When asked about his hopes for the Barack Obama presidency, radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh infuriated Obama supporters with four simple words: “I hope he fails.” But it is important to take Limbaugh’s words into context with his entire statement on the matter. (You can watch a video here.) Does Limbaugh actually want Obama’s presidency to fail, in that he wants the country to suffer?
What Limbaugh actually said is that he wants Obama’s policies to fail, meaning the defeat of President Obama’s legislative agenda. This is because Limbaugh believes Obama’s policies will be ineffective, counterproductive or destructive. This is a view I share. As I said in my letter to the editor in the Indianapolis Star, many Americans have serious philosophical differences with Obama on matters of public policy, and “it is foolish to expect these differences to be brushed aside in the name of ‘unity’ or bipartisanship.”
I also hope Obama fails, especially regarding his promise to sign the so-called “Freedom of Choice Act.” (I will write more on FOCA later.) I hope the Republicans and enough conservative Democrats defeat that in the House or Senate. I hope Obama fails to increase taxes, which is exactly what he promised to do when he said he supports rolling back President Bush’s tax cuts. I hope Obama fails to get legislation passed to expand “hate crimes” at the federal level.
(Read more after the leap)
