New Media Meme: Obama Team Solely To Blame For Rush Story
New media meme alert: A secret plot hatched solely by the White House is entirely to blame for the Rush Limbaugh story getting so much media attention and turning into a media circus.
This shiny new meme is popping up on the same day (today) that top Republicans launched a new offensive, accusing the White House of deliberately focusing attention on Limbaugh to divert attention from solving the country’s problems.
This version of events has its genesis in this Politico piece reporting on the inner workings of the Democratic strategy to hang Rush around the necks of Republicans. Drudge linked the piece with the blaring headline: “Enemies List: White House Plots Limbaugh Coverage.” Time’s Michael Scherer argued that it shows that this “entire controversy has been cooked up and force fed to the American people by Obama’s advisers.” Reporters pushed the idea at today’s White House press briefing.
But come on: None of this is really true. Or at least, it’s a grotesque exaggeration.
First of all, the Politico piece just doesn’t say this. If anything, the reporting in there proves the opposite. The piece says that the “strategy took shape” after Dem strategists James Carville and Stan Greenberg polled on Rush and found him to be deeply unpopular. But as Steve Benen notes, Carville and Greenberg aren’t Obama advisers, let alone White House advisers.
That’s not all. The piece explicitly says that groups outside the White House — the DCCC, the Center for American Progress, and the labor-backed Americans United for Change — were the first to push the strategy.
The main data points in the piece on White House involvement? That Carville and Begala, and other outside groups, began discussing the strategy with White House advisers — after the two were already pounding the Rush theme on television. Also, that White House advisers started publicly pushing the Rush angle — after the story was going full throttle, after Rush had reiterated his desire for Obama to fail at CPAC, and after reporters asked the White House for reaction to Rush.
That suggest that Rush and the press also played something of a role in ensuring that this story was a major media circus.
It’s true, as Sam Stein reports, that White House press sec Robert Gibbs acknowledged some sort of role in helping to create this circus. And of course White House advisers discussed ways of pushing this story. But they obviously did so after many other parties — operating largely independently — ensured that it was in full swing.
Anyone paying attention to this story knows it developed “organically,” as Paul Begala put it to me last week. There’s just no “there” here.
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Even the stein piece was full of inuendo about how the WH pushed this. The Village rising to the defense of their own. The Scherer piece was totally idiotic. The fact that Rush says something and the next day this is a GOP talking point is something that needed to be pointed out put in the sunlight. The Village is smarting because they want Obama to ‘pay’ for the ridicule that Rush and the reps are getting and since no one in the public is really complying now they are pushing this story. IMHO.
ps I think they are suffering from cognitive dissonance for ages if Rush attacked you you paid, the great fear of Rush was part of the Village religion. And look the Dems are not afraid of him now and this might be hard for these reporters to swallow. Any thoughts Greg on the debate invite?
It is truly amazing how the faithful accept that others make certain loved ones do what they do. No, Rush couldn’t have caused this circus all by himself goes the meme, but then answer my question MSM – Why does Rush travel with two tent posts at the ready to set up the many big-tops he belongs to?
Here is what cracks me up about this and also something similar from the GE. Much like in the GE when tying Republicans to Bush became a smear, now tying them to their current leader is a smear?
Seriously, most Dems would be honored to be tied to what Obama says.
Maybe Republicans should think about who they elevate to be their leaders. If they are so friggin’ embarrassed by them, that just reflects badly on who they consider a leader to be honest.
I wish I had the opportunity to watch the WH briefing today, but is the media really taking the tack of “you are MAKING us ask these questions about Rush”?
Isn’t the best tack for the WH to take something along the lines of “we can walk and chew gum at the same time.” Yes, the WH would prefer that talk radio and the cable nets spend hours focused upon the substantive minutiae of the new Budget. But until they do, we are going to neither unilaterally disarm nor refrain from calling out the opposition on from whom they are taking their marching orders.”
Someone, I don’t remember who, commented that having 5 million people who love you and 50 million who hate you is a very profitable position for a radio host, but not so much for a political party.
John C Gibbs did say something to that effect but Stein reports the answers as if they came out of thin air and not prompted by questions of the media that was there, trying to push this meme.
lfo — gotta think it would be madness for any White House official, let alone obama, to go on Rush …it would succeed in elevating Rush further, but it would set off such a media circus (way worse than the current one) that I don’t see how Obama’s brand doesn’t get tarnished…
If you polish a **** its still a ****. Limbaugh is what he is and thankfully there’s not much else beneath the blowhard noise he puts forth.
RIP GOP!
I agree Greg about the debate I was definitely not advocating it. I just wanted to know how you thought it would get played…
So the current White House is responsible for chosing the keynote speaker at CPAC and giving him talking points on what to say. That’s good to know. Maybe next year they’ll resurrect Dick Cheney and he can spend 90 minutes saying “So what”.
This is funny. Guys like Scherer really never talked about how Bill Ayers was a manufactured controversy.
But the real difference between Ayers and Rush is this: Ayers had no connection to Obama. Never spoke on his behalf and had no personal relationship with him except for having served on the board of a charitable organization at the same time. Rush on the other hand routinely hosts Republican politicians on his show; speaks at conservative and Republican functions; and is showered with praise by the conservative community.
I am at a loss to understand what exactly is wrong with asking Republicans where they stand on the positions Rush takes and whether they are comfortable with him being a rather vocal spokesman for conservatism generally.
How the heck can the White House push a public argument between Michael Steele and Rush Limbaugh? That happened right out in plain view and got coverage before Rahm made his statement. The press has fallen all over itself to push the civil war in the Republican Party and now it’s Obama’s fault?
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Amazing that Scherer figured it out…
Wonder when he’ll disclose that the Obama administration secretly selected Jindal to deliver the GOP rebuttal? now there’s the action!
Whatever. I would suggest that the Netroots push hard on the oxycontin and viagra memes. Limbaugh is a boil on the *** of America.
This is what happens when you have too many idiots in your village.
And is it the Dems that made Rush their honorary congressman in 1994?? http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/rushlimbaughhousegop.htm
Uh, and I really don’t think anyone had to be forcefed the story.
Though when I think about it, this story gets even funnier. Scherer and the other idiots are basically saying that Obama’s kung-fu ju jitsu! is so overwhelming that he controls CPAC and the entire republican party apparatus.
I find that a cheery thought. (looks about for tub of popcorn)
This defense conveniently leaves us the origonal mention by Barack himself. Which has always made me uncomfortable. in fact the administration has shown an willingness early to single out for attack people who critizise them. The whole, “what us” defense gets old after a while.
Great fun going on in the Scherer thread at Swampland. So much fun that Friar Tuck said: There is a decade’s worth of PWNage on this thread. It’s like Nebraska scoring 77 points on Middle Tennessee just because they can. More, please!
It was very poor strategy for Rahm, Begala, Axelrod, Carville, etc to go boasting about this plan. The plan itself was brilliant. If they had just kept quiet it would have been fine. Once again, the Dems have made fools of themselves. This is about perception and the public will perceive this as the Dems spending more time playing games with Rush and hatching plans than fixing the nation. This is completely amateur and another sign that these guys are so excited to be in the WH that they aren’t thinking straight. All they had to do was keep quiet and not brag…
tc weber said: This defense conveniently leaves us the origonal mention by Barack himself. Which has always made me uncomfortable. in fact the administration has shown an willingness early to single out for attack people who critizise them. If it were not true that Limbaugh’s rantings drive much of what passes for political discourse on teh right, and if it were not true that the republicans in Congress have decided to oppose – “just say no” – Obama at every turn, I might agree. But this is an opportunity to shine a bright light on both their obstructionism and on the core reasons for it. And that is public service of the highest order.
Aron–note that Rahm and Axelrod did not brag anything. The article in politico is about the otehr crew and they were NEVER part of the obama WH.
I’m not sure who is the bigger loser among the village idiots, but I would say Michael Scherer and Jake Tapper are running neck and neck. My theory is that Scherer wrote the story because he was jealous that Tapper had just been named Rush’s new butt boy and he was not gonna let another day go by without getting him some of that–I mean who among us would not want to be Rush’s personal butt boy??
This is what happens when you have too many idiots in your village.
LOL
Hey Jen! Nice to see you
and nice to see FourLegsGood -
That village is nothing but idiots.
Two words: Michael Moore.
Hey, tc: it was the Bush administration that always showed as willingness, in fact an eagerness, to single out for attack any critics.
Did the White House force Republican Congressmen and the chair of the Republican committee to apologize to an entertainer/media star? Is there any chance that Democratic Congressmen and the Committee chair would so pathetically apologize for speaking out against the comments of an entertainer/media star? Uh no. If the White House suggested that Limbaugh is the head of the party, then the Republicans themselves certainly proved it to be true by putting their tail between their legs and begging Limbaugh to forgive them, especially after he attacked them so visciously. Republicans are just unable to take any responsibility for their actions, which is why they are so unpopular with Americans.
Once again, the Dems have made fools of themselves. This is about perception and the public will perceive this as the Dems spending more time playing games with Rush and hatching plans than fixing the nation. This is completely amateur and another sign that these guys are so excited to be in the WH that
Naw, dude, the public couldn’t care less. The internet isn’t the public.
When you spend a lot of time online you kind of forget that. People either hate Rush (the vast majority) or worship him (a small minority) and I don’t think one stupid 3-way cat fight is going to make any difference.
People know what Obama is doing – the polls reflect that with no ambiguity at all.
postxian – it was Frum who came up with the comparison. Completely justifies the strategy I think. Best way to defeat this dogmatic “me first” “conservative” phenomena is let it proselytize as loudly and often as possible through the truly divine Apostle Limbaugh. He is, after all, but a vessel. Like a horrible accident, I can’t look away… (finds tub of popcorn)
Like a horrible accident, I can’t look away… (finds tub of popcorn)
I know. I keep trying to get offline, but it keeps pulling me back in. How can I miss this spectacular Conservative Movement nuclear meltdown?
Tena – It’s just so beautiful to behold, but it’s almost too much to take in at once. “No words… should’ve sent a poet” (wipes tear)
Maybe if a white house rep, say the vp just said, “so?” would that make the repubs feel more in their comfort zone?
What tena “I know. I keep trying to get offline, but it keeps pulling me back in. How can I miss this spectacular Conservative Movement nuclear meltdown?” and FatHands “It’s just so beautiful to behold, but it’s almost too much to take in at once. “No words… should’ve sent a poet” (wipes tear)” said.
Michael Moore?? Are you kidding me? When have you EVER seen a Democrat get on his or her knees and kiss the ring of Michael Moore? Never happened. Hell, they would not be seen with him, would not talk about him and everyone one of them denounced him at some point or another during the Bush Administration. So your two words theory is teh irrelevant.
Michael Moore – my gawd, he’s radioactive – no politician will come near him.
I’m dying laughing here – Michael Moore. Yeah and Democrats have shown all kinds of love for MoveOn, too. LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL!!!!
So…the WH is responsible for the idiotic things that Rush and other wingers say? For Steele and other loons being total wimps and backtracking on their comments?
Wow. Well, I shouldn’t be surprised at anything coming from the right. Apparently they weren’t responsible for what they did the past eight years, either.
Scherer is just doing his job as a vapid, vacuous “pundit” for the corporate-owned so-called “mainstream” mass media — namely, to legitimize Rush Limbaugh’s malicious lies and vicious hate speech for a wider audience. The reality is that Scherer wishes that he could be like Rush Limbaugh, and make multi-millions of dollars a year for sitting on his fat *** and reading the fake, phony, scripted, focus-group-tested, corporate-sponsored, pseudo-ideological, so-called ‘conservative’ BS talking points that are handed to him every day.
That the Democrats making fun of Limp Biscuit are not technically in the WH is irrelevant to the average person. They see Flush making an *** of himself and have to either laugh or feel that their hero is being tarnished and therefore they have to blame someone else. Other than the small group making this fuss, no one actually believes that Rush had nothing to do with appearing to be a jerk, and I suspect the “small group” also realizes that he did it by himself.
The best part of all is that according to Scherer then Obama now has super duper powers and controls all the actions of the media, the republicans and the wingnuts everywhere. Wow he is good!
So the beltway media, after denying they were played by the Bush White House for years , now admit they can be played by the Obama White House even when it is not really trying?
Tena: Turn on your TV, Gibbs addressed the Rush controversy in his press conference, it is not isolated to the internet. Now I know that the demographic that frequents sites like this does not listen to talk radio but there is a large segment of the American public that does. This is now tied to the WH. I will go back to my original premise which you left out when you quoted me…It was very poor strategy for Rahm, Begala, Axelrod, Carville, etc to go boasting about this plan. The plan itself was brilliant. If they had just kept quiet it would have been fine.
So…Rush is this paper tiger constructed by Obama’s evil henchmen? Gee, the best way to get back at that Obama guy would be for everyone to completely ignore whatever Rush says. Not put him on the air, not buy his books, not report him as if he’s news. That’d show ‘em.
Aaron L – I don’t entirely agree. When you’re playing poker and another player doubles down on stupid, you really do need to call the bluff. It’s an easy call. Hey, if the entire party wants to put their stack of chips behind His Holiness Rushbo (via perpetual retractions and prostrations), then, yeah, I say all in (let’em know who did it to them). There isn’t a moderate or independent in his entire stack. Let’s officially go ahead and push this freak show version of “conservatism” off the credibility table shall we?
OMG gibbs addressed this because he was asked about it. also a manipulation by our all powerful WH? Jeez.
but there is a large segment of the American public that does
Where are your numbers on that? Rush claims 20 million listeners. I’ve never seen backup for that.
I think that you are placing far more power in Rush’s hands over far more people than exist anywhere other than Rush’s drug-fevered imagination. And you’re putting way too much emphasis on this idea of this bouncing back on us. From where, dude? We’re the Gawd-ammed Majority in this country.
Enjoy it; I sure am.
Latest poll has the American public’s approval of the republican party at 26%– no one left but Bush’s deadenders.
Right now Rush is in danger of becoming a late night joke and the GOP leadership VERY recently and VERY publicly just praised him as a very valuable person in their movement. Oops! They’re going to regret that because if Rush starts to feel the heat of public humiliation he’s going to say SOMETHING insane that will put them in the awkward position of either rejecting or defending him. For pete’s sake, last fall he thought the song “Barack the Magical Negro” was the funniest thing he had ever heard.
The GOP is in danger of truly exposing themselves as the completely leaderless, out-of-touch party that they are at the moment. It’s going to get far worse for them before it gets better. Rush is not universally popular among the GOP, this will only split and divide them futher.
It’s all projection. They’ve been doing it this way for 20 years, so they project coordination.
ight now Rush is in danger of becoming a late night joke and the GOP leadership
I think we’re seeing it happen, right now, right in front of our eyes.
Come to DC for the CAF conference every year. Two years ago, Politico suddenly appears at the conference with giveaways and newspapers and a table, last year they’re a BIG PRESENCE. And all their questionnaires, in-hall interviews and later write-ups had a distinctly Republican lean.
No one gets that big in a year on quality alone (see TPM) but certainly can’t get that big AT ALL when the whole operation is intended to do on the web what Wash Times does in Print and FOX News does on TV: create a legitimate-looking Beltway-based red-washing operation that all the patheticos on the Right can point at as if it’s a legitimate news source and not a GOP stenography session.
My question is “Where’s Politico’s Money From?”
This will tell all.
By the way, is no one here a long time listener of Rush? Claiming that he’s just an entertainer has always been his get-out-of-trouble-free card for the things he’s said in the past. Look it up. Steele was just protecting Rush from Rush using Rush’s own standard excuse.
In the mean time, taking a page from Rush, I usually refer to them all as ReagaNazis.
If you listened to Rush, you’d get it…
Just want to point out the only time anyone can associate a quote to Pres Obama where Rush’s name is mentioned is from a private meeting with Republicans where he told them “you can’t just keep listening to Rush Limbaugh”. Since the quote leaked from the meeting, the media has been asking any Republican too dumb to dodge the question if Rush was the leader of the party. I don’t think I’ve ever seen such a mass self immolation effort before. At this point, you’d think at least one person in the GOP would have the brains and the ‘nads to say “Look, the only person saying Rush Limbaugh is the leader of our party are people who are not in the party. Their opinions do not facts make.” But that hasn’t happened yet and the only question that remains is what will hit bottom first? The economy or the GOP? Too soon to tell.
What a bunch of hypocrites you all are. If Bush had done this, you would be wailing and moaning. It doesn’t creep you out that the WH is attacking private citizens? And to Aaron L: You think its good to attack private citizens, just not boast about it. How sad.
I don’t even like Rush Limbaugh, and I’m not a Republican, but the WH going after not elected officials is something no one should cheerlead. It is a very oppressive tactic that will come back and bite you in the *** when it is you who has something critical to say about the administration.
It doesn’t creep you out that the WH is attacking private citizens? A
No, because they aren’t.
Number 1 – Rush Limbaugh is not a private person.
Number 2 – All the WH did is agree with the Republicans about Rush.
Number 3 – Obama is not Bush. Obama is so not Bush he is the anti-Bush.
Private Citizen? Limbaugh is a decades-long unelected public figure. He uses the public airwaves for his attacks on both public and private figures.
And, for the person who keeps suggesting that this “brilliant plan’ be kept under wraps…isn’t that what we’ve had for the last 8 years with Rove and Co.? I find it refreshing that it’s open, even if it’s open warfare.
LOL! You Right-wingers are all delusional conspiracy nuts. Nothing about Limbaugh, the Gone Old Party and the wasted blather about which nutcase, delusional, paranoid racist will run it, or anything else you children talk about here is important enough for Obama and the grown ups at the White House to stop eating their Wheaties for, let alone foment a conspiracy.
They don’t need to do anything to sabotage the right-wing. The Republican party and all the conspiracy hacks here do a good enough job on themselves without any help at all from anyone.
All that has to be done is not pay no never mind and leave you to your own devices.
I’m a liberal, but I watched how a White House went after dissent in the Bush years. Remember Valerie Plame? Now Obama supporters are cheerleading the WH’s strategy to attack opposition figures who have not been elected. And even if you hate Rush Limbaugh, which I do, you have to admit that he is a private citizen. He is not military, nor working for civil government, therefore he is in the private sector. The tactic of using the WH and the Democratic party at large to attack people with dissenting view points is very troubling too when you put it together with Obama’s broken promise to stop the warrantless spying program started under Bush. Couple that with the Justice Dept now confirming the unitary executive positions Cheney trumpted and I’d say civil liberties are looking like a thing of the past. Especially when the very people that have traditionally been watch dogs of this sort of thing, the left wing of the USA, are now applauding the tactics.
Makes me ill.
The only “tactic” I am applauding is the willingness to confront the purveyors of BS before the BS gets out of hand. This is not your Daddy Bush’s (former CIA Director) White House. It’s not a shadow government plotting to undermine dissent. How much more open do they need to be? Are they not allowed to express their differences? At least they’re more polite than the sneering mockers of past admins.
Give the guy a chance. Without that, we’re all screwed.
The new right wing definition of ‘conspiracy’ is evidently ‘pointing out facts accurately’.
Right – Jonnan
I think that it’s funny that the White House acts like a 3 year old when someone says something contrary. Typical behavior for people that have a perpetual 3 year old mind set.
It’s a bankrupt media that’s pushing the attacks on rush unable to command the masses, journalist with big heads and no backbone populate most major news outlets, they have abandoned their readers and principles for politicians who they worship as gods, they have truly become legends in their own minds.