FoxNews / Limbaugh upset that Obama outted them

Jeanwah

http://mediamatters.org/blog/2013/01/28 ... igh/192424

Fox News and Rush Limbaugh have each attacked President Obama for his recent comments pointing out their influence on the political process. But both Fox News and Limbaugh have indeed influenced Republican politicians' actions in the past.

In a recent interview with The New Republic, Obama said he believes that bipartisan legislation is more likely to pass if a Republican member of Congress isn't "punished on Fox News or by Rush Limbaugh for working with a Democrat on a bill of common interest."

Fox News' Megyn Kelly and Chris Stirewalt discussed Obama's comments on Monday's broadcast of America Live. Kelly claimed Obama was "saying if somebody disagrees with him, if these Republicans disagree with him, it has to be because someone has manipulated them" and said that his comments sounded "dismissive of heartfelt beliefs that Republicans may hold, or their constituents may hold."

Stirewalt agreed, saying that Obama "imputes to his critics the worst possible motives." Stirewalt also claimed that Obama feels that "anybody who opposes him on these things is doing so because they're a coward, because they're being controlled by Rush Limbaugh or because of what's being said by the purveyors of opinion on the Fox News Channel."

Limbaugh also discussed Obama's comments on his radio show Monday and concluded that Obama is "trying to goad me into saying something extreme -- like that would ever happen -- so that he can kick off a new boycott." He then said listeners had told him they fear that "talk like this from the president has a chilling effect on free speech and the freedom of the press," and responded by saying sarcastically, "My friends, Obama would never do anything to try to limit Fox, or me and my right to express myself. ... Only dictators like Hugo Chavez do things like that."

But recent history has demonstrated the power of these two right-wing media outlets.

In October 2010, a New Yorker article by Ryan Lizza revealed that Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) had previously urged Democratic Sens. Joe Lieberman and John Kerry to advance climate bill negotiations as much as possible before Fox News could find out about the talks. Lizza wrote that "Graham warned Lieberman and Kerry that they needed to get as far as they could in negotiating the bill 'before Fox News got wind of the fact that this was a serious process,' one of the people involved in the negotiations said."

Similarly, in July 2011, media reported that House Speaker John Boehner had briefed Limbaugh on his debt ceiling plan before even showing it to his Republican conference. Boehner also called into Limbaugh's show to seek the radio host's approval on air.

Many Republican figures have also walked back comments they have made after Limbaugh objected to them. In October 2010, Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) told The Wall Street Journal that Americans "want us to come together [with the administration]." After Limbaugh attacked Issa on air for his comments, Issa came on Limbaugh's show to distance himself from the article. As we noted at the time, other Republican figures have also apologized to Limbaugh:

[Former] RNC chairman Michael Steele apologized for calling Limbaugh an "entertainer," Rep. Phil Gingrey (R-GA) told Limbaugh he was sorry for comments defending the House Republican leadership against criticism from Limbaugh, and former Gov. Mark Sanford (R-SC) backed off criticism of Limbaugh's "I hope he fails" comments. Even Sarah Palin changed her mind about condemning Limbaugh's use of the word "retards."

Ya gotta wonder about the power Rush Limbaugh actually has. The guy isn't even a journalist. All he is, like Steele said, is an entertainer. So, who is he paying off here?

even flow - question mark

On a Rush point of view. Not that the guy was ever big in my books but he became a huge fuck head the day I saw this on the news.............

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0o6yrdInw6s

JimmyV

He may be an entertainer but he is also the dominant voice and influence to a large segment of the GOP's base. It isn't Limbaugh that politicians fear so much as the votes he can swing.

Jeanwah

JimmyV wrote:

He may be an entertainer but he is also the dominant voice and influence to a large segment of the GOP's base. It isn't Limbaugh that politicians fear so much as the votes he can swing.

Talk about integrity of the Republican Party... :roll:

JimmyV

Jeanwah wrote:

JimmyV wrote:

He may be an entertainer but he is also the dominant voice and influence to a large segment of the GOP's base. It isn't Limbaugh that politicians fear so much as the votes he can swing.

Talk about integrity of the Republican Party... :roll:

I would never accuse this current iteration of the Republican Party of having integrity.

In seriousness, I think Limbaugh is a monster many of these politicians and power brokers no longer know how to control.

PJ_Soul

JimmyV wrote:

Jeanwah wrote:

JimmyV wrote:

He may be an entertainer but he is also the dominant voice and influence to a large segment of the GOP's base. It isn't Limbaugh that politicians fear so much as the votes he can swing.

Talk about integrity of the Republican Party... :roll:

I would never accuse this current iteration of the Republican Party of having integrity.

In seriousness, I think Limbaugh is a monster many of these politicians and power brokers no longer know how to control.

You must be right... I mean, SURELY there aren't many actual politicians out there who are anything other than embarrassed and disgusted by the man. However, they still know that his listeners will stay LOYAL republicans no matter what, so I doubt they mind Limbaugh THAT much. Sure, he may sicken a few people enough for them to consider actually crossing over to the dems, but not nearly as many as he will make more and more hateful of the left, which is to any Republican's benefit. Still, I'm sure Rush leaves a really bad taste in most Republican politicians' mouths.

brianlux

Rush must laugh all the way to the bank on a regular basis. I can't imagine he really believes half the things he says. It's all about the media attention. Massive buffoonery sometimes pays very well.

aerial

The title is simply Spin at it's best......It should read Obama upset at being called out and pissed that people still have Freedom of Speech!

Before you guys start with the insults I listen to Limbaugh very rarely.......

JimmyV

But saying the title of the thread "should read Obama upset at being called out and pissed that people still have Freedom of Speech!" is not spin at all.

This is how Limbaugh has been able to thrive as the mayor of Right Wing Fantasy Land.

pjl44

If you take partisanship out of this, the article is saying that the mass constituencies represented by media outlets are holding politicians' feet to the fire based on how they vote. In a vacuum, isn't that sort of how this is supposed to work?

However, if you want to speculate that these media outlets are actually the mouthpieces of someone more diabolical, well no shit. Mainstream media has been compromised? Pardon me while I stumble over to the fainting couch.

On a side note, Limbaugh, et al. want nothing more than to be thrown into the conversation. So nice work on Obama's part by obliging.