To start with, I’m sure I’ll get grief for this. The Democrats have instituted a petition against Rush Limbaugh. Their problem is Limbaugh purportedly wants Obama to fail. Therefore the Democrats have issued what essentially is a “call to ostracize” Limbaugh via petition.
That is not all that’s being done so writes Alexander Mooney in his article on CNNPolitics.com.
Mooney writes in his article “Dems launch anti-Limbaugh petition” that Limbaugh hopes that Obama fails. Defenders of Limbaugh say they are taking the comment out of context. Who’s right? The fact is no one is right.
Limbaugh is not smart for making a remark that could be remotely interpreted the way it has been. People will say they disagree with a President’s methods but they don’t come out and say they hope he fails. Rush Limbaugh isn’t the “be all end all” to either the economy or foreign policy
Yet, what are two things that President Obama has done that perhaps could be misconstrued?
He had no business telling the Republicans not to listen to Limbaugh. At best that questions their ability to think for themselves and at its worst it is a veiled threat.
Remember what Obama’s old pastor said. It was way worse than Limbaugh’s uttering’s.
However, the issue that really has me concerned is Obama’s decision to speak to the Muslim world. Perhaps not so much that he spoke to them as he hasn’t identified moves with the American people.
There is if you will forgive me, an aura of pandering real or imagined. I have linked to his radio interview.
I think what I am concerned with is as George Bush had no business single-handedly keeping us at war, Obama has no business taking a position like this when it was such a major issue in the campaign.
If we were to replace Obama’s position with the Muslim nation with a president who, within his first few days of office had this kind of conversation with Israel and was Jewish, there would be consternation-I guarantee it.
President Obama has done a lot of things right since taking office. Some would say that you show your hand completely right out of the gate. Note in the interview how pressure is put on Obama indicating essentially he is running out of time and just “when is he going to get changes made?”
My major concern with Obama during the run for office was his unwillingness to deal with issues directly. He now has told the Republicans to eschew an American citizen who is protected under the rights of this country and has every bit as much right to speak out as anyone else. Good taste is not a prerequisite for freedom of speech
The final comments that Mooney makes however brings things into perspective. While the petition can legally be of none effect, it can be used as a list for fund-raising.
When I was in the insurance business we had to sometimes “buy names” in an effort to keep prospects coming in. This could get very, very expensive. An opportunity to get a list of people that meet a certain criteria is worth its weight in gold.
Reference:
Dems launch anti-Limbaugh petition
http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2009/01/27/politics/politicalhotsheet/entry4754691.shtml