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GOP Leader Takes on Limbaugh
Is a Republican leader actually standing up to Rush Limbaugh or is another apology inevitable? Rep. Eric Cantor (R-VA), the only Jewish Republican member of Congress, went after the conservative radio giant in an interview with Bloomberg News for comparing President Obama to Adolf Hitler, who Limbaugh said in a recent broadcast "also ruled by dictate." Said Cantor: "Do I condone the mention of Hitler in any discussion about politics? No, I don't, because obviously that is something that conjures up images that frankly are not, I think, very helpful." A spokesman for Cantor also decried a poster at an anti-health-care rally attended by Republican leaders in Washington earlier this week, which graphically compared Holocaust victims to Americans under Democrats' health-care plan. Previous Republican leaders who have criticized Limbaugh for going too far, most notably RNC Chairman Michael Steele, have apologized to the radio host within days.
slmpirate
Wow those are really harsh words " I dont condone" instead of "I condemn" what a passive agressive milbatoast Eric Cantor is.. How do you straddle that fence Eric?
He has always reminds me of a more refined version of Dan Quayle. Not so bright....
I can understand why the conservatives like Rush. may not agree with what he says, but at least he says it (tongue in cheek) with conviction
Cantor will be the next apologizing to Rush....tic-toc, tic-toc, he has 24 hours..
BipartisanCurious
Agree strongly with your first paragraph----Cantor's statement comes across like a wet noodle. The crazies that are trying to conjure up images of the Holocaust in current political debate are irresponsible Americans and should be harshly chastised.
Are you allowed to fire a guy who holds up a holocaust health care sign if you're his boss? You know, for being a general douche.
Quietplease
Bravery: I don't condone the movie "Men Who Stare at Goats". I don't condone Jay Leno's last show. I don't condone Sarah Palin's new book. I am taking this brave stand because I haven't seen the movie or the show and the book isn't out yet. They might be good, they might be bad, but I am bravely proclaiming that I have no firm leanings one way or another. And Eric Cantor is equally brave. He is aperson to be celebrated. Can I get an "Amen Brother"?
slmpirate
LOL...... Amen Brother!
hfb1053
What on earth is wrong with you? Rush is held in such high esteem that he can make people apologise to him just for speaking their opinion. And he is such a hateful person but he has a lot of power. There is nothing wrong with what Eric Cantor said. He doesn't condone Rush Limbaugh's portrayal of Obama. Should he have threatened him? That's what your posts suggest. Maybe he should have pistol whipped him (my personal favorite). Instead, he took a reasoned and educated approach and didn't sink to the level of the Rush Limbaughs in the world (include yourselves here).
slmpirate
hfb..
No he should not have threatened him. He should have said that he "condemns" any and all hate speach. He did not have to single out Rush, Glenn Beck, Move-On DailyKos or anyone else... By taking the panzy way out (reasoned and educated approach, as you put it ) he tacitly condones hate speach. It's the wink wink effect..
Condone definition:
To overlook, forgive, or disregard (an offense) without protest or censure.
Codemn definition:
To express strong disapproval of:
madame48
when will people stand up and say STOP ? We are seeing this country get more and more polarized that will only lead to eventual violence. I saw the guy with the gun at the Portsmouth speech( water the tree...with blood" reference) they people talking about armed insurrection and spilling blood. Has this country gone mad? The hate, vitriol and lies people spread to gain for themselves will damage this country in the end. I think we will see more bloodshed if things don't change. And those who are silent are just as much to blame as those who fan the flames. As the families of those police officers in Pittsburg. Fear will make people do things they wouldn't do in saner times. sad.
slmpirate
A large part of our society thrives on the 24 hour "News?? cycle". Terror, Fear, and Confusion SELLS!!
Rush just happens to be the most adept at manipulating/exploiting and promoting these visceral emotions in his listening audience. Oh.....and along the way has learned how to make LOTS of money.
newswoman
I suspect Rush doesn't really care about the stuff he talks about on his radio show. He is an 'entertainer' who is supposed to be controversial because it brings in the money. And he does that. He knows there are racists out there in radioland who don't like Obama so he plays up that aspect and puts Obama down every chance he gets. Beck does the same on Faux News. It's called "ShowBiz". Oh, yeah, and hate speech.
jaydeekay
news...
You are 100% correct about Limbaugh and his 'beliefs.'
It's his job to make controversy... and his followers eat it up.
slmpirate
I agree newswoman.. I view Rush and Beck as entertainers. I have and often listen to them both. They are over the top on many domestic and international issues and that makes then controversial. Controversy brings in viewers which makes money for Rush and Fox.
hfb1053
And the very fact that you mentioned LOTS of money tells me that is what matters. Not right or wrong....just LOTS of money. And then you have the nerve to decry the behavior of anyone else. Where did you get your morals and your ethics...out of a cereal box?
slmpirate
hfb.. You have all the right in the world to interpret what I am posting in your own twisted sanctimonious way.
Lots of money is what motivates Rush and Beck.
Is it moraly reprehensible? Sure it is.
Do I feel compeled to draw attention to their specific nastiness everytime I post?NO Wouldnt that be redundant?
I think you are reading far to much into what I am writing and you should back away and reconsider your self righteous post.
Perhaps before going off on your rants and working off your own myopic assumptions, you should ask in a reasoned tone..Hey slmpirate, that disturbs me what are you saying?
ThinkAgain
You mean like the leftwing trying to scare you about Rush and Beck and religion etc.
There's plenty of hate and fear spewed by the left, they just use different forums. Moveon and DailyKos used the Hitler thing on a regular basis with Bush so don't pretend that this is one sided and you're on the good side.
slmpirate
I was pointing out the reality of why Rush is THE most succesful and how the whole system works. I personally dont buy into either right or left marginalizing tactics..You clearly do...
Aranxa
Bush actually killed people, a lot of people. Any Hitler reference is offensive when not speaking of genocide, but Bush comes a lot closer.
manticore1223
Pretty much any reference comparing your opponent to nazi's or hitler is concession of the argument, in my opinion. It's mental laziness.
Dreamer4Ever
"Move On and the Daily Kos used the hitler thing on a daily basis."
Flat-out not true.
ThinkAgain
Not daily basis, regular basis. Do you need proof? I believe we have some archives that we can pull up if you need to refresh your memory?
hfb1053
slm - your response to thinkagain is so typical of your kind. You turn the question back on the questioner and accuse them of the very thing you're guilty of; in this case it would be hate speech. I think we all know "how the whole system works" and don't need a person of your low ethics to point it out.
slmpirate
hfb,
I dont see anything I posted that referred to hate speach.. Think began to draw a line of distinction between my position and his. As if he actually knew my position..
As to my ethics, I am really impressed that you can discern my ethics from a few post. You must be a genious!
irsslex
Exactly correct and well said. This looks like Germany in the 1920s and 30s. We are all Good Germans if we say and do nothing about the people whose vitriol spreads like wildfire and which cannot help but cause the whack-jobs (remember Timothy McVeigh?) to come crawling out from under the rocks where they live and do violence. I'm as big a fan of the first amendment, but with freedom comes responsibility. Eric Cantor's wimpy statement is just reflective of how normal people in the Republican Party have to kowtow to the nutbag wing of that party, the party of nothing.
hfb1053
I think you're painting Eric Cantor with the wrong brush. Of course, you can believe anything you like regardless of whether it is reasonable, true, hateful, etc. But convincing yourself of the accuracy of your remark is considerably different than convincing people who think and are reasonable. If Mr Cantor had ranted about how bad Rush is, then everyone would have come down on him for that.
slmpirate
So hfb, It's OK for Mr Cantor to not take a moral stance against Rush, but those of us on DB dont get the same pass..Where did you get your morals and ethics... Out of cereal box?
redstatebluedude
Oh yeah .. this morning Rush is polishing up a nice spot on his ample posterior for Eric's lips.
co-intheknow
Cantor - what a waste of skin. He's such an enuch and fraidy cat of Rush that his 'take on' of Rush is more like a not-so-sternly worded rebuke, without the rebuke part.
Another republic pussy who's afraid of the big fat jackass who runs the republics - Oxy Rush.
ThinkAgain
What are you, about 10? That's about the age when most people get over appreciating clever name calling. Grow up and maybe someone will give a damn what you think.
co-intheknow
WFT - are you blowing Cantor and Rush?
Cantor's another emasculated republic who's too damn afraid to stand up for his religion and face the wrath and scorn of OxyRush.
Your just another unenlightened rightie that postures for the party, another of the braying herd of idiots. And obviously you gave a damn - you're the asshole who responded to my post, dumbass.
ThinkAgain
I'm sure your sophomoric name calling is considered "enlightened" among your liberal co-horts but once you get out of that tiny demographic it's recognized as a sign of an immature mind.
hfb1053
co- while you on the other hand are erudite, well spoken, polite, and reasonable.
co-intheknow
I'm plenty reasonable, hfb. But I have to laugh at the gutless 'take on' of Rush in Cantor's word. He's unable or unwilling to condem all of the garbage displayed during the Bachmann "press conference".
I stand by my remarks about Cantor since he's shown he's too chickenshit to take a firm stance against signs and slogans that clearly disparage his religion. If he can't stand up for himself and the religion in which he was raised and still practices today, then he's the ball-less wonder that I thought him to be; his spokesperson gave a more condemning response than Cantor did himself.
Flame me all you want - I call 'em as I see 'em and I see a pussy, or whipped republic, if that helps your tender sensibilities, who's afraid to stand up to or speak out against the bloviating gas-bag that is Rush.
MaliciousDisorder
What a fool Cantor is turning out to be. He's playing up to the bs hype from the msm that a big tent is needed. Only principal Eric, not bs.
nortonclybourn
And only screamers, not voters. Good luck with that.
slmpirate
You know what is surpring.... We all agree Lib's, Moderates and Conservatives that Our elected officials are tools, our government is a mess, we have multiple internal and external threats to our constitutional rights. We just cant agree on how to fix it.
What I call moral conviction you might call radical socialism. Could it not be something in between?
There doesnt seem to be any forum for rational debate. I see no value in promoting a cause with marginalizing our opponents via scare tactics and misinformation.
EtienneEtoile
But remember, ours is the best political system in the world, we have the best health care system in the world, we have the best insurance companies in the world, we have the best banks in the world.
Now remove any influence from lobbyists (make lobbying illegal) strip corporations of their human rights and it would be even better.
estcruzer
when did corporations get the vote (ask the Republican leadership)?
AlanD2
Rational debate, slmpirate? This is the DB!
slmpirate
Thanks for the reality check AlanD2..My bad...
angels81
I agree with you 100%. I think you folks should keep working to have the smallest tent you can get. Its a great idea that you stick to your, all white guy party of teabaggers and let the rest of the country go about doing what needs to be done. That way you guys can stand on the sidelines and rant and rave to your hearts content.
ThinkAgain
The smallest group of all are the hard core liberals. Look who is trying like crazy to force their ideas on the democrats agenda in Wa. Indepedents are running in droves away from the democrats because of that.
Maybe you should pay a little attention to your own tent!
estcruzer
by definition? Is it the "hard core liberals" that tromped McCain and elected a black man as president - or was it the rest of us - 53% minority that we are - that gave Obama his charter to get this country back on track?
Hippievet
@ThinkAgain,
First, can you see into my tent?
When you do; do you see a democrat? Or a liberal? Because I feel comfortable estimating that 95% of all liberals are democrat, and I'm both.
At this point in the history of the "Conservative" party... NONE of them are republican.
AlanD2
ThinkAgain: I think we're doing fine, thank you. Our tent is a bit bigger than yours:
43% Democrat or lean Democrat
17% Independent
31% Republican or lean Republican
From the latest NBC News/Wall Street Journal Survey [10/25/09]:
http://online.wsj.com/public/resources/documents/wsjnbc-10272009.pdf
ThinkAgain
estcruzer - the problem is that he hasn't gotten it back on track, he's digging a bigger hole for us to get our of.
EtienneEtoile
Treat him as a Somali adulterer! How dare he criticize Rush!
And did anyone catch Jon Stewart's parody of Beck the other night, sinful just sinful!
These criticisms of the Republican Guard must stop immediately!
estcruzer
why?
jaydeekay
The Daily Show skit on Beck was GENIUS.
Aranxa
It was absolute genius. I laughed out loud, and I was watching it alone!
jaydeekay
LOL... the TRUE sign of comedic cleverness!
Dreamer4Ever
SHAME ON YOU JON STEWART. Now w
CosmoKramer
Cantor will get his name in the news twice in one week. I would imagine that is more than normal for him. The first time for making a very weak comment and the second time when he appears on that radio show to kiss the fat mans ass.
I have yet to figure out why everyone is so afraid of offending limbaugh. The only rational explanation is that they are truly a bunch of pussies.
clearthinker
No way...more stories about Rush Limbaugh. Isn't there a negative story around here about Sarah Palin too? No way. How predictable. These two really piss Tina off.
estcruzer
riding the coattails...
nortonclybourn
They're both freakshow guilty pleasures, like watching people eat bugs on "reality" TV. Just because people like to watch doesn't mean that they take it seriously.
AlanD2
A negative story around here about Sarah Palin? No way! We liberals love Sarah.
Palin for President in 2012 - the Democratic dream!
johnie2xs
I find myself torn between the elation, brought on by knowing the damage that will be wrought upon the Rethuglican Party for having let this grotesque genie out of its bottle, and the damage it is ultimately doing to our country.
The posturing and behavior of this low-information rabble is bad enough, but when it is further fostered by the hyperbolic
intonations of a major political party which seems to be totally devoid of ideas, and whose only stance is to say "No", to anything and everything put forward by the President and his administration, we have a government machine, which at best, is spinning its wheels, if not sliding backward.
Cantor is just one of many on the Rethuglican side of the aisle, whose name could be put in contention for the distinction of being one of the king pins, in what may end up being considered by history, a deliberate slow boil coup d'etat,
for the singular purpose of bringing down The President, and his dully elected government, at the behest of a run amok party and its Monotheistic Domionist supporters.
Unless, and until, these treasonous, duplicitous, subversives to our Democratic system of government are outed and shown to the world, as to what they really are, and intend, our situation will not only not progress from the morass we are in, but will be destroyed. IMHO
Oh yeah, by the way. Cantor will be on his
knees to Rush, by Monday evening, the latest.
EtienneEtoile
Will he bring his kneepads?
johnie2xs
He'll just bring a copy of the Rethuglicans Health-Care Bill,and kneel on it.
If that's not enough (which it's not), he'll put their Budget Bill atop it.
AlanD2
I think that in the current Limbaugh idiom, Cantor will bend over and grasp his ankles. Gross...
cstrehl
If you in fact did/could remove all of the "Treasonous, duplicitous, subversives to our Democratic system of government", there would not be anyone left in Washington DC period, and there would not be much of the Media left either... Not that I would complain if it were to happen... But to suggest that either party cares more or even as much about the country or our constitution than they do about themselves, would just be furthering the ignorance of our current reality...
johnie2xs
You have a point that is basically hard to argue with, but you would be hard pressed to show where, in this single-minded assault by the Rethuglicans, can be found an iota of concern for anything other than themselves and their corporate, and lobbying,masters. Sen Coburn, for example, recently held up a bill in the Senate, anonymously (which is perfectly legal, if not devious), that would have benefited our military and their families, in order to push an amendment to further excoriate ACORN, it's red herring dejour.
Lobbying, and the inordinately unfair influence of corporations in this country, is a scourge both parties have to answer for, I agree. But their influence is more egregiously effective amongst Rethuglicans than Democrats. I'm sure you may not agree with that, but if you were to look at their influence honestly, through time, I think you would see that I am right.
estcruzer
I beg to differ - there is no competition when it comes to the Republican devotion to Global Big Business and disdain of Americans.
jaydeekay
BINGO!!!
newswoman
Jon Stewart's parody of Beck was reminicent of Monty Python, only an American version. He nailed it.
jaydeekay
I LOVED it.
manticore1223
GODWINNNNED!
briansays
He probably ran the text past Rush
Thats why its watered down
sippewissett
What a WIMP. Cantor's language is so 'guarded', to be charitable as to have no effect. " don't, because obviously that is something that conjures up images that frankly are not, I think, very helpful." Helpful? Try "I think, poisonous."
Sounds like he was trying to straddle outrage from Jewish Americans with not wanting to be on Limbaugh's bad side. That kind of disingenuous waffling doesn't win and points out what a jerk Cantor is. There should be NONE of the poisonous comparisons of our president or our country to get a TV camera pointed your way. Period. Let's fight on issues, not blind hatred. Probably too much to ask.
MaliciousDisorder
You people watch too much TV.
AlanD2
At least it's not Fox News, Mal, which is why we have a better grasp on reality than you do.
Downriver
Oxy Rush is gonna be pissed.........Cantor is toast!
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