RUSH: Kendall, Greenville, North Carolina, hi. Glad you waited. Welcome to the EIB Network.
CALLER: Mega Rush Baby dittos, Rush, from Jim DeMint Country.
RUSH: Thank you, sir!
CALLER: Rush, my question for you was — and I haven’t been paying attention to politics for a real long time, but, you know, we know what liberals are. We know what we get when we elected a liberal, i.e., Barack Obama.
RUSH: That’s right.
CALLER: But what about the RINOs? You know, we elect these Republicans, like Olympia Snowe, the list could go on and on. My question is: In your mind, who’s more dangerous, a liberal or a RINO?
RUSH: RINO.
CALLER: (silence)
RUSH: My gut reaction is RINO. I would say that just because of what you said: We know who the liberals are, and so you know what you’re getting with them. So, by definition, they are who they are. The RINOs destroy the Republican brand. RINOs destroy what conservatism stands for. The RINOs not only betray, they redefine. RINO Republicans are a bigger obstacle to the Republican Party being perceived as what it really is than the liberals are. Now, if you want to talk, “Which does the most destruction to an economy?” it’s hard to say. They work together. What is a Republican In Name Only? What is a moderate Republican? A liberal Republican. So, RINOs confuse the vote. They destroy the GOP brand. To me, they do more damage to the Republicans than the liberals do.
CALLER: Yes. Well, and like you were talking earlier, Rush, you said what’s behind Bill Kristol saying that the debt talks were gonna go the Democrats’ way; and to me it’s what you say: The blue-bloods or the establishment — which is the same as RINOs to me — and you had warned, uh, your that if that is it occur, uh, the Republican Party would be no more and you’d have a third party with the Tea Party. But, I mean, I consider myself Tea Party, and what’s…? There’s a handful of Republicans in the Senate and Congress that are conservatives, true conservatives. What’s the point of electing Republicans? In 2010, what was the point? I mean, there is no point, you know? I just don’t see how without the Tea Party or another influence, that things will ever change and take —
RUSH: Well, let me just tell you: I know where you’re going with this, and I’m gonna shut you down. If you’re thinking third party, forget it. A: You’re never gonna have me supporting it. B: You’re never gonna have me as a member of it, as official functioning political party. I am not going to willingly commit suicide, and that’s what a third party will do, particularly if you try to do it for 2012. C: The Republicans have not caved yet. D: The conservatives that you mentioned that are in the House and the Senate are worth supporting. The point is to take back the Republican Party. Now I know why you’re asking me a question about RINOs. You’re looking for an opening. You think Open Line Friday is Trick the Host Day. I gotcha. Yeah, you’re calling, say it’s your first time and you don’t really pay much attention to politics. You want me to think you’re a doofus, then you come in here with this circuitous route trying to trick me. (laughing) You’re good out there, Kendall. You’re good, and it mighta worked with another host. My congratulations to you. It’s a good effort. I like your technique out there.
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