Rush to judgment

Why is the president afraid of a radio host?

April 16, 2009

In his memoir, The Audacity of Hope, Barack Obama says, “Genuine bipartisanship assumes an honest process of give-and-take, and that the quality of the compromise is measured by how well it serves some agreed-upon goal, whether better schools or lower deficits.”

Recall, too, Obama’s numerous campaign and post-election promises to listen to good ideas, no matter where they come from, and to usher in a new era of bipartisanship.

Now that the election is over, these statements and promises ring hollow.

From Obama’s inaugural address, where he could not refrain from denigrating the outgoing president of the United States, to the efforts of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to muzzle GOP input in the legislative process, this administration is turning out to be one of the most partisan in history.

It is, in fact, all “take,” and no “give” — a majority that is not “constrained,” but rather “unhinged” — with “compromise” measured only in terms of the spiciness of hot wings served at the White House’s Superbowl party. These circumstances not only make Obama appear petty and insecure; they actually demean the office and fly in the face of American democracy.

Just recently, Obama told a group of powerful Republican representatives that “You can’t just listen to Rush Limbaugh and get things done.”

Rush Limbaugh, as you may know, is a household name in the realm of talk radio. Limbaugh shapes many Americans’ outlook on the president, Congress, and the general state of the union. He’s been around a long time, and has said many controversial things that have gotten him in lots of trouble. He’s also said some incredibly poignant and intelligent things, especially regarding the irresponsible provisions of the “stimulus” plan.

Obama was concerned that Limbaugh would persuade Republicans in Congress to vote against his stimulus plan. Obama sought bipartisan support, both in the interest of public relations and in order to have another party to blame when the stimulus fails.

“Bipartisan” in this case means “just go along with the Democrats.”

Limbaugh was also vilified for saying that he wants Obama to fail; however, Limbaugh explained that he wants Obama’s misguided policies to fail because their success would be detrimental to America.

Obama’s effort to dissuade Republicans from listening to Limbaugh is simply wrong. As a well-educated and well-spoken attorney, he should be open to debating the most important issues of our time.

As a world leader, he should be entirely above the fray, and should resist the childish temptation to call out anyone with an opposing point of view.

If Obama were a man of his word, he would heed his own campaign rhetoric, and reach across the aisle to find constructive solutions to incredibly vexing problems (which, by the way, he did not “inherit” since he was a part of the Democratic Congress that created them!).

If he genuinely wants to be post-partisan, as he claimed, he should encourage the airing of views that are different from his own rather than coercing dissenters to bend to his will.

Limbaugh responded to Obama’s rebuke by proposing a truly bipartisan stimulus plan, based on the approximately 54 to 46 percent split of the vote in the presidential election.

Based on those percentages, Limbaugh said, why not take the proposed trillion dollars of stimulus, let Obama spend $540 million on whatever he wants: contraceptives and STD prevention, construction jobs (but not for white males, thank you Robert Reich), cash grants to illegal immigrants, ACORN funding, and other items in the bill that went to the House.

Meanwhile, let Limbaugh, who Obama seems to think is the leader of the Republican Party, allocate the rest of the stimulus dollars toward the tax cuts favored by conservatives.

Not only would that please both parties, but it would be easy to determine which measure best accomplishes the stated goal of job growth.

Obama said he wanted to hear ideas from other people; but perhaps he only wants to hear them if they replicate his own.

During the presidential campaign, we learned that Obama likes to “manage the message.” He worked hard to downplay his ties to Reverend Jeremiah Wright and Bill Ayers; to suppress requests for his birth certificate; to downplay the Muslim heritage that he so proudly shared with Al Arabyia TV; and to minimize the impact of Joe the Plumber.

In all likelihood, by the time this article goes to print, Obama will have signed several dozen more executive orders; another sure way to make his own voice heard without the distraction of dissent.

From partial-birth abortion to union card-check, from Guantanamo prisoners moving into our neighborhoods to nationalized health care, he will charge ahead, with a Democratic Congress firmly behind him and with conservative voices just a distant rumble.

As I understand it, Obama’s criticisms of Limbaugh have made him all the more popular, attracting listeners of all political persuasions who might not have tuned in before!

I urge you, also, to tune in on your AM dial, to think long and hard about the character of the man who is now running the show, and about the implications of his words and actions now that he is in the Oval office.

Cory Nagelberg, 16, attends Solomon Schechter Day School of Essex and Union and is a member of Nu’s teen board.