Limbaugh Still Controls The GOP: Video Proof

More than anything else, the clearest warning shot fired at President Barack Obama's hopes for some sort of "post-partisan" America was the one that hit Representative Phil Gingrey. The Georgia Republican said something eminently sensible earlier this week in defense of his own party's leadership in the House:

I mean, it's easy if you're Sean Hannity or Rush Limbaugh or even sometimes Newt Gingrich to stand back and throw bricks. You don't have to try to do what's best for your people and your party.You know you're just on these talk shows and you're living well and plus you stir up a bit of controversy and gin the base and that sort of thing.

Days later, in one of most embarrassing public displays you are likely to witness in your lifetime, Gingrey was utterly, thoroughly emasculated by Rush Limbaugh on the air. Honestly, it was pretty breathtaking. Even the haters had to pause.

It was well worth the moment of reflection. See, like a lot of people, I sort of see Obama's rise to the Presidency as a conquering of those old "Nixonland" tactics of tar, smear, and fear. But Limbaugh's not going down easily. Rather, he's positioning himself for another oppositional heyday.

And lest you think there are limitations on Limbaugh's ability to influence conservative opinion -- and conservative votes -- you'd better take another moment and check out this video from Media Matters for America, which ably documents the Limbaugh effect. Media Matters' Karl Frisch points out that "Limbaugh's latest comments prove that he is out of step with the American people and their hopes for overcoming this economic crisis." So he asks, "How much longer will conservatives allow Limbaugh to be their voice?" In light of what happened to Phil Gingrey, it's a pressing question.

[WATCH.]

Comments

[Diane Best]

02:20 PM on 01/30/2009

I have read the comments for at least for a half an hour. What is sad, Limbaugh has you all by the cajones. You are either extremely paranoid or wacked by this guy. The more you rant the more he makes, financially and politically. Get over it.

[breakroomlive]

01:19 PM on 01/30/2009

Congressmen Gingrey apologizes to Rush and makes amends:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DETxIUpyc5o

[TreadingWater]

12:37 PM on 01/30/2009

There's power in numbers, just look at how Limbaugh made Gingrey fold. Gingrey claims that he received many phone calls from Rush's listeners forcing his public debasement. Here is a list of Limbaugh's advertisers:

http://rushwenttofar.synthasite.com/

It is the newest list I could find, but some of the advertisers may have already pulled their ads. (Inverness Medical says it hasn't advertised on the Limbaugh show since 2003).

Send e-mails, write letters, be polite since the letters/calls are screened by minimum wage peons, but let Rush's advertisers know how you feel about their support of someone who wishes the country to fail simply to appease his ideology.

[-0013]

03:13 PM on 01/30/2009

You can write letter until your hands fall off. Limbaugh get's 20 million listeners a day. His advertisers are going no where.

He's not Air America.

[TreadingWater]

04:56 PM on 01/30/2009

Both ScottTrade and Inverness Medical have replied to me to inform me that they are no longer advertising on Rush's show. I would love to see your citation for that 20 mill number, the figures published by Talkers Magazine show his WEEKLY audience to be about 13.5 million, so I would love to see where you are coming up with a 20 million daily audience. Even if I take your 20 million figure as gospel (I mean, why should I disbelieve Rush Limbaugh when he pads his stats), that still only works out to about 4 mill a day, and I don't see any hard evidence of that. And, since those 4 million dittoheads listen religiously, it isn't 20 million individual listeners, but a smaller number due to those who listen daily. I mean, over 50 million individuals voted for John McCain, and he can't get all of those on board. Rush is a dinosaur, and his tail-brain hasn't told his head-brain that he's on his way to extinction.

[plzchuteme]

08:00 AM on 01/30/2009

Any control that Rush Limbaugh has over the Republicans, he has won by default. What conservative out there has the intelligence, and charm to lead a movement that runs the gamut from wealthy, corporate robber barons, to religious zealots, to ethnic and sociological bigots, to the woefully uneducated and ignorant. Each group is a niche, unbending, uncompromising, and intolerant, but dependent on the others for influence and power. It is truly an unholy alliance. What rational person or group could hope could hope to lead this herd of cats without alienating one or more members of this coalition, incurring their wrath, and suffering swift retribution. Support from each group is necessary, and any will turn on you if you don't agree. The fear factor is operable. The best one can hope for is some regional influence by pandering to a localized and less diverse group and following the mob. There are no leaders. Rush Limbaugh is a free agent. He has to answer to no one and is unaccountable to anyone. He speaks to each group, in turn, and pleases them individually without responsibility for the entire team play. Each group hears what they want to hear with little regard for the big picture. A true leader knows that he/she can't please all the people, all of the time, even amongst their supporters. A real leader has to lead his/her followers as well as those in opposition. Rush Limbaugh knows no such constraints and doesn't even try.

[sincite]

07:58 AM on 01/30/2009

Back in 1957, there was an Elia Kazan movie starring Andy Griffith, his first, called "A Face In The Crowd." I compare Rush to the same character, suffering the same fate.

[ptarantino]

07:42 AM on 01/30/2009

If you want to know how out of touch Rush is in 2009, just listen to him defend John Thain & Merril Lynch's bonuses. The guy has let super-capitalism replace sound fiscal responsibilty & American morality.

[ggirl]

07:20 AM on 01/30/2009

This is the reason I can not ever become a Republican. A known drug abuser is the leader of their very small minded party. This is so sad.

[-0013]

03:14 PM on 01/30/2009

A known drug user is the President. A known drug user just was the President.

Glass houses.

[loonwalk]

09:25 PM on 02/01/2009

very different scenarios. get a brain.

[AsianAfricanAMERICAN]

06:36 AM on 01/30/2009

If Rush and Gingrey were cellmates, we know who the bytch would be.

Gingrey is an American leader! Wow...I bet Gingrey really freightens Bin Ladin.

[Whinger]

06:16 AM on 01/30/2009

Now I'm not smart but I'm not blind I think that you've got evil on your mind.....

[TurkerB]

04:00 AM on 01/30/2009

What a telling commentary on the impact Rush is having on the last dregs of the Republican Party. Rush uses the public airways to go after anyone he doesn't agree with or when they go against Rush's doctrine or beliefs of how the conservative party should operate.

It's going to be interesting to see how long the Rush Dirigible is going to stay up before it implodes and comes crashing to earth. Rush's own behavior and actions will ultimately bring him down -- and he is facing a smarter and better organized administration in the White House than when the light-weight Bush 'led' this country.

[Tim303]

02:46 AM on 01/30/2009

Rush Limbaugh's power is weakened by the internet and cheap video cameras, let alone the will of the people. We didn't have those technologies as easily or as powerfully in the Clinton days.

[rosal]

01:53 AM on 01/30/2009

Rush is like Bush and Pailin. He'll bring his party down (even more) Thank you for insuring we'll win the next election, Rushi.

[cityspeak]

01:19 AM on 01/30/2009

I'm not being smart or trying to get off topic but does Rush look really bloated recently?

His face is puffy and his eyes look tired. He better get himself to a doctor fast. His obesity and history of drug abuse are taking their toll.

Really someone should step in and imlpore him to see a doctor.

[rosal]

01:46 AM on 01/30/2009

Why?

[Yermammy]

03:08 AM on 01/30/2009

Gee... I lost his doctor's number. LOL!

[DoomtoNeoCons]

12:45 AM on 01/30/2009

How can anyone who has such large jowels be taken seriously? Honestly, the man is a deadringer for The Blob, from the X-Men Comics!

[XME]

12:16 AM on 01/30/2009

Sure he has influence on the far right, but those people are not why the Repblicans are in tatters right now. They are in tatters because the only ones who will vote for them ARE the far right. They are losing folks like myself (Independents) in droves, and I can assure you that having Rush in their corner, and seeing Republican politicians grovel to Rush is only going to lose them MORE of the middle! If there's one thing Republicans should have learned from this election, it's that coddling to their base is not a winning tactic...and it seems they've learned nothing. Thankfully.