Posted on 03/02/2009 12:03:53 PM PST by Sub-Driver
'Pretty sad' Limbaugh's the lead GOP voice: Ron Paul @ 2:13 pm by Michael O'Brien
It is pretty sad that conservative talk radio host Rush Limbaugh has become the de-facto voice of the Republican Party, Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas) said Monday.
"I think it’s pretty sad," Paul said during an appearance on CNN Monday morning. "And it means that the Republicans are really starving for some type of leadership."
"He really didn’t broaden the base," the former Republican presidential candidate told the network's John Roberts. "I mean, it’s still very narrow, and that is why some of us would like to see an approach that would emphasize personal liberties and civil liberties."
Limbaugh's speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) this past weekend has been the subject of much discussion on the left and the right, with a number of Republican leaders (such as Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele) sounding off on Limbaugh's role and influence within the GOP.
"I think a lot of people like to hear what he’s saying, but I think it’s also a little bit polarizing and confrontational, and I think that’s why the Democrats are bragging that Limbaugh now speaks for the Republicans," Paul added. "So I guess the Democrats think it’s to their advantage if he’s leading the charge."
The Texas Republican also indicated there was little chance he would rekindle his presidential bid in 2012, opting instead to focus on his "Campaign for Liberty" fund.
Screw 'em!
“One would hope such a voice came from a congresscritter or other political figure.”
Such a voice would have TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS in lib, union, and overseas foriegn money directed at him in his home district in about nothing flat. Add in the 24/7 attacks by a hate-filled and biased liberal media.
That’s a tough wall for ANY politician to stand against.
Rush can do it PRECISELY because he is not a politician, and he has nothing to lose. IN FACT, it HELPS him when the Dems focus on him, driving up his ratings.
Precisely the reason we need to start a campaign to convince state legislatures (conservative AND liberal) to reaffirm the 10th Amendment and choke the federal beast. State legislatures should be where the real power is, not the Godfather doling out money from DC.
How hard would it be really to convince a state legislature that it needs more power instead of the fedgov? It would be a bipartisan movement.
Re: Post #8.....Amen!
It is sad that the Republicans and/or RNC does not have a leader and that people have to look to Rush to fill the void.
:-)
And THIS — is the very reason I didn’t (and wouldn’t) support Ron Paul. One can’t alienate ALL other Conservatives just to serve his own quixotic crusade.
Doesn’t this idiot have a Star Trek convention to speak at or something?
That's my point, the party doesn't agree with Rush, and the people obviously agree with Rush, not the party.
This goes back to my screen name, which comes from Washington's farewell address where he warned about parties serving themselves instead of the people.
To be fair I saw that interview, and Ron wasn’t dumping on rush; it was a misleading (probably purposely) headline..
He was asked that in the context of Rush being a “leader of the Republican Party” rather than legislators...
Ron said that Rush has some good ideas, but Wolf Blitzer kind of did a “loaded question” to try to get him to say something.
Was it the Republican National Convention that Rush was speaking to in his address? You’d think so. Sorry your idiots...he spoke to CPAC....Got that? CPAC
DID ANY OF YOU ALL ACTUALLY WATCH THE INTERVIEW? Or is this just a sensational jump on RON PAUL Thread..
Oh please, not this guy again.
Ron Paul really didn’t dump on Rush so much as lament the fact that there are no strong conservatives emerging as leaders. We all (well, most of us) love Rush but he’s not running for political office. Palin and Jindal are being targeted early by the msm/dnc/rinos and those coordinated attacks do have an effect. Rush is taking those slings and arrows for now but like I said, he’s not running for office.
Steele, Cantor, McCalin(in the case of Sarah) and now Ron Paul. All whiney Rush and Sarah wannabees and they can't handle his popularity.
The GOP thinks they can get along without the conservative base although 2006 and 2008 proved them dead wrong, yet they scream like squashed pu**ies when someone like Rush or Sarah comes along and energizes that very base they claim they don't need anymore.
As for me, I am becoming independent and waiting for the Tea Party to be formed into THE new Political party of conservatives.
I used to find Rush a little too “over-the-top” for my taste even though I found myself agreeing with his point-of-view WAY more often than not, it’s not often that I listen to him even nowadays though.
However, if one reads even one book of his, they will understand him, and his on-air style completely. It seems that those who vilify Rush are scared of his ability to capture “our side” of the arguments versus liberal policies and put it in terms that are VERY easy to understand, and get people excited. Rush’s opponents see this as a threat because, well, they should. He stands between them and their ability to transform the U.S. into a Communist nation ala Chavez. The liberals can’t be so bold as Chavez, so instead they must attack people (like the media) in the public discourse, and they seek to nullify his effects this way vs. removing him in some other way. He’s also too well-known to “dispatch” as some leaders in history have done to vocal opponents.
This really has no so much to do with Rush, but rather as a means to demoralize US (conservatives). It’s what they (Socialists/Communists/Democrats) did with Bush, and it is what they are doing with Rush now.
What’s very disturbing is that it does seem that there are those within the GOP, and those who claim to be Conservatives that really aren’t and it seems they control the Republican Party. It’s as if there are two parties in Washington, but it’s not as it appears to be - split down “R & D” lines.
DITTO. (pun intended)
Ron Paul was one of the few who supported Reagan against Ford in 1976.
LOL!!!! >;0)
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