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Senator John McCain, Mega Partisanship And Rush Limbaugh
The political Quote of the Day comes from unsuccessful 2008 Republican Presidential candidate Arizona Sen. John McCain, whose words won’t make Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity happy as the two talk show hosts continue demonizing Democrats in general and President Barack Obama in particular. He told CNN’s Larry King:
MCCAIN: …with the challenges that the country faces now — two wars, all of the other national security challenges and then the economy — I think this president faces greater challenges than perhaps — you know, when Franklin Delano Roosevelt came to the presidency, it was economic challenges. We clearly faced the rise of Hitler and fascism. But early on, it was mainly domestic issues. And this president…
KING: There wasn’t a war.
MCCAIN: Yes. This president faces the domestic challenges and the national security challenges. So he’s got a big job. And all of us, I think, have to commit to working with him, disagreeing where necessary, but cooperating as much as possible.
And later on he continues to further explain why solutions now are more important than trying to bring someone down to get someone with the letter of your own party in:
MCCAIN: Well, again, these are difficult times. And whatever way I can assist and work with the president of the United States, I want to do it. I mean you look at the…
KING: Are you…
MCCAIN: And again, the American people are tired of the bitter partisanship. There will be open and honest disagreements that the president and I have. And — but I hope that there are areas where — I know there are areas where we can all work together.
The American people are demanding it and they deserve it and they haven’t been getting it.
KING: Are you surprised at the openness to you?
MCCAIN: No. I think the president and I established a relationship of respect both in the Senate and during the campaign. There were rough times in the campaign. You know, you’ve observed so many of them. But at the same time, I think underlying the whole campaign was an environment of respect, which then allows you to — to come together and work for the good of the country.
This is quite a different attitude than that of a well-fed talk host who has a $38 million a-year contract and a private jet that flies over foreclosed homes, houses with kids whose unemployed parents go to food banks, and companies that laid people off or shut down saying he wants to see a new President fail.
During Obama’s inauguration, Edison Middle School in Green Bay, Wisc. put a radio station’s broadcast on its PA so students could hear the historical event but it was mistakenly tuned to Limbaugh’s negative Obama commentary. That greatly upset some teachers and when Limbaugh learned of the complaints he offered to fly the kids on his private jet.
He even offered to lecture the students on civics.
Just what America needs: Rush Limbaugh teaching middle school students.
McCain is already being demonized now on Limbaugh’s show and others. Why? Because McCain is daring to put aside partisanship to try to work with Obama and others to find solutions to positively impact these very kids’ futures.
Interestingly, in his meeting with Congressional leaders Obama bluntly echoed the words of former Bush administration Secretary of State Colin Powell about the larger issue of a political party seemingly following the lead of talk show hosts whose job it is to encourage listener anger and controversy in order to gain and deliver to advertisers a solid demographic that keeps tuning in.
Obama was almost saying Powell’s words, but it sure to be lambasted by it on Monday when the talk shows go on the air — minus a reminder to readers that Powell and even some of other Republicans have raised the same issue:
President Obama warned Republicans on Capitol Hill today that they need to quit listening to radio king Rush Limbaugh if they want to get along with Democrats and the new administration.
“You can’t just listen to Rush Limbaugh and get things done,” he told top GOP leaders, whom he had invited to the White House to discuss his nearly $1 trillion stimulus package.
One White House official confirmed the comment but said he was simply trying to make a larger point about bipartisan efforts.
“There are big things that unify Republicans and Democrats,” the official said. “We shouldn’t let partisan politics derail what are very important things that need to get done.”
Just watch this spark articles (and posts) that Obama has now declared he plans to try and stop talk radio. (If you hear that, just reread the words and the link from Colin Powell).
But there is that underlying issue: some Republican elites continue to let themselves be influenced by wealthy talk show hosts who don’t have a clue over how the other half — or rather four-fifths, these days — live. Why? Because these guys (and gals) get good ratings and can get their loyal listeners to flood elected Republicans with emails, calls and letters.
McCain now clearly doesn’t have to worry about them anymore. And the polls show that most Americans don’t agree with Limbaugh and aren’t rooting for Obama to fail — and will likely appreciate those in both parties who focus on issues rather than polemics and obstructionism seemingly used as a form of therapeutic political Viagra.
FOOTNOTE: Obama’s task and McCain’s task still won’t be easy but it isn’t impossible. Elections over the years have made the onetime-powerful moderate Republicans an endangered species. Any coalition involving Obama, Democrats and Republicans will have to include some thoughtful conservatives who agree that these are special times who’ll ignore the talk radio political culture that permeates American political life and seemingly influences some GOPers.
Boil it down and you have this: by working with Obama on key issues, McCain and Obama can help redefine the American center.
ALSO: For more info about key Republicans who are saying they’ll work with the White House and Democrats be sure to read veteran journalist and editor Robert Stein’s post HERE.
14 Responses to “Senator John McCain, Mega Partisanship And Rush Limbaugh”
Limbaugh makes big money giving a specific audience exactly what it wants.
Added bonus for Rush: When he's criticized, he can paint himself as a profile in courage for daring to speak…the exact words that make him rich.
It's really kind of awesome.
Because he won.
Because he has a 70 plus approval rating.
Because he smiles and the left collapse to the ground
Because of these things you are asking us….he is asking us to trust him. To accept what he says as the will of the almighty government. That what he says
SHOULD NOT BE QUESTIONED. Should not be rejected. That alternatives should not be offered up. Suggestions made. Resistance offered?????????
That those who would QUESTION his will, Challenge his views. Say that perhaps there is another way.
That those who would dare do such things are partisan hacks who just dont get it.
So
Didnt we just go thru 8 years of that?
Bush and Iraq. Patriotism. 90 percent approval rating at one time.
Didnt the left scream that they should matter. That they have ideas. That they count. That maybe their is a better way????
That perhaps we should NOT write blank checks just because a president is popular and what he seems to say is popular AT THE MOMENT.
Forgive me but……. Obama does not get a blank check. The democrats just spent 8 years trying to convince us that this form of governorship is WRONG and now they want to turn around and do the same thing.
They dont get it. Obama doesnt get it and once again less then a week into the new tenure of government the Democrats dont get it.
first off, i have no idea wtf those first two commenters are trying to say. but it seems like what most righties do: argue against a point that nobody made…
typical.
secondly, mccain can stick it. his campaign proved his “honor” is all bullsh**. if he can shelve it when it might be politically advantageous, it's not real.
Well then let me clarify a bit.
GWB had a 90 percent approval rating and went to war telling the left to stick it…hes in charge and the people love him so he must be right.
The Democrats rightly rebelled and said “Say it aint so.” Maybe there is a better way.
GWB and the GOP said “Our way or the highway.” GWB said “I WON.” The people Love ME. Get over it, become sheep and follow me cause I know whats best for the country.
The democrats resisted and proved for the most part to have valid concerns.
Now Obama is doing the same thing. He said “I won.” Get over it. Im popular. The people love me. I must be right.
Deja vue.
Green, so you have made up your mind after less than 1 week based on 2 words taken out of context and have built an entire mountain out of them. Wow, what prescience! Tell me, did you have this same epiphany 8 years ago in the first week of the GWB presidency? Absolutely amazing. Within the first 2 days President Obama has already fulfilled 2 of his campaign promises, signed an executive order telling all agencies that the FOI act must be enforced and he is in fact actually meeting ands listening to what the republician-hyperpartisan-leaders are saying. BUT, those selfsame republiciand are the very ones who got us into this mess, so why should Obama listen to NO. Now if they could do better than quote a nonexistant CBO report, if they could actually come up with some workable ideas-and where were their principles when they got the first bailout? No complaints were heard about how the republicians administered it last month.-Further words fail me.
Of course greenschemes doesn't bother to mention that the only thing that the Republicans are suggesting are the same things they've suggested for years and that somehow just didn't manage to help us avoid this mess. No to low regulation, tax cuts and more tax cuts. Other than that let it ride.
And what is new about Obama's schemes?
I have lived all of my life in a beautiful geographical area that is also very conservative. Over the last 20 years I have experienced this conservative nature turn very nasty. I don't know the who, what, when or where of this nastiness, but I do have some observations. The people who subscribe to this mob mentality tend to be white males who have a sense of entitlement and blame all of their problems on “minorities” and/or “liberals”. It is important to note that “minorities” and 'liberals” are anything outside of the group containing “white males who have a sense of entitlement”. They tend to get their “news” from Al Jazeera type sources, such as Fox News and radio talk show agitators who deliver commentary more than news. The Fuhrer of this loosley organized movement is a reputed drug addict by the name of Rush Limbo. He is said to make millions of dollars by whipping his followers into a frenzy by telling them half truths about their enemies; the “minorities' and the “liberals”. It would be wise to note that this is a group that is heavily armed and should be taken seriously. It is a mistake to try to communicate rationally with this group, because they seem to talk in a loud, emotional and rhetorical language.
Well after the negative comments about me let me try to further illustrate where Im coming from. Remember Im implying that after 8 years of the GOP telling the Democrats to go jump in a lake the Democrats seem to now be doing the same thing to the GOP. Something they despised and something that earned them the votes for a pretty solid majority in congress but now we have this:
Nancy Pelosi:
Two years ago, she said; “Bills should generally come to the floor under a procedure that allows open, full and fair debate consisting of a full amendment process that grants the minority the right to offer its alternatives, including a substitute.”
Back when they were in the minority. In 2004, then-Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi proposed a “Bill of Rights” for the minority party, lamenting the “incivility and the heavy hand of the majority” and accusing Republican Speaker Dennis Hastert of shutting out Democratically-offered alternatives.
By passing a new package of House rules by a 242-181 vote today, Democrats eliminated in some cases the minority party's ability to file a so-called “motion to recommit.” In the past, such motions served as one of the only opportunities the minority party had to influence the substance of any tax-related legislation. This article is from Democrat spokes network MSNBC.
Barak Obama said this just recently to one of his GOP detractors. “Responding to Rep. Eric Cantor’s objection to the proposal to increase benefits for low-income workers who don’t owe federal income taxes, Obama reminded him of the November election results. “I won,” he said. “I trump you on that.” In addition how about this one……….“You can’t just listen to Rush Limbaugh and get things done.”
Game over man. Game over. Partisanship to Obama and the Democratic congress seems to mean. I win………you lose. Get Over it.
Sabotaging the well-being and workablity of the United States in the interest of private-profiteering! Shame on you Rush.
Where have we seen that before? Oh yeah, the BigOil/Bushco corporate takeover of Iraq at taxpayer's expense.
Treason seems to be en Vogue with the neocons these days.. profitting for self at the expense of the nation. Goody!
AR,
Well, let's see. For decades our national infrastructure at all levels has slowly been allowed to decay under candidates from both parties. When we are faced with a crashing economy with jobs being lost everywhere Obama says that one way to help boost the economy is to finally pay attention to this problem and spend some money to fix problems across the country. Where was anything like this from any other politician? That one proposal is so huge in that it boosts the economy and leaves us with something solid for the money spent that it's refreshing. His planning isn't just for short term stimulus either. Our electrical grid needs massive work as well which is finally being addressed in a very up front manner. The proposal to weatherize 2.5 million houses provides jobs, saves money for people who are hurt financially by the ever increasing costs of heating and cooling and when it does that it frees up their limited resources for other things. It actually consists of doing things in this country and things that are positive for us.
Sorry Jim, let me be clearer. The best way to say it is to paraphrase a joke I read recently – 'Who says the Left doesn't believe in Creationism? They believe throwing yet more taxpayer money away against bad debt will create a good economy.'
I agree with Jim S
- Republicans' highly touted tax cuts and refusal to raise taxes when necessary has led us over and over into high deficits and deep recessions.
Reaganomics led to a huge deficit and a recession in the early 90's, and GWB's policy of tax cuts and deficit spending have led to a near depression.
The president who was the most successful in managing the economy was Bill Clinton.
[...] today’s issues, let me recommend Joe Gandelman’s “Senator John McCain, Mega Partisanship And Rush Limbaugh” from Saturday at The Moderate Voice (one of my favorite blogs). 2005 and 2006. (Such a [...]