I find the controversy with Rush Limbaugh and President Obama to be ridiculous. All sides are wrong on this. First, President Obama is wrong to allow his staff to focus the public's attention on this. Rush is wrong because his statements opposing the President's policies are too broad. Republicans are wrong for not speaking their minds on the issues when Rush calls them out. None of this is really helping the current situation.
Commentators are starting to point out that President Obama's staff are wrong for focusing the public's attention on the controversy with Rush Limbaugh when there are more important issues - like the economy and health care. Ari Fleischer, former Press Secretary under President Bush, also challenged President Obama on the fact that he has repeatedly said - during the campaign and during his inaugural address - that his Administration would put politics aside. Yet his staff's focusing attention on Rush Limbaugh and the Republicans is completely the opposite.
Rush Limbaugh is guilty of generalizations. He has made it clear that he opposes the policies of President Obama. However, is Rush making it clear which policies these are? Dramatic increases in spending, increases in taxes, expansion of government -- generally I'm with Rush on those. On the other hand, President Obama recently announced he will reform the Government procurement process. Also, during the last election, President Obama said he will oppose earmarks. Does Rush oppose these policies of the President? One hopes not - now perhaps Rush will say he does not think Pres. Obama will succeed with these, and certainly the President's war on earmarks sounded an early retreat when a budget bill with 9000 of them made it's way through the House. But that is not the same as saying one wants the President's stated policies to fail.
Republicans need to think more clearly before the comment on Rush's positions but when they do, they need to stand up for what they say. Rush represents rather extreme positions at times. There is nothing wrong with doing as John McCain did when he agreed with President Obama's decision to remove combat troops from Iraq by next year. There will be other occasions when it makes sense for Republicans to agree with the President. The recent incidents where a Republican Congressman and the Chairman of the Party disagreed with Rush Limbaugh and seemed to back down from their positions were embarassing. Neither of them should have spoken up but if they are going to, then they should stand up for what they say and not back away.
All of the above notwithstanding, the Republicans, Democrats, President Obama, Rush Limbaugh, and the media have more important things to focus on that spats with Rush. The pettiness needs to be put aside and disagreements saved for issues where it matters.
Commentators are starting to point out that President Obama's staff are wrong for focusing the public's attention on the controversy with Rush Limbaugh when there are more important issues - like the economy and health care. Ari Fleischer, former Press Secretary under President Bush, also challenged President Obama on the fact that he has repeatedly said - during the campaign and during his inaugural address - that his Administration would put politics aside. Yet his staff's focusing attention on Rush Limbaugh and the Republicans is completely the opposite.
Rush Limbaugh is guilty of generalizations. He has made it clear that he opposes the policies of President Obama. However, is Rush making it clear which policies these are? Dramatic increases in spending, increases in taxes, expansion of government -- generally I'm with Rush on those. On the other hand, President Obama recently announced he will reform the Government procurement process. Also, during the last election, President Obama said he will oppose earmarks. Does Rush oppose these policies of the President? One hopes not - now perhaps Rush will say he does not think Pres. Obama will succeed with these, and certainly the President's war on earmarks sounded an early retreat when a budget bill with 9000 of them made it's way through the House. But that is not the same as saying one wants the President's stated policies to fail.
Republicans need to think more clearly before the comment on Rush's positions but when they do, they need to stand up for what they say. Rush represents rather extreme positions at times. There is nothing wrong with doing as John McCain did when he agreed with President Obama's decision to remove combat troops from Iraq by next year. There will be other occasions when it makes sense for Republicans to agree with the President. The recent incidents where a Republican Congressman and the Chairman of the Party disagreed with Rush Limbaugh and seemed to back down from their positions were embarassing. Neither of them should have spoken up but if they are going to, then they should stand up for what they say and not back away.
All of the above notwithstanding, the Republicans, Democrats, President Obama, Rush Limbaugh, and the media have more important things to focus on that spats with Rush. The pettiness needs to be put aside and disagreements saved for issues where it matters.
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