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Limbaugh defiant over photo-op jibe
Paul Thompson in Miami2 Nov 2009
Radio show host Rush Limbaugh is refusing to apologise after claiming President Obama only attended the return of servicemen killed in Afghanistan as a "photo-op".
The Right-winger, who has caused controversy over previous attacks on the President, said Mr Obama's presence at an air force base, where he was pictured saluting as the coffins were brought home, was designed to give the impression that he was concerned.
He also said Mr Obama was "immature, inexperienced, in over his head" and that the healthcare reform effort was a government power grab driven by a "very narcissistic" President".
Limbaugh, the highest paid radio presenter in the US with an annual salary of more than £23million, made his attack in an interview broadcast yesterday on Fox News.
The network and the White House are locked in a war of words over what the Obama administration see as biased coverage.
White House press adviser David Axelrod said Mr Obama had been there to pay his respects and dismissed Limbaugh as an "entertainer".
Reader views (3)
As soon as I saw Obama attending the return of our dead servicemen, I turned to my husband and remarked that this was just a prelude to not sending more troops out to Afghanistan.
Meanwhile our troops need back up and are not getting it, how many more dead will be coming home because Obama is trying to please the world.
- Pauline Oregon, U.S.A., 02/11/2009 16:52
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The Dems can't have it both ways - Limbaugh is either the arch political activist at the heart of Republican thinking (according to previous accusations) or he's only a sideshow entertainer (with an awfully big audience if he gets paid 23 million a year). As always, reality lays somewhere on the middle.
I won't argue that he comes out with some extreme and sometimes off the shelf stuff - that's only too well advertised by the Dems as his 'normal'. The Democrats are somewhat media savvy themselves though, if you paid attention to the last presidential election over there - they use that imposed perception of 'normal' with Rush to gloss over the uncomfortable questions that reflect what REAL normal people are asking; that highlight REAL perceived inadequacies in some of the Dem thinking.
Dismissing the concerns of people - voters - is the same as saying that their concerns are not worthy of consideration. It is expressing contempt for them.
...I dunno, sounds kinda familiar to something going on in the UK at the moment. Can't quite put my finger on what it is though....
- Rogan, Irving, 02/11/2009 16:01
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I thought the same as Mr. Limbaugh when I saw the photos. Our "chosen one" has no interest in the military. In many speeches over the years he has denigrated them. If you havn't noticed, B. Hussein Obama gets in front of the cameras more than the lens cap.
- Ray, gurnee, USA, 02/11/2009 14:18
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