(CNN) – A conservative media watchdog group says recent Democratic attacks on Rush Limbaugh may have given a big boost to the talk radio host's ratings.
According to the Media Research Center, stations that carry Limbaugh's day time talk show experienced a "dramatic surge" of listeners in February - the month when congressional Democrats and even President Obama publicly took swipes at the conservative talker.
"President Obama declared war on Rush Limbaugh and his ratings went through the roof," said Media Research Center's Brent Bozell. "If that's not a magnificent backfire, I'm not sure what is."
Democrats have been eager to paint the divisive Limbaugh as the de facto Republican leader, especially after the radio host's controversial statement that he hoped the president's economic policies would fail.
Obama himself warned congressional Democrats in late January that they need to "can't just listen to Rush Limbaugh and get things done."
From CNN Politics
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Just what he was after.....his flock of sheep follow him well.
That is not surprising. These people were never supporters of President Obama anyway. CNN, sometimes you post stupid stuff that are "no brainers". Rush's surge in listeners was just a reason for the freaks to come out of the closet!
LOL....
Keep attacking Limbaugh, Obama. You're only making him MORE popular and richer!!
It's probably just Dems that are revisiting Rush because they forgot how funny he is. After we laugh at him for a while, we'll be able to ignore him again and the ratings will drop. No worries.
Maybe he can be the Republican leader now.
The dems are riding the Titanic; it's only a matter of time before they sink....why? Because the truth always prevails, and the corrupt liberal way of life is going down the tube.
I listen to the windbag isometimes but as a comedy and parody of real journalism!! ...and so believbable as it is from a CONSERVATIVE watchdog group!!
Rush is the TRUTH!!!
The main attraction in a circus also gets more attention with advertisment and the media never hesitates to put limbaugh in
the headlines.
Most people tuned in out of curiosity, wondering what outrageous statements this clown would make next. Most certainly not because
of admiration or respect.
It is incomprehensible to me that so many Americans are interested in his fare. He comes off as a man who is not well.
The president NEVER declared war on Rush, his party did.
Who gives a rat's behind about Rush....
The spike probably came from the republicans in the house.
According to the Media Research Center, stations that carry Limbaugh's day time talk show experienced a "dramatic surge" of listeners in February — the month when congressional Democrats and even President Obama publicly took swipes at the conservative talker.
So we should just take their word for it?
Unless they have Arbitron numbers (radio's version of the Neilsen ratings), I could really care less about the "dramatic surge" to which they're pointing.
If there was a real, documented surge, it was liberal bloggers like me tuning in to hear what the drones would be repeating ad nauseum later that day.
It seems that the Republican Recovery Plan and the Media Research Center have something in common:
Neither one presents any numbers to back up their statements.
A conservative media watch group says that. Yeah sure... l believe his ratings are up. In what world are you people living???
Don't you guys know who the Media Research Center is?
95% of conservatives, myself included, take what Limbaugh says with a grain of salt.
95% of liberals take what he says at face value.
How ironic is that????
Yay, Rush has more klansmen taking the time out of their busy schedules to listen to hime talk for an hour in the afternoon on the radio.
Rush/Palin 20NEVER!
Yawn. Non-issue; of course the ratings would go up because people might hear about it and want to see what the fuss was about. Same thing happened to the View's ratings (if I recall correctly) back when Rosie and The Donald were going at it. I doubt they'll sustain the numbers, unless the Dems keep carping on him.
About we wait for 2010 and 2012 election results before we talk about what backfired and what didn't.
I'm sure most of the people who tuned in to fatflop only did so out of curiosity. That will soon die down.
Any survey by a conservative watchdog group will of course, say that Limbaughs ratings went up! I would expect nothing less! But, people need to realize that his rating numbers are inflated anyway by whomever collects them. The conservative republicans in this country are going to make the numbers come out spectacularly just to show themselves in the best light. They still have an extremely low percentage of listeners compared to the numbers who do not listen to their rantings and ravings.
He's helped out Fox News Channel in much the same way. Thanks, Mr. President!
I bet "Boss" Limbaugh came up with the Republicans new Budget idea. "HA,ha,ha,ha,ha,excuse me ,ha,ha,ha,ha, it was a nice blue folder though,ha,ha,ha,ha,blue folder,ha an empty blue folder,folks these people dont care about you only the lobbist that line their pockets, i call on all Americans to trust in the President & the Democratic party.
Most people in this country don't like Limbaugh. No matter how great the republicans think he is, the guy has made some very controversial statements in the past that he will never live down. He made them, he has to live with the consequences.
Not to be silly, but when I was in J school we were encouraged to ask questions of the opposing side or maybe a 3rd party. Any chance the "conservative media watchdog group" presented actual data? Any response from MoveOn.org or the White House? Is there an independent media monitoring group that can support or refute these statements (especially since there is no data attributed)? If so, none of it seems to be represented here. I know this is a blog, but to post something with no context or follow up at all seems weak.