-By Warner Todd Huston
…Or this could be headlined: Hugh Hewitt’s Shameless Apologia For Mitt Romney
Hugh Hewitt, nationally syndicated talker, eminent blogger and author, wrote a book on why Mitt Romney would be the perfect presidential candidate for the GOP nomination for 2008. Yet, he claims not to be in the bag for Romney and claims he is remaining impartial, ready to support any GOP candidate. This impartiality, however, is impossible to square with reality when Hewitt’s every post on his own blog is flogging the Romney candidacy.
Now, I have no problem with Hewitt’s being a cheerleader for his man Mitt. If Hewitt wants Mitt above all others, then he should just say so and quit with the false pretension that he is not sold to the Romney camp. His claims to the contrary are disingenuous, to say the least. But, this contest is just beginning and if Hewitt wants Mitt, then he should go full bore. It is fair and honest of him to do so. (Romney’s the wrong choice, of course, but, hey, we are all entitled to our choices!)
But, yesterday Hewitt went further than just cheerleading and moved into damage control and apologia for his man who was MIA on a currently hot talk-radio/blogosphere issue. Hewitt has moved beyond mere tacit support and should be counted officially as a member of Romney’s campaign team at this point.
Many times, Hewitt has claimed that Romney is uniquely tuned in to the new media, but the fact that Hewitt had to come to Romney’s rescue on this issue reveals that Romney’s campaign is not as plugged into the internet scene, or hot button conservative issues as Hewitt claims that it is.
We are all aware of the controversy over Congressional Democrats who have made up a pack of lies that radio icon Rush Limbaugh said that our troops are “phoney solders.” This issue has been the hot topic on the blogs and talk radio for several days now.
But Romney was MIA on the issue.
Candidate Fred Thompson, on the other hand, had a statement out right away on the issue. On his website Fred08.com, Thompson personally wrote the following:
“Congressional Democrats are trying to divert attention from insulting our military leader in Iraq and pandering to the loony left by attacking Rush Limbaugh. He is one of the strongest supporters of our troops, yet Democrats claim he is not being strong enough. I wonder who General Petraeus and his troops think is most supportive?”
This shows that Fred truly IS plugged in! The speed with which he identified and commented on this issue shows he is on top of the new media.
Still, Romney was MIA.
So, quick rides Hewitt to the rescue on his white horse to save team Romney some embarrassment. And Hewitt is ready to spin his heart out to make it seem that Romney is somehow informed on the new media. On his website and radio show, Hewitt jumps to help Mitt out:
The New News Cycle: Romney and Thompson Defend Rush
As the phoney “phoney soldier” controversy swirled today –and Rush is in no hurry to end it as it reflects well on him and poorly on Senate Democrats– Fred Thompson released a statemnt blasting the attack on Rush. Rush was discussing it today, and e-in-box began to fill up with complaints that Mitt Romney had abandoned Rush. I shot off a query to the Romney campaign: What is this all about?
Not only did the campaign respond immediately, Governor Romney called the show to discuss the controversy and state that Rush has “got a long record of supporting our soldiers. There’s no question that this is a man who has been very much on the side of our fighting men and women.” (Transcript here.)
Romney went on to blast HillaryCradleCare, the $5,000 per baby grant, as did Rudy in new Hampshire today.
What the Thompson/Romney reactions to the Senate Democrat attacks on Rush and the Giuliani/Romney blast at Hillary’s boondoggle both demonstrate is that the campaigns are on continual alert to the ever smaller news cycle. They do not intend to allow any story that might impact the race to go unremarked upon, especially those that might reflect ont heir standing with the GOP base. An attack on Rush is an attack on the GOP base, and I will be shocked if Rudy doesn’t weigh in by COB tonight as well.
“Not only did the campaign respond immediately??” No, Hugh, the “campaign” did NOT “respond immediately.” Team Romney had no clue what was going on until YOU helpfully alerted them to it. And Romney’s replies to Hewitt’s questions about it on the air were somewhat embarrassing for Mitt.
I heard that interview between Hewitt and Romney. Romney was off balance and uninformed. Each time he answered Hewitt his answer consisted mostly of re-stating Hewitt’s question and re-stating the issue with very little actual commentary on his part added to show he was truly informed and had formed a firm opinion on the matter. Romney used classic stalling tactics to filibuster the answer while he desperately tried to work out something in his head to say to Hewitt’s questions.
Far from “responding immediately,” Romney seemed caught unawares and unprepared.
Apparently, Romney didn’t have enough time to gather a “team” to write a “white paper” on the issue, so Romney was at a loss as to what to think about the whole thing!
This incident shows that Fred Thompson is really the best candidate for the modern era. He is smart enough to know what concerns his constituents, but has enough principles to have his own opinion well and firmly formed without some radio host to spin things for him.
Vote Thompson. Security, Unity, Prosperity!
(Yes, I am “in the bag” for Thompson, in case you couldn’t guess.)
____________
Warner Todd Huston’s thoughtful commentary, sometimes irreverent often historically based, is featured on many websites such as newsbusters.org, townhall.com, men’snewsdaily.com and americandaily.com among many, many others. Additionally, he has been a guest on several radio programs to discuss his opinion editorials and current events. He has also written for several history magazines and appears in the new book “Americans on Politics, Policy and Pop Culture” which can be purchased on amazon.com. He is also the owner and operator of publiusforum.com. Feel free to contact him with any comments or questions : EMAIL Warner Todd Huston
In fact, I think the Romney story is even worse than you’ve laid it out: before Romney went on Hewitt’s show, his spokesman dissed Rush at the Huffington Post. I didn’t become aware of that until today — after hearing Hewitt’s spin — and that puts things in an even more interesting perspective.
See: Redstate
Of the four leading Republican candidates, only Thompson had the courage to unequivocally issue a pro-Rush statement right off the bat.
Best wishes,
Laura
Right now I’m tired of the whole shebang. It seems we’ve had non-stop campaigning since the last election. You know. The one where “Bush stole the election” (for the second time) – I’m going to wait till we get closer to the date before I bring out the flags and start shouting RAH! RAH! for anyone.
BUT! I do like to stay informed and appreciate your take on things. Keep up the good work.
“We are all aware of the controversy over Congressional Democrats who have made up a pack of lies that radio icon Rush Limbaugh said that our troops are “phoney solders.””
Huston is lying to his readers. Limbaugh did indeed accuse service members who favor withdrawal from Iraq of being “phony soldiers”:
=== begin transcript ===
LIMBAUGH: Mike in Chicago, welcome to the EIB Network. Hello.
CALLER 1: Hi Rush, how you doing today?
LIMBAUGH: I’m fine sir, thank you.
CALLER 1: Good. Why is it that you always just accuse the Democrats of being against the war and suggest that there are absolutely no Republicans that could possibly be against the war?
LIMBAUGH: Well, who are these Republicans? I can think of Chuck Hagel, and I can think of Gordon Smith, two Republican senators, but they don’t want to lose the war like the Democrats do. I can’t think of — who are the Republicans in the anti-war movement?
CALLER 1: I’m just — I’m not talking about the senators. I’m talking about the general public — like you accuse the public of all the Democrats of being, you know, wanting to lose, but —
LIMBAUGH: Oh, come on! Here we go again. I uttered a truth, and you can’t handle it, so you gotta call here and change the subject. How come I’m not also hitting Republicans? I don’t know a single Republican or conservative, Mike, who wants to pull out of Iraq in defeat. The Democrats have made the last four years about that specifically.
CALLER 1: Well, I am a Republican, and I’ve listened to you for a long time, and you’re right on a lot of things, but I do believe that we should pull out of Iraq. I don’t think it’s winnable. And I’m not a Democrat, but I just — sometimes you’ve got to cut the losses.
LIMBAUGH: Well, you — you —
CALLER 1: I mean, sometimes you really gotta know when you’re wrong.
LIMBAUGH: Well, yeah, you do. I’m not wrong on this. The worst thing that can happen is losing this, flying out of there, waving the white flag. Do you have —
CALLER 1: Oh, I’m not saying that. I’m not saying anything like that, but, you know —
LIMBAUGH: Well, of course you are.
CALLER 1: No, I’m not.
LIMBAUGH: Bill, the truth is — the truth is the truth, Mike.
CALLER 1: We did what we were supposed to do, OK. We got rid of Saddam Hussein. We got rid of a lot of the terrorists. Let them run their country —
LIMBAUGH: Oh, good lord! Good lord.
[…]
CALLER 1: How long is it gonna — how long do you think we’re going to have to be there for them to take care of that?
LIMBAUGH: Mike —
CALLER 1: How long — you know — what is it?
LIMBAUGH: Mike —
CALLER 1: What is it?
LIMBAUGH: Mike, you can’t possibly be a Republican.
CALLER 1: I am.
LIMBAUGH: You are — you are —
CALLER 1: I am definitely a Republican.
LIMBAUGH: You can’t be a Republican. You are —
CALLER 1: Oh, I am definitely a Republican.
LIMBAUGH: You are tarnishing the reputation, ’cause you sound just like a Democrat.
CALLER 1: No, but —
LIMBAUGH: The answer to your question —
CALLER 1: — seriously, how long do we have to stay there —
LIMBAUGH: As long as it takes!
CALLER 1: — to win it? How long?
LIMBAUGH: As long as it takes! It is very serious.
CALLER 1: And that is what?
LIMBAUGH: This is the United States of America at war with Islamofascists. We stay as long — just like your job. You do everything you have to do, whatever it takes to get it done, if you take it seriously.
CALLER 1: So then you say we need to stay there forever —
LIMBAUGH: I — it won’t —
CALLER 1: — because that’s what it’ll take.
LIMBAUGH: No, Bill, or Mike — I’m sorry. I’m confusing you with the guy from Texas.
CALLER 1: See, I — I’ve used to be military, OK? And I am a Republican.
LIMBAUGH: Yeah. Yeah.
CALLER 1: And I do live [inaudible] but —
LIMBAUGH: Right. Right. Right, I know.
CALLER 1: — you know, really — I want you to be saying how long it’s gonna take.
LIMBAUGH: And I, by the way, used to walk on the moon!
CALLER 1: How long do we have to stay there?
LIMBAUGH: You’re not listening to what I say. You can’t possibly be a Republican. I’m answering every question. That’s not what you want to hear, so it’s not even penetrating your little wall of armor you’ve got built up.
[…]
LIMBAUGH: Another Mike, this one in Olympia, Washington. Welcome to the EIB Network. Hello.
CALLER 2: Hi Rush, thanks for taking my call.
LIMBAUGH: You bet.
CALLER 2: I have a retort to Mike in Chicago, because I am a serving American military, in the Army. I’ve been serving for 14 years, very proudly.
LIMBAUGH: Thank you, sir.
CALLER 2: And, you know, I’m one of the few that joined the Army to serve my country, I’m proud to say, not for the money or anything like that. What I would like to retort to is that, if we pull — what these people don’t understand is if we pull out of Iraq right now, which is about impossible because of all the stuff that’s over there, it’d take us at least a year to pull everything back out of Iraq, then Iraq itself would collapse, and we’d have to go right back over there within a year or so. And —
LIMBAUGH: There’s a lot more than that that they don’t understand. They can’t even — if — the next guy that calls here, I’m gonna ask him: Why should we pull — what is the imperative for pulling out? What’s in it for the United States to pull out? They can’t — I don’t think they have an answer for that other than, “Well, we just gotta bring the troops home.”
CALLER 2: Yeah, and, you know what —
LIMBAUGH: “Save the — keep the troops safe” or whatever. I — it’s not possible, intellectually, to follow these people.
CALLER 2: No, it’s not, and what’s really funny is, they never talk to real soldiers. They like to pull these soldiers that come up out of the blue and talk to the media.
LIMBAUGH: The phony soldiers.
CALLER 2: The phony soldiers. If you talk to a real soldier, they are proud to serve. They want to be over in Iraq. They understand their sacrifice, and they’re willing to sacrifice for their country.
LIMBAUGH: They joined to be in Iraq. They joined —
CALLER 2: A lot of them — the new kids, yeah.
LIMBAUGH: Well, you know where you’re going these days, the last four years, if you signed up. The odds are you’re going there or Afghanistan or somewhere.
CALLER 2: Exactly, sir.
=== end transcript ===
You can also listen to the calls.
Limbaugh was referring specifically to soldiers who favor withdrawal as “phony soldiers”. That’s what he said, and that’s exactly what he meant.
Interesting how the leftists like stinking meat here are just plain liars, isn’t it? I’d bet this meat fella never really checked anything he just regurgitated out. He just went slobbering down the same road as his handlers in Media Matters led him, not thinking on his own… again.
See, folks, in this one Meathead and his fellow anti-Americans are liars by omission.
YES, Rush said “phony soldiers.”
But the Meatyone conveniently left out the part of the transcript where Rush elaborated upon what he meant with the “phony soldiers” comment. Meat boy seems to have ended the transcript right where HE wanted it to end instead of where it REALLY ends. See, Rush went on with this last part of the transcript right after he hung up with the caller at the end of the transcript that brainlessmeat provides and what Rush said there explains that Rush was talking about ONE man that turned out to BE a fake soldier; one Jessee Macbeth.
To assist the hard of thinking out there, I will provide the section meatwit DIDN’T include because it ruins his lies….
Last section of transcript omitted by anti-American leftists
“Here is a Morning Update that we did recently, talking about fake soldiers. This is a story of who the left props up as heroes. They have their celebrities and one of them was Army Ranger Jesse Macbeth. Now, he was a “corporal.” I say in quotes. Twenty-three years old. What made Jesse Macbeth a hero to the anti-war crowd wasn’t his Purple Heart; it wasn’t his being affiliated with post-traumatic stress disorder from tours in Afghanistan and Iraq. No. What made Jesse Macbeth, Army Ranger, a hero to the left was his courage, in their view, off the battlefield, without regard to consequences. He told the world the abuses he had witnessed in Iraq, American soldiers killing unarmed civilians, hundreds of men, women, even children. In one gruesome account, translated into Arabic and spread widely across the Internet, Army Ranger Jesse Macbeth describes the horrors this way: ‘We would burn their bodies. We would hang their bodies from the rafters in the mosque.’ Now, recently, Jesse Macbeth, poster boy for the anti-war left, had his day in court. And you know what? He was sentenced to five months in jail and three years probation for falsifying a Department of Veterans Affairs claim and his Army discharge record. He was in the Army. Jesse Macbeth was in the Army, folks, briefly. Forty-four days before he washed out of boot camp. Jesse Macbeth isn’t an Army Ranger, never was. He isn’t a corporal, never was. He never won the Purple Heart, and he was never in combat to witness the horrors he claimed to have seen. You probably haven’t even heard about this. And, if you have, you haven’t heard much about it. This doesn’t fit the narrative and the template in the Drive-By Media and the Democrat Party as to who is a genuine war hero. Don’t look for any retractions, by the way. Not from the anti-war left, the anti-military Drive-By Media, or the Arabic websites that spread Jesse Macbeth’s lies about our troops, because the truth for the left is fiction that serves their purpose. They have to lie about such atrocities because they can’t find any that fit the template of the way they see the US military. In other words, for the American anti-war left, the greatest inconvenience they face is the truth.”
End REAL transcript.
Ooops. Really, meat my pal. How embarrassing for you!
Hello!,
I’m new here. And it seems like a sweet place.
I just wanted to give a nice hello to all of you here.
:)
-Carl