Did Pat Robertson Take Rush Limbaugh Out of Context?
By Dan Gilgoff, God & Country
Lots of you alleged that Pat Robertson's critique of Rush Limbaugh's "I hope Obama fails" remark took Limbaugh's words out of context and that Limbaugh was narrowly referring to Obama's social policies. Rereading the transcript from Limbaughs January 16 show, I'm not so sure. In some places, Limbaugh says he wants Obama's brand of liberalism to fail. In others, though, he says he hopes that Obama fails, without distinguishing between the president and his agenda. Limbaugh even acknowledges that saying " 'I hope he fails' ... would be the most outrageous thing anybody in this climate could say."
Read the transcript and decide for yourself. Here's the most relevant excerpt:
Why is it any different, what's new, what is unfair about my saying I hope liberalism fails? Liberalism is our problem. Liberalism is what's gotten us dangerously close to the precipice here. Why do I want more of it? I don't care what the Drive-By story is. I would be honored if the Drive-By Media headlined me all day long: "Limbaugh: I Hope Obama Fails." Somebody's gotta say it.
Were the liberals out there hoping Bush succeeded or were they out there trying to destroy him before he was even inaugurated? Why do we have to play the game by their rules? Why do we have to accept the premise here that because of the historical nature of his presidency, that we want him to succeed? This is affirmative action, if we do that. We want to promote failure, we want to promote incompetence, we want to stand by and not object to what he's doing simply because of the color of his skin? Sorry. I got past the historical nature of this months ago. He is the president of the United States, he's my president, he's a human being, and his ideas and policies are what count for me, not his skin color, not his past, not whatever ties he doesn't have to being down with the struggle, all of that's irrelevant to me. We're talking about my country, the United States of America, my nieces, my nephews, your kids, your grandkids. Why in the world do we want to saddle them with more liberalism and socialism? Why would I want to do that? So I can answer it, four words, "I hope he fails." And that would be the most outrageous thing anybody in this climate could say.
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Tags: religion | Pat Robertson | Rush Limbaugh | Obama administration
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Reader Comments
"Trickle-down economics" a SUCCESS
So-called "trickle-down economics" was not at all a failure; in fact, it was big win. Reagan took a very weak economy, and brought about an era of great prosperity that, like a rising tide, "raised all boats."
What was not reported was that despite cutting taxes significantly, REVENUE INCREASED, dramatically. This is not what the liberals would like you to know. (They would have you believe this cannot and does not happen, and that the way to increase revenues is by higher rates of taxation.) Unfortunately, the House of Representatives, which controls the purse-strings of the budget, consisted of liberal Democrats. So instead of this revenue increase going to decrease the debt, they spent even more than before and created even more debt. Then they turned around and said, "Look at this debt! Trickle-down economics doesn't work!" The popular media echoed this, and because Rush wasn't on the national scene yet, FOX News didn't exist yet, and the internet as it exists today didn't exist, the public largely accepted this as truth.
Rush Limbaugh saying he hopes Obama fails
I actually heard Limbaugh's remarks in the context of the entire program, and have re-read them as seen above. What he said was very clear to me, and is nothing like the interpretation used by the popular press. First, it's not that he doesn't want the economy to improve; he clearly does, and passionately. What he doesn't wantis for Obama to succeed in creating a socialist establishment in America, which many liberals are putting forward as "the solution to the problem," when in fact it is the cause of the problem. Once established, it would do great harm, and be difficult to dismantle. Many people on both sides have been saying, "His side won, we should give him his chance to do his thing." Liberals because they want that, and conservatives because they want him to trip up and prove that his policies are a failure. However, Limbaugh sees the great danger in erecting a Socialist scaffolding that is likely to exist and do harm far longer than Obama's term in office and drag our eonomy down from superpower status.
I would go further and say that even if Obama's socialist agenda could improve the economy (which it could only do temporarily, if even that), it would not be worth the loss of liberty and the sacrifice that individuals would have to make both now and in the future. THAT would be too much to pay for any ecnomy. Fortunately, it's those very things that give wings to our economy. Rush believes this, too, as he has said on many occasions--and this is the context from which Limbaugh's statements springs.
As Limbaugh recently quoted from Ayn Rand, "The smallest minority on earth is the individual. Those who deny individual rights cannot claim to be defenders of minorities."
Rush Limbaugh statement 'praying that obama fails'
It is appalling for a Christian to say that he prays that the president fails. One should not pray for anyone's failure.I did not vote for Obama or even the democratic party but I do pray that God guides the thoughts and actions of President Obama. I consider him my president. Perhaps Mr Limbaugh considers himself some sort of 'higher power' who has some control over the outcome. I find his comments malicious. Yes, he is allowed to voice his disagreement over issues, but his comments go beyond that.Shame on him and his attitude towards the Christian faith. I'll pray also that God guides his thoughts and actions.
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