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.”
Rush is a popous jerk and just an entertainer (for those that like this stuff) Acknowledging him in any fashion only adds ligitamacy to his cause.
It takes a special kind of lowlife to divide the country and willfully mislead undereducated folks into voting against their best interests by pushing their emotional hot buttons for decade upon decade.
To wish failure on a country with tens upon tens of millions of Americans suffering , more by the moment all while he's filling up on bonbons in Palm Beach in between Dominican Republic bimbo runs without a care in the world.... Words fail.
What can you say when "scumbag" doesn't quite cut it.
Everytime you think Rush Limbaugh has hit rock bottom he promptly pulls out a shovel and starts to dig.
Rush Limbaugh is a drug addict. Plain and simple!
Rush Limbaugh is an IDIOT.....
why don't you forget about "Moderation" and concentrate on informative reporting?
Rush Limbaugh is nothing but a big blow-hard. I think recognizing his importance by circulating a petition that has anything to do with him is a mistake because it gives him credibility and brings him publicity which results in more listeners. We all should ignore this idiot and eventually he will disappear. Also, for the same reasons, I think President Obama should refrain from mentioning Limbaugh's name.
Maybe we should change the first ammendment in the constitution. But then you'd need people to actually read the constitution.
Can I sign this petition? I'd love to stick it Limbaugh's face. Does he honestly think anyone is scare of him?
Alright, let's write donw some notes and tell him, he's being watched...
I wish that I had a dollar for every time that I've said to someone, "I hope that you're right, but I don't think so." You see, I can disagree with other people's optimistic view of a situation without wishing them (or me) ill-fortune.
But I guess that Rush is so enamored of his ideology that he would rather see America in ruins that to be proven wrong.
I was a lifelong Republican until I worked in an office where my employer listened to Rush Limbaugh every day. After being exposed to Limbaugh's special brand of hostility and hypocrisy, I completely rethought my politics and have been a Democrat ever since.
This isn't a game. If President Obama fails, we're all going down with him. All of us, except maybe right-wing commentators, who will still have a job spewing bile and proclaiming, I was right, told you so. Seems like Rush may have a vested interest in the failure of this president. For him, it's job security.
Is Rush Limbaugh even relevant anymore?
What you fail to point out were the qualifiers Limbaugh made to his remarks during the interview. He hopes Obama fails to enact widespread socialist policies, carrying these policies even further than George Bush's initial foray into socialism. And I dare say, all or almost all conservatives hope that Obama is unsuccessfull in enacting liberal social policies that fly in the face of Christianity.
Since when could free political speech be petitioned against and suppressed in this country? Do the demoncrats really want to go down that road?
Limbaugh is kind of one of.... rush the brainless ... i believe its good not to give a place for ppl like him and focus on the job that need to be done with the right ppl...
It's always dangerous to restrict freedom of speech. Even when the speech at stake is as despicable as it is in this case. Putting up with idiotic opinions is a necessary evil in a real democratic society. By trying to silence him, the democrats are just taking the bait of a clever political scheme.
As a conervative I am apalled that the president has the gall to tell people not to listen to talk shows. What ever you want to say about bush he never said do not listen to liberal talk show host if you want things to get done here.
Last time I checked this was still a free country. If you are not pro-Obama, it appears that you may not speak.
Where do I sign? Boycott any and all business and stations that advertise on his show.
Excuse me. Aren't we still a free country with freedom of speech. Is there only one voice now. The voice of power. Wasn't our country founded on many voices. When you silence opposition, you're on the road to fascism.
America would be a lot smarter without Rush Limbaugh.
Where's the petition, I would love to sign it. This guy is the biggest blow hard, I don't know why anyone listens to him. How he has any credibiltiy in his party after his drug related problems is amazing. I guess that shows just how desperate the gop is these days.
Oh boo hoo. How many liberal democrats wanted Bush to fail and fail miserably? I'm guessing 100% of you. If you cannot take the heat, then get out of the kitchen. Don't dish it out if you cannot handle anything in return.
I have felt for years that Rush Limbaugh could improve his personality 100% if he had his tongue cut out.
Obama will be the end of America. He is killing us as we follow him blindly.
Rush Limbaugh is an uneducated idiot. Good that the Democratic Party is retaliating.