Video: Steele, Cantor dismiss Limbaugh’s “I want him to fail” rhetoric
posted at 3:46 pm on March 1, 2009 by Allahpundit
The first clip comes from last night’s chat with D.L. Hughley, the second from this morning’s “This Week.” Skip ahead to the last minute of the latter after clicking the image for the bit on Rush. The media enjoys pressing Republicans about this for the same reason wiseass atheists like to ask believers if God can make a rock he can’t lift: No matter how you answer, you’re in trouble. Steele and Cantor are pols and are worried about expanding the tent, so like Mark Sanford, it’s a fait accompli that they’ll side with the president who’s popular with most of the country over the talk-show host who’s popular with their base. Steele, at least, gets off a good tu quoque in Limbaugh’s defense. Cantor just ducks and covers.
I like his comeback about who the real leader of the party is, too. Exit question: Every conservative scheduled to appear on cable news this week should probably have an answer to this question ready, no?
Blowback
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I almost hate to agree with Allahpundit but why Cantor doesn’t have a “do you agree with Limbaugh” answer ready to go is beyond me?
Conan on March 1, 2009 at 5:31 PM
Now that the election is over, Obama’s supporters have no problem admitting they want protectionist trade and foreign policy, tax increases on top earners (despite the recession) and UHC — in other words, European style socialism. Limbaugh was clear that HE WANTS IMPLEMENTING SOCIALISM IN AMERICA TO FAIL, because it will radically change the entire makeup of the country. Obama says he wants to “remake America” and push mediocrity versus exceptionalism. Conservatives should loudly oppose this. Rush Limbaugh is speaking for conservatives here.
chunderroad on March 1, 2009 at 5:34 PM
What am I missing? Is this hard, or something? I don’t know why this should even be a controversy.
It doesn’t take a genius to understand what Rush means.
capitalist piglet on March 1, 2009 at 5:35 PM
In the practical art of politics, you must be prepared to debate at any time in the future. In the impractical art of politics, you should have been prepared quite some time ago, and it’s probably already too late. You’re scroomed!
- Sun Tzu’s Nephew
MB4 on March 1, 2009 at 5:36 PM
You mean atheists who haven’t gotten beyond 1st grade in their thinking. The question is a nonsense due to it’s inherent logical flaws.
aikidoka on March 1, 2009 at 5:38 PM
Hell yes, and well played!
DannoJyd on March 1, 2009 at 5:40 PM
I think I can honestly say that if this is the best that Steele, and Cantor can come up with, I hope they too fail.
Viva the conservative revolution, tea parties included!
DannoJyd on March 1, 2009 at 5:42 PM
Cantor’s a creampuff…you can see it just by watching him squirm, the guy just doesn’t wanna rock the boat God forbid.
And someone tell me again why DL Hughly is asking questions of the RNC chair on a national cable news outlet? Then again, CNN is much like ComicView if ask me. Makes sense then.
RepubChica on March 1, 2009 at 5:43 PM
and does anyone really wonder why the republicans are a bunch of losers?
spineless wimps…they care more about the democrats liking them than they do about freedom.
right4life on March 1, 2009 at 5:46 PM
Cantor….cross another name off the list. I want no part of this weenie.
Steele…so far, more ‘cringe’ moments than ‘attaguy’ moments. Also looks like a bust.
GOP=Whigs.
james23 on March 1, 2009 at 5:48 PM
you’re an idiot.
right4life on March 1, 2009 at 5:49 PM
The conservative movement is watered down by a pack of cowards within the republican party itself and in order to become a viable alternative to the current corrupt two party system must distance itself from both corrupt, pandering, parties and offer itself as an alternative to business as usual, which is tell the people what they want to hear and then go to D.C. and do as the puppet masters demand to get elected and enrich themselves.
The people must take the country back from the professional panders and establish term limits to cleanse the system.
Only need to look as far as John McCain to find an example of one who says what they think they need to say then does as they damn well please, pissing all over conservatives in the process.
It will take a great amount of pain and suffering for the people to summon the will for this recovering of our country and I am sure that Obama, Pelosi, Reid, Emmanuel and Co. are fully capable and will unltimately inflict it. Its a matter of how long it will take.
Rush Is Right!
dhunter on March 1, 2009 at 5:49 PM
Cantor choked during the TARP abomination, too, playing right into Pelosi’s hands. You have to be pretty stupid to be her patsy. “She called us names, so we were obstructionists.” The RNC should muzzle him, instead of bothering Jindal and Palin.
chunderroad on March 1, 2009 at 5:53 PM
I agree, it’s gone downhill, it’s been totally neglected. I normally post as The Mexican over there, but I haven’t been there for a while.
True_King on March 1, 2009 at 5:53 PM
The absence of umbrage following analogous attacks on Bush is simply a demonstration of how insufferably hypocritical and intolerably stupid Democrats are.
drjohn on March 1, 2009 at 5:56 PM
Steele is colossal fizzle now, too, as it turns out. I hoped he would argue conservative principles in spite of his race. Instead, he embarrasses himself trying to “get jiggy with the GOP” and leading as a squishy moderate, constantly apologizing to the opposition.
chunderroad on March 1, 2009 at 5:59 PM
Actually, if I’m reading the comment correctly, terryannonline hits the nail right on the head. Socialist Liberals, the same ones who demanded that America FAIL in our war against terrorism, have a loooong history of working to paint conservatives as mean spirited, bigotted, racist, sexist homophobes. If you need further proof just type any of those words into any web search program and see what happens.
DannoJyd on March 1, 2009 at 6:00 PM
Semantics
- The Cat
MirCat on March 1, 2009 at 6:01 PM
Wow…who are the republicans going to keep as someone they like. One disagreement and catfight city.
I don’t like you..no..I don’t like you.
We are allowed to disagree in our party…just don’t dump people without good reason.
tomas on March 1, 2009 at 6:02 PM
Uh ok. But it doesn’t make what I said less true. I’m sure if you were to do a poll about Rush Limbaugh a good portion of the American population would say what I just said. So you can deny how people perceive him or face up to the truth.
terryannonline on March 1, 2009 at 6:02 PM
What remarks? Oh thats right on that one website.
You are a tool and a sheep. We don’t need you
Jamson64 on March 1, 2009 at 6:02 PM
terryannonline
Now you live by the polls. The same ones that showed that 60+ percent of Americans beleived the GOP ran Congress that past two years. You align yourself with those people?
Sheep
Jamson64 on March 1, 2009 at 6:03 PM
LOL! No I don’t live by polls. I’m actually probably one of the very few Americans who still likes President Bush. If I lived by polls I would absolutely despise him.
terryannonline on March 1, 2009 at 6:07 PM
Did you read your last post?
Doh!
Jamson64 on March 1, 2009 at 6:09 PM
What is wrong with my last post?
terryannonline on March 1, 2009 at 6:10 PM
Never heard of Hughley, but it was clear that Steele was appearing on a “black” show as a “black” man. How pathetic.
JiangxiDad on March 1, 2009 at 6:13 PM
OK, so I was wrong, but I’ll bet you count yourself as one of those with an opinion without ever listening to Rush, and that is ok as I can follow your lead by believing you are a socialist child molester without ever witnessing a single thing about you.
See how well ignorance works now!
DannoJyd on March 1, 2009 at 6:13 PM
Rush is great. What a good portion of the Am. population would say about him is irrelevant. What would a good portion of the Am. pop. say about Hispanics?
JiangxiDad on March 1, 2009 at 6:14 PM
Probably positive stuff. (I hope.)
terryannonline on March 1, 2009 at 6:15 PM
Perception and reality are frequently dissimilar. The opinions of people who’ve never listened to his show, thus base their opinions upon the biases of others, (many of whom have also never listened), are irrelevant.
The mob is often wrong.
FloatingRock on March 1, 2009 at 6:16 PM
And if they don’t?
JiangxiDad on March 1, 2009 at 6:17 PM
Glenn Beck grilled Cantor last week on Republican porkers in Congress and I thought Cantor came off pretty weak then too.
CP on March 1, 2009 at 6:19 PM
I was referring to your post:
Sure seems you are using a poll to buttress your point.
Who knows maybe I am wrong. NFL
Jamson64 on March 1, 2009 at 6:21 PM
Alright. I take your point. (Although I think many people’s perception about are real. He is a flamethrower and mean-spirited.) But a few comments ago I mentioned President Bush. With his approval ratings so low would you think it would be wise for the GOP to be associated with him? In fact the people at CPAC were treating his name like a four letter word, according to Politico.
terryannonline on March 1, 2009 at 6:21 PM
Funny how that whole hindsight is 2020 thing is so true
Jamson64 on March 1, 2009 at 6:22 PM
Considering Bush was not a conservative why would they be bringing him up?
Jamson64 on March 1, 2009 at 6:23 PM
The left wing attacks — personal and political — on President Bush eliminate liberals and their teabagging minions from entering discussions on the content or context of Rush Limbaugh’s comments. Any of the aforementioned pinheads attempting to “analyze” what conservatives might say about the pandering socialist and racist recently elected President reeks of hypocrisy and ignorance.
The only racists and true discriminators in our midst are those found clinging to the liberal ideology and supporting Democrats en toto. Remarkably, some come here to illustrate their hypocrisy and ignorance — possibly believing they have a point to make. The only thing these dimwits accomplish is to confirm why short piers need to be built where they might take long walks.
badcat on March 1, 2009 at 6:23 PM
The left has let Obama’s racism AND Biden’s racism slide.
They are a joke.
Jamson64 on March 1, 2009 at 6:26 PM
oh ok, so truth to you is whatever a majority of people say it is…right.
truth is truth, and what you said is a lie. so there is nothing for me to face up to except the same old liberal lies and BS that I’ve heard for years…got anything else??
right4life on March 1, 2009 at 6:26 PM
Terry is another BS artist. She knows she was busted on this whole poll thing and she will spin and spin and spin and spin……………
Jamson64 on March 1, 2009 at 6:27 PM
Even worse. She said “a good portion of the American people.”
I asked her what she would believe “if a good portion of the American people” didn’t like Hispanic people. Still waiting.
JiangxiDad on March 1, 2009 at 6:28 PM
Don’t you get it yet? You continue to expouse your total ignorance of Rush as if that is all that is needed as proof. I suppose you would choose a surgeon who never cut a patient in his/her life to perform your [statistically] upcoming operation too, right?
Someone once said that it is foolish to comment on things you know nothing [not a thing] about. Take the advice.
DannoJyd on March 1, 2009 at 6:30 PM
Uh ok. So the Commander-in-Chief during the Global War on Terrorism should be thrown under the bus but Rush Limbaugh who stood up at CPAC and called liberals “deranged” should a conservative hero. Thanks but no thanks.
terryannonline on March 1, 2009 at 6:30 PM
Perception? Who cares. Anyway, polls show support for the stimulus, too.
ddrintn on March 1, 2009 at 6:31 PM
The whole point of the Stimulus Bill should be:
Do you do what is right?
Or do you do what is politically expedient?
I already know Getalifes answer:
“I do not want this country to fail”
sorry but-Roflmao
Jamson64 on March 1, 2009 at 6:31 PM
Like I said I don’t base my opinion on polls.
terryannonline on March 1, 2009 at 6:32 PM
Nice job avoiding the Poll issue. Not surprised in the least.
Jamson64 on March 1, 2009 at 6:32 PM
Hilarious based on your previous post bolstering your opinion using polls. You are a joke.
Jamson64 on March 1, 2009 at 6:33 PM
I’m sure if you were to do a poll about Rush Limbaugh a good portion of the American population would say what I just said. So you can deny how people perceive him or face up to the truth.
terryannonline on March 1, 2009 at 6:02 PM
Jamson64 on March 1, 2009 at 6:34 PM
You’re contradicting yourself left and right. And you’re dangerously naive.
You just finished saying a “good portion of the American people” believe such and such, and therefore it’s true. That’s a “poll.”
And you later say you don’t base your opinion on polls. Yes you do.
A word of advice. Figure out for yourself what’s wrong or right. You may be the only one who agrees,and you may be very lonely at times, but there’s no other way to live.
JiangxiDad on March 1, 2009 at 6:36 PM
I have a question. Why is Allah still on this website? My gut tells me is not a conservative, but a “plant”.
suzyk on March 1, 2009 at 6:37 PM
Like I said I don’t base my opinions on poll. I don’t need a poll to tell me I don’t like Rush. My point with the whole about with bringing up a poll having to do with Rush is to show that I’m not probably not the only one that has the same opinion about him. That’s all.
terryannonline on March 1, 2009 at 6:37 PM
Bush never responded to the vitriol thrown at him over the years. He allowed it to stick and his popularity slid. Because he also abandoned his base, the depths of his unpopularity never found a respectable bottom which otherwise would have been present. I think we can draw two lessons from this. One, never allow attacks against America’s founding principles to pass unchallenged. And two, never abandon your allies because, in the end, they may be all you’ve got.
While Bush and McCain both fail on these points, Rush passes with flying colors. To suggest that a successful figure like Rush should pattern himself on a failed model ensures a losing strategy.
A strong leader must be bold. To be otherwise isn’t leadership at all.
FloatingRock on March 1, 2009 at 6:38 PM
Rush Limbaugh at Cpac:
.
-and the likes of the Terryanns pick out one line.
Jamson64 on March 1, 2009 at 6:39 PM
as we’ve seen with the election of obama, there are a lot of easily led, unthinking people out there…
right4life on March 1, 2009 at 6:39 PM
terry you only get funnier
Jamson64 on March 1, 2009 at 6:40 PM
Terry and 60 plus percent thought the GOP ran Congress… and this makes your point stronger??
Jamson64 on March 1, 2009 at 6:41 PM
very true, she sure sounds like a good liberal, trying to help us po dumb conservative hicks…its for our own good…right…
right4life on March 1, 2009 at 6:41 PM
don’t hold your breath!! she’s just onto the next talking point…
right4life on March 1, 2009 at 6:42 PM
More from Rush’s speech
And the likes of Terry pick out one line. Hell one word.
Jamson64 on March 1, 2009 at 6:43 PM
Well you only need one line to make people have a sour taste in their mouths.
terryannonline on March 1, 2009 at 6:43 PM
53% of those voting in the last election were willing to give the pandering socialist and racist a shot at “change”. Since it is a given 53% of that 53% will be choking on their choice in the next few weeks and months, that leaves 47% of that stunned, embarrassed, and thoroughly dismayed 53% to continually demonstrate why our public schools and state sponsored universities have failed our nation so mightily. At worst, complete and utter morons. At best, hypocrites and frauds among legitmate Americans.
badcat on March 1, 2009 at 6:44 PM
I think i have come up with a word for people who contradict themselves:
Terryannonline
Jamson64 on March 1, 2009 at 6:44 PM
Beacause, as with the majority that have a negative opinion of Rush, it is from what you are told and not what you have heard. If you are going to insist that you have heard Rush often the;
A)You are not a conservative and know it.
Or
B)You are hyper-sensitive and a moral relativist and not a conservative and don’t realize it.
Or
C) Not very smart and can’t tell satire and sarcasm from a whole in the ground.
peacenprosperity on March 1, 2009 at 6:44 PM
Yep you are right when you are talking about simpletons.Hmmm
Jamson64 on March 1, 2009 at 6:44 PM
You mean uninformed opinion, don’t you? Let’s try to be honest here.
DannoJyd on March 1, 2009 at 6:45 PM
C.
Jamson64 on March 1, 2009 at 6:45 PM
Terry why do you align yourself with an electorate that for the most part did not know the GOP did not control congress?
Jamson64 on March 1, 2009 at 6:46 PM
Ok let me get this straight: So the litmus test for being a conservative is whether I like radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh?
terryannonline on March 1, 2009 at 6:47 PM
There’s an old saying that we’ve all heard, that the definition of insanity is trying the same thing over and over expecting a different result. Liberal policies have been tried over and over again, and have failed over and over again. Yet once again they are coming back for more, this time with a vengeance. How is that not deranged?
Why do you malign Rush for speaking truth to power? Throughout American history this has been an admirable quality. Consider the founding fathers.
FloatingRock on March 1, 2009 at 6:48 PM
There are a few of them here, aprilobit and race card to name a few. They think they can pretend thay are conservatives, come on here and spew liberal, post modern opinions and the conservatives on here will be so stupid that we will fall from thier brilliant and nuanced statements.
peacenprosperity on March 1, 2009 at 6:49 PM
pretty much yes. rush IS the leader of conservatism now, as buckley was when he was alive.
what policy positions do you disagree with him on?
right4life on March 1, 2009 at 6:49 PM
Terry I voted C. For you
Jamson64 on March 1, 2009 at 6:49 PM
next she’ll tell us how much of a republican she is…
right4life on March 1, 2009 at 6:50 PM
Beacause, as with the majority that have a negative opinion of Rush, it is from what you are told and not what you have heard. If you are going to insist that you have heard Rush often the;
Terry why did you talk about B when the answer is C?
Jamson64 on March 1, 2009 at 6:50 PM
Can it be said — in all honesty — that if any of these so called “analysts” ever invested the time it takes to listen and comprehend what Mr. Limbaugh actually says in his speeches or during his broadcasts, they would not be as galactically clueless as they demonstrate here?
badcat on March 1, 2009 at 6:51 PM
So what I think about taxes, free markets, universal health care, abortion, and military spending don’t matter then?
terryannonline on March 1, 2009 at 6:51 PM
Nope the litmus is that very few of your positions are truly conservative. This is just one. You also dislike Ann Coulter. It seems that the louder and clearer and more concise someone states thier conservative beliefs, the more you dislike them. I will not dispute that you are a republican but you wouldn’t know a conservative if he signed your paycheck.
peacenprosperity on March 1, 2009 at 6:52 PM
Terry do you always answer a question with a question?
hilarious
Jamson64 on March 1, 2009 at 6:52 PM
A mind is a terrible thing to waste :(
Spirit of 1776 on March 1, 2009 at 6:54 PM
I’m curious if the progressive left have the same litmus test. YOU MUST LIKE KEITH OLBERMANN TO BE A PROGRESSIVE!
terryannonline on March 1, 2009 at 6:55 PM
of course you’re not answering the policy questions, big surprise….and I don’t see much liberal angst over olbermann…no name-calling like you are doing to rush, you sound like a typical liberal.
he’s racistsexisthomophicbigoted yadayadyadyadadd
right4life on March 1, 2009 at 6:57 PM
Olby is a joke and gets ridiculed all the time.
terryannonline on March 1, 2009 at 6:59 PM
no answers on the policy disagreements rush again…
by whom?? not by liberals only by conservatives…
right4life on March 1, 2009 at 7:00 PM
I bet the Republicans have polling data telling them to distance themselves from Rush.
How about if they stand on PRINCIPLE for a while.
Do you hear that Steele and Cantor – PRINCIPLE!
huckleberryfriend on March 1, 2009 at 7:02 PM
Noticed I criticized him for being a flamethrower and being obnoxious. What does it matter about our policy differences when I think he’s a flamethrower and obnoxious?
terryannonline on March 1, 2009 at 7:02 PM
The reason many of us are even here is to fight the voluminous battles which Allahpundit so deftly starts, regardless of which side he comes down on, if any. I disagree with him on many things and take special delight in tearing apart his arguments.
Give it a try, you may like it.
FloatingRock on March 1, 2009 at 7:03 PM
Look, Rush is right. That’s the bottom line. I understand if you don’t like him personally or if you think his presentation is bad but to disagree with him on substantive issues is idiotic. Something isn’t right because he said it he simply says it because its right.
Please find one place where you disagree with Rush on a policy or principal basis. If you disagree then you’re not %100 conservative, it’s as simple as that. It’s not that Rush defines conservatism it’s that conservatism defines Rush.
And any Republican who distances themselves from him or condemns him should be ashamed. They are letting Democrats walk all over them.
Also I’ll say that to win we don’t need to simply realign our views to match enough of the Electorate. We need to change the hearts and minds of the American people. By simply cow-towing to the Democrat’s position because its up in the polls is the same attitude that got us here in the first place. We need to change the polls not ourselves damn it. We have less than two years, we should be getting to it by now.
Kronos on March 1, 2009 at 7:04 PM
Comparing Rush Limbaugh to that mind numbing freak on MenanceNBC exposes you. Mr. Limbaugh states facts that aren’t popular among the septic tank dwelling left wing; the fruitcake on TV spews lunatic garbage to that audience.
badcat on March 1, 2009 at 7:05 PM
Sence 1999 we Consev. have been told by the wizards of smart. That in order to win elections we must have the big tent party.Look at 2006 & 2008. The big tent sure worked like a charm.We should invite people into our party that agree with us at least 80% of the time.Not us agreeing with them 80% of the time.Cantor and the rest of the D.C. crowd that want to just get along with the dem and be on the sunday talk shows have to go.
thmcbb on March 1, 2009 at 7:06 PM
I call SMOKESCREEN!
Terry, this is America. Right now (until the fascists in power change us for good) you can be anything you want. Be proud of the ppprrrroooogggggrrrrreeeeesssssiiiiivvvvveeeeee that you are. Take a stand and you will be respected. Just don’t come around and insult the intelligence of the conservatives on this site.
peacenprosperity on March 1, 2009 at 7:06 PM
Especially when more than one line might provide the necessary context to avoid the sour taste altogether.
FloatingRock on March 1, 2009 at 7:07 PM
you’re a typical lib.
right4life on March 1, 2009 at 7:07 PM
Let’s not get personal. She means well even when she’s wrong.
FloatingRock on March 1, 2009 at 7:09 PM
The reasons conservatives don’t control this government is because the republican party is not conservative. There is no recognized bully pulpit for conservatives and the republicans temper the message. They even aid the msm in marginalizing conservtive thinkers and proponents. The one thing that I disagree wholeheartedly with Rush about is his unwillingness to discuss a new party. It would not be a third party, the republicans would ry up and blow away. If Rush ever stood behind a truly conservative party led by people he respected the republican party would disappear over night.
peacenprosperity on March 1, 2009 at 7:11 PM
Let me ask you something. Do you like Bill O’Reilly or Sean Hannity?
terryannonline on March 1, 2009 at 7:12 PM
Unless someone can confidently say they want Obama to fail if he’s pushing Big Government/Big Spending and Socialism, then they have no place speaking for the GOP. I don’t care if it’s Cantor, Steele or whomever.
Lead, follow, or get out of the way!!!!
It is time to get real.
Oink on March 1, 2009 at 7:13 PM
Cowardly. Steele, butch up, dude. HEAR THIS: the blacks will NEVER VOTE AGAINST OBAMA, NOR DEMOCRATS, OK? So, stop pandering. Pandering to the race pimps makes people sick. You can’t out-pander the victim panderers. Write them off and DO YOUR JOB.
marklmail on March 1, 2009 at 7:13 PM
Some, sure, but undoubtedly some of them are deliberately misconstruing his opinions to their own political ends.
FloatingRock on March 1, 2009 at 7:15 PM
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