GOP Leader Pushes Back Against Limbaugh Line

Over the past few days, talk radio host Rush Limbaugh has been, far and away, the most combative critic of Barack Obama. As Republicans on the Hill compliment the president for his willingness to talk and compromise on the stimulus, the popular conservative firebrand has openly rooted for Obama's failure.

The remarks have created a rather complicated and touchy political dynamic on the Hill, as the GOP tries to avoid a sour-puss, oppositionist label without offending its base. And on Wednesday, Rep. Mike Pence of Indiana tried to walk that tricky line.

Asked whether he shares Rush's hope that Obama will fail, Pence, the no. 3 ranked House Republican and a leader of congressional conservatives, demurred.

"Let me just say, every American hopes that our president is a success," said Pence. "But I agree strongly with Rush Limbaugh that on those issues that President Obama has committed himself to more government or more spending or a departure from traditional values, that I hope Republicans and other leaders around the country will be steady advocates for the American people.

"Everyone hopes that America succeeds and our president succeeds," Pence added, "but Republicans are going to stand for conservative values..."

On a broader level, the Limbaugh tirades reflect the sort of soul-searching journey on which the GOP has embarked. While Senate Republicans seem poised to work with Democrats on a stimulus package, the House side has resolutely toed a partisan line. Earlier in the day, both Pence and Minority Leader John Boehner said they were spending no time whipping votes against to the House stimulus package -- resistance came that easily.

But how sincerely the party wants to embrace the Limbaugh base is a trickier debate. The GOP is holding a retreat this week to plot out its future and the issues it will pursue. Among the headlining guests will be former Gov. Mitt Romney, Gov. Tim Pawlenty, and Gov. Mitch Daniels, said Pence. Asked if Limbaugh was on the invite list, he replied: "Rush Limbaugh would be welcomed at the Republican retreat."

Comments

[MarionWatts]

I really hope that, in hindsight, this week will ultimately prove to be the moment that Rush Limbaugh jumped the shark. And I really hope that the base Republicans who so fervently hung on his every word, wake up, smell the coffee and realise that those people they so avidly support don't have their true interests at heart and are, in fact, working against them and their needs. It's these sort of people who give credence to the belief in American stupidity. Geesh!

[BamBamThankYouUncleSam]

Rush is right and he speaks the truth, unfortunatly you people can't handle the truth

[sonoffestus]

BamBam....­.......the "Rush" you hear is the sound of air passing between your ears.

[zeezan]

You are partly correct. Rush is very far right and absolutely wrong.

[JNagarya]

Rush is a demogogue, and a spokesman for the far-right/lunatic fringe white supremacists and mega-welathy. He laughs AT YOU all the way to the bank.

[cariintexas]

People are sick of hearing the rightwing congress whining about THEIR CONSTITUENTS. The American voters are the constituents who voted for change, for more Dems in Congress and a Democratic President. Thats what matters. let the rightwing go kiss up to Limbaugh.

[SadieGirl]

You got that right. The Republicans got pounded this election year and they learned nothing. Same old tired liars. They always talk about small government and their good old conservative values. Then you look at the last 8 years and see that every single one of them lied over and over again. They have never put the American people first. Big businessand big oil - it's all they have ever known, it's all they have ever cared about. Love watching their party floundering as their base shrinks daily.

[Eris23Skidoo]

Lemmings, the lot of them.

[countrycontemplative]

What are conservative values? Tax the hell out of the middle class, runaway energy prices, starting foreign wars and avoid military service yourself. That's the Rush Limbaugh mantra. It's okay to spend hundreds of billions in Iraq in an unnecessary war but no good to give the American people back their own money. It isn't 1980 or 1984 anymore. The coolaid isn't doing the job anymore. We're onto your phoney arguments.

[JNagarya]

"Conservative values" = TORTURE. The thuggery of valueless barbarians.

[medusa08]

Rush Limbaugh is doing exactly what Sarah Palin is doing: trying to stay in the headlines in any way possible to avoid the realization that they are completely irrelevant.

[JimGroom]

If one is looking for the word to describe Pence it is COWARD!. What a pathetic public servant...­or perhaps he's shown that he is, after all, just another dittohead. What a sorry mess the GOP finds itself these days. All self-inflected wounds at that.

[sheputstheLinPAIN]

I can't believe the Republicans would sink so low as to suggest they invite an obese, drug-addicted, thrice divorced (if that's the right number) "entertainer" to discuss the future of their party and our country. They have played their last card. There is no integrity left. He is an embarassment to our country, and should be invited nowhere.

It would be like the Democrats inviting Bill Maher to their retreat. Hey, I love Bill Maher, but what purpose should be possibly serve other than to entertain in a partisan way? Rush Limbaugh only has political chops because he says he does. He says over and over and over again how important and smart he is for that the Republicans want to give him power? They are fools and will further their reputation as internationally embarassing.

[Consilience777]

It requires a special something to listen to Rush Limbaugh daily. Or maybe the lack of something.

[Xenopus]

The (conservative) Republicans stand for is a mantra which is self-servi­ng....if it benefits me and my income then it is a GOP treasured value. Everything valued to them gains it value by how it affects them personally. But, if it is a Democratic value, which they refer to as Socialistic (what Rush says all the time), then that means it is benefitting a the majority of everyday people . It really is as simple as that. Republicans are in it only for the worth to themself (especially Rush), and Democrats are serving the populace as a whole. One value is totally selfish, and one isn't selfish at all.

[BrutusHonestus]

GOP holding a retreat??? I'd say that the GOP is in FULL RETREAT, with Rush as their (drug) clouded rear view mirror!

[TheNoBullExpress]

The GOP in "retreat".­...sure has a pleasant ring to it, huh??

[SadieGirl]

Yes it does. I do believe they will be in 'retreat' for many years to come.

[rasit]

Coming to a city near you...Demi­se of the GOP under the able leadership of Rush....

[cloudminder]

Pence was on MSNBC with Norah O Donnell and he WAS groveling to Rush

it was the wierdest clip of the day

Right after Dick Army offended Joan Walsh by talking about how he was glad he wasn't married to her and made all sorts of gender based comments to try to counter her argument

The Republicans stand for nothing anymore - I used to be able to find a worthy opposition but that left a long time ago --- NEXT!

[CabaretArtist]

Where is the UPDATE on this article? This is old news here. Pence caved in on MSNBC today with Nora and that is the story UPDATE. Clearly, he was scared that he'd offended Rust ..

[Jaxy]

You are correct, sir. Today, Pence went to great pains to not criticize Limbaugh's crude comments about Americans supposedly "bending over and grabbing the ankles" simply because President Obama is black. He dodged Nora O'Donnell's very clear question on the issue.

Looks like Pence, Gingrey and the like are beholden to Limbaugh. I wonder why that is?

[TJC]

I don't believe President Obama "wants" a larger government but unfortunately with business and republicans left to mind the store the last 8 years it is now necessary for the government to grow to repair our economy. If big business had done even a fair job of self corporate governance and taken realistic risks,we would not need legislation to repair an monitor our economy. The money now has to be spent. Most pork you see in the new bill still provides for jobs. It is all very unfortunate that President Obama inherited this mess but everyone must support and rally for positive actions.

[SadieGirl]

The pundiints are all using the word 'fear tactics' because Obama and stressed the urgency to get this economy going and quickly. The MSM just ticks me off. They are so used to the fear tactics of the Bush years, that Obama's call for expeditious action is viewed as a fear tactic. WE ARE DROWNING and he's trying to get the government to throw us a life raft. However the Republicans would just as soon see the lower and middle class people just drown.

[jcollell]

These guys have been wiping his man batter off their faces and now they are mad at him because he attacks them instead of sticking to Obama. Go F yourselves.

http://www.youspar.com/

[youknowwhat]

I must have missed the pushback in that article. Anyways, Pence will be groveling in front of Rush within the next few days.

[Graz]

Wow, I couldn't imagine what it's like to have to kiss Rush's pimply bottom like that.