2009-01-26 Barack Obama picks a fight with Rush Limbaugh as bipartisan spirit crumbles

2009-01-26 Tim Shipman Telegraph.co.uk \Limbaugh vs. Obama\Obama bipartisanship http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/barackobama/4331839/Barack-Obama-picks-a-fight-with-Rush-Limbaugh-as-bipartisan-spirit-crumbles.html Barack Obama picks a fight with Rush Limbaugh as bipartisan spirit crumbles Barack Obama picks a fight with Rush Limbaugh as bipartisan spirit crumbles  Mr Obama has told Republicans in Washington to stop listening to the right-wing talk show host Rush Limbaugh, risking a new culture war with conservative voters.

His exhortation came as he enraged other Republicans by reversing George W Bush's ban on funding international aid to charities that perform or provide information about abortions.

After less than a week in office, Mr Obama's presidency is already encountering the very partisan bickering he had pledged to stamp out during his first 100 days. I just love how they're spinning this as Obama picking the fight and being partisan... What, the Right agrees that Obama should fail? What happened to their claim that criticizing the president was tantamount to treason?

How is telling a party that they're overly obsessed with a particular person's viewpoints the same as "picking a fight" with them?

If the fight is over things like Bush's abortion gag rule or stem cell research, then those are the reasons we elected him.

&ldquo;Mr Obama has told Republicans in Washington to stop listening to the right-wing talk show host Rush Limbaugh, risking a new culture war with conservative voters.&rdquo; Criticism of Limbaugh automatically means criticism of the Right?   