By Yael T. Abouhalkah, Kansas City Star Editorial Page columnist
Rush Limbaugh wins again!
Just last week, I wrote that Kansas Congressman Todd Tiahrt had been asked at a Kansas City Star Editorial Board meeting whether Limbaugh was the de facto leader of the Republican Party.
"No, no, he's just an entertainer," replied Tiahrt, who's running for the U.S. Senate in 2010.
Whoah. Those are fighting words for dittoheads and other supporters of Limbaugh.
The radio talk-show host already has gone after people who have refused to crown him king of the GOP -- or, to be fairer, at least as a powerful spokesman for the ultra-conservative cause.
My post zinged around blog land, and eventually this appeared on the Wichita Eagle blog.
The money quote from Tiahrt spokesman Sam Sackett to the newspaper's editorial board: "The congressman believes Rush is a great leader of the conservative movement in America — not a party leader responsible for election losses. Nothing the congressman said diminished the role Rush has played and continues to play in the conservative movement."
Ah, but the story doesn't end there.
On Tuesday afternoon, the Democratic National Campaign Committee released a statement, which began with this headline and first paragraph:
Tiahrt to Leader Limbaugh: I’m sorry!
Add Congressman Todd Tiahrt to the list of spineless Republicans who can’t stand up to their party’s leader – Rush Limbaugh. Just days after claiming Rush is “just an entertainer,” Congressman Tiahrt is now singing a different tune. Fearful of Leader Limbaugh’s retribution, Congressman Tiahrt’s office quickly issued an apology praising Limbaugh stating 'The Congressman believes Rush is a great leader.'
Just like the Republicans that have come before him to grovel for Rush Limbaugh’s forgiveness, Congressman Tiahrt proved once again that Limbaugh is the de facto leader of the Republican Party,” said Gabby Adler, the Midwestern Regional Press Secretary for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. “Instead of standing up for the people of Kansas to fight for them during this economic crisis, Congressman Tiahrt has made it clear that he would prefer to take his orders from Rush Limbaugh.
Tiahrt's comments about Limbaugh came in just a few seconds of his meeting with The Star. And I think he was being genuine in his comments, not trying to stir up trouble or hide behind a bland response to a question about Limbaugh.
Still, it's interesting to see how any comment by a Republican leader about Limbaugh can land the GOP's elected officials in political hot water.
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And why would Tiahrt return?
What possible benefit would it be for Tiahrt to return to the KC Editorial Board for any reason?
(Maybe so Yael could ask about Sarah Palin!)
I'm still waiting to read about any content that was discussed in this meeting. I know my paper is getting smaller and smaller.....
Yes Jenniferm, and...
people like coloboy will continue to believe it because like the report said below, if it comes from the DNC it must be fact... some people won't take the time to weigh the sources provided let alone check their own. I would bet that Tiahrt and his crew really do not care what lies a reporter like Yael prints in the blogosphere (to quote Bill O'Reilly).
This was the goal.
"My post zinged around blog land"
I believe that is all that mattered to Yael.
Sorry, (and you bet, I'm biased), but Yael specifically asked this question for the response he got, so that he could interpret it the way he wanted to make Tiahrt look bad and post it out on the blog. And I didn't read any apology in the follow up comments Tiahrt's statement.
This is an example of manufacturing news and its not journalism or commentary journalism or anything close to it. Shameful.
How would anyone expect that
How would anyone expect that Tiahrt could face tough challenges and be tough on terrorism when he caved like a five-year-old girl to a drug addicted misinforming talk show host? Good grief, don't let Jerry Springer around Tiahrt - he'd mess himself!
Seriously, Tiahrt, grow a pair and stop groveling.
Wow, now that's awesome. I
Wow, now that's awesome. I left this one alone because I could care less about the badgering back and forth from GOP and DNC people saying who is their leader. It is typical politics in play when it comes to this kind of stuff. I guess it is true then; save some money, let the DNC write your columns, and kick out all the writers. :)
Too good not to share
KC Star: Republicans Afraid of Limbaugh, Uses Democratic Press Release to 'Prove' It
By Warner Todd Huston
April 22, 2009 - 03:58 ET
Yael T. Abouhalkah is all excited to let the readers of the Kansas City Star know that he's found another Republican politician that has had to grovel at the feet of Rush Limbaugh, apologizing to the radio giant for a slight cast his way. And to "prove" it Abouhalkah used a press release from the Democratic National Campaign Committee that said so. Yeah, nice unbiased source there, Abouhalkah.
Seriously, does Abouhalkah imagine that a Democrat Party press release is an unbiased source about what is happening between a Republican lawmaker and Rush Limbaugh? No wonder newspapers are falling on such tough times. If Abouhalkah is any indication, the definition of common words aren't even any longer understood in the Star's newsroom. Words like "source," "unbiased," "legitimate," and "veracity" seem to be foreign to the folks at the Star. With such a failure to understand the very basics of journalism, its no wonder readers are abandoning newspapers in droves.
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So the story is that Representative Todd Tiahrt was asked by the KCStar Editorial Board whether or not he thought that Rush Limbaugh was the "de facto leader of the GOP." The Star reported that Tiahrt said, "no, no, he's just an entertainer."
Apparently, a few days after the KCStar report was published, Tiahrt's office issued a clarification of the comment in a Wichita Eagle blog.
"The congressman believes Rush is a great leader of the conservative movement in America -- not a party leader responsible for election losses. Nothing the congressman said diminished the role Rush has played and continues to play in the conservative movement."
OK, such as it is, it is less an "apology," less any groveling at the feet of Limbaugh, than it is a more careful statement of where the Congressman feels Limbaugh fits into the scheme of things. Maybe it can be perceived as a backtrack of sorts, but it certainly isn't any real apology.
But, as far as Abouhalkah is concerned this must be some sort of abject apology on Tiahrt's behalf. It is "Limbaugh winning again" and another Republican Congressman "backtrackingg" to prostrating himself at Limbaugh's feet. And what proof does Abouhalkah offer to prove his point? Why a press release from the DNCC, of course.
On Tuesday afternoon, the Democratic National Campaign Committee released a statement, which began with this headline and first paragraph:
Tiahrt to Leader Limbaugh: I’m sorry!
Add Congressman Todd Tiahrt to the list of spineless Republicans who can’t stand up to their party’s leader – Rush Limbaugh. Just days after claiming Rush is “just an entertainer,” Congressman Tiahrt is now singing a different tune. Fearful of Leader Limbaugh’s retribution, Congressman Tiahrt’s office quickly issued an apology praising Limbaugh stating 'The Congressman believes Rush is a great leader.'
Just like the Republicans that have come before him to grovel for Rush Limbaugh’s forgiveness, Congressman Tiahrt proved once again that Limbaugh is the de facto leader of the Republican Party,” said Gabby Adler, the Midwestern Regional Press Secretary for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. “Instead of standing up for the people of Kansas to fight for them during this economic crisis, Congressman Tiahrt has made it clear that he would prefer to take his orders from Rush Limbaugh.
See, it must be true. The Democratic Party SAYS so!
Seriously, if the KCStar is going to have the Democratic National Campaign Committee write its news for it, why does the Star even need employees like Yael T. Abouhalkah? So, I have some cost savings advice for the Star. Cut out that costly middle man, fire Yael T. Abouhalkah, and have the Democratic Party just write your copy straight away!
See, I'm saving money for the Old Media as we speak. I should charge for this timely economic advice, that's what!
Don't thank me now, KCStar. You'll be thanking me later.
A conservative perspective of Yael's posit
Newsbusters, a conservative media watchdog website, offers an intersting interpretation of Yael's opinion, objectivity and competency......some with which I agree.
http://newsbusters.org/blogs/warner-todd-huston/2009/04/22/kc-star-republicans-afraid-limbaugh-uses-democratic-press-releas
Rush
3:01 pm is awfully early to start partaking Mr. History. Everything in your tirade is revisionist history, none of it is true. Try listening to Mr. Limbaugh rather than being spoonfed propaganda.