http://theplumline.whorunsgov.com/political-media/robert-gibbs-reporters-should-ask-republicans-whether-they-agree-with-rush-limbaugh/White House: Reporters Should Ask Republicans Whether They Agree With Rush Limbaugh
I’d missed this yesterday, but it seems even more relevant in light of RNC chair Michael Steele’s decision yesterday evening to prostrate himself before Rush Limbaugh after the latter unleashed a tirade towards the former on his radio show yesterday afternoon.
At the White House press briefing, press sec Robert Gibbs doubled down on the White House strategy of elevating Rush as the face of the opposition, pushing reporters to ask GOP officials whether they are With Rush Or Against Him when it comes to Rush’s desire to see President Obama fail:
I think maybe the best question, though, is for you to ask individual Republicans whether they agree with what Rush Limbaugh said this weekend. Do they want to see the President’s economic agenda fail? You know, I bet there are a number of guests on television throughout the day and maybe into tomorrow who could let America know whether they agree with what Rush Limbaugh said this weekend.
One quick point about this. If more reporters do start asking GOP officials this, Limbaugh and other conservatives will accuse the media of doing the White House’s bidding by trying to foment a civil war within the GOP. Indeed, Rush is already doing this: On yesterday’s show, he accused the “drive by” media of exploiting his fight with Steele to portray the party as wracked by “infighting.”
But the above question, obviously, is exactly the one that Rush, for his own purposes, wants the “drive by media” to be asking Republican officials. It’s a nifty little game: Rush gets the story framed his way, and he gets to accuse the media of being anti-GOP. A twofer! Anyway, this story won’t be going away anytime soon, if the White House, and Rush, get their way.