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Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Rush Limbaugh vs. Politico ...
Posted by: Matt Lewis at 2:38 PM

On his radio show this afternoon, talk radio host Rush Limbaugh accused Politico of mischaracterizing his position on House Republicans' bailout vote.

The homepage of Politico today includes a headline reading "Rush mocks House GOP".  Here is a partial screen shot: 
Politico.png

The homepage headline appears to be the most inaccurate and offensive part of the story.  The story goes on to say:

House GOP leadership mocked by Rush

"Rush Limbaugh opened his show today by piling on top of House Republican leadership for claiming that a crucial number of their members voted against the bailout package because of a partisan speech that Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) gave before the roll call.

“C’mon guys. Can ya grow up?” he said. “There were a whole lot of reasons for House Republicans to vote against this thing yesterday.”

He said Democrats never intended to pass it and GOPers likely realized that as they saw Democratic ‘no’ votes piling up during the vote. “It was a set-up from the get-go,” analyzed Limbaugh.

Count Rep. Scott Garrett (R-N.J.) as similarly skeptical of the explanation. When asked whether he voted ‘no’ because of the partisan nature of the debate, he told NPR this morning, “No, I was a no vote on the basic package from day one. I couldn’t tell you who those twelve were on either side of the aisle.”

Limbaugh accused The Politico of mischaracterizing his comments -- which were actually directed at conservative media who were criticizing House Republicans.

On his show today, Limbaugh noted that when he said things like, "grow up" -- Rush was criticizing conservative media, such as NRO -- and defending House Republicans. 

"I have been the one supporting them without wavering here ... and the Politico comes out and says I've mocked them," Limbaugh angrily said on his show today.

He described this mischaracterization of him as part of,
"... an ongoing effort to dispirit Republicans in the House for hanging tough.  I assure you ... do you realize where we'd be if these guys had caved," Limbaugh said.

"Politico has become Media Matters here," said Limbaugh.

Update:  A source tells me this may be a misunderstanding.  Rush led off his show by mocking House GOP leadership spin that members changed votes because of Pelosi's speech.  He praised GOP rank and file.  As such, the headline on the actual story page was accurate ("House GOP leadership mocked by Rush").  However, Rush took offense at the abbreviated headline prominently featured on the homepage, which read:  "Rush mocks House GOP".  The Politico has since unpdated the homepage headline to more accurately read:  "Rush mocks GOP leadership spin."

Update:  Politico posted the following update:

In response to the dozens of e-mails coming in, I changed the headline to make it clear that Limbaugh was mocking GOP House leadership for the Pelosi explanation, not the House Republican rank and file. To the many people who have asked: No, I have no intention of moving back to Russia. 

Also, when a transcript or audio is available, I'll post it immediately.

UPDATE II: Here's a partial transcript of what Limbaugh said on his show in response to this post. In the transcript, Limbaugh is clearly disagreeing with House GOP leadership's claim that House Republicans switched their vote because of Pelosi's partisan speech. And he's also mocking conservative media for believing House Republican leadership. Limbaugh is telling the conservative media to 'grow up' and not believe what House Republican leadership was saying about the vote.

From Limbaugh's show: "The Republicans in Congress I think went out there and said some things about Pelosi’s speech yesterday that a lot of Republicans, a lot of conservatives said, ‘C’mon you guys, can you grow up? Don’t tell us you changed your vote on saving the country because Pelosi delivered a partisan speech--frankly people writing at the Corner at National Review Online, conservative media.’

"Then I resume speaking for myself: ‘I frankly think that’s what they said. But I don’t think that’s at all why they changed their vote, if they changed their vote at all. I think that’s what they went out there and said. I was defending them. I was not accusing them of being childish. I was not mocking them. I was being critical of our own media for mocking them. When what happened here was the failure of the thing was planned--that Pelosi wanted it to go down the tubes. Now, I acknowledge that the Republicans went out there and made the speech—or made the comments that Pelosi’s partisan speech had an effect on this—but then in the very comment I say here, ‘That’s not why they changed their vote.’ I defended them. They changed their vote because the saw what Democrats were doing." 

So while it's clear that I missed the context of his critique of the conservative media -- which I regret -- it's equally clear that he's going after House GOP leadership by saying that they have so little credibility that it's mockable for the conservative media to believe what they say.

UPDATE III: From Rush's site, here's what he said:

The Republicans in Congress, I think went out there and said some things about Pelosi's speech yesterday that a lot of Republicans, a lot of conservatives, "Come on, you guys, can you grow up? Don't tell us that you changed your vote on saving the country because Pelosi delivered a partisan speech." I, frankly, think that's what they said, but I don't think that's at all why they changed their vote, if they changed their vote at all. I think that's what they went out there and said.

The speech by Pelosi was irresponsible. She is stupid. One trillion of wealth was lost yesterday with that 777-point drop. But it's coming a little bit today as it's up 264 points at the Dow Jones Industrial Average. Now, I think what happened -- this is pure politics -- the Republicans in the House are sitting there watching the vote go, and they're seeing all these Democrats vote "no." Do you know that 12 members of Barney Frank's committee voted "no"? Barney Frank wasn't running around trying to change any votes. So the Republicans are watching all these Democrats vote "no" after being told all week it was their responsibility to join with Democrats to make this happen, and after knowing full well that the Democrats really wanted this to happen, they could have passed it on their own without Republican help. That was the spin. And then they sit there and they see all these Democrats voting against it, voting nay, and they say, wait a minute, what's happening here, and they figured it out. They figured out that the vast majority of public opinion around the country is dead set opposed to this, isn't even close, and they see Democrats in crucially close districts voting against it so they can run around and campaign, "I voted against that bailout, I knew it was the wrong thing to do, but our Republicans voted for it."

It was a setup from the get-go, and however it is that the Republicans decided to change votes or to vote against it, it was the wise and smart thing to do.



View in ascending order View in descending order
Matthew  writes: Tuesday, September, 30, 2008 3:00 PM
Another Obama-bot heard from
Obviously since you hear things from Rush that he never said then I can understand why your idiot religious leftist who honestly believes that the Bible teaches us to grow the welfare state for Jesus.
Screwtape writes: Tuesday, September, 30, 2008 3:02 PM
christianlib
Way to go you caring, tolerant lib! Bravo! And way to show that true Christian spirit! The transcript is misleading. Best to wait until Rush posts the COMPLETE transcipt. But what do you care about the truth as long as you can bash a conservative? Hmmmm? I know you don't follow Rush, but if you did you would know that he has been supportive of the House Reps in this.
Pasadena Phil writes: Tuesday, September, 30, 2008 3:09 PM
Politico is kind of like Townhall
Liberals pretending to be conservatives offering fear-mongering and lies in-lieu of reasoned arguments.
Screwtape writes: Tuesday, September, 30, 2008 3:15 PM
Pasadena Phil
Sad but true. It makes me want to move residence to NRO with a summer cottage at Drudge.
craftyone writes: Tuesday, September, 30, 2008 3:25 PM
I listened to Rush
today and he ABSOLUTLY stood up for the house republicans! The so-called conservative media has been shouting doom and gloom along with the MSM. Rush took the so-called conservative media to task for failing to support the republicans that had the guts to oppose this travisty.

Christianlib....you call yourself a christian? That's christian with a small c. Go read your bible and learn the true meaning of being a Christian.
angel66 writes: Tuesday, September, 30, 2008 3:25 PM
Another Brilliant Rush Job
Remember, he was the most vocal supporter of Sarah Palin for the VP slot.

Add her to the list of Limbaugh idiocy.
mbabbitt writes: Tuesday, September, 30, 2008 3:35 PM
More liberal distortion from Politico
It is becoming a habit with some of their writers. Some are fair; some are active partisans trying to appear fair.
craftyone writes: Tuesday, September, 30, 2008 3:44 PM
angel666.....
go flap your wings somewhere else.
Michele writes: Tuesday, September, 30, 2008 4:06 PM
Rush Supports House Reps....
I also listened to Rush today, every word. He praised House Republicans. He said, he did not believe they voted "NEY" because of Pelosi speech.
Neither do I, I think they said it in a moment of frustration. What it did do is expose Pelosi's inability to lead.
cavalier973 writes: Tuesday, September, 30, 2008 7:15 PM
Rush's actual words concerning the House
GOP members were "God bless the House Republicans."

I'm glad to see that Rush didn't get dazzled by the "crisis" arguments about this Bailout.
m.a. writes: Tuesday, September, 30, 2008 7:16 PM
A Limbaugh Listener
I was listening to Limbaugh when he made the comments on his radio show. He was clearly rebuking comments made by conservatives on National Review Online (in The Corner),who were bashing house republicans for voting against the socialist bill. Limbaugh unequivocally supports the conservative house members who voted against this bill. Keep trying, people. Limbaugh will best you, every time.
MaryStella writes: Tuesday, September, 30, 2008 7:25 PM
Politico, wrote what they wished
And hoped Rush would say about the Republicans!
I was listening to him, Rush was not happy today about National Review's on line the Corner criticizing the Republicans.
I believe the Politico site was not listening closely.

christianlib, Shame on your unchristian comment. No your mean-spirited pulloted disarrayed mind is the real problem.
Egon writes: Tuesday, September, 30, 2008 7:37 PM
Shoe-Shine Stand
Couldn't trust Oblahma-Bin-Biden running a shoe-shine stand!
davpatt3 writes: Tuesday, September, 30, 2008 9:44 PM
Simple Math
Christian + liberal= 0 They cancel out everytime.

Please, Rush, tell the government to get out of our lives and stay out.
Gerry writes: Tuesday, September, 30, 2008 10:38 PM
Keep it up Rush
Rush seems to be the person to pick on right now, from Obama and his Spanish ads to Bill O'Reilly calling him a "right winger who doesn't care about you the folks" I guess when your a conservative and have 20 million listners your gonna get attacked. Keep it up Rush, we conservatives love ya and your the conservative voice in the media when the media has stopped reporting the truth.
Tea Party writes: Wednesday, October, 01, 2008 12:31 AM
I heard him also
Good Grief, he's been growling about the Republican leaderships failure to lead for ages.
He said today, we have a new group of young
conservatives making their mark in Congress. We have to help them, by adding more to their ranks.

That pig of a bill could have had ten layers of
paint on it's lips and would have still been
a pig. Another thing Rush said that made sense,
the reason Wall St. isn't doing anything is why should they, they are playing with the market to scare the people into demanding something be done. Manufacturing a crisis when it's not as bad as they say.

If it were as bad as they say, why did the Senate schedule their bill for Wednesday if it were that imperative? Something reeks to the heavens, and We The People don't trusth them
We have the 9% majority Congress and the 30% administration..and we are expected to trust them
100%. Don't think so. Pelosi was playing games with the economy to make political points, that tirade was all the ploy to incriminate the Republicans. And some of the dopes fell for it and voted for the bill. But Thank God for Mike
Pence and his Army.
Lightning II writes: Wednesday, October, 01, 2008 12:51 AM
"christianlib"...very sad indeed!
I listen to Rush everyday! And have for the past 20 years or so! And "christianlib", you apparently have a real problem for some reason! What are YOU on?!

I have to assume by your nickname, that you claim to possibly be a "christian"? That you are a liberal? If the latter, then I can understand your frame of mind!

I heard exactly what Rush said LIVE on the broadcast! And, I have also read the transcript! There is no question about what he said! That's the problem with most liberals...they go by what they THINK was said, or they go by what the LIBERAL media says he (Rush) said, or they don't have the intelligence to truly understand what was said! Or very possibly, they inject what they "want to hear"! Where do you fit?!

Are you attempting to hide behind the "christian" in your nickname?! Do you do so to hopefully provide yourself with some sort of "credibility"? Don't be afraid, come out into the real sunlight, where you can actually be wholly visible!

Is it possible that YOUR "LIBERAL"-addled mind is the problem?! Ummm?
Say What? writes: Wednesday, October, 01, 2008 2:00 AM
The intrigue
Gotta love Rush! He takes a lot of heat but the detractors usually can't keep up with him.
I'm just waiting to see what the Senate vote and the New House proposal is all about. More intrigue. I just hope it's for the people, not the politics.
COLONEL JON RAMBO writes: Wednesday, October, 01, 2008 6:08 AM
LET THE MARKET CRASH....AND START OVER!
I say, let the market crash and start over. This is only the beginning of the end anyway, don't fight it. Romans chp. 13: 1-5 tells us that all authority has been ordained by God, resist the authority and you resist God himself. Unless, you get someone in office that knows how to delegate the proper people to these posts you'll just spinning your wheels. Kick out Ben haddad or whatever the hell his name is, get rid of Secretary of Treasury and find someone who is capable of handling the task, and who will usher in the return of the Lord. The world is seeking a Messiah, financial wizard you might say. Bill Gates, maybe....I believe there's someone even better than he. DONALD TRUMP IS YOUR MAN! He'll clean house and then get the ball rolling upwards instead of the fast decline we're facing.
COLONEL JON RAMBO writes: Wednesday, October, 01, 2008 6:37 AM
777 vs. 666
The market closed at minus 777 pts. Which is God's holy number. Number of completion you might say. James chapter 5, verse's 1-5 talk about the rich and their miseries right now. Yes, the bible is relevant for today! Get a copy, you'll love it. You won't be able to put it down! Do you really believe this mess caught God off his guard? Only to play into his hand.
Heres the scenario, during the next 4 years: No immdiate rescue plan passes, the nation awaits there guru financial advisor to step up to the plate in this crisis, Israel bombs Iran's nuclear sites, United States is forced into a conflict to defend Israel with most middle eastern nations, America is attacked again, George Bush declares martial law, postponing all election campaigns temporarily indefinite. Giving the President more time to fix the problems at hand and possibly help McCain take over. This ultimately ushering in the return of Jesus Christ, Messiah and Savior of the world.
Sounds pretty scary to those who have rejected God's ONLY cure for their sin state.
BE BLESSED!
PRAY HARD!
CJR
Kristianne writes: Wednesday, October, 01, 2008 6:42 AM
Rush, O'Reilly, Levin
They are all rat-like in their squirming and chewing each other up, aren't they? The implosion is wide-spread in the faux Republican sector and it isn't getting any prettier.
JPK writes: Wednesday, October, 01, 2008 9:07 AM
Kristianne
Here's the reality:

As of last Friday there were enough Democrats to easily pass this bill without any help from the GOP. All Pelosi had to do was "whip" her caucus into shape and get them to toe the line -all would be well, and if the bill worked the House GOP would get no credit and lots of blame.

As it turned out, sixty House GOP members did vote for the bill. It should have been smooth sailing for Pelosi and her leadership team. But that isn't what occured. Ninety Democratic House Members refused to vote for the bill. In reality, the 60 GOP Reps who did vote for the bill voted for nothing. Pelosi pulled the classic Bait 'n Switch.

And that is why Pelosi's speech before the vote count is so important. She knew from the get-go that 90 of her minions would vote against the bill. Not once did she nor her whip Stenny Hoyer, nor her Banking Committee Leader Barney Frank make an effort to get the Dems onboard. IT WAS A SET UP FROM THE GET GO.

That is the story. The MSM conviently ignores the 90 House Dems who voted for the bill. She had the votes on Friday, but waited until this week to actually vote on it.

Pelosi, Reid, Obama, and yes Paulson have done everything possible to politicize this criss. What is ironic is that while the DOW lost 700 points, Pelosi and Reid refused the cancel the 2 day Congressional Break. While the DOW sank, Pelosi went on vacation.
esther writes: Wednesday, October, 01, 2008 11:28 AM
the desperate left
to what extreme the left goes to make up stories about conservatives!

what a disgrace.

and how blatanly desperate they are!
Telescoping You writes: Wednesday, October, 01, 2008 11:33 AM
The Liberal's Planned Cave In
The 95 liberals who voted against this bill did so because, number1, it was planned to appear they were really, really had serious questions, and number 2, their political careers are at stake.

Nancy Pelosimo told these liberals months ago to vote any way you need to in order to get reelected. Once they are back in power, well, then back to the same old games.

People need to wake up and smell the foul stench and send these liberals back to their dog catching and circus clown jobs.
boomerbabe writes: Wednesday, October, 01, 2008 4:34 PM
If it were not for Rush
this monstrosity of a bill would have passed . He gives the few true conservatives in congress a megaphone. God bless him.

P.S. Isn't a christian lib an oxymoron?
Liberal writes: Wednesday, October, 01, 2008 7:37 PM
Jesus was a Liberal
boomerbabe

you wrote: christian lib an oxymoron?

It should be pointed out that Jesus the man that real Christianity is based on was a liberal. Jesus cared about the poor, and was a one man Universal Health Care machine. Most of all, Jesus associated with a prostitute and 12 unemployed winos. If that is not a Liberal, I don't know what is.
AliveInHim writes: Wednesday, October, 01, 2008 10:38 PM
Liberal
Jesus did care for the poor but 1) Never did anything for them that they could do for themselves, 2) Never said it was government's job to look after them. 3) Didn't heal all the sick or raise all the dead, and 4) His disciples were ALL employed-and none of them were drunks.

And further, no liberal I know would hang with people who don't wear Keens, drive Priuses and aren't into the planet's crisis du jour. That would mean prostitutes and unemployed winos.

Read your Bible and try again?
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