To Mitt: Keep Kevin Madden on a short leash
I am a big supporter of Mitt Romney, but when the spokesperson get’s in a liberal media’s trap, I’ll call him on it. Kevin Madden is Mitt Romney’s spokesperson. He looks like Mitt, but in my opinion, he’s not as polished on answers to ad hoc questions like Mitt is. It may be bad of me to hold Kevin up to Mitt’s level of orator finesse, but as the spokesperson, Kevin should be as good if not better than Mitt at quick questions from the press about timely topics.
Rush Limbaugh has been under attack from the liberal media (started by Media Matters, a group attacking Rush and Bill O’Reilly for other things) for saying the following:
CALLER: 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 spout to the media.
RUSH: The phony soldiers.
Media Matters (liberal media) thinks Rush is talking about Rep. Murtha and John Kerry and some other guy. Rush says he was only talking about one soldier (who lied about facts), Jesse MacBeth. I don’t buy into Rush’s explanation. If he truly was “thinking” Jesse MacBeth, then he would have said, “That phony soldier.” Not the plural, “The phony soldiers”. So, to me Rush isn’t totally being honest on this explanation, but I sure don’t agree with Media Matters as to who Rush meant!
It’s obvious the Democrats are trying to take what Rush said and draw attention away from MoveOn.Org’s character smear of Gen. Patraeus. They are wrong for doing that. Do we know who Rush was talking about? Yes, phony soldiers. That’s it. He didn’t say who was an example until later in the full transcript. Rush’s statement was correct if you include his clarification almost 2 minutes later in the conversation. But when he said, “The phony soldiers”, was he only thinking of Jesse at that moment? I don’t think so or he has a problem with plurals and singulars.
Back to the statement made by Kevin Madden,
Governor Romney would disagree with the negative characterization of those men and women who serve with honor and distinction in the United States Military. There may be disagreements with individual opinions, but no one would ever dispute the fact that those members of the military who disagree with the war have earned the right to express that opinion.
Although I agree with this statement in principal, Huffington Post, to whom this quote was given, is raising the stink that Romney is slamming Rush Limbaugh. Thus, in my opinion Kevin fell into a trap by the Post to get Rush fans to be angry with Romney’s campaign. It is working? I know of some Rush fans that have been offended by the campaign’s remarks.
Was Kevin Madden (Romney’s Spokesperson) wrong saying what he said? I don’t know. What was the question posed to him by the reporter from Huffington Post (a liberal media website)? Weren’t we talking about phony soldiers? It doesn’t sound like the answer was even to a question about phony soldiers, but soldiers of honor and distinction. Looks like the Huffington Post didn’t post that context. But they sure are using it to drive a wedge between the Romney campaign and Rush fans. I believe Kevin should have known better when talking to a liberal media outlet about the respected grandfather of conservative talk radio.
Sound off.
October 4th, 2007 at 1:07 am
You can’t be perfect, but I would agree with the assesment that you don’t criticize Rush unless you understand the context or you talk to him first.
What concerns me is that Rush does not make a mistake like this OR atleast does not let it fester. Did Rush bait the left into this controversy so that he could use it to bash them? Me thinks so.
October 4th, 2007 at 1:27 am
Check out Hugh Hewitt’s blog for an update on the situation:
http://hughhewitt.townhall.com/blog
Wednesday, October 03, 2007
The New News Cycle: Romney and Thompson Defend Rush
Posted by: Hugh Hewitt at 6:21 PM
October 4th, 2007 at 1:51 am
I think the Left is so embarrassed that their goofy “General Betray Us” ad in the New York Times blew up in their faces, they felt compelled to change the subject quickly. No amount of propaganda by the loony left will change the fact that Rush Limbaugh changed talk radio and he served as a welcome counter-balance to the Clinton administration and their scandal plagued tenure from 1992 to 2000.
Speaking of scandals: Let’s not forget that as bad as the Republican’s ethics have been lately, they are choir boys compared to the Clintonistas. It’s late and I need to get some much needed sleep, so there isn’t enough time to even scratch the surface of the Clinton’s scandals. I think it is the highest form of hypocrisy for the Libs to go into high dungeon over Limbaugh’s “phony soldiers” remarks, when the last Democratic candidate that bunch came up with, defamed our soldiers under oath before Congress. These are the last people justified to cast doubts about anyone’s patriotism, much less Rush Limbaugh’s.
October 4th, 2007 at 1:55 am
RUSH Transcript:today’s show
“I didn’t talk about this last week, but Mitt Romney issued a statement much like he issued against — who did he throw under the bus? Oh. Larry Craig. He issued a statement: That’s reprehensible what Limbaugh said, horrible, whatever it was he said — and then later in the day somebody from his office called our office. “We just found out that this is a smear, and Mitt will say this if he’s asked about it.” He hasn’t been asked about it, so his statement still stands.”
———————
Ok, so Mitt’s office contacted Rush THE SAME DAY to apologize and offer to make a statement if he wishes. Rush didn’t want a public apology from Mitt and yet the next day he still bashes Mitt. What the hell does Rush have to complain about? I think this evidence Rush is in the Fred camp and is slyly attacking Mitt in the process.
This could get ugly. Rush in Fred’s corner and James Dobson possibly in Mitt’s corner.
January 9th, 2008 at 12:29 pm
OSCAR Y. HARWARD
3314 WATSON CHURCH ROAD
MONROE, NC 28110
TEL: 704.989.0044
e-mail: oharward@carolina.rr.com
conservativechristianvoice.blogspot.com
January 8, 2008
TO: Advisors - Mitt Romney for President
Most Americans, and specifically Republicans, “love” members of our military, and what each of the freedoms they stand for!
Idea(s) leading to victory in the “military rich” South Carolina GOP Primary and following to other states leading to a key election on November 4, 2008 toward the front door to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
ITEM #1
PROBLEM: Under current legislation, spouses of deceased member(S) of our US military are required to remain single to continue Veteran Spouse monthly payments and medical health coverage.
RESULTS: This is ludicrous as spouses are required to remain single (widowed) to receive these benefits. Options include living alone (without additional marriage) or moving in with a friend (shacking up) which is an issue. This law promotes immorality.
SOLUTION: Support and pass legislation which allows widows of US military members service connected benefits to continue for life.
ITEM #2
PROBLEM: Most sick and/or injured of our military and/or service-connected members of our military are required to go to “military” medical/hospital facilities to ascertain needed health care.
RESULTS: “Military” Medical/Hospital facilities are more often out of town and/or maybe out of state creating additional inconveniences on the member or former member and/or their family who must travel for miles and/or excessive time to get to the ‘military” medical facility. More often than not, family members and friends are not available to go out of town in far away locations.
SOLUTION: Support and pass legislation allowing the qualified veteran to obtain a “Military VA” type “Medicare” ID Card allowing him/her to ascertain medical choice care at any accepted “government approved“ medical facility for healthcare. Each member and/or his/or family should be able to “choose” any “approved” medical care provider. Most all larger cities have medical specialized choices for the “qualified veteran” and his/or family.
Respectfully submitted,
Oscar Y. Harward
February 10th, 2008 at 12:36 pm
Kevin Madden did an excellent job as Romney’s spokesman. His critics should try his job before they take a turn at slamming him.