Two days after calling Rush Limbaugh a mere "entertainer" with an "incendiary" talk show, Republican National Committee chairman Michael Steele apologized and acknowledged the radio commentator as a "national conservative leader."
Limbaugh dares Obama: 'Debate me'
by Mark Silva
Rush Limbaugh, the radioactive Republican, has a dare for Barack Obama, the president:
"Debate me.''
Days into the debate over Limbaugh's stated desire for the failure of Obama's economic agenda, the radio commentator says he is tired of the "odious', empty, nasty"' people in the White House who are targeting him and attempting to make him the de facto spokesman for the Republican Party. That includes "ballerina'' Rahm Emanuel, he says.
"I have an idea,'' Limbaugh (pictured in an photo by Ron Edmonds) said today. "If these guys are so impressed with themselves, and if they are so sure of their correctness, why doesn't President Obama come on my show? We will do a one-on-one debate of ideas and policies... ''
But the White House has its own word on "engaging'' Limbaugh and the likes, those "cable-chatter'' critics. "It may be counterproductive -- I'll give you that,'' White House press secretary Robert Gibbs (pictured at left by the 's Gerald Herbert) said today. "Look, I -- are there days in which I just turn my television off? Yes.''
"Listen to the radio,'' someone suggested.
"I wish I had a radio,'' Gibbs said. "I don't. Maybe I should just hook my iPod up.''
But some of the 12 million people who do have radios and comprise Limbaugh's listening audience may have heard this today:
"I am offering President Obama to come on this program -- without staffers, without a TelePrompTer, without note cards -- to debate me on the issues. Let's talk about free markets versus government control. Let's talk about nationalizing health care and raising taxes on small business...
"Let's talk about the New Deal versus Reaganomics,'' Limbaugh said today. "Let's talk about closing Guantanamo Bay, and let's talk about sending $900 million to Hamas. Let's talk about illegal immigration and the lawlessness on the borders. Let's talk about massive deficits and the destroying of opportunities of future generations...
" The president yesterday suggested "we're getting to the point where profits and earnings ratios are approaching that point where you want to invest." Uh, Mr. President? There is no "profits and earnings" ratio. It's "price and earnings" ratio. He's the president of the United States. He doesn't know anything about the stock market. He's admitted it before. Let's talk about it anyway.
"Just come on this program,'' Limbaugh says to Obama. "Let's have a little debate...
" You've debated the best! You've debated Hillary Clinton. You've debated John Edwards. You've debated Joe Biden. You've debated Dennis Kucinich. You've debated the best out there. You are one of the most gifted public speakers of our age. I would think, Mr. President, you would jump at this opportunity.
"Don't send lightweights like Begala and Carville to do your bidding -- and forget about the ballerina, Emanuel. He's got things to do in his office. These people, compared to you, Mr. President, are rhetorical chum.''
This is what Gibbs had to say about "engaging'' Limbaugh and the like today:
From the White House press briefing today:
Q The Republicans are -- are criticizing the White House for engaging in the Rush Limbaugh issue. I wanted to raise a somewhat separate issue on this as well, because --
MR. GIBBS: Don't engage me because then we'll get criticized.
Q (Laughs.) Well, you and the president have used the term "cable chatter" a lot. You guys have kind of derided that. You've also said -- I've heard administration officials deride sort of superficial, food-fight political reporting. But you've repeated engaged from the podium here with CNBC reporters as well as Rush Limbaugh, which seems to feed that very process you're criticizing. Seems a little hypocritical.
MR. GIBBS: It may be counterproductive. (Laughs, laughter.) I'll give you that.
Look, I -- are there days in which I just turn my television off? Yes. (Laughs.)
Q Listen to the radio. (Laughter.)
MR. GIBBS: I wish I had a radio. I don't. (Laughter.) Maybe I should just hook my iPod up.
Look, there are -- there are days in which, yeah, your head throbs from listening to arguments that aren't necessarily centered on delving into some important issue, but finding two people at completely opposite ends of the spectrum to yell loudest in a seven- minute segment before we go on to something else.
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