The conservative push-back against Edwards starts quickly

March 24, 2007

I suppose this was inevitable.

On the March 23 edition of his nationally syndicated radio show, Rush Limbaugh told listeners that former Sen. John Edwards (D-NC) and his wife Elizabeth are “political people [who] are different than you and I.” Referring to the couple’s March 22 announcement that Elizabeth Edwards has Stage IV metastatic breast cancer, Limbaugh said: “[M]ost people, when told a family member’s been diagnosed with the kind of cancer Elizabeth Edwards has, they turn to God. The Edwards turned to the campaign. Their religion is politics and the quest for the White House.”

Limbaugh later asked: “If you’re [Sen.] Barack Obama [D-IL] or [Sen.] Hillary Clinton [D-NY], how do you now attack John Edwards?” Limbaugh added: “Not a problem for Hillary, the Clinton [inaudible] will find a way. But Barack, it’s going to be a challenge.”

This comes a day after Limbaugh suggested that the Edwards presidential campaign intentionally “leak[ed]” false information — that Edwards would “suspend” his campaign because his wife’s cancer had recurred — to Politico reporter Ben Smith in order “to jump-start the campaign.”

Raise your hand if you’re surprised. The man mocks Parkinson’s patients; smearing the Edwards’ was almost obvious.

I think Keith Olbermann responded appropriately, labeling Limbaugh, the “Worst Person in The World.”

Olbermann said, “Do you suppose, sir, you could summon the decency to delay injecting your cynical venom into this woman’s illness until just the day after? I mean, maybe that decency comes in pill form.”

Poor Rush, he was just in severe need of “letting off steam,” chasing child prostitutes in Santo Domingo.

This drug-addled pervert needs to be taken on and held up to the public spotlight he deserves. The man has never said one word in his entire life that wasn’t a lie. Drug-addled, sex-addicted, pervert. That’s Rush Limpdick.

  • I guess erectile challenged goofball addicted Limbaugh is still smarting from the lack of compassion from Libs over his problems.

    I’m not surprised about Soft Serve’s erectile problems as it’s hard to be hard when one doesn’t have a heart.

    Despite it all, I do feel a bit bad about Tony Snow’s stomach issues.

  • At the risk of irritating the posters here, I said at the time that I thought the way this whole announcement was handled was another blunder by the increasingly baffling Edwards campaign.

    Put pure emotional-response aside for just a moment, like any politician puts aside blind screaming fury over other tragic things going on these days, like the war, etc., I like both John and Elizabeth – my heart and prayers go out to them both over this blow. I lost my little sister to breast cancer three years ago.

    But I said on Thursday that I thought the right way for the Edwardses and for the John Edwards campaign to have handled this (politically) would have been to have Elizabeth (a very admired public person in her own right), issue a press release herself on her medical condition with a brief statement on behalf of John and the campaign.

    If this whole presentation had the whiff of being somewhat manipulative to me, an Edwards sympathizer, how could there have been any doubt how opponents would (or even could) frame this?

    Please be gentle in your responses. My insights and feelings are just as valid as yours.

    My fear was that slime like Limbaugh, Hannity, and even principled primary campaign opponents would be able to make an issue of the handling of this situation, directly or obtusely, even if the situation itself is tragic and emotionally wrenching.

    An understated press release from Elizabeth focusing entirely on her udated medical condition would have been most appropriate and beyond reproach IMHO.

  • Actually, I was listening that day and I’m pretty sure Limbaugh attributed the quote, “political people are different than you and I.”…“[M]ost people, when told a family member’s been diagnosed with the kind of cancer Elizabeth Edwards has, they turn to God….” to a listener’s email. It was difficult to tell where the email ended and his own opinions began, however. Also, putting [who] in the quote represents an interpretation on Mediamatters’ part. Adding that word and attributing the quote as Limbaugh’s own words are a little questionable, it seems to me. Even if it was from an email, though, he read it so he obviously endorses it. Of course, I wasn’t taking notes while listening and driving…

    Now please, everyone, please don’t accuse me of defending Limbaugh. I’m not. He exressed those sentiments on his show and he is reasponsible for them whether they originated with him or not.

  • I’ve often thought of Rush L. as a very good Soviet American citizen. It looks as though he is living up to my perception. -Kevo

  • The odoriferous Limburger is the only one I’ve heard bashing Edwards in this way. Everyone I heard that day wished his wife well and had complimentary things to say about her. If that’s true, I’d hate to categorize all conservative by Limburger’s remarks.

  • Elizabeth and John Edwards are choosing country over self. That’s not political; it’s patriotic!

  • Colonpowwow, I’ll try to profoundly disagree with your observation with as little pain as possible. I’ll even go so far as to say that Limbaugh has the inklings of a point.

    The Edwards are indeed a political family. They are also different from other families. However, this is a pretty trumped up line of non-unique critique since all families are different from other families and handle difficult situations…well, differently. This doesn’t necessarily make them bad or their actions questionable, just different and their own and Limbaugh completely ignores this in an effort to cast aspersions.

    Elizabeth Edwards had a re-occurrence of a dangerous condition that may directly affect the future of her husband’s campaign. It’s a consideration that must be taken into account, at least on some level and if they hadn’t, the media certainly would. Had Elizabeth gone with the press release route, the questions would have immediately been shot at John and the press conference would still have had to happen, only this time it would have a different savor. Instead of being an honest attempt at transparent dissemination of information, the rumor mill would have had much longer to churn up interpretation. Given, transparency in government is something we’re not really used to at this point, so it goes down with all the smoothness of Jagermeister with a battery acid chaser, but it still may exist.

    Also, addressing her diagnosis in the context of the Edwards campaign as a whole seems to be in line with their positive, proactive attitude regarding the re-occurrence. Attitude and outlook are vital in cancer prognosis. Again, families are different. Some just function better in the public eye. Perhaps the cohesion and momentum of the campaign is a useful tool in keeping the family focused on positive goals rather than worrying about potential tragedy.

    I sincerely believe the issue isn’t the Edwards or their actions here, but a country sunk so deeply into political cynicism that any public action is immediately seen as less normal, human response and more as gambit and machination. Sometimes a rose really is just a rose.

  • Two psychiatrists pass each other in the hall. They each say, “Good morning.” As they walk away each thinks, “I wonder what he meant by that.”

  • “[M]ost people, when told a family member’s been diagnosed with the kind of cancer Elizabeth Edwards has, they turn to God.”

    Not Newt Gingrich – he turned to a divorce lawyer. Wonder what Rush had to say about that?

  • The conservatives are probably just upset that all our people are so decent and theirs are so crappy, this time around.

    If you compare their people to our people, it’s three scoundrels v. three heroes.

  • Thank you, QuakerJono.

    My point is that I think the Edwards campaign, since the decision had been made to keep going full steam ahead, would have been better served by the scenario I painted (image-painting alert – again this is political, not emotional), that is, an independent. public person (woman), Elizabeth issues her own press release detailing the new medical findings, prognosis questions, etc., with a statement from Elizabeth and John re his campaign.

    If there is a clamor to invade their privacy further on this matter, John calls a press conference and he is completely above any such Limbaughesqe charges of this ilk (although I’m sure he’d think of something else odious).

    However, my final point is that when I observed all the drama and hoopla that accomplished nothing that my scenario outlined above wouldn’t have accomplished equally well – what exactly was the pressing need for a strategy of sending a teaser announcement to the press followed by a joint press conference? Maximum exposure perhaps?

    No, I must just be cynical and twisted to have this thought. Never mind.

    Anyone else feel this way?

  • My hunch is that John and/or Elizabeth Edwards would be damned whatever they chose to do together or separately. That’s the nature of GOP politics in the 21st century. Just think of purple hearts and swiftboats. Bastards. Fortunattely the GOP is becoming less relevant with each passing day.

  • Rush Limbaugh has not killed anybody, at all. On the other hand KSM killed what three thousand Americans. So on what planet is questioning the motivations of a politician a worse moral crime than killing thousands of people?

    There simply is no rational moral basis for Keith Olbermann to conclude
    “Liimbauigh Worst Person in The World..” Olbermann’s remarks are those of a deranged lunatic.

    As to John Edwadrs, he made his fortune as a plaintiff’s trial laywer, a professsion not noted foir honesty and the pursuit of truth.

    As Edwards is still in the arena, he still fair game. I will not suggest that Edwards is attempting to claim authentic victim status.

    My sympathy to Elizebeth Edwards.

  • Re: [M]ost people, when told a family member’s been diagnosed with the kind of cancer Elizabeth Edwards has, they turn to God.

    God, is clearly something that Limbaugh knows nothing about.

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