http://www.themoderatevoice.com/post...21405490.shtml
Once upon a time there was a Republican National Committee. It wanted to defuse tensions with a group called the NAACP, and offer this as a kind of olive branch to black Americans. But then a big, bad broadcaster opposed this overture — this overture that was clearly a (rare) sign of an effort to combat at least a small bit of a monster called polarization that had taken hold of a country called the United States. And since this broadcaster had so many loyal listeners who would immediately adjust their very thinking to whatever he said, his opposition could be expected to make things more difficult to officially ease these longstanding tensions.
Who is this broadcaster seemingly standing in the schoolhouse door as the GOP leadership attempts to enter and start a dialogue with black Americans? Rush Limbaugh, of course:
Nationally syndicated radio host Rush Limbaugh blasted Republican National Committee (RNC) chairman Ken Mehlman's plans to apologize for his party's notorious Southern Strategy at the annual convention of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). Responding to Mehlman's planned renunciation of the race-based electoral strategy, Limbaugh accused Republicans of planning "to go bend over and grab the ankles."
Though President Bush has refused to speak to the NAACP throughout his presidency, Mehlman's July 14 speech to the NAACP renounced Republican efforts to capitalize politically on white Southerners' backlash against civil rights-era legislation. In his prepared remarks, Mehlman said, "Some Republicans gave up on winning the African-American vote, looking the other way or trying to benefit politically from racial polarization. I am here today as the Republican chairman to tell you we were wrong."
In discussing the topic, Limbaugh — whom Bush described as a "good friend" in an August 2004 appearance on Limbaugh's show — referred repeatedly to the group as the "NAALCP," which he has explained stands for the "National Association for the Advancement of Liberal Colored People."
It's truly sad what has happened to Rush Limbaugh over the years.
He became a national smash hit when the first President Bush was on the scene. Limbaugh had screechingly funny song satires, a playful joy for the outrageous and the un-PC and unmatched broadcast sarcastic political schtick. No, he didn't blast both sides, but there was no one like him on the radio. And he blasted the first President Bush — until Mr. Bush was smart enough to invite Limbaugh to sleep over in the Lincoln bedroom. This (former) listener and others noted the BIG change in his show after that.
Suddenly, Rush became Mr. GOP Establishment Talking Points — the most powerful GOP operative in the country and very much aware of his vital status. His power seemingly increased with each GOP issue and electoral victory, solidifying his status as one of the most powerful (and in terms of broadcast ability talented) broadcasters in American history.
But for many who are NOT partisans — and even to some partisans, from what these GOPers tell us — he is now unlistenable due to his predictability. He needs a new schtick.
Hopefully this isn't it. Forgetting for a moment who'd politically benefit, anything the GOP could do to defuse even a tiny part of the cancer called polarization infecting this country is laudable. And while it is 100 percent within Limbaugh's right to urge the GOP bigwigs who bow down to and woo him not to conceed anything to the NAACP at all, in terms of NATIONAL political interest Limbaugh's comments don't do any more than again illustrate that he isn't the wave of the radio or political future.
It's all a pity because the original Rush Limbaugh — hated then by liberals as he is hated now — did do often unpredictable satire and didn't take himself too seriously. The old Rush would probably make a joke out of the GOP's peace feeler, using irony. Perhaps this inability to chill out and look at the bigger picture is why Limbaugh's ratings, though still still MEGA, reportedly aren't trending well as well as in the past. And he is clearly no longer considered the talker on the ascent
Reply With Quote
