Ready for your daily dose of irony? Fox news personality Kirsten Powers was beside herself with indignation over President Obama's joint interview on 60 Minutes last night, and an interview in New Republic, where Obama points out the role Fox and Limbaugh play as enforcers of the GOP Far Right's rigid ideology.
Here's what Obama said in today's interview that Fox took such umbridge over.
Barack Obama is Not Pleased The president on his enemies, the media, and the future of football
FF: Are there any forces for reform within the Republican Party, people you've been able to establish some sort of working relationship with?
President Obama:: Well, look, I've always believed that there are a bunch of Republicans of goodwill who would rather get something done than suffer through the sort of nasty atmosphere that prevails in Washington right now.
It's not a fun time to be a member of Congress.
And I think if you talk privately to Democrats and Republicans, particularly those who have been around for a while, they long for the days when they could socialize and introduce bipartisan legislation and feel productive. So I don't think the issue is whether or not there are people of goodwill in either party that want to get something done. I think what we really have to do is change some of the incentive structures so that people feel liberated to pursue some common ground.
One of the biggest factors is going to be how the media shapes debates. If a Republican member of Congress is not punished on Fox News or by Rush Limbaugh for working with a Democrat on a bill of common interest, then you'll see more of them doing it.
I think John Boehner genuinely wanted to get a deal done, but it was hard to do in part because his caucus is more conservative probably than most Republican leaders are, and partly because he is vulnerable to attack for compromising Republican principles and working with Obama.
Here's some of Kirsten Powers tweets in response:
kirsten powers @kirstenpowers10
Oh boo hoo. @mediaite: President Obama Laments Rush Limbaugh And Fox News' Influence On Public Debate
kirsten powers @kirstenpowers10
When is Obama going to attack MSNBC which is actually what he claims Fox is (arm of DNC). Oh wait @mmfa doesn't want him to do that.
kirsten powers @kirstenpowers10
Alarming that President Obama seems to think that the sucking up that CBS did was journalism, but Fox News is the problem.
kirsten powers @kirstenpowers10
Really can't tell you how sick I am of listening to Obama spout @mmfa talking points about Fox.Really can't tell you how sick I am of listening to Obama spout @mmfa talking points about Fox. President smearing great journalists.
kirsten powers @kirstenpowers10
Obama attacks Fox News (again). A prez attacking a media outlet repeatedly should be a cause concern to everyone.
kirsten powers @ Twitter
Meanwhile this story has become the daily Obama poutrage over at Fox Nation where their headline reads: Obama Threatens Fox News and Rush
While I didn't catch Rush's show today I did see this:
Fear Rules the GOP on Immigration
Rush Limbaugh: Anyway, one of Marco Rubio's points, folks, essentially is that Obama's already given us de facto amnesty anyway. He did it with the children of illegal immigrants via the executive order back last year. It was prior to the election. I mean, thanks to Obama you have amnesty unless you get convicted of a major felony. So I don't know that there's any stopping this. It's up to me and Fox News, and I don't think Fox News is that invested in this. I don't think there's any Republican opposition to this of any majority consequence or size. We'll have to wait and see and find out. But this is one of those, just keep plugging away, plugging away, plugging away until you finally beat down the opposition.
Rush
Of course in Rush's grandiose mind if Conservative Republicans are able to derail Immigration Reform then he'll deserve most of the the credit.
Limbaugh: It’s Up To Me And Fox News To Stop Amnesty