Hushing Rush

In the name of bipartisanship, President Barack Obama told congressional Republicans to tune out Rush Limbaugh:

You can’t just listen to Rush Limbaugh and get things done.

I tuned into Rush yesterday. He was gloating that he had “hijacked Obama’s honeymoon.” He made no bones about his fervent hope that Obama’s economic recovery plan fails:

I want America to succeed. I love my country… And this ain’t the way to do it. My whole objective is to maintain America in the image of its founders and founding.

Republican Rep. Phil Gingrey, who earlier told Rush to hush, is now singing a different tune:

Regardless of what yesterday’s headline may have read, I never told Rush to back off. I regret and apologize for the fact that my comments have offended and upset my fellow conservatives—that was not my intent. I am also sorry to see that my comments in defense of our Republican Leadership read much harsher than they actually were intended, but I recognize it is my responsibility to clarify my own comments.

Gingrey called into Rush’s show and gushed:

Rush, thank you so much. I thank you for the opportunity. Of course, this is not exactly the way I wanted to come on... Mainly, I want to express to you and your listeners my sincere regret for those comments I made yesterday to Politico.

Rush, ahem, graciously accepted his apology on the air.

Meanwhile, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has rushed to judgment. The DCCC is circulating a petition condemning Rush. Yes, Rush is a blowhard. But so is Keith Olbermann.

My fear is that it’s Rush today and progressives tomorrow yesterday. I remember the howls from progressives when then-White House Press Secretary Ari Fleisher warned Americans to “watch what they do and what they say.”

Rush has the constitutional right to be disagreeable and to disagree with Obama. If you don’t like what Rush says, ignore him. But don’t give him free publicity. Michael Harrison, publisher of Talkers magzine, told the San Francisco Chronicle:

The Champagne is flowing in Rush Limbaugh's house. Obama gave Limbaugh the most fabulous gift you can give a talk radio host.

Indeed, El Rushbo is relishing his elevated stature as the “new face of the GOP.”

As Rush would say, it is what it is.