Rush Limbaugh: The Republicans’ leader?
Reactions to The White House designating Rush Limbaugh the “intellectual’’ and spiritual leader of the Republican Party
Do Republicans ever want to be a majority party again? asked David Frum in Newsweek. Then we’d better stop acting like mindless ditto-heads in Rush Limbaugh’s “cult.” In a wily political maneuver, the White House is calling the conservative radio host the “intellectual’’ and spiritual leader of the Republican Party. Republicans are now “cooperating” with this strategy by rushing to Limbaugh’s defense. Rush may be entertaining, but his crude belittling of “feminazis,” liberal “losers,” and minorities alienates voters Republicans must woo, particularly independents and women. Moreover, the bulky, cigar-smoking Limbaugh is a “walking stereotype of self-indulgence,” with a history of addiction to painkillers, three broken marriages, a $400,000 Mercedes-Benz Maybach, a private plane, and a 24,000-square-foot Florida mansion. Given that Obama is a “devoted husband and father” with few vices, Limbaugh is hardly “the public face” the GOP needs.
Neither Rush nor any Republican has proclaimed him the party’s leader, said National Review Online in an editorial. But he does understand “the importance of building a popular conservatism that speaks to today’s concerns,” as his weekly radio audience of 20 million attests. That’s why Democrats want to foist a “false choice” on Republicans: Either “kowtow” to every one of Limbaugh’s pronouncements, or “denounce him as outside the realm of legitimate political discourse.” Perhaps the White House could devote itself to governing, instead of trying to divide and conquer Republicans.
But if Limbaugh isn’t the Republicans’ leader, asked Joan Walsh in Salon.com, then who is? When GOP Chairman Michael Steele dared call Limbaugh’s show “incendiary” and “ugly” two weeks ago, he quickly begged El Rushbo for forgiveness. When Limbaugh mocks the terminally ill Ted Kennedy, or accuses actor Michael J. Fox of faking his Parkinson’s symptoms as a political ploy, why do no Republicans say—Enough! I’ll say it, said Rod Dreher in The Dallas Morning News, and not just because Rush is obnoxious. His “crackpot fundamentalism” reduces the rich intellectual history of conservatism to a demonization of government, regulations, and taxes, and a glorification of the free market. Has he noticed that “the free market is in global systemic collapse”? To rebuild conservatism, we must first “grasp that the world has changed and that conservatism must change with it.” If our only future is to kneel before Limbaugh’s outdated views, “count this conservative out.”
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Trump's actions cut a wide swath across Hawaii's economy
In Depth The state's tourism and farming sectors are two of the largest hit industries
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
5 immersive books to read this April for a brief escape
The Week Recommends A dystopian tale takes us to the library, a journalist's ode to her refugee parents and more
By Theara Coleman, The Week US Published
-
'The winners and losers of AI may not be where we expect'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
The JFK files: the truth at last?
In The Spotlight More than 64,000 previously classified documents relating the 1963 assassination of John F. Kennedy have been released by the Trump administration
By The Week Staff Published
-
'Seriously, not literally': how should the world take Donald Trump?
Today's big question White House rhetoric and reality look likely to become increasingly blurred
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Will Trump's 'madman' strategy pay off?
Today's Big Question Incoming US president likes to seem unpredictable but, this time round, world leaders could be wise to his playbook
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Democrats vs. Republicans: who are the billionaires backing?
The Explainer Younger tech titans join 'boys' club throwing money and support' behind President Trump, while older plutocrats quietly rebuke new administration
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
US election: where things stand with one week to go
The Explainer Harris' lead in the polls has been narrowing in Trump's favour, but her campaign remains 'cautiously optimistic'
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Is Trump okay?
Today's Big Question Former president's mental fitness and alleged cognitive decline firmly back in the spotlight after 'bizarre' town hall event
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
The life and times of Kamala Harris
The Explainer The vice-president is narrowly leading the race to become the next US president. How did she get to where she is now?
By The Week UK Published
-
Will 'weirdly civil' VP debate move dial in US election?
Today's Big Question 'Diametrically opposed' candidates showed 'a lot of commonality' on some issues, but offered competing visions for America's future and democracy
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published