The obligatory “Democratic poll puts Limbaugh’s net favorables at -27″ post
posted at 8:59 pm on March 11, 2009 by Allahpundit
C’mon, I had to post it. Three things I can’t resist: The iPhone, KP, and the prospect of an easy 200-comment thread. Don’t hate me for being weak.
Follow the link for the major data points in graph form, and note how slanted the question near the end about Huntsman and Limbaugh is. Framing the latter’s goal as “stamping out” moderates rather than, say, moving away from them is clearly designed to make respondents recoil. I’ll credit James “I certainly hope he doesn’t succeed” Carville for coming up with that one.
In fairness, their data’s not wildly different from Gallup’s poll on Limbaugh taken last month. This bit’s interesting, too:
To my surprise, more self-identified Republicans and conservatives think Rush has too much influence than too little. Safe to say that that puts righty blog readers to the right of even most “conservatives,” or do people here agree that Rush has more pull than he should?
For comparison purposes, Keith Olbermann netted a -5 in favorables among the six people who have heard of him. Check the “Target Crosstabs” at the link for the demographic breakdown. Exit question: How much of Rush’s favorables are based on what he actually says and how much are based on the media selectively soundbiting the most incendiary bits for public consumption?
Blowback
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Who cares? Rush is for the base. Not really suprising.
therightwinger on March 11, 2009 at 9:00 PM
Exit answer: Most of it.
kahall on March 11, 2009 at 9:01 PM
I agree with rightwinger. Who cares and why is it important.
jdflorida on March 11, 2009 at 9:02 PM
We don’t hate you Allah just like we wouldn’t hate a cute, little puppy that pisses on the carpet a few times a day.
; P
carbon_footprint on March 11, 2009 at 9:02 PM
90%?
Buy Danish on March 11, 2009 at 9:02 PM
It wouldn’t be important if Rush had a 65% favorable rating? We’d be rubbing Obama’s face in it.
Allahpundit on March 11, 2009 at 9:03 PM
Yeah, a poll on the popularity of a radio personality and commentator. Ridiculous. He doesn’t hold office.
ddrintn on March 11, 2009 at 9:03 PM
Rush is my leader. and I meant the answer to the Exit question is “based on the media selectively soundbiting the most incendiary bits for public consumption”.
kahall on March 11, 2009 at 9:03 PM
Somebody remind me, what office is Rush running for?
fogw on March 11, 2009 at 9:03 PM
Is that a serious question?
Missy on March 11, 2009 at 9:03 PM
That’s why I love him.
chunderroad on March 11, 2009 at 9:04 PM
It wouldn’t be important if Rush had a 65% favorable rating? We’d be rubbing Obama’s face in it.
Allahpundit on March 11, 2009 at 9:03 PM
Yeah sure we would, but there is so much more to face rub with.
kahall on March 11, 2009 at 9:04 PM
-27% with an audience of how many millions of loyal listeners?
Why do we even give a $hit what the DEMS think of him.
We need to stop talking about it.
Oink on March 11, 2009 at 9:05 PM
Knock yourself. Story clearly isn’t dead.
Spirit of 1776 on March 11, 2009 at 9:05 PM
The only poll that matters, Rush audience up over 30% ….
tarpon on March 11, 2009 at 9:06 PM
Knock yourself [out].
Must proofread!
Spirit of 1776 on March 11, 2009 at 9:06 PM
KP? I hope you succeed.
kahall on March 11, 2009 at 9:07 PM
How does Olby do in a Conservative Poll?
d1carter on March 11, 2009 at 9:08 PM
What pull? What did Limbaugh influence during the Bush years? Limbaugh was pulling, although hesitantly for McCain after he won the nomination, how much did that help? As far as I can tell, there aren’t a lot of people other than his faithful listeners actually listening to him. 20 million listeners a week can only do so much.
Limbaugh is the next convienent target for Dem’s to blame everything that doesn’t go their way on. Coming up, Limbaugh will be the cause of poverty and low income families in America.
Hog Wild on March 11, 2009 at 9:08 PM
Didn’t you mention a waning of interest in your second item there, not too long ago?
MadisonConservative on March 11, 2009 at 9:09 PM
From the about us page:
You think these pollsters might be a little biased?
Guardian on March 11, 2009 at 9:09 PM
We wouldn’t have to, because it would mean Rush had pulled a Frum.
Jim Treacher on March 11, 2009 at 9:09 PM
Wouldn’t be surprised if they only polled single women from NYC between the ages of 16 and 40 to get these results.
Cause I ain’t buyin’ it!
btw AP, KP’s on Hannity soon. Catch it any way you can. ;)
katy on March 11, 2009 at 9:09 PM
Bottom line Rush announced on his show today for the first quarter his ratings have gone up 32%. Why do you think Obama is still after Rush? If he was an abject failure or what Mark Levin calls a backbencher, nobody would give Rush a second look.
I thought it was poetic justice when he called James Carville out about calling for Bush to fail minutes before the planes struck the Twin Towers and then had to backtrack by telling reporters to forget everything he had just said.
I do feel sorry for Mary Matalin but c’est la vie!
technopeasant on March 11, 2009 at 9:10 PM
Which is sad, considering that category consists of his parents, close friends, and the Daily Kos crowd.
amerpundit on March 11, 2009 at 9:10 PM
-27% Well that explains all those advertisers and his paycheck. Really, do the assholes who come up with this crap expect us to BELIEVE it? Or are they so used to dealing with the dumbshits in their own party who will swallow anything?
GarandFan on March 11, 2009 at 9:10 PM
A poll taken by Carville on the popularity of someone who thinks Carville is a blowhard liberal looney.
Yeh, like I care.
fogw on March 11, 2009 at 9:12 PM
They are just not into your leader.
getalife on March 11, 2009 at 9:12 PM
Also from the about us page.
Guardian on March 11, 2009 at 9:12 PM
Liberals are nothing more than self-absorbed, self-indulgent, and spoiled children. They hate conservatives because conservatives remind them of their parents and all the advice their parents used to give so that they’d GROW THE F*** UP.
OF: I stepped away for a moment and noticed a new post and 30 comments. AP, you get as much mileage with Rush as you do with Palin.
BuckeyeSam on March 11, 2009 at 9:16 PM
You know what else polls a negative number with Democrats? The Constitution.
http://hotair.com/archives/2008/09/09/rasmussen-only-29-of-obama-supporters-think-supreme-court-should-decide-cases-based-on-constitution/
venividivici on March 11, 2009 at 9:16 PM
Geez, Allah, what do you expect from a poll of Democrats regarding their favorable ratings for an outspoken conservative pundit?
And do you really think a 60+ rating by democrats for a true conservative is a possibility? Please.
jdflorida on March 11, 2009 at 9:17 PM
They should’ve asked whether Ron Paul should have more influence over the GOP or not.
The Dean on March 11, 2009 at 9:17 PM
You’re up late Sweetie. No Golden Girls on the tube?
carbon_footprint on March 11, 2009 at 9:18 PM
“Go after people, not institutions, because people hurt faster than institutions”
I guess the plan played well with the Obama fan club.
darcee on March 11, 2009 at 9:19 PM
carbon_footprint on March 11, 2009 at 9:18 PM
Watching UFC fruit loops.
getalife on March 11, 2009 at 9:19 PM
Who did they sample?… The staff at MSNBC. Come on… Rush is growing the movement.
Dire Straits on March 11, 2009 at 9:19 PM
I think that hot brunette economist has his fancy these days.
What’s her name again?
toliver on March 11, 2009 at 9:19 PM
Carville and co. would love to add anti-Semitic to their standard racism theme.
Spirit of 1776 on March 11, 2009 at 9:20 PM
Michelle Muccio.
Spirit of 1776 on March 11, 2009 at 9:20 PM
Yep. That’s rule 12 out of the Dems playbook.
Guardian on March 11, 2009 at 9:21 PM
If Rush wants to feed this medium beast, the least he could do is crown a politician he wants elected. You’ll note he straddled the fence forever last year until finally settling on Palin late in the game. He even refused to go all in on Mitt when it was the thing to do. He won’t do it. Why? He’s very smart and there’s no upside for him to do it and why bother, his act is making himself the story. Why make some politician the story.
AYNBLAND on March 11, 2009 at 9:21 PM
I’m not familiar with that. What is it?
carbon_footprint on March 11, 2009 at 9:21 PM
That’s more like it. I can’t stand KP.
BuckeyeSam on March 11, 2009 at 9:21 PM
Anybody with a brain knew Jobba the Hut (Rush) was only a god among the far-far right fringe in this country. The problem is that fringe group believes that if they worship Jobba, that means most of the country does too. These people live in a bubble, not the real world. Jobba’s people don’t change their ideology, oblivious to the world changing outside their doors. Personally I find great humor in this, only the dittoheads consider themselves relevant, as they constantly remind EACH OTHER.
athensboy on March 11, 2009 at 9:22 PM
Allah, Rush will be remembered for years after he’s gone. You’ll be forgotten three seconds after Michelle fires you.
Percy_Peabody on March 11, 2009 at 9:22 PM
I’m not familiar with that. What is it?
carbon_footprint on March 11, 2009 at 9:21 PM
Ultimate Fighting.
getalife on March 11, 2009 at 9:23 PM
Whoa, that is violent stuff.
carbon_footprint on March 11, 2009 at 9:23 PM
Because he wasn’t impressed by them?
How much do you suppose he’s paying Rahm Emmanuel?
Jim Treacher on March 11, 2009 at 9:24 PM
There is an argument to be made that conservatives would probably prefer that Rush wasn’t the ONLY leader. The conservative movement should have more than one leader and have ideas from many different groups. This is not Rush’s fault; however, more people should start stepping up to the plate with good ideas and sound principles.
Upstater85 on March 11, 2009 at 9:24 PM
I’ve said it before and I will say it again. Treacher’s a treasure.
carbon_footprint on March 11, 2009 at 9:25 PM
Not really.
When one has had enough, it is stopped quickly.
getalife on March 11, 2009 at 9:26 PM
Anybody with a brain knows Rush’s audience is greater than 20 million people. If we had that many far-far righters out there we would live in a Republicanocracy.
I get to listen to 2 Rush segments during my lunch break. I love that man. He keeps me sane during my teaching day.
Mojave Mark on March 11, 2009 at 9:27 PM
Are you kidding? I would wager that most of the people with unfavorable views of Rush have never even heard a soundbite of him–they hate him purely by reputation.
Count to 10 on March 11, 2009 at 9:27 PM
Hey Allah … love you like a brother … but where are the polls on Nancy Pelosi’s leadership of the Congress? Where are the polls on Charlie Rangle? Or Chris Dodd? Or Barney Frank?
I know there are polls out there on these people – and I know they aren’t favorable. But what I’m wondering here is this …
These are ELECTED POWER PLAYERS that have major influence over this Democracy. They have much more than Rush Limbaugh does – yet why is Limbaugh being polled and crucified so publicly when people can easily turn him off? We can’t turn the other clowns off – they just keep taking our money!
HotAir needs to be beating a drum here against the elected clowns of sorrow – and not so much publicizing MSM wet-dream polls about Rush.
EmIwrongHere?
HondaV65 on March 11, 2009 at 9:27 PM
Oh, you mean Jabba the Hut.
Other than that, a characteristically cogent and incisive argument.
Jim Treacher on March 11, 2009 at 9:28 PM
It’s a double-barrel question. I saw several answers with one response (i.e. “90%”) You must answer them both to be clear.
my answer:
part A: 25%
part B: 75%
See? Was that so hard?
p.s.-I’m normally not this fussy. Just a pet peeve of mine.
rihar on March 11, 2009 at 9:28 PM
Lies, damned lies, and statistics
~ Benjamin Disraeli
FLKraKa on March 11, 2009 at 9:29 PM
By any yard stick you care to use Rush is the most successful radio talk show host evah! Not even debateable!
Contrast him to Tingly leg Matthews, Olberdork or Presidente Urkel and its quite a contrast.
Urkel in a short 50 days has become the most inept, untruthful, incompetent President of these United States. Has filled exactly one post in the treasury dept. in 50 days.
Puls Rush Is Right!
dhunter on March 11, 2009 at 9:30 PM
Allah, this post seems to not be on pace for +200 comments; time to move the Bristol Palin story over from Headlines.
carbon_footprint on March 11, 2009 at 9:31 PM
Democratic governors are now calling for the SC legislature to override Sanford with regards to refusing some of the stimulus money. First what gives them the right to interfere into the affairs of another state and secondly what are their motives?
Rush is right. The fix is in. All Democrats are Marxists. They want Obama to be the ‘king of the world’ and everybody to bow down to the Messiah and to them.
How presumptuous of these governors and how sleazy!
technopeasant on March 11, 2009 at 9:31 PM
All too true. Rush polls poorly because he isn’t a politician, he’s about principles and listeners.
And I think the more people listen to him, the more people will like him. I know of two different people who support at least 80% of what he says but don’t like him because they’ve heard out of context clips of him on TV. Specifically the Michael J. Fox thing from 2006, which was one of the more blatant examples of Journalistic bias I’ve ever seen.
That’s what I’d like to see polled. For people who tune in, how does their opinion change? Now that would be interesting to know.
Kronos on March 11, 2009 at 9:32 PM
Least you can buy an iPhone.
KP? Not so much.
I think.
blatantblue on March 11, 2009 at 9:33 PM
My poll shows Rush has a substantially greater approval rating than Obama; And this is over a greater time period. Obama’s rating is too fragile to give a static rating, and this is due to his lack of tenure and problems with competence. Rush’s rating comes from statistics that are critical as well as servants, verses Obama’s which are a majority of servants, with too small a critique to measure.
Overall, the country would be better off being administered by Rush Limbaugh than Barack Obama. As of 03/11/2009.
Cybergeezer on March 11, 2009 at 9:33 PM
Allahpundit! I’m ogling KP right now on Hannity.
R D on March 11, 2009 at 9:34 PM
You gotta love the implicit admission that a move to the left makes you vastly more popular with the American public.
crr6 on March 11, 2009 at 9:34 PM
My “ideology” is that individual liberty and personal responsibility should be honored and encouraged by the government, not dependence on government bureaucrats and encouragement of bad behavior, a la buying a house you can’t afford.
Please, enlighten me as to why my “ideology” is so flawed compared to what the Dems have on offer?
venividivici on March 11, 2009 at 9:35 PM
I person just talking about the current political events from one point of view and folks can just turn off the switch if they don’t like the program. He is a very articulate and observant person who parodies in good taste and irritates people who don’t even listen to his program but only hear others twist his comments out of context and meaning. Seems like these folks wouldn’t have anything to talk about with their mostly vulgar criticisms of strange interpretations of what they didn’t hear. It would be refreshing to hear someone actually address what he is saying as opposed to what they say he is saying. This of course would require them to be informed and actual know something about leadership, economics, history, argumentation and just about every other field that requires experience and education. All they know is how to spin nothing into something or something into nothing, the art of lying and deception. Rush just has more fun than a person should.
rsl775 on March 11, 2009 at 9:36 PM
crr6 on March 11, 2009 at 9:34 PM
The media is now “the American public”?
Jim Treacher on March 11, 2009 at 9:37 PM
And I heard Rush today laughing & mocking at these results. “I’m not running for anything!” No, but your allies are, Rush. Your ego & your mean-spirited manners are dragging them down.
jgapinoy on March 11, 2009 at 9:37 PM
Yes.
Rodent on March 11, 2009 at 9:37 PM
Next to Congress’ approval ratings Rush is beating a tatoo on them.
itsspideyman on March 11, 2009 at 9:37 PM
BCP(Blasphemous, clueless pundit)’s usage of “obligatory” OVER AND OVER AND OVER reminds me of some little kid that just discovered a new word from the dictionary or his mommy.
TTheoLogan on March 11, 2009 at 9:38 PM
I thought that was Sam Clemens.
jgapinoy on March 11, 2009 at 9:38 PM
We have another mindless lemming/sheep here, it seems. The party has not listened to rush for about 10 years. You keep wanting to blame him instead of lacklustered, spineless elected politicians.
TTheoLogan on March 11, 2009 at 9:39 PM
Tell me you aren’t serious
blatantblue on March 11, 2009 at 9:40 PM
I wish I was that unpopular. Then I could have my own G5 warmed up ready to go at a moments notice and I wouldn’t have frozen my balls off in Massachusetts this winter digging through more snow than at any time in recent history. Ah, to be as unpopular as Rush!
TheBigOldDog on March 11, 2009 at 9:40 PM
I thought the Dems were growing up, distractions being what they are.
Repurblican on March 11, 2009 at 9:41 PM
This place is filled with “serious” people.
TheBigOldDog on March 11, 2009 at 9:41 PM
Nevermind, not much KP. Carl Malone is showing why he picked B-Ball over politics.
R D on March 11, 2009 at 9:41 PM
Well, that is the question, isn’t it………..?
If you listen to Rush on a regular basis, you know he is an advocate for Conservative values, and his unique style and humor puts into words feelings that many share, not totally agree with, but share…………
…… the Media likes to take three second sounds bytes, totally out of context, in order to sway those that have never heard him, believe what they are being spoon fed by the MSMs and Hollywood, and then are asked to answer an “objective” poll.
Rush isn’t running for any office, he can not send us to war, he can not raise or lower my taxes, he has not promised under oath to “Protect and Defend the United States of America and the Constitution against enemies foreign and domestic…….”, he did not promise on the campaign trail to do away with earmarks, he did not promise on the campaign trail to do away with lobbyist in his Administration, he did not promise that Bills would go through a five day review by the public along with public hearings for every dollar of spending………
Mr. Teleprompter did, and has not kept one of those promises…..
So why in the name of Caesar are we talking about Rush…..?
Seven Percent Solution on March 11, 2009 at 9:41 PM
Hmmmmm, let me see…Whens the last time that they took a popularity poll of Keith Oblerman among republicans?
Bikerken on March 11, 2009 at 9:42 PM
It’s more that conservatives who sell out get wall-to-wall positive press coverage. Like McCain, before he ran against the chosen one of course.
Rush’s high unfavorable rating isn’t due to people disliking him, it’s due to the strawman the media has constructed over the many years they have attempted to destroy him.
Think about it, he’s had 4 (at least) cable news networks, at least one president, and a host of democratic operatives attempting to destroy him for 15+ years and he still polls higher than congressional republicans (at least in some polls). I’d say that’s pretty amazing.
Kronos on March 11, 2009 at 9:42 PM
There’s your answer. I don’t listen and therefore would never have known about the “fail” remark if it weren’t the subject of countless articles online. And, surprise, it turns out it wasn’t quite as mean spirited a remark as they made it out to be.
scalleywag on March 11, 2009 at 9:43 PM
I’m happy to say although I am bored to death of talking about Rush, I have never tired of listening to him. Daily.
Marcus on March 11, 2009 at 9:43 PM
Who does the media poll?
crr6 on March 11, 2009 at 9:44 PM
I do hate you for being weak Allah, and passing on left-wing propaganda every chance you get. You have become less than nothing, and are now a negative. I wonder what your approval rating would be if Conservatives (those who even knew you existed) were polled? I would think your approval rating among left-wing effeminate pussies would be quite high.
echosyst on March 11, 2009 at 9:44 PM
Yeah, his unpopularity makes him what, $20 million or more a year? Damn the luck. ;-)
R D on March 11, 2009 at 9:45 PM
If Rush has read this poll, I’m sure he’s laughing all the way to the bank. In his line of work as a radio celebrity, no news is bad news but is valuable publicity.
docdave on March 11, 2009 at 9:45 PM
But that never happens! Besides Brooks, Parker, Buckley, Noonan, Frum…
Jim Treacher on March 11, 2009 at 9:45 PM
Obviously, comrades such as you.
TheBigOldDog on March 11, 2009 at 9:46 PM
What percentage of the people who answered this poll have ever even listened to Rush’s show?
Watcher on March 11, 2009 at 9:46 PM
You misspelled “How.”
Jim Treacher on March 11, 2009 at 9:46 PM
Gosh darn it AP; your rehab was going so well today!
Keemo on March 11, 2009 at 9:47 PM
As much as these morons are furiously trying to push the idea that Rush is such an ananthema to the republican ideal, every time the Repubs do what Rush says, they are wildly successful! Most of the morons who criticize Rush never listen to him. I do. He has lambasted the Pubs for spending like drunken soldiers. He has beat them like an ugly stepchild for going along with dem idiots like Ted, the fat drunken B-stard kennedy when he decides to go on a drunk shopping spree with the taxpayers dollars. He has come up with some good ideas for the GOP and when they listen, they do well. And by the way, he also knew how the McCain campaign was going to end and said so many times.
Maybe the GOP would be better off to listen to the big guy once in a while instead of kissing the medias A$$.
Bikerken on March 11, 2009 at 9:47 PM
Amen, brother. I usually visit here early am before work and later at night. Truly the difference is night and day.
Marcus on March 11, 2009 at 9:48 PM
This poll shows the REAL impact he’s doing, if I were Rush I would be popping another cork. In fact he needs to get a -100 with Democrats. This is a badge of honor.
mustng66 on March 11, 2009 at 9:48 PM
This post isn’t obligatory, just boring.
Johnson on March 11, 2009 at 9:48 PM
Hey — Who made you resident a-hole?
blatantblue on March 11, 2009 at 9:49 PM
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