(CNN) - Pennsylvania Republican Tom Ridge is taking direct aim at Rush Limbaugh, telling CNN's John King the conservative talk radio host can be "shrill" and uses language in a way "that offend very many."
"Rush Limbaugh has an audience of 20 million people. A lot of people listen daily to him and live by every word. But words mean things and how you use words is very important," Ridge, the former Homeland Security Secretary under President Bush, said during an interview airing Sunday on CNN's State of The Union.
"It does get the base all fired up and he's got a strong following," Ridge continued. "But personally, if he would listen to me and I doubt if he would, the notion is express yourself but let's respect others opinions and let's not be divisive."
The comments come in the wake of a war of words between Limbaugh and Colin Powell, during which the former secretary of state suggested the GOP's future was in peril if it went in the direction of the popular radio talker. Limbaugh quickly hit back, proclaiming Powell is part of the "stale, the old, the worn-out GOP that never won anything."
Never won anything? GOP White House occupants for 20 of the last 29 years, but who's counting.
It should be mentioned of course that this latest salvo in the GOP Soul Battle deals more with style than with substance. Ridge is pointing out that the harshness (not to mention the hypocrisy?) of Limbaugh tends to chase moderate independents out of the Republican ranks, and you do not return to majority status that way. Ridge has denounced Obama's plan to close Guantanamo- so he is not suggesting that the GOP needs to say uncle, he is just saying let's disagree and stand for something without staging daily character attacks, how about it.
Stay tuned, I expect that this will continue for the next three years. As a Dem, I find it interesting as an example of political negotiations by soundbite. It's not that the outcome really is in doubt for me, because the conservative wing of the Republicans seems to always pack a lot more punch than the Moderate Wing.
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Comments: 15
Nice to see some signs of sensibility from the Republican heirachy.
I cannot understand 20,000,000 listeners until I think about the many poorly educated in our country. Also it is unfortunate that many are filled with hatred toward anyone different from themselves.
Limbaugh is a divisive hate monger and should be ignored.
Powell is correct the GOP needs to be more than the party of Southern White Baptist Christian Republicans
Hello Chris.
Isn't it nice to see a couple of Republicans who aren't afraid to speak their mind when to comes to Rush Limbaugh and not run back apologizing to him a day later.
Both Powell and Ridge are correct. Limbaugh is a divisive liability to the GOP and as long he and his 20 million listeners finds it funny when Limbaugh plays parodies like "Barack the Magic Negro", I and millions of others will never cross the line and support such a Party.
Oozing polite disdain for former Vice President Dick Cheney, Colin Powell warned yesterday that Cheney and Rush Limbaugh risk marginalizing the Republican party by tilting too far to the right.
"Rush will not get his wish and Mr. Cheney was misinformed - I am still a Republican," Powell told CBS'"Face the Nation."
"Neither he nor Rush Limbaugh are members of the membership committee of the Republican Party," Powell added. "I get to make my decision on that."
Two weeks ago on the same show, the former veep said he assumed Powell had left the GOP since he endorsed Barack Obama last November. He also said he'd choose talk-show host Limbaugh over Powell, a slap even some close Cheney friends thought gratuitous, petty and ill-advised.
Powell suggested Limbaugh can dish out the heat but can't take it and decried GOP chairman Michael Steele recently having to "lay prostrate on the floor apologizing" for mildly criticizing Limbaugh. "If he's out there, he should be subject to criticism, just as I am subject to criticism," Powell argued.
Sounds like Powell just gave both a "Smack Down". Good for you General. Good for you.
Nice to see some folks standing up to Limbaugh, and not backing down later on. Or at least, they had better not!!!
Great minds think alike, Lloyd! I only saw your comment appear right after I submitted mine.
Hi Eric.
Glad to know that we are on the same page.
Hate mongering sells tickets - when done well.
That which makes money for Limbaugh will not necessarily gain votes for Republican candidates. Allowing Limbaugh to decide the Party doctrine and principles is very dangerous for the Party. The tail is waging the dog.
wow.... twenty million people listen to his crap. these right wing radio guys sound so childish, it's always about anything liberals do, say, or think; is bad- and if someone in your own party disagrees- just insult them any way you can if you can't paint them as a left wing loon. The republican party would have a decent future, and might actually come up with something inovative; if they followed powell's example.
I have always wondered about the number of people who religiously listen to Russ and even more disturbing many believe his positions.
I know what you mean spencer. My dad religiously listens to right wing talk radio, and believes it all; and has been listening to it for about the past 30 years- since I was a little kid. At the same time, he's not a stupid person by any means; and has sucessfully ran a business for 30+ years. It comes across like a form of brainwashing to me.
I am glad to see that Colin Powell, one of the few Republicans i can respect, standing up for himself against the monsters trying to keep negative control of the party. it seems all too many see Rush as the be all of the party, when he will in reality be the death of the party.
Rush Limbaugh and Howard Stern have the same birthday, tell you anything?!