Tim Phillips sent out one of his Americans for Prosperity newsletters today, where he disparages and mischaracterizes his appearance on Rachel Maddow's Show. His appearance on Maddow's show was diaried here by bhfrick. Most agreed that Rachel remained her gracious self throughout her hard hitting interview. If you missed it, it's worth seeing:
Part 1:
Part 2
Well today, Mr. Phillips sent out his newsletter comparing his interview on Friendly Fox to a real interview with Rachel Maddow.
Dear Friend,
Ever noticed how the Left focuses on attacking us personally rather than engaging in honest debate on the issues?
Just last week I appeared on two very different shows: Sean Hannity's Great American Panel and Rachel Maddow's MSNBC show. Seeing how the debate went is instructive.
On Sean Hannity's show Wednesday night, we had a civil yet spirited discussion on issues of the day. Juan Williams, a Fox News contributor and PBS commentator (with whom I often disagree) made his points concisely and focused on genuine issues. Hannity, as moderator, led the discussion in a manner befitting a leading national media figure.
Apparently Hannity conducts himself in a manner "befitting a national media figure," but Rachel was "screeching and angry"
The next evening, Rachel Maddow's show was completely different. During a 10-minute segment with me, she flatly refused to discuss even for a moment the health care issue, which was supposed to be the topic.
Instead, she spent her time in a screeching, angry, at times irrational attack on Americans for Prosperity saying that activists like you are not real, that you're part of a big corporate front, etc. Her attacks on you echoed Speaker Pelosi calling you "un-American" for your grassroots involvement and Sen. Harry Reid calling you "evil-mongers" and others on the Left saying we incite "mob violence."
And correct me if I'm wrong, but Maddow didn't attack the integrity of David Koch and Art Pope. She simply questioned their motives, and their financial backing of a "grassroots" organization.
Maddow attacked the personal integrity of our Americans for Prosperity Foundation chairman, David Koch, and another of our board members, Art Pope. The spectacle was enlightening: On a national network, Maddow was viciously attacking two great Americans simply because they volunteer their time and give some of their money to support the cause of freedom. Somehow, she has forgotten to attack George Soros for giving tens of millions to liberal causes like MoveOn.org. When I called her on this hypocrisy, she had no answer.
Then, Maddow cast me as the bad guy. The most outlandish part was when she called me a "parasite feeding on the fears of Americans." CLICK here for video of the Maddow show.
It's never fun being attacked. You and I both get frustrated when we see politicians and pundits denigrate Americans like us because we are in the arena fighting for our freedoms.
But, here's the encouraging part.
The Left is not debating us on the issues precisely because they know they're losing on this front.
Americans are agreeing with us that a Washington takeover of health care will mean medical treatments denied, longer lines, less choice and more taxes and more debt. ObamaCare is now supported by only 35% of the American people because our fellow citizens are hearing both sides and supporting our view that individual freedom, less government control, lower taxes and less debt is better than the Left's alternative.
Finally of course, because this newsletter goes to wingnuts on the right, Tim needed to throw out those names that really get their propellers moving; Pelosi, Reid and the dreaded unions.
So, that means folks like Rachel Maddow, Speaker Pelosi, Majority Leader Harry Reid, the big labor unions, and all their friends are going to drop the issues debate and focus their fire on discrediting us with personal attacks.
We should be encouraged by this turn of events. Their attacks mean we are winning with the American people.
No, Tim I don't think you're winning. I saw the interview, and I think Rachel handled you well and asked questions that needed asking. It might have been a little over the top to call you a parasite, but in reality you are.