Rush to Huckabee: You want to talk? Then pick up the phone
posted at 4:03 pm on December 23, 2007 by Allahpundit
Send to a Friend |
printer-friendly
I can’t believe this drama’s going on hiatus just as it’s getting good. Huck did his level best yesterday with Politico to defuse the situation, dutifully kissing ass to avert the nightmare scenario of Limbaugh campaigning against him on the air. Minor problem, though: After asking Politico for Rush’s number, Huck invited him to make a move and get in touch. Thus was the alpha male’s ego bruised, and now here we are:
Rush Limbaugh — responding to Mike Huckabee’s peace offering — said today that he doesn’t need to talk with the former Arkansas governor.
“I saw his comments and accept them as honest, sincere and genuine,” Limbaugh wrote in an email…
“Gov. Huckabee’s campaign is engaged in identity politics at this moment, so I understand his advisor’s/supporter’s intent to put the focus on me rather than the substance of my commentary,” he tweaked.
And as for Huckabee’s plea for Limbaugh to get in touch, the man behind the golden EIB microphone said this: [T]here are people on his Arkansas staff who know full well how to reach me and they have not. But that is not necessary to me. We’re not playing in a Kindergarten sandbox here. We are all presumably adults.”
Exit question: Is Rush genuinely ticked at some no-name Huckabee aide’s effrontery or is this a shrewd gambit on his part to delegitimize Huck’s populism by showing how not even middle America’s favorite conservative is safe from its demagoguery?
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Blowback
Note from Hot Air management: This section is for comments from Hot Air's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that Hot Air management agrees with or otherwise endorses any particular comment just because we let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with our terms of use may lose their posting privilege.
Trackbacks/Pings
Trackback URL
Comments
Huckabee’s ineptness thus far seems so bad that one wonders if he really wants to be President.
He should have called Rush the next day or even the one after, but this is lame and ridiculous.
Huck is the media’s choice.
BobH on December 23, 2007 at 4:08 PM
Both I imagine.
Spirit of 1776 on December 23, 2007 at 4:08 PM
Rush is wallowing in his glory. I love Rush, I believe most of what he says, and most importantly, I believe in Rush’s sincerety. However Rush does have a big head, and has might have overblown the importance of their confrontation.
Rode Werk on December 23, 2007 at 4:12 PM
Shrewd gambit. I don’t think Rush cares as long as conservatism is not further redefined by another RINO.
Undfortunately, he will be a loyal Republican and support the nominee as he did with Bush 41/43 despite the damage they have wrought to conservatism.
Valiant on December 23, 2007 at 4:14 PM
I’m not sure how shrewd a gambit that would be. Huck’s a better talker than Rush is, and has a bigger microphone.
Big S on December 23, 2007 at 4:14 PM
I think the media like to spotlight Huckabee, but it seems McCain is still their choice.
FloatingRock on December 23, 2007 at 4:17 PM
I’d say the latter more than the former, but I think Rush’s irritation at Ed Rollins’ comments, which he also addressed on Friday, is genuine. It’s also possible that Rollins was the anonymous staffer in question.
ReubenJCogburn on December 23, 2007 at 4:17 PM
What? Huck asked for Rush’s number, and then asked Rush over the air to call him?
Nawww, that can’t be. It’s just too D.U.M.B. to be real.
petefrt on December 23, 2007 at 4:17 PM
Hmmm….let me think….
Rush expressed an opinion that clearly resonated with many in his audience, that hhhmmm exposed Gov. Huckabee in a certain light.
Gov. Huckabee responds by denigrating Rush, his show, and his audience. Rush defends himself….
and Gov. Huckabee then suggests that ‘Rush needs to get in touch with him’, presumably so that Gov Huckabee can get Rush’s mind right.
Kn to QB4
Earth to Gov. Huckabee: If you want to talk to Rush have your people call his people and get in line.
rockhauler on December 23, 2007 at 4:18 PM
No. Follow the link. He told the Politico reporter to mention in his story that he’s willing to talk to Rush if Rush will call him.
Allahpundit on December 23, 2007 at 4:18 PM
More the latter than the former. Rush actually wants someone who is conservative to be the nominee, and outside of abortion and gay marriage, Huck is conservative on nothing.
thirteen28 on December 23, 2007 at 4:19 PM
Let sleeping dogs lie. What would be the impact of Rush taking to the mic on Wednesday (I know he is on vacation) and lowering the boom on Huckabee? Huckabee better hope Rush does not end his campaign.
Theworldisnotenough on December 23, 2007 at 4:27 PM
As a choice you may be right, however their real choice would be Hillary and Huckabee is the easiest to beat and therefore the choice of the media in that respect.
BobH on December 23, 2007 at 4:29 PM
Why should or would Rush want to call the Huckster. It was the Huckster’s political strategy to take on Rush. How arrogant. Rush could care less whether Huckabee likes him or not. Huckabee is the one that needs to suck up.
Laddy on December 23, 2007 at 4:32 PM
With Rush it is always all about Rush
bnelson44 on December 23, 2007 at 4:33 PM
Huck foolishly forgot the first rule of media relations:
You dont tug on Superman’s cape.
The attack on Rush by Huck’s people was unjustified, stupid and just played into Huck’s phony “victimhood” gambit.
Now Rush will be able to turn the Huck remark into the next version of the Dingy Harry Censure Letter, and we all know how THAT ONE turned out.
Always Right on December 23, 2007 at 4:33 PM
I don’t believe they think that way- otherwise they’d not be treating McCain (who for all his many faults is pretty electable) with kid gloves. I suspect they’re simply more inclined to favor “moderate” Republicans over conservative ones.
Fred, Hunter, Tancredo? No love.
McCain and Huckster? Tonguebaths.
Hollowpoint on December 23, 2007 at 4:33 PM
Thanks, AP. Not quite so bad, but dumb enough still. As rockhauler just said: “Earth to Gov. Huckabee: If you want to talk to Rush have your people call his people and get in line.”
My sense is that the last thing Rush wants is a fight with Huck, or any reasonable GOP candidate. Like Reagan, he espouses the Eleventh Commandment.
But MSM would greet a fight between them with wild celebration, so it will do what it can to fan the flames.
My bet is that Rush will do whatever it takes to defend his ground. He always, thankfully, does that. But he’ll decline to go much beyond that point, for fear of weakening the conservative movement.
My personal opinion is that Rush has vastly more influence, and could crush Huck like a bug, should he be so inclined.
petefrt on December 23, 2007 at 4:36 PM
I think you’re right he’d be the easiest to beat, but the MSM is probably lining up behind McCain anyway, (unless I’m mistaken), because they don’t want to take the chance that Huck might actually be able to win.
FloatingRock on December 23, 2007 at 4:36 PM
Rush wants to prove he is the Republican king maker and all contestants must humble themselves in front of the great Rushbo. If not, they are doomed.
bnelson44 on December 23, 2007 at 4:36 PM
Eh this is huckaruckus in a radiostorm.
If Huck is stupid enough to keep this going he will be drowned out by a RUSHing wind
William Amos on December 23, 2007 at 4:37 PM
Huckabee is the loser.
If Huck does call and Rush picks up the telephone, I think el Rushbo would ask who the anonymous staffer/supporter was that started all this? And then the conversation would go on to discuss real conservatism. No, I doubt Huck would risk having to answer those questions on the air (or in private).
If Huck does not call, then Rush’s statement on redefining conservatism stand unchallenged.
Zorro on December 23, 2007 at 4:39 PM
I don’t think Rush likes Hucklebee’s policies and his experience. I too don’t see how anyone could see Hucklebee as qualified for the job. We have already have one glib talking flim-flam man as President, we don’t need the conservative version.
tarpon on December 23, 2007 at 4:42 PM
I think Rush’s point is key… about the need not to redefine conservativism merely in order to support a particular candidate.
When first he made that point, was it in the context of Huck or someone else? I thought he first brought it up in a conversation about Rudy, but I’m not at all certain.
petefrt on December 23, 2007 at 4:48 PM
bnelson44 on December 23, 2007 at 4:36 PM
Methinks I smell a D.C./Washington insider elite.
Just kidding, but why would Rush not have a high view of his influence? He reaches more people daily than the entire state of Wisconsin has residents by a factor of 10 or more. He’s a pretty big deal.
VolMagic on December 23, 2007 at 4:50 PM
Zorro on December 23, 2007 at 4:39 PM
I think you are underestimating the power of the Huck.
Big S on December 23, 2007 at 4:52 PM
Huck is hiding from Rush and its because he’s not a Conservative that’s what Rushs’ point has been all along and Huck for sure doesn’t want to get into a dodge ball match with Rush using Huck’s own statements and policies as the game ball.
Huck’s true colors can’t stand the light of day and he knows it.
What really concerns me is I sure hope we don’t have to suffer through another Jimmie Carter before we elect another Ronald Reagan.
Speakup on December 23, 2007 at 4:54 PM
Zorro, perhaps you would like to enlighten us as to what exactly “the power of the Huck” is?
centralcal on December 23, 2007 at 5:00 PM
oops, Zorro, I apologize, I meant “Big S!”
centralcal on December 23, 2007 at 5:01 PM
I take Rush at his word. This fiasco lies entirely with the Hucksters.
If Huck loves Rush, he’ll call, and we’ll all be home for Christmas.
Randy
williars on December 23, 2007 at 5:01 PM
What you smokin there Willis…30 million people listen to Rush every day, you don’t get a bigger microphone than that. The president of the United States cant even get that kind of audience every day.
doriangrey on December 23, 2007 at 5:03 PM
You know the big business, big government, amnesty folks are going to do whatever it takes to get one of their own into the White House. It isn’t a problem on the left but they had to go uber Christian to guarantee it on the right. We aren’t gonna get anyone elected who is remotely conservative because billions of dollars are riding on this election. Too bad Rush is more of a Republican than a conservative or he’d tell you that himself.
Buzzy on December 23, 2007 at 5:10 PM
centralcal on December 23, 2007 at 5:01 PM
doriangrey on December 23, 2007 at 5:03 PM
Huck’s been able to do something that Rush has never been able to do: control the narrative in the mainstream media. This has already been picked up on the MSM’s radar, and Huck will use that to his advantage. Also, he’s the designated “nice guy” in this little spat, and can easily make Rush look thin-skinned. Advantage: Huck.
Big S on December 23, 2007 at 5:11 PM
http://www.newsmax.com/headlines/Radio_Host_List/2007/12/03/54102.html
Must be poorer quality than what you are smokin. 20 million is more like it.
Bradky on December 23, 2007 at 5:17 PM
Hmm. Mighty weird. I don’t see that Rush started this contretemps. Rush’s specialty is the counterattack, which he did with measured grace. :) If Huckabee wanted to talk to Rush he simply would have. To publicly ask him to call — as if he’s the one with moral superiority and just “reaching out” — seems phony, Clintonesque, in fact. He misjudged Rush, perhaps is seeking some good publicity, or perhaps his judgment of other people is simply poor.
I think that Rush would have appreciated a private phone call and, as a gentleman, he would have spoken about that sort of gesture with praise to his listeners. The chance is gone now. I doubt that Rush will make any more of a big deal of it: he has responded honestly and rather mildly, and will likely let the matter drop — if Huck will.
Aardvark on December 23, 2007 at 5:20 PM
If Huckabee has any smarts he’ll fire the no-name aide and give Rush a call.
infidel4life on December 23, 2007 at 5:21 PM
With Rush it is always all about Rush
—- That’s his game. It works for him.
Can you imagine the past 15 + years in this nation without Rush? I thank God for his presence and his boost to conservatism… flaws and all.
stenwin77 on December 23, 2007 at 5:21 PM
And he thanks God everyday for your money and support. Thar’s gold in stirring up the conservative base!
Bradky on December 23, 2007 at 5:23 PM
Huck isn’t controlling anything, he’s peddling as fast as he can to keep from falling on his face.
He’s more like a bowling ball set in motion and he’s trying to keep enough spin going to stay out of the gutter.
If anyone pays any attention to Rush at all its easy to see that he makes fun of himself all the time, he uses the build up of his “ego” to sting the hell out of libs with great effect, its very gratifying to think of how liberals heads must be popping all over the country from Rushs’ antics.
Speakup on December 23, 2007 at 5:26 PM
All hail the power of the MSM. We all know how they crammed shamnesty down our throats.
Oh, yea: not.
silverfox on December 23, 2007 at 5:28 PM
Allah, like the other Candidates I dont think this really affects Huck at all. Rush in the past few weeks, like others have mentioned here, has already drilled into his listeners what candidates are about. With Huck, it was his wanting to redefine conservatism. Nothing else Rush says will say his listeners such as myself.
Exit question:
With all his Bush bashing and blame America , what are the chances that he wasn’t trying yet again to endear himself to the media by attacking the voice of the Conservative Movement? After all, he is already being shown in a sypathetic light as the victim in the media, and now goes to the blogosphere to “apologize”.
broker1 on December 23, 2007 at 5:33 PM
Mike Huckabee is the supplicant here, as in to humbly ask us for our support. That is the apropriate posture for a presidential candidate.
Rush Limbaugh is part of the political/cultural matrix of the GOP, a big part. Mike is supposed to be courting all of us and Rush is a big part of that.
Huck is showing himself to be an idiot. His campaign seems to have “an arrogant bunker mentality.”
silverfox on December 23, 2007 at 5:37 PM
Thats the low ball estimate, 30 is probably closer to correct.
doriangrey on December 23, 2007 at 5:53 PM
I think it was gauche of Huckabee to suggest to a reporter or anyone else that Rush call him. But that’s not why I am opposed to Huckabee’s candidacy. I simply don’t like his record, his doublespeak, or his weakness on the issues I care about as a conservative. Rush said, “I saw it coming… and I now may be seeing it going.” Buh-bye, Huck.
DianaM on December 23, 2007 at 5:53 PM
Let’s hope he does end his campaign for the country’s sake.
krabbas on December 23, 2007 at 5:57 PM
Rush himself says 20-22. I ain’t calling him a liar.
Don’t be a hater. He is successful for a reason - he articulates the principles that resonate with the American people. Workman is worthy his hire.
Spirit of 1776 on December 23, 2007 at 6:02 PM
Heres the money quote from Huckabee on Face the Nation:
“I’m going to change the Republican Party because it needs to be changed, to be more inclusive of those with less.”
That to me is telling if he thinks conservatives are less caring about the poor. That is where Rush stood up and took notice.
broker1 on December 23, 2007 at 6:25 PM
I’m pretty sure Rush is only counting the Dittoheads… ;)
doriangrey on December 23, 2007 at 6:27 PM
Huck off and die.
silverfox on December 23, 2007 at 6:32 PM
You know, when Arnold and Rush had a brief misunderstanding, Arnold was on the phone to Rush’s show the very next day making sure all was well with the man who runs America. The Huckster should take notes from the Austrian.
Go Fred!
Mojave Mark on December 23, 2007 at 6:40 PM
He’s from Arkansas. I’m sure there is some sort of working relationship between his people and that other pair from there. I would not put it past the Clinton machine to be behind this whole orchestration. We all know that Huck is a whore for $, I would bank that there is some sort of reciprocity and promises behind the scenes. The MSM takes a lot of their marching order and talking points directly from the Clinton Criminal Machine. THis whole Huck phenom just plays into their hands a little too well for my taste.
bbz123 on December 23, 2007 at 6:40 PM
.
Seems to me that Rush is suggesting the Huckabee campaign advisors/supporters act on the Kindergarten level and he ain’t playing.
News2Use on December 23, 2007 at 6:53 PM
Yup, Rush is definitely the wrong person for someone attempting to get elected to screw around with. Arnold understood just how influential Rush is, Huck on the other hand is obviously trying to make the mountain come to
MohammadHuck. Which is a really bad idea since Rush seems to like Fred Thompson. Rush is nobodies fool and he isn’t about to be played for a fool, Huck is playing with fire and is liable to get burned quite badly for his efforts.doriangrey on December 23, 2007 at 7:00 PM
I have a big problem with anonymous sources. How do we know that the comments about Rush were really ever made? If you represent someone’s campaign, why would you want to be anonymous?
I am not a fan of a lot of Huck’s policies, but I personally think it is unfair to attribute the remarks to him without knowing the source. I would like to se how he would have dealt with this person.
jman on December 23, 2007 at 7:15 PM
This is Rush’s subtle way to allow Huck to topedo himself. He has done it to people before. He does not like the prospect of a Huck candidacy any more than the rest of us. If he does get it, Rush will support him, but right now he is just feeding him all the rope he wants, hoping he hangs himself with it.
conservnut on December 23, 2007 at 7:16 PM
conservnut on December 23, 2007 at 7:16 PM
I’m thinking Huck’s more of a nail kind of guy.
\sarc
bbz123 on December 23, 2007 at 7:27 PM
Idiot…Huck controls nothing, the media is allowing Huck to use them because he’s the perfect tool for them, they can use him for now to lash out at conservatism (such as this spat with Limbaugh, Limbaugh will be painted as a total scumbag, as is par for the MSM).
If he wins the nom, they’ll pull out the long knives on ol’ Huck and go back to their default stance of DNC activism…and even if he wins, he’s a Democrat with a Bible and Rifle, beyond that, he causes permanent damage to the conservative coalition.
Bad Candy on December 23, 2007 at 7:29 PM
heh
conservnut on December 23, 2007 at 7:30 PM
True, the media’s last big poster child was McCain. They loved him because they knew he was easy to shoot to pieces once he got the nomination. Same thing with Huck.
The problem for Huck is that Rush has more infulence over primary voters than the MSM. In the general they swing some weight, but in the republican primary Rush outweighs them by a ton. (no pun intended)
conservnut on December 23, 2007 at 7:35 PM
Will someone end this staring contest??
I think Huck is a bust but Rush is bigger then this…
My two bits…I don’t know if Rush ever did this before but I say give Huck 2 segments on his show as well as all the other candidates…Rush will be able to shake the conservatives out of their liberal shells…
Its called the Limbaugh institute for a reason..
Doogiesd on December 23, 2007 at 7:50 PM
I suspect what we have here is a case of old preacher governor boy Huck attempting to pull rank on Rush. The problem apparently is that Huck doesn’t recognize that Rush has far more political influence and power than he does. Like I said before Huck is trying to get the mountain to come to
MohammadHuck. Rush is the mountain, attempting to manipulate Rush is just plain a foolish idea.If Huck does go on Rush’s show it is not likely to go very well for him. Rush doesn’t play softball Larry King kissy kissy. When you go on Rush’s show, you play by Rush’s rules and you get asked some damn hard questions. Questions that all of the evidence so far suggest Huck is not capable of answering.
doriangrey on December 23, 2007 at 8:05 PM
That’s why he won’t, at least until he sees the full fallout from this little fracus. Then I expect he will call in, on air, and game over for him. Rush will just lay the questions out there and let him shoot himself in the foot. Over and over again.
Sure do hope I get to listen to it when that day comes.
conservnut on December 23, 2007 at 8:09 PM
It’s called the Limbaugh Institute merely because that’s a moniker Rush made for his program.
My $0.02:
Truth is the show is what it is: Rush’s rather-poignant and extremely insightful conservative commentary.
I don’t know how many Huckabee advocates hang around here, but one thing is for sure: Hucakbee is trying to redefine conservatism. Rush Limbaugh did not define it, luminaries like Goldwater, Reagan, the Booths, and countless others did. Likewise, if people acting under the guise of his campaign decide to deride him, then at the end of the day, he has the take the reigns and control his own crowd. Likewise, if he wants to make peace to Limbaugh, the most sincere and (frankly) proper way of doing so is through private, personal channels. Anyone can send a messenger, it takes a leader to go visit those he may have maligned.
At the end of the day, Rush is not a candidate; Mike Huckabee is. Candidates should not attempt to satisfy everyone, but if they do claim to be of a certain cloth, then they should wear said cloth proudly or change clothes and go, double entendre (and pun) intended.
rightg33k on December 23, 2007 at 8:13 PM
I don’t think Rush will bite. Could be wrong but like I said before, I think he intends to derail Huck over this.
Quite frankly, I hope he succeeds.
conservnut on December 23, 2007 at 8:18 PM
Do you have any idea how much of that money Rush gave away this year?????
allrsn on December 23, 2007 at 8:38 PM
If Rush can take him down then more power to him. “Geezus H. Huckabee” is as dumb as a box of rocks for picking a fight with Rush as well as the Bush administration. If there were ever a campaign that should have stayed clearly out of the mud it’s “The Huckster’s.” But he couldn’t do it. The last a-hole we need in the White House is an egotistic a-hole or a preacher. Which ever. As if…
Griz on December 23, 2007 at 8:40 PM
If the Huckster does go into the proverbial lions den, it most likely will be a miscalculation based on Huck’s past experience where his status as a preacher has caused people to grant him a significant degree of latitude that Rush is extremely unlikely to grant a candidate for the office of President of the United States of America.
doriangrey on December 23, 2007 at 10:11 PM
No, conservatism is what it is. Huck is a politician first, a pseudo-conservative second. He’s just not my cup of tea. That being said, if he does win the nomination, I, like Michelle and others, would hold my nose and vote for him. After all, the alternative (a democrap in the White House) would be worse by an order of magnitude.
Zorro on December 23, 2007 at 10:31 PM
Doesn’t matter to me. By that standard he is hundreds of miles behind George Soros.
Bradky on December 24, 2007 at 12:45 AM
Soros profits by destroying governments and installing ones who are friendly to him. Spending hundreds of millions of dollars in doing so is just an investment to him. There is not a bit of philanthropy involved.
Course as long as it is a government that you hate too, I guess YOU would consider it to be something admirable..
LegendHasIt on December 24, 2007 at 3:41 AM
Ladies and Gentleman, our resident troll…
pshaw.
tickleddragon on December 24, 2007 at 9:07 AM
AP’s ability to get at the heart of the issue with a well-phrased exit question is — as they say in New Hampshire — disquieting.
B) a shrewd gambit to continue his campaign to erode confidence in the one candidate that he so clearly dislikes.
But note also that Mitt has now taken up the battle cry heard so often here at HotAir: Hickabee is just an anti-abortion Bubba Clinton.
Exit Question: are Mitt’s people finding succor here at HotAir?
Jaibones on December 24, 2007 at 9:15 AM
Cough-Allahpundit Bryan-cough….
doriangrey on December 24, 2007 at 9:29 AM
To all Hucklebillies: What sort of pig uses religion to divide the Republican party?
saved on December 24, 2007 at 9:36 AM
My guess is that all this is part of a carefully orchestrated pre-emptive strike. Huck knows that Rush and other staunch conservatives will never support his candidacy in the primaries, so they must be labeled as “elitist political insiders” as the Huckster’s truth marches on, so to speak.
I hope Rush doesn’t fall into the trap of underestimating this guy. He’s as slick, and as underhanded, as Willy.
Nichevo on December 24, 2007 at 10:51 AM
Rush for President!!
build the wall on December 24, 2007 at 6:03 PM
Ladies and gentlemen our resident tool. How many sticks of incense a day do you burn to his picture on your mantle? Geez….
Bradky on December 25, 2007 at 12:08 PM
Prove what you say about Soros - otherwise you are just another truther type.
Bradky on December 26, 2007 at 8:08 PM