radio personality for being upfront in his desire to see the president fail, Emanuel went to great lengths to make the case that Limbaugh, more than any other contemporary figure, is the leader of the GOP.
SCHIEFFER: We talked about Newt Gingrich a lot this morning and now you bring up Rush Limbaugh. Who do you think now speaks for the Republican Party?
EMANUEL: You just named him: it is Rush Limbaugh. He has laid out his vision, in my view. And he said it clearly. I compliment him for that. He's been very up front and I compliment him for that. He's not hiding. He's asked for President Obama and called for President Obama to fail. That's his view. And that's what he has enunciated. And whenever a Republican criticizes him, they have to run back and apologize to him and say they were misunderstood. He is the voice and the intellectual force and energy behind the Republican Party. He has been up front about what he views and hasn't stepped back from that, which is he hopes for failure. 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...
SCHIEFFER: Do you think that he's that important that other Republicans are paying that much attention to him?
EMANUEL: Well, he was given the keynote basically at the [CPAC conference] to speak. When a Republican did attack him he clearly had a turn-around and comeback and basically said that he apologized and was wrong. I think do think he's an intellectual force, which is why the Republicans pay such attention to him.
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