And So It Begins...

I really don't want my blog to become a political wasteland, but the news of the day dictates that I respond to President Obama's lashing out against Rush Limbaugh. From the New York Post:

President Obama warned Republicans on Capitol Hill today that they need to quit listening to radio king Rush Limbaugh if they want to get along with Democrats and the new administration.

"You can't just listen to Rush Limbaugh and get things done," he told top GOP leaders, whom he had invited to the White House to discuss his nearly $1 trillion stimulus package.

One White House official confirmed the comment but said he was simply trying to make a larger point about bipartisan efforts.

"There are big things that unify Republicans and Democrats," the official said. "We shouldn't let partisan politics derail what are very important things that need to get done."

President Obama is correct in his sentiments, but I hope he did not just make a giant political blunder. When I was a kid getting picked on on the school playground, the best advice I ever received from my parents and teachers was to ignore my enemies - because they only thing they were interested in was getting me to react to their taunts. Well, now that Obama has reacted to Rush, he's given Limbaugh enough material to last until April Fools Day!

Instead of encouraging bipartisan spirit, I fear the President may have inadverently damaged it. Remember - Rush Limbaugh (and other talk hosts, including liberals) has no interest in playing nice with the President and Congress. Divisiveness is the coin of the realm in talk radio. Here's the take from radio industry analyst Tom Taylor in his column at radio-info.com:

Barack Obama’s already challenging Rush Limbaugh by name.

A tricky game – and one that Rush probably can’t lose at. He’s getting that “made you look!” kind of attention that he and his base dearly love. While new President Obama will have to do this very delicately, to make it clear to most Americans that he’s talking about Limbaugh’s old-style partisanship and its receding relevance. Otherwise – Obama could get mired in the same-old “vast right-wing conspiracy” riff that made Hillary Clinton an object of hilarity among movement conservatives. But Obama’s clearly thought about it and on his third full day in office he advised Republicans that they “can’t just listen to Rush Limbaugh and get things done” with the new administration. Of course Rush doesn’t want to “get along” – he wants to throw rocks at the White House.

Of course, I discussed all of this last week, before the President made his remarks... Hey, somebody ought hire that guy!

...And One More Thing!

Following up on my previous post in which I chided the Democrats who mocked President Bush as he took his seat at the Inauguration...

It was no less disgraceful that Rush Limbaugh mocked the incoming President as he made sarcastic comments while speaking over the inauguration ceremony yesterday, an action that was, in itself, an insult. I think Limbaugh has been an important part of the American political landscape, but I also firmly believe that this nation has come to a point where we need collegiality, not divisiveness, to move forward.

It would be difficult (and counter-productive) to point the finger of blame at any one group or industry for bringing the talk radio/TV business to where it is today, but I am really starting to think it is harming us as a nation. Corporations are making a lot of money by asking Americans to essentially choose sides - to ask the question "Are you for us, or against us?" at a time when we really all need to be in this mess together.

You can blame Rush, but he's not alone, and conservatives are not alone to blame. Chris Matthews and Bill Press and Al Franken and Keith Olbermann are just as divisive as Sean Hannity and Michael Savage and any other conservative talker you can name.

As I write this, we are less than 24 hours into a new administration, and I have already seen and heard more than enough gloating and griping to last for the next four years!

This is no doubt the most idealistic thing that this cynic will ever write, but for once, I wish we could all choose to follow the lead of our friends in Howard County, Maryland, who are becoming well known for posting this sticker on their bumpers:

A Savage Autism Assessment

Two of my worlds have collided - Talk radio, in which I have made my living... and autism, which has had a profound and lasting (hell, permanent!) impact on my family. Please give me a minute and a half of your time and listen to this:



For those of you who don't follow talk radio, Michael Savage is a nationally syndicated radical host who has made his living trying to offend as many people as possible. He considers himself a conservative, but honestly, to call him conservative is to give real conservatives a bad name. Savage largely exists to hurt people. A protest will be held in New York today, as parents of children with autism picket WOR radio in New York and demand that Savage be pulled from the air. I sympathize with those well-intentioned folks, but I think they are making a mistake.

The Michael Savages of the talk world thrive on controversy. It is the fuel that keeps their shows alive, and the spark that prompts more listeners to tune in and see what outrageous garbage will spew from their pie holes next. If Savage is pulled from this station today, he'll be on two new stations tomorrow.

No, this is yet another lesson that we learned in kindergarten that still applies today. If everyone just ignored Michael Savage, he would eventually go away. Or better yet - have a good chuckle at his expense. Imagine Savage walking a mile in your shoes - as the parent of an autistic child himself .

The belly laugh that that thought produces may just get this parent through the day!