Wave the White Flag in the Limbaugh War
President Obama and the Democrats should wave the white flag in their strawman war on Rush Limbaugh. The Media Research Center delivered the grim casualty figures for the Democrats. Since January, the top talk show gabber's ratings have soared off the charts. Radio affiliates that carry Limbaugh's syndicated show call the ratings boost he's gotten from the Democrat's orchestrated attack on him a "dramatic surge." This writer predicted as much when President Obama cracked to Congressional Republicans in late January that they should knock off listening to Limbaugh if they expected to get anything done in Congress and with his administration.
The gabber instantly snatched at the quip and turned it into a multi show bonanza. No matter what topic Limbaugh gassed on, he managed to slide in a reference to Obama's prop up of him as the Democrat's prize punching bag. This did three things. It gave him an even bigger pile of fodder to puff himself up as the emperor of talk radio, claim to be the real kingmaker in the GOP, and in a perverse way paint himself as a credible and thoughtful political critic. It snapped many shell shocked Congressional Republicans out of their post election funk. Now suddenly feisty and combative, they draw a deep line in the sand against any and everything that Obama proposed. And it stiffened the spines of many timid Republicans and made them determined not to be bullied, or at least appear not to be bullied, by a mere talk show host into standing up to Obama.
This should have been the red flag warning to the Democrats to drop Limbaugh from their enemies rolodex. But no, they continued to blunder on. They took out ads, radio spots, and email blasts bashing and trashing bogeyman Limbaugh. The idea was to make sure that when the public thought GOP, they thought Limbaugh.
This was even more grist for Limbaugh. An he went on a tear. In quick succession he picked a fight with Republican National Committee chair Michael Steele, Newt Gingrich, a handful of GOP accomodationists, and the usual suspect to him liberal Democratic interest groups. But the real payoff was that it let him pad his bully pulpit to further whip up the pack to nit pick, poke fun at, and blow up any and every alleged slip or misstep by Obama. This in turn added even more steam to his inflammatory campaign of rumors, half truths, distortions, and flat out lies about Obama, liberals, and just about any other issue he rants on.
Any other time this might be fun and games stuff, a side show distraction that bored reporters and TV talking heads used to fill up column space or a talk cast on off a slow news day, but the Democrats just couldn't let it go. And that insured that the Limbaugh as Democrat's foil ploy would continue to have shelf life.
Limbaugh in a phony self-deprecating moment mockingly minimized his importance as a radio talk show host, feigning puzzlement at why the Democrats were so obsessed with him. He was right. They never should have been. Obama didn't need him to get Congressional Democrats and whipsaw a few Republicans into backing his program and to approve his cabinet appointees. He still doesn't. And that's all the more reason to wave the white flag in the Limbaugh war.
Earl Ofari Hutchinson is an author and political analyst. His weekly radio show, "The Hutchinson Report" can be heard weekly in Los Angeles on KTYM Radio 1460 AM and nationally on blogtalkradio.com
Loading comments…
Want to reply to a comment? Hint: Click "Reply" at the bottom of the comment; after being approved your comment will appear directly underneath the comment you replied to
President Obama has never mentioned Limbaugh in front of any camera or microphone that I can recall, and the President's oppostion to "fairness doctrine" has been several times repeated.
While the Democrat party is targetting Limbaugh, it is hard to find any evidence that the President gives a fig.
If Limbaugh's ratings are going up, then the Democratic strategy of driving GOP into a killing box is probably working.
See Terry Krepel's Profile
One big caveat about Rush's ratings: They went up at the same time that Arbitron switched to a different metering system that, in the words of the blogger who first posted the ratings that the MRC is citing, "has benefited talk radio":
http://radioequalizer.blogspot.com/2009/03/rush-limbaugh-talk-radio-experience.html
So it can be argued that much, if not all, of Rush's ratings spike is attributable to the ratings system change, not to criticism by Obama and the Democrats.
To the Ditto Heads who claim you don't watch or listen to Rush. If you watch more than 20 seconds of Limbaugh after he mocked the illness of Michael J Fox you are indeed a very sick person.
You mean the 20 seconds of doctored video created by MSNBC to claim Rush was doing such a thing? All Rush ever did was accuse and criticize Mr. Fox for using his illness to gain sympathy for his political cause. A valid and legitimate topic for discussion. Ironically you prove on of Rush's points about it. Mr. Fox ( and others ) do such things because people like you will defend their cause, because not to do so would be "mean to the sick", etc, instead of arguing the actual merits of the cause in question.
I've listened to Rush since 1993. There was no "doctoring" of that video. If the legitimacy of criticizing a guy for exploiting his illness is the point then what the heck does doctoring have to do with it? Anyways, I'll grant you you're point, because Rush being mean to MJ Fox is not the problem. His main problem is that he only has standards to suit his position, he doesn't have any absolute standards. Lately he's on a teleprompter kick, yet Reagan was the teleprompter king! one of many hypocricies... it's just boring. The guy has so many thoughts that he's never thought out. Shout socialism and laud small gov yet he never explains who's gonna pay for the roads and the sewers and the fire dept. Shout small government then support a flock of Repubs who inflate the deficit. I don't even want to explain. It is no coincidence that his audience is the uneducated. Don't tell me, because .001% are college grads, that I'm wrong. his audience consists of very confused and frightened people and he has no qualms about steering them toward a poorly conceived philosophy.
Mr. Hutchinson,
Please be the first to actually provide proof about that ratings surge. No one else has. It's a right wing talking point, taken up by the MSM and delivered without critical assessment.
Again, if you have the proof, please provide it. Cuz no one else has to date.
Now, in contrast to his supposed ratings surge, there IS proof that Limbaugh is very, very unpopular with the American people. Poll after poll tells us that. Fighting a deeply unpopular person is seldom a political mistake. It isn't in this case, either. It's also an excellent sign that liberals and progressives have stopped sitting on their hands while "conservatives" try to control the media. And how do "conservatives" typically try to control the debate? Lies, distortions, absurd exaggerations, and mind-boggling, surreal assertions.
We need to fight back by actually FIGHTING back.
Going against Limbaugh is a win/win for us.
The numbers are there for you to see if you really want to. Radio and Records has specific numbers for each station and Radio Equalizer has published a summary (below). Huge uptick in all the major markets.
While these numbers reflect February's results, they could go even higher in March, as the White House anti-Rush effort was still in high gear going into this month.
Some specifics:
In New York City, WABC has experienced huge gains during Rush's noon- 3pm timeslot: from 4.6 to 6.7 overall (12 and older) share, good for first place overall in the nation's largest market. Rush's Big Apple listenership is now estimated at 693,000.
In the second-largest market, Los Angeles, KFI-AM has surged into the number one position (all listeners 12 and older) from 9am to noon, with 618,000 listeners, a 4.6 to 6.0 audience share increase over three months and an even bigger males 35-64 (4.6 to 6.3) move, to take first place there as well.
Chicago, saw another huge move, with Rush affiliate WLS also taking first place during his timeslot (12 and older), from 5.2 share to 6.9 and a total local listenership of 396,700 in the third-largest market.
KSFO / San Francisco saw similar results, despite the extreme-left bent of the Bay Area: 4.7 to 6.0 share, now ranking second overall and with men aged 35-64. Total audience: 346,000.
Still small numbers compared to the entire country. And, did you notice that it is mostly men, ages 35-64? I'd bet they are white men. Rush is good at stirring up the fear of an African-American man in the White House. Good thing the majority of the country sees Rush for what he is: an uneducated 35-64 year old white man with a fear of an African-American man in the White House.
In Dallas - Fort Worth, 4.8 to 6.4 men 35-64 and fourth overall (12+), 3.5 to 4.5. Cumulative audience: 250,000.
Houston's results were truly blockbuster: 6.0 to 9.8 overall, ranking number one with a bullet and audience of 382,300. Men 35-64: number one again, from 8.6 to 12.2 over three months. Adults 25-54: first place, 4.6 to 8.7. Women 25-54: 3.7 to 8.3 again good for a top ranking.
Continued:
DC's WMAL also saw Rush-related growth: 4.1 to 6.7, good for third overall and an audience of 155,300. Men 35-64: number one with a staggering 6.4 to 13.4 move.
In Atlanta, Rush has helped WGST fend off an enormous competitor, WSB-AM, with a similar 4.0 to 6.2 upward move, good for fifth place overall and a total audience of 473,500. The results are better in the male 35-64 demographic, surging from 5.5 to 8.0 share.
Bucking Detroit's recent Democratic voting trend, Rush's performance on WJR-AM has been more significant than ever, moving into first place with a 5.8 to 9.6 jump. Men 35-64: number one and 11.6 share. Total audience: 253,000.
Going against Rush is a win. Poll for Rush is very, very low.
No, it's not a "win." The Obama administration brings Rush up to their level, and provides him credibility, by going after him.
STRONGLY disagree.
This one was lost! No use trying to rationalize or make excuses. Obama, Begala and Carville should have known better. The results are in, he has higher ratings now than before. More people listenning to him. It was better to just ignore.
Even if it were TRUE that Limbaugh had a "ratings surge", this is good news for Democrats. Let the Republicans flock around their new "leader". If that's who represents their party, it'll be a long time before they can attract independents again.
Or moderates.
I agree that it's good news. I say drag this guy out into the sunlight where we can all see him, point a finger at the man and ask the Republicans: "Is THIS who you are? Is THIS who represents your views?"
While I agree it's probably time to move on from Rush, I don't agree it's hurt the Dems. If anything, encouraging the Repubs to speak out for their so-called values, has just shown the country, on an even deeper level, how bereft of ideas the Republican party actually is.
The pitiful attempt at a counter budget to Obama's plan was just the latest debacle for the Repubs. Just a giant tax cut for the wealthy. Imagine that.
So should the Dem. party as a whole move on from Rush. I don't know, but I do know what I personally have decided to do.
I used to read every article headlining the latest outrageous statement from Rush, but now I don't waste my time. We all know he does it because, for his personal bank account, it doesn't matter if those tuning in are Reps or Dems. He wins either way. I refuse to be part of the reason Rush earns even one more penny in the future.
i think calling out Rush's congressional dittoheads was a necessary -- and ultimately productive -- move. The Republicans obliged Obama by humiliating themselves before Rush, further alienating moderate voters. That being said, I agree that it's time to back off of the Limbaugh angle, lest we spend too much time in the gutter and exasperate those same moderates.
Mr Hutchinson:
To heck with his ratings; Rush has repeatedly and eagerly humiliated himself (even more then usual) in the past several weeks, transforming himself and the party he heads into an ever larger laughingstock. It's been fun to watch the self-immolation. I therefore figure the Democrats are doing an excellent job of driving him straight up the wall. Perhaps they shouldn't stop until he explodes; it's coming, you know.
To those who accuse moderates and liberals of not listening to Rush's filth I say that I have listened to him but don't regularly because he is spiritual poison. I avoid him the same as I avoid tainted water; he's sick and the exposure makes me sick. Same goes for psychopaths at Faux Noise.
Dismissal of facts (ratings): check. Gratuitous FOX news slander: check. Claim to be a Rush listener, yet claim to not listen because "you're above it all": check.
Congrats, you made the RW blogs happy.
That war is over and the dems won.
Get a spine.
Every time a Republican denounced Limbaugh, only to go crawling back to Rush with their tail between their legs... it was a huge win for the White House.
In politics, nothing is more important than making your opponent look weak and impotent. Seeing the so-called "leaders" of the Conservatives run begging Limbaugh for forgiveness made them look more weak and impotent than ANYTHING else ever could. So did presenting a budget with no numbers, or being the "Party of No"... but to a much lesser extent than licking Limbaugh's boots.
Revealing Limbaugh as the leader of the GOP was the smartest thing the Democratic Party, as a whole, has done in decades.
I am pro sanctity of life and have never thrown a bomb.
I am Christian, why do you vilify us who try to love our neighbors as ourselves?
I believe in the Bill of Rights and the right to bear arms.
I believe in limited government, individual rights, and liberty.
I check out all news outlets to get the whole story.
How does that make me Taliban?
And have you actually ever listened to Rush?
I've listened to Rush up to the point of knowing my stomach was about to empty it's contents. After you catch him in about six falsehoods in as few minutes, you know it's time to move the dial.
Anyone who defends, or respects, Rush Limbaugh is part of the problem.
LOL @ the Democrats plan to distract America by attacking Limbaugh being a complete failure.
Heckuva job, liberals!!!!
At least Nancy Pelosi had it right when she sez 'I don't speak to that', more folks should do that, but I guess the 24 hr. news cycle has to have something to fill it because then can't seem to put the news there, instead it's meaningless drivel like that.
Mr. Hutchinson ignores, of course, the Nixonian effort put into this attack on Limbaugh.
You know, where the President approves an orchestrated strategy to take down someone they agree with.
So much for putting aside our worn out, tired, political differences, eh, Obama?
Imagine the head explosions if Rove & Co. had pulled this crap from the White House. It was a stupid ploy, designed to take criticism away from the rampant spending in the "stimulus" bill, and the 8500 earmarks that Obama has said he wasn't a fan of, but signed anyway, in the omnibus.....and all it did, of course, was to increase Rush's audience, the same way it did when Clinton's gang tried it. That's the really dumb part of it....you only had to look at previous attempts to attack Limbaugh to see how well that worked out.
> Imagine the head explosions if Rove & Co. had pulled this crap from the White House.
But... they DID. It's amazing... conservatives have an eight year amnesia going on, they seriously think the political world began this year, and 2000-2008 never happened.
I'd call it hypocrisy... but that implies a self-awareness conservatives are not capable of.
You're citing the Media Research Center for the basis of this argument? Thanks, no sale.
You must be logged in to comment. Log in or connect with
