Gibbs: Squabbling with Rush may, perhaps, be “counterproductive”
posted at 3:40 pm on March 4, 2009 by Allahpundit
I can’t find a transcript of the presser so I don’t know if anyone asked the obvious follow-up: How can he claim it’s “counterproductive” when Politico’s reporting that they’ve had a deliberate strategy to provoke Limbaugh in place since last year? The whole point, supposedly, is that Rush-baiting is very productive indeed. Anyone? Tapper? Bueller?
As for why he’s suddenly climbing down, credit Drudge with a screaming banner about “enemies lists” and some grumbling in the media about pettiness and hypocrisy. Michael Scherer at Time:
If you believed what Obama said during the campaign, then Carville is dead wrong. Republicans in Congress are not the only losers. The American people also lose. At a time of unprecedented threats to the United States, a time of financial collapse, bank failures and record layoffs, at a time when the credit crisis has not been solved, and the stock market is in free fall, at a time of stagnating wars, rising terrorism in Pakistan and growing nuclear potential in Iran, the White House has done the easy thing. It has asked the American people to focus their attention not on solving the problems, but on a big-mouthed entertainer in Florida. This may be smart politics. But it is also the same petty strategy that John McCain employed during the presidential campaign, the one that our new president promised to rise above.
And Jay Cost at RCP:
I understand why Democrats in Congress, the media, and the DNC are doing this. Frankly, that doesn’t bother me at all. That’s the way political games are played, and GOP politicos have certainly done their fair share of this over the years to deserve all that they get. But I am deeply disappointed that the President himself is playing this game – not just because he is the President and this kind of nonsense should be beneath him. It’s also because he is the President in part because he promised he wouldn’t do this stuff! And yet, we’ve seen this kind of immature nonsense quite a bit from an administration that has only been in place for a month.
Per Cost, read this painful Dana Milbank piece to see what’s fallen through the cracks while they’ve been busy with Rush. “Immature” indeed.
Blowback
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There was no unity, it was as phony as the individuals professing it.
ClassicCon on March 4, 2009 at 4:15 PM
He’s an entertainer. You are his butt boy. Welcome to the forum.
Key West Reader on March 4, 2009 at 4:16 PM
I would love this if Rush would concede the place of the debate. Let the debate take place on Meet the Press moderated by Tom Brokaw, with a panel of questioners consisting of Brian Williams, David Gregory, and Chris Matthews. Give him the whole enchelada, and Rush would still make them all look like the partisan hack pseudo-journalists that they are and have always been. Let them get cocky and overconfident, then lay waste to them all on live tv anyway. Then, no excuses for the libs. They controlled the whole thing and still could not effectively defend liberalism against Rush’s withering fire of logic, philosophy, history and common sense.
Brian1972 on March 4, 2009 at 4:16 PM
Democrats uses Limbaugh like a smoke curtain to hide the true problems of USA
Streecar on March 4, 2009 at 4:17 PM
What I want doesn’t matter. How he responds to Muslim aggression does.
a capella on March 4, 2009 at 4:17 PM
I think he could. He would have to at least claim to back down on raising taxes and implementing his new entitlement programs indefinitely plus express some remorse for acting like every company that makes money is the devil. But if he just sweet talked the money makers a bit the economy would get back on the up swing like it was showing signs of just before he took office.
The fact that he refuses to talk nice to wallstreet shows he doesn’t care about the current market system. He plans to change the whole economy and so it doesn’t matter. The more poor people the better. Poor, hopeless people are his constituency he plans to make as many of them as he can.
petunia on March 4, 2009 at 4:17 PM
Well since the Dems are treating as such………..
Elric66 on March 4, 2009 at 4:17 PM
Sorry, Rush, but Barry can’t play. He brought home failing grades and is grounded until the French Web site sends his homework.
Christien on March 4, 2009 at 4:18 PM
If that’s what he wanted, he probably would try.
MarkTheGreat on March 4, 2009 at 4:18 PM
Depends on what his response would be.
Elric66 on March 4, 2009 at 4:19 PM
I can’t think of anything this administration has done since Jan. 20th that isn’t hypocritical, immature, manipulative, socialistic, destructive, costly, irresponsible, arrogant, vague, immoral, pandering, selfish, or careless.
sherry on March 4, 2009 at 4:19 PM
I knew you would attempt this.
President Bush didn’t fail – Clinton’s policies in blinding our intelligence gathering and treating terrorists as persons to be arrested and tried after an act as opposed to stopping them before they attacked is what failed.
President Bush then tried to correct the situation, fighting the libs in Congress all the way.
The Precedent has gone right back to Bubba’s ways…
ladyingray on March 4, 2009 at 4:20 PM
Rush would grind the Precedent to pieces with 1/2 of his brain tied behind his back.
thomasaur on March 4, 2009 at 4:21 PM
I consider this anohter of Oblahblah’s “hand in the cookie jar” moments. Not nearly slick enough to pull this off without a) getting caught and b) looking absolutely ridiculous in the process, Gibbs is understandably flustered. “Let no crisis go unexploited…and, if there isn’t a current crisis, create one.”
uncivilized on March 4, 2009 at 4:21 PM
There is no Republican leader, so Rush is sucked into the vacuum, and he loves it. Rush speaks the truth, but is arrogant, harsh and abrasive. That’s the schtick. Get’s attention and makes big bucks. That’s not what we need to represent the party, and Barry/Gibbs know it.
swede7 on March 4, 2009 at 4:21 PM
lol. Only till the question of unionizing Homeland Security employees came up. Priorities, dontchaknow.
a capella on March 4, 2009 at 4:22 PM
He will debate your leader if he wins the gop nomination.
Many times.
getalife on March 4, 2009 at 4:22 PM
Rush to Obama:
Oh YES, please POTUS Obama- LET’S HAVE THIS DEBATE!
Unless, of course, YOU are afraid of Rush.
ExTex on March 4, 2009 at 4:23 PM
Gibbs: Squabbling with Rush may, perhaps, be “counterproductive”
and here i thought Gibbs was completely stupid.
centryt on March 4, 2009 at 4:24 PM
Is “counterproductive” messiah-speak for “Uncle!”? Nothing but unconditional surrender is acceptable. Rush should push this until they actually cry, “Uncle!” … or, preferably, the Precedent resigns.
progressoverpeace on March 4, 2009 at 4:24 PM
I know this a rhetorical question but YES!
What was the possible upside? Rush would quit? Or put him in a hole in the desert?
VikingGoneWild on March 4, 2009 at 4:25 PM
Is there a chart that shows the decline in BHO’s approval and the simultaneous rise in Rush’s audience? Look like a mirror?
InTheBellyoftheBeast on March 4, 2009 at 4:26 PM
Leader of the conservatives, my dear butt-boy.
OmahaConservative on March 4, 2009 at 4:27 PM
That’ll be a hoot.
“Barry, why did you preach fiscal responsibility, then quadruple the deficit?”
Chuck Schick on March 4, 2009 at 4:27 PM
Eye of the beholder, I don’t find him to be any of those things. But I also don’t consider him “the leader”. He is the best a discribing what conservatism is or should be.
Cindy Munford on March 4, 2009 at 4:27 PM
Obama’s treatment of Gordon Brown and the bust of Winston Churchill is partially related to Kenya. In one of his books, Obama claims that his grandfather was tortured by the British during Kenya’s Mau-Mau uprising in the 1950s–when Kenya was known as British East Africa.
I question the assertion because the Mau-Mau was primarily a Kikuyu (tribal) uprising and his grandfather was of the Luo tribe. (The Brits and other colonial masters had a tendency to play tribes against each other, which wasn’t too difficult to do.)
Anyway, I think that Obama’s dissing of all things British is related to that. He’s nothing but a bundle of anger.
baldilocks on March 4, 2009 at 4:28 PM
Mighty nice of Fibbsie to chicken out on behalf of his boss.
/Heckuva job!
Christien on March 4, 2009 at 4:28 PM
Well, he does wear glasses.
Key West Reader on March 4, 2009 at 4:29 PM
My Dear Messrs Obama, Gibbs, Emanuel, Stephanopolous, Carville, et al:
Just a suggestion, but it probably isn’t good for your collective public affairs efforts to get into a pissing contest with a conservative talk show host who reaches some 20 million listeners a week. Especially if you do it intentionally. Even more especially if you try to do it covertly, and then get caught at it. Indicates a sort of deep seated fear of said talk show host and his listener base.
I’m just sayin’.
uncivilized on March 4, 2009 at 4:31 PM
First rush was a radio entertainer, then minority leader, then a victim, private citizen, attacked by the WH then wants to debate the President.
It all adds up to comedy gold:
http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/heather/daily-show-jon-stewart-takes-rush-limbaugh
getalife on March 4, 2009 at 4:32 PM
“Mr. Precedent, could you explain to us exactly what a ‘profit and earnings ratio’ is? There is considerable debate, since you introduced this new concept … and we shall now all have to suffer through the many school children who will be incorrectly identifying ‘and’ with a ratio in mathematical word problems for years to come … so, could you please explain the whole concept to us?”
progressoverpeace on March 4, 2009 at 4:32 PM
give stupid some credit, if he burns his hand every time he puts it in on the stove he might learn after ten tries.
I wouldn’t count on democrat voters to ever reach that level of genius though.
neuquenguy on March 4, 2009 at 4:33 PM
Cindy
Compare Rush’s speech with a Reagan speech. Content would agree 100%. Warmth, charisma, leadership? All Ronnie.
swede7 on March 4, 2009 at 4:34 PM
God I hate this toolbag.
Joe Caps on March 4, 2009 at 4:35 PM
I think that’s a very astute observation.
TheBigOldDog on March 4, 2009 at 4:35 PM
“Counterproductive”? More Democratic nuance. Gibbs could have been HONEST and said “You know, your right”.
Hey Gibbs, like Truman said, ‘You can’t take the heat, stay out of the kitchen’. And that goes for your boss as well. Maybe Barry thinks he’s entitled to having people kiss his ass all day. Well he’d better learn fast, that’s now how it works.
GarandFan on March 4, 2009 at 4:36 PM
Lol, Gibbs…apology not accepted, now kneel before Rush.
javamartini on March 4, 2009 at 4:36 PM
That may be one reason that dumping on Limbaugh has suddenly become “counterproductive”. This debate stuff might gain traction. Can’t have that.
ddrintn on March 4, 2009 at 4:37 PM
As if we need any more evidence that ‘O’ hasn’t a clue what he’s doing.
Hey, wasn’t Bush supposed to be the dumb one?
TinMan13 on March 4, 2009 at 4:37 PM
When is Gibbs going to admit that his boss is a socialist / marxist dumbass?
I wanna tevo that.
Spiritk9 on March 4, 2009 at 4:38 PM
There’s no “maybe” about it. Arrogant, insolent, self-absorbed, self-important…pick your description.
uncivilized on March 4, 2009 at 4:38 PM
Rush gets to make the offer to debate when the White House elevates his stature by talking about him this much.
I guess Obama and his toadies have no other issues of real importance, huh?
The great( or horrible) thing about this is that the White House can be rattled by a radio host and fall into “punk” mode.
Veeerry reassuring when a real crisis arises.
jjshaka on March 4, 2009 at 4:38 PM
Gibbs sure is a giggling jackass. Does he know he’s on TV?
billypaintbrush on March 4, 2009 at 4:39 PM
I wonder if he does anything or is just a figurehead, I can’t imagine him making any decisions. Anybody has any insights into this?
neuquenguy on March 4, 2009 at 4:39 PM
He probably heard a ton from his mother, father, Frank Davis, and other radicals about those horrible British colonialists. Hard for a leopard to change his spots.
One thing I have noticed about Obama is that he does not have a good poker face. You can tell when he is doing something he finds distasteful, or speaking to someone he disdains. He has not mastered that art of the politician yet. I believe this is one reason he uses the Teleprompter so much. They have to script him at all times or he will revert to the angry radical at inopportune moments.
rockmom on March 4, 2009 at 4:39 PM
Is this cage fight, er debate going to be on HBO or Pay-per-view? I need to order my steaks and get some beer and then there are the wings….Much to do, much to do.
InTheBellyoftheBeast on March 4, 2009 at 4:39 PM
Rush is to conservative principles what the NRA is to gun rights. They aren’t afraid and they don’t back down.
JellyToast on March 4, 2009 at 4:42 PM
In the tell-all book he will write shortly after he is fired for being incompetent.
sherry on March 4, 2009 at 4:42 PM
Don’t kid yourself. That was a deliberate series of snubs to Great Britain. These guys are not that clueless. There are a lot of experienced hands in the White House and at state who know how to handle state visits – if they want to actually honor the state that is visiting. It appears the return of the Churchill bust is just the tip of the iceberg.
At least we can be somewhat thankful that the Washington Post is willing to commit some truth once in a while about this bunch of clowns. At last until Gibbs starts calling out Dana Milbank.
rockmom on March 4, 2009 at 4:43 PM
‘I’m proud to be an entertainer,’ Rush said in 2003.
Well, he is providing great entertainment and distraction for the President.
Hope his taxes are in order and has no more fake prescriptions.
New sheriff in town.
getalife on March 4, 2009 at 4:44 PM
It’s fitting that the worst president ever, has the worst Press Secretary ever.
This Administration would have to have a spectacular month to even get to merely incompetent.
Right now, the Obama presidency is a natural disaster on wheels it sucks so bad.
NoDonkey on March 4, 2009 at 4:45 PM
Because that’s how he got to where he is so quickly, the angry radical with a genteel facade. As shown by the debacles to date: Stock Market, ‘I won,’ lack of ‘bipartisanship,’ Missile Defense, and that loon of a mouthpiece, Fibbs, ‘O’ is playing schoolyard bully in the adult’s ring. He’ll learn soon enough not to mess with adults who’ll yank those ears of his, but the country will be inthe toilet before then. Who will he blame? Us, I suppose, we’ll all be ‘racists.’
TinMan13 on March 4, 2009 at 4:45 PM
I still can’t get over Dana Milbank’s description of Obama’s treatment of Brown. This is our top international relationship. His arrogant rudeness was pathological.
INC on March 4, 2009 at 4:45 PM
To paraphrase Walt Kowalski: Did you ever notice how you come across somebody you shouldn’t have messed with? Well, that’s Rush.
thomasaur on March 4, 2009 at 4:47 PM
Are you suggesting that Obama might go after an entertainer because he dares to criticize the government? Be careful, your colors are showing.
neuquenguy on March 4, 2009 at 4:47 PM
Rush wins. Again.
Spirit of 1776 on March 4, 2009 at 4:48 PM
In the voice of Howard Cosell…
“Down goes Obama”!
PappaMac on March 4, 2009 at 4:49 PM
I’ll grant, but the rank arrogance of ‘O’ overrides the experienced hands, I’ll bet, and they’ll do his bidding. As with Charlie Gibson, he just ain’t gonna listen (cap gains tax – ‘Maybe that’s true, and maybe it’s not.’)
TinMan13 on March 4, 2009 at 4:49 PM
To the folks concerning 401k quarterly statements – it doesn’t and hasn’t taken that long. Web-based and automated net asset value’s are available 24/7.
Combine the market decline and daily NAV’s everyday available in print and online – people should know and I believe do know exactly where they are.
“Minus” comes to mind.
Odie1941 on March 4, 2009 at 4:49 PM
neuquenguy on March 4, 2009 at 4:47 PM
Playing with power could backfire.
w and cheney set that example.
getalife on March 4, 2009 at 4:50 PM
Because he’s a liar? Just a guess.
Jim Treacher on March 4, 2009 at 4:50 PM
Not any more. The relationship has been “rebooted.”
America wanted change. Europe wanted change. They got exactly what they wanted.
TheBigOldDog on March 4, 2009 at 4:53 PM
Rush doesn’t compare himself to President Reagan. And unfortunately for the world he is no longer with us.
Cindy Munford on March 4, 2009 at 4:54 PM
Indeed! I understand he requested a bust of Chamberlain instead. The great pacifist who signed off on the Munich accord with Hitler. Germany could keep Poland as long as he “promised” not to attack Britain. Biggest D’OH in history.
So if there is a parallel here with Barry/Hillary and Iran, this is really scarey.
swede7 on March 4, 2009 at 4:54 PM
Of course that’s crap, but I am glad Obama is trying to follow Bush and Cheney’s example (like he has done so far on the war on terror), it can only help.
neuquenguy on March 4, 2009 at 4:55 PM
The way I understand it, he didn’t hear a whole lot from his father…sort of dropped out of sight early on.
uncivilized on March 4, 2009 at 4:56 PM
The thought of Obama debating that corpulent, drug-addled windbag is laughable. The AM radio crowd is utterly irrelevant.
capitulus on March 4, 2009 at 4:56 PM
You think Obama’s going to offer him a cabinet post, Raymond?
Jim Treacher on March 4, 2009 at 4:56 PM
The way Obama’s crapped the bed so far, he should have requested a bust of Benny Hill.
Bammy’s a big of a joke over here, as Benny was over there.
NoDonkey on March 4, 2009 at 4:57 PM
Which is of course why the Obama administration has been trying to make people think he’s entirely relevant.
Jim Treacher on March 4, 2009 at 4:57 PM
I think counter productive would be an understatement. You’re assertion is not giving me a warm and fuzzy feeling about the president.
Cindy Munford on March 4, 2009 at 4:58 PM
This, said in a thread about the white house press secretary talking about Rush, is too funny.
neuquenguy on March 4, 2009 at 4:58 PM
OT: Sean Hannity is really starting to really bore/turn me off. Seems like his radio show has become an infomercial for his FNC show and I actually miss Alan C on the show. Glenn Beck is on the radio opposite Sean–just can’t really get into GB’s radio program–like him on tv, though.
OmahaConservative on March 4, 2009 at 4:59 PM
The President will never lower himself to go on the radio entertainer’s show.
This joke is over.
getalife on March 4, 2009 at 5:00 PM
Watch his eyes.
baldilocks on March 4, 2009 at 5:01 PM
In the immortal words of Captain Jack Sparrow, “Sticks and stones, love…”
ladyingray on March 4, 2009 at 5:01 PM
No, but the ‘president’ will lower himself by having his advisers pick fights with said radio entertainer.
carbon_footprint on March 4, 2009 at 5:01 PM
No, Raymond, he’ll just lower himself to calling out the radio host in public, and then backing down when it doesn’t work.
Jim Treacher on March 4, 2009 at 5:02 PM
Obama and Brown have the “good taste” to brush with Arm & Hammer.
maverick muse on March 4, 2009 at 5:02 PM
No, he’ll just lower himself to whining about a radio entertainer’s show.
Not for another 3½ years.
Snowed In on March 4, 2009 at 5:02 PM
1. The 9/11 attacks were supposed to take place before Bush took office. However, Atta and crew told bin Laden they needed more time. How would you have spun it if the attacks had in fact happened on Slick’s watch?
2. W could have prevented the 9/11 attacks. By using warrantless wiretaps and racial profiling. Would you have supported him doing so?
In fact, on the morning of 9/11, a gate agent at the Portland Maine Jetport, where ringleader Atta and a colleague boarded a connecting flight to Boston and history, had grave doubts about them, but bowed to political correctness and let them on their flight. It’s haunted him ever since.
(sound of crickets).
Del Dolemonte on March 4, 2009 at 5:03 PM
Oh, it worked.
A great distraction and material for comedy shows.
getalife on March 4, 2009 at 5:03 PM
Tell that to the president. He seems to think that Limbaugh is just as important as the British PM–which isn’t saying much, apparently.
baldilocks on March 4, 2009 at 5:03 PM
Which is of course why the Obama administration is planning to remove “AM radio” from the airwaves.
After all, if the AM radio crowd is utterly irrelevant, then why all the fear?
ladyingray on March 4, 2009 at 5:03 PM
Evidently this is the conclusion Obama has arrived to, regarding his team’s “strategy”
neuquenguy on March 4, 2009 at 5:04 PM
Butt-boy just admitted 0 is a joke. Wow.
OmahaConservative on March 4, 2009 at 5:04 PM
Kudos!
carbon_footprint on March 4, 2009 at 5:04 PM
I still think the Democrats are up to something with this whole daemonising Rush Limbaugh strategy that they have embarked upon that we are not seeing yet. I have a sneaking suspicion that it has something to do with getting the fairness doctrine or a similar piece of legislation pushed through congress without too much opposition.
Then again they might just be using Limbaugh as a way to distract peoples attention away from the really crappy job that they are doing.
Either way as with most things the Democrats do there is always some sot of sleight of hand going on and some sort of pay off to be had (Either politically or financially) for them or otherwise they wouldn’t do it.
Dreadnought223 on March 4, 2009 at 5:04 PM
BTW, you lost the RNC leader out of this distraction.
getalife on March 4, 2009 at 5:04 PM
he lowers himself to kiss terrorists’ ass, so what is the problem ?
runner on March 4, 2009 at 5:06 PM
…is all we’ll be able to hang on to after the economy finishes its sojourn into the toilet.
Snowed In on March 4, 2009 at 5:06 PM
Say what?
baldilocks on March 4, 2009 at 5:07 PM
In one ear and out the other, with plenty of room the whole trip.
Jim Treacher on March 4, 2009 at 5:07 PM
And losing Steele is a negative because…..
angryed on March 4, 2009 at 5:07 PM
Susan Estrich Warns Democrats About Dangers of Attacking Rush Limbaugh
OmahaConservative on March 4, 2009 at 5:09 PM
Do WHAT???
“Hope his TAXES are in order”?????
TAXES????
You mean, like Geithner’s taxes were in order?
uncivilized on March 4, 2009 at 5:09 PM
Then why the concern? Clearly invoking Limbaugh at all, as well as answering questions regarding him means something to ‘O.’ If not, they wouldn’t go there.
TinMan13 on March 4, 2009 at 5:09 PM
You mean the president of the US has to threaten an allegedly irrelevant entertainer?
ddrintn on March 4, 2009 at 5:09 PM
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