Ridge takes aim at Limbaugh
(CNN) - Pennsylvania Republican Tom Ridge is taking direct aim at Rush Limbaugh, telling CNN's John King the conservative talk radio host can be "shrill" and uses language in a way "that offend very many."
"Rush Limbaugh has an audience of 20 million people. A lot of people listen daily to him and live by every word. But words mean things and how you use words is very important," Ridge, the former Homeland Security Secretary under President Bush, said during an interview airing Sunday on CNN's State of The Union.
"It does get the base all fired up and he's got a strong following," Ridge continued. "But personally, if he would listen to me and I doubt if he would, the notion is express yourself but let's respect others opinions and let's not be divisive."
The comments come in the wake of a war of words between Limbaugh and Colin Powell, during which the former secretary of state suggested the GOP's future was in peril if it went in the direction of the popular radio talker. Limbaugh quickly hit back, proclaiming Powell is part of the "stale, the old, the worn-out GOP that never won anything."
But in the interview with CNN, Ridge said the GOP infighting should instead be directed toward Democrats who hold fundamental disagreements.
"I think for the American public, for the Republican Party to restore itself, not as a regional party, but as a national party, we have to be far less judgmental about disagreements within the party and far more judgmental about our disagreement with our friends on the other side of the aisle," he said.
The onetime Pennsylvania governor who ruled out a Senate bid earlier this month also called for an end to personal attacks.
"Let's lead our party based on some principles that have been very much a part of who we are for decades. And let's be less shrill in terms of - and particularly, let's not attack other individuals. Let's attack their ideas," said Ridge.
(This post has been edited to correct a transcription error)
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For Limbaugh, of course, this is all about ratings for his radio show. This is the same strategy followed by Ann Coulter to boost her book sales. The more outrageous their statements become, the higher their net income climbs.
Appeals to reason are not likely to outweigh the siren song of cold, sweet cash. A man (or woman) will do pretty much anything for a hundred million dollars.
It is about time that someone, outside me, holds Rush accountable for his rude, self-centered, self-absorbed comments. Rush Limbwrist needs a good beat down not only by fellow conservatives but needs to be put in his place my patient and middle of the road Americans like me.
twitter.com/gregmcclain
Ridge is the second reasonable human being from the GOP to appear on TV. Colin Powell is the other.
Finally a voice of reason.Not sure how far it's going to go,you have offended the Rush and the Chaney.The brothers in crime,err the good o'l boys club.
So he will be apologizing to Limbaugh tomorrow i take it?
Careful there Tommy boy, you'll be the next target of that large, mean mouthed fat guy and you'll have to crawl back to beg forgiveness..
The apology countdown begins NOW.
Why don't we send the detainees to iraq?
Why are we still listening to Dick Cheney? He is no longer relevant to our Country.
"Let's attack their ideas," said Ridge."
Well, I guess that's the next best thing to actually having an idea of your own.
Tom Ridge do you not understand Limbaugh is a dopehead. He doesn't even know what he says. Furthermore all the Americans that listen to him are dopeys. I certainly didn't know we had that many people in america stupid enough to tune into an old country outhouse to listen to a bunch of crap.
It's good to hear that more and more people in the Republican Party are beginning to be the voices of reason. Limbaugh may have 20 million listeners, but in a national election 20 million votes won't even get you close to winning. The Republican Party that Limbaugh wants is a party of hate, divisiveness and bigotry, and frankly, appalling stupidity. This country is better than that. Tom Ridge is the kind of Republican we need. He is intelligent, thoughtful, and though he is a conservative, he is willing to work with the Democrats to find common ground. This is truly what the vast majority of Americans want. Let's hope that more and more moderate Republicans begin to drown out the nastiness of buffoons like Limbaugh, and the Republican Party returns to its REAL values of thoughtful conservativism.
By Wednesday Ridge will be issuing a grovelling apology to the fat pill-popping gasbag.
Nice try CNN, but you can't drive a wedge. Try slapping the "Iran's Michelle Obama..." story on the ticker.....it's amazing how you've propped up the obamkins around the world, and then once other countries actually meet them, and get "dissed," by them (i.e, DVDs, an iPod with his own speeches on it)...they really discover how far the US has sunk...so..go ahead and splash your anti-conservative rhetoric...your popularity is dwlndling just like the dems in congress....I long for the day when the next white house press corp excludes CNN, similar to its treatment of the National Enquirer..
Ridge, put on your dress, high heels and makeup.
I am a very proud Democrat, nevertheless, I believe very strongly in the two party system. Limbaugh, Rove, Cheney, Ann Coulter, Laura Ingraham et al are not serving the best interests of the Republican
party by their self righteous nastiness.
If the ideas coming out of the Republican Party are anything like their health care bill, which the media has completely ignored and would raise the amount people will pay and does nothing for the uninsured, they need to do more than attack other people's ideas.
They need to actually present ideas that will benefit the middle class taxpayers who are the engine of the economy.
Some of Rush's listeners are dems....just listening to hear what he is saying.....I listen to him because I have many republican friends and relatives and I need to know what he's saying .... then I won't be shocked at what they say and think.....arming myself....so to speak......their talking points are his talkings.....oh yes.....ditto heads....
WOw, Greg McClain! I feel you on that. Im no GOP, but I love constructive criticism and when you disagree you say more than NO, but offer an alternative solution. Mr. Ridge, Mr. Powell, and a few other GOP get the picture. Its time to stop playing victim-when you had Congress for 12 years nearly and the white house for 8- Frankly, I HATE Limbaugh, and I dont generally hate people. But this man is filled with hate, along with Hannity, and Cantor.
I love how it's only the liberals that leave comments here. And naturally the liberals can only leave comments of themselves of hate and being mean.
Remember Limbaugh ,you get a lot more with honey than vinegar!If you talked like that about Bush and his cohorts like now you'd been blackballed by BUSH's FCC buddies!He'd have your mouth washed out with soap
Ridge means well, but if, like a lot of libs, he thinks 20 million people are insignificant, wait until the next election. This "super base" will be the engine that drives the socialists out. Obama should take an oratorical break and look over his shoulder.......the twittering classes are dropping off.
I am really disappointed/ashamed at the statements coming from the former Bush Admin. We had concentration camps/interrogation camps in Europe (still have) my father was an intellectual and went thru water boarding (accepted later as torture) though now seen again as an aceptable way of gaining information. Of course some of these detainees should be there. My Father could not walk 4 3 years or stay in a bathroom with running water for a great deal longer. He was not a communist or such. I get really worried when I hear this nationalistic stuff being broadcast on CNN. Bush i.e. Cheyney etc. -Guantnemo is vital forsecurity. Just sounds very nationalistic to me.US citizens do not und3erstand where Europe/asia et al is at .were not and still are not here in Europe. I applaud B. Obamya for doing everything he can to bridge the knowledge gap.
Cue the apology from Ridge to the Leader of the GOP in three, two, one...
That's entertainment!!!!!!!!!!
@Sam I Am –
Your statement is incorrect; the vast majority of Americans, (True Americans that is) don't long to work with and compromise with the radical liberal congress. The vast majority of Americans are center-right, not center-left. Any statistical poll that's worth its salt (this automatically excludes CNN/Research polls of 1010 democrats sucking on entitlement teets) will reveal that Americans are truly shocked at the depths corruption went to, to elect such a fraud.
Conservatism and the free market are what made this country great; not the socialistic tendencies that OBama's trying to instill. No, everyone doesn't have a "Right," to a piece of the pie; especially someone else's pie. Under OBama we've already seen charitable donations decrease, unemployment increase, taxes increase, crime increase, foreclosures increase, racism increase,
All things bad lead to Obama, all things good will lead to the road to conservatism and the free market...not saying republican; but conservatism. Good example recently, some conservative dems voted for the CC bill which included the gun measure. That will be pivotal for two reasons; they're sick of Obama's lying games and they want Pelosi gone...