It's time to ask Talent if he's a "Rush Limbaugh Republican"

Like many Americans, I was incensed beyond words by Rush Limbaugh's absurdly insensitive comments directed towards Michael J. Fox, words which he still stands by, despite the best efforts of the media to pretend that he apologized.

But I have no use for that man anymore, or for any rage that his words inspire in me.  He's a clown, a buffoon whose words should be mocked rather than seriously contemplated or debated.

Of course, there's also this response ad, which misses the point entirely, given that Fox was NOT commenting on the proposed Amendment.  He was targeting Jim Talent and his voting record specifically.  So, the question is now burning in my head ... the question that, if the roles were reversed, every talking head on TV would be pounding down McCaskill's throat if, oh say, Michael Moore had pulled a similar stunt.

THE QUESTION:  Does Jim Talent stand by the comments of Rush Limbaugh, or will he publicly denounce such hateful rhetoric?  Is he a Rush Limbaugh Republican?

THE ANSWER:  Who knows?

That's right ... nobody's asked him, as far as I can tell.  But why would they?  Why should Jim Talent have an opinion on what one radio host says?  Well, because in stark contrast to the hypothetical influence of Michael Moore on the Democratic Party, Rush has real pull over the Republican Party and he has for some time:

It has been argued that Rush Limbaugh is the individual most responsible for the 1994 Republican Revolution that brought the GOP control of the House and Senate for the first time in four decades. Apart from Newt Gingrich, no other individual was so able to mobilize conservatives on both the airwaves and at the ballot box.

Aaron Goldstein, The American Daily, October 29, 2006

And here's another little tidbit from his Wikipedia entry:

When the GOP won control of Congress in 1994, one of the first acts by many freshmen (calling themselves the "Dittohead Caucus") was to award Limbaugh the title of "honorary member of Congress" in recognition of his support of their efforts during this period

But I'm wasting time here, aren't I?  Nobody doubts the real influence that Rush has in the Conservative community, and Talent should know it better than most given that Rush actually hails from Cape Girardeau, Missouri.

Strangely, though, you don't hear many people out there talking about Rush Limbaugh Republicans.  Not even here on Daily Kos have I read anyone comment, even rhetorically, "You'd think prominent [Republicans] wouldn't want anything to do with [Rush Limbaugh], but au contraire, [Rush] is the belle of the [Republican] ball!" (Warning, right-wing "news" site link.)  Hell, just look ... "Michael Moore Democrat" is a term onto itself ... but "Rush Limbaugh Republican" isn't?  WTF???

Starting tomorrow, I'm doing my small bit to change that.  I'm calling Jim Talent and asking him whether he stands by Rush's character assassination.  I'm asking him if he's a "Rush Limbaugh Republican."  I'm entering that phrase into the vernacular, and I'm going to ask any Republican I know if they belong to the "Rush Limbaugh Wing" of the Republican Party.

Here's Jim Talent's contact info

Washington, DC Office
493 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

St. Louis Office
Three CityPlace Drive, Suite 1020
St. Louis, Missouri 63141
Phone: [phone]

Kansas City Office
Whittaker Federal Office Building
400 East 9th Street
Suite 40 Plaza Level
Kansas City, Missouri 64106
Phone: [phone]

Please join me, especially my fellow Missourians.  It's time to nail Rush's slurs to Talent's ... and I don't want us to stop until Talent has to issue a public statement condemning Rush.

The question is simple ... Is Jim Talent a Rush Limbaugh Republican?