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| VIDEO: Bush v. Rush & Talk Radio |
Now he’s done it; run head on into wingnut radio. Immigration is the topic and it sounds like if talk radio has their way the first person to go would be the leader of the Republican Party.
Brit Hume summed it up succinctly.
“It was spectacularly stupid. … .. “To have him out saying things
that insult important elemetns of his conservative base is about as dumb as
it gets.” – Brit Hume, Fox “News” Sunday
The headline below is more than a little amusing. Immigration “tests G.O.P.
base”? That’s putting it mildly.
This week, after Mr. Bush’s suggestion that those opposing the Congressional
plan “don’t want to do what’s right for America” inflamed
conservative passions, Rush Limbaugh told listeners, “I just wish he
hadn’t done it because he’s not going to lose me on Iraq, and
he’s not going to lose me on national security.” He added, “But
he might lose some of you.”Such sentiments have reverberated through talk radio, conservative publications
like National Review and Fox News. They have also appeared on Web sites including
RedState.com and FreeRepublic.com, where postings reflect a feeling that Mr.
Bush is smiting his own coalition in pursuit of a badly needed domestic accomplishment,
and working in league with the likes of Senator Edward M. Kennedy, a co-author
of the legislation. … ..
For once Brit Hume is right. At 28% approval, depending on the poll and the day, taking on your base is as dumb
as it gets. When that base has a microphone and syndication it only makes matters worse.
Yet the most rancorous insults aimed Bush’s way these days come not from traditional liberals like Cohen, fringe leftists like O’Donnell and Belafonte or even sore losers like Gore.
They come from sore losers on the right who don’t buy Bush’s pitch that the immigration bill upholds conservative ideals. Bush responded Tuesday: “It’s not an amnesty bill. That’s empty political rhetoric, trying to frighten our fellow citizens.”
Laura Ingraham, conservative radio talk-show host, fired back Wednesday: “You know what ‘empty political rhetoric’ is?” Her audience then heard Bush say, “Family values do not stop at the Rio Grande River,” and then heard her say, “That’s ‘empty political rhetoric.’”
The Republican base is all Bush has got left. They’re the ones keeping him afloat. If he loses them it’s no telling what
could happen next.
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