Dems launch anti-Limbaugh petition
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/01/28/art.limbaugh.gi.jpg caption="Democrats are launching a petition against Limbaugh over his recent comments."]
(CNN) - In a bid to capitalize on Rush Limbaugh's recent comment that he hopes President Obama "fails," national Democrats launched a petition drive Wednesday taking direct aim at the conservative radio host.
"Jobs, health care, our place in the world - the stakes for our nation are high and every American needs President Obama to succeed," says the petition, sponsored by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. "Stand strong against Rush Limbaugh's Attacks - sign our petition, telling Rush what you think of his attacks on President Obama."
Limbaugh told listeners last week he sharply disagrees with Republicans who have said they hope Obama succeeds as president, and particularly expressed frustration over what he viewed as the "absorption of as much of the private sector by the US government as possible, from the banking business, to the mortgage industry, the automobile business, to health care."
"If I wanted Obama to succeed, I'd be happy the Republicans have laid down," Limbaugh said. "I hope he fails."
The comment sparked outrage in Democratic circles, while defenders of the remark said it was made purely in the context of Obama's economic polices.
Still, the DCCC petition not only provides an outlet for Democratic anger at Limbaugh, but also serves as a vehicle to gain names and e-mail addresses, presumably for later use in fundraising and organizing efforts.
The petition follows reports Obama warned GOP congressional leaders last week that they should stop listening to the conservative talker, prompting Limbaugh’s response that the new president is "frightened of me."
“He’s obviously more frightened of me than he is [Senate Minority Leader] Mitch McConnell,” Limbaugh told listeners Monday. “He’s more frightened of me, then he is of say, [House Minority Leader] John Boehner, which doesn’t say much about our party.”
I wish he'd just take a pain pill, or ten, and forget how to speak. He and Ann Horseface Coulter should get together, they could create their own little Hitler Coulter-Limbaugh if they wanted.
This is a meaningless gesture against a meaningless radio entertainer. They probably are just trying to get email addresses.
Problem is, Rush isn't alone...many many Republicans also hope he fails, and that the country fails, so they can say "I told you so." How sad.
As a Dem I despise what Rush has to say, but he's entitled to spout his bile without being silenced. First Amendment allows him to do so without government interference. If you remove him, there's a million Hannitys, Becks, and anonymous armchair fascists ready to take his place. They are the one's you need to convince to seek help for their condition.
I think it is shame that these conservative talk hosts get away with what they say. But if you are going to put out a petition against Rush Limbaugh then one for Sean Hannity should be put out also. He is just as bad. Look at the interview he had with Rush last week.
SHAME ON BOTH OF THEM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
OBAMA AND THE DEMOCRATS ARE THORNS TO RUSH. I OFFER A BET TO ANYONE, IF RUSH CAN GO 30 MINS WITHOUT SAYING OBAMA'S NAME OR SAYING SOMETHING ABOUT THE DEMOCRATS, I'LL ASK OBAMA TO SIGN AN EXECUTIVE ORDER MAKING HIM PRESIDENT FOR ONE DAY.
NOW YOU KNOW THAT'S A BET THAT I CAN'T LOOSE. RUSH IS OBBESSED AND PISSED AT OBAMA AND CANT HELP BUT FIND SOMETHING NEGATIVE TO SAY ABOUT "HIS" PRESIDENT.
GO OBAMA!!!!
Ever hear of free speech...anyone? I can name 200 Democrats who hoped that Bush failed and said so in much more dramatic fashion. Taking our right to free speech away...step One towards Communism...good work guys!
El Rushbo is my HERO!!
Give him some drugs and let him drift off into the sunset.
He's an Idiot. Sign me up!
haha
You liberals (and your media) need to read/hear the entire piece. You selectively choose what best applies to your ability (inability) to make a clear argument. Limbaugh's statements did not convey anything anti-American. He just simply doesn't believe the way Obama is pushing a socialist agenda will make our nation stronger. That's his opinion.
Don't forget. Hitler had a plan to make Germany the greatest country the world had ever seen. Did you also buy into the way he was going about it? You had no problem questioning Bush...but now that it's the magical one, you scream out injustice.
Democrats are so two faced, follow a double standard, and such a joke. What about comments made all during Bush's years on every night time talk show, many Hollywood idiots, all the biased network news. NOW, when it is their turn to be targeted they squeal like a stuck pig. Dems and libs are nothing but a big joke!!!!!
Why is it you Republicans all scream about government involvment and "socialism" when it suits your needs? I don't ever hear a Republican complain about government intervention when it comes to gay rights or abortion. I also didn't hear too many Repubs screaming when Bush decided to bail out the banks and their rich benefactors. Deregulation has worked very well with airlines hasn't it? We deregulated it, then the taxpayers footed the bill when they needed a handout.
I hope Rush keeps doing well, because it seams that his success is inversely proportioanal to the success of the republican party. The more he talks, the more tarnished the republican agenda becomes. I wonder how many people have turned away from the republican party, because of him, versus how many people have converted to the republican party because of him?
Newsflash: Nobody said anything about censoring free speech. Where were all the so-called 'patroits' when the last administration destroyed our rights? Had someone said anything like that regarding Bush and Co.'s policies they'd have wound up monitored by the FBI, visited by the Secret Service, made the 'no-fly' list, and tortured in a secret prison somewhere overseas...
I don't consider myself a Rep or a Dem.
With that said, the Dems must be idiots. They are forcing an issue that, by default, will polarize many against them...at a time when their new Prez is seeking an end to polarization.
They must be idiots...
The petition is NOT A GOOD IDEA......us democrats are just paving the way to Bush Limpballs' new salary increase next year!
You hipocrytes, how can you pull the sliver out of your brother's eye without pulling the beam out of your own eye first!! Someone famous said that. How is that for free speech! ha
Now don't get all bent out of shape, I'm just trying to be funny like Rush!
Here comes the 'Thought Police' again. To put this in context, Limbaugh only stated that he hoped Obama's liberal agenda failed. Besides, what will this so called petition accomplish? Or is it merely symbolic? If Republicans had an anti Keith Olbermann/Rachel Maddow petition during the Bush years, the media would have scoffed and accused Republicans of trying to suppress free speech. So my question is: Is dissent still patriotic?
Free speech is the most important right that we have as a free country, even when that speech is spewed out of a foul mouth like Rush's. What is amazing is that anybody who criticized Bush was called unpatriotic, and told that they hate America. Why does this not apply now?
The other thing I would like to say is that ANYONE who saw the whole speech that Rush gave knows that he was NOT referring to his policies, but to the President himself. You can try and defend him in many different ways, but we can all listen to the whole speech, and hear exactly what he said. Rush is a grown man, let him stand behind what he said, not what he wished he said.
End the media bias and put the quote in context..... that of the gov't's socialism policies. I guess liberals are more myopic than I thought .
It's one thing for Rush to have "free" speech but it's quite different when he uses that free speech to promote hate and racism.
I say Rush needs to go. Enough of promoting the division that has hurt this country.
Although i dont agree with Rush Limbaugh...getting a petition going JUST for this is really a sad act. I mean really people, how much time do you have? How important in the "overall picture" is this? As much as I and most others dont like hearing about his thoughts on the new presidency and pretty much anything, he has the right, just as any of us, to speak his mind. If you dont want to hear what he has to say, turn the radio station, close the browser window, and change the channel. We wouldnt want our rights of freedom of speech taken away nor do we have the right to take them away from others just because they are irritating. Some people like him, others don't... live with it.
Oh stop all this belly aching "forgotten Patriots!" It's a freaking petition, not a gag order. It's called free speech. Rush gets his free speech, much to the majority of this country's chagrin. People can petition if they want. If conservatives can 'petition' Disney for what they view are blatantly obvious gay overtones in their movies, I think Democrats are welcome to petition Rush for some not so subtle commentary. This whole thing reeks of Rush looking to prop up his waning base and secure funds to fuel his hate mongering and pill-popping ways.
What a bunch of political grandstanding and one-uppery.
Ann Coulter and Rush are made for each other. I doubt that they believe all the things they make noise about but they have learned people pay to hear them. Rush belongs in jail with the other druggies but having money kept him out. When people quit listening......when people quit reading their articles, they will disappear. I am also aggravated when I have to listen to him on other news shows.
TM
Welcome to the 3rd Reich of Obamanation. Long live Rush!!!!!!!!