A Jan. 16 blog posted by Rush Limbaugh on his Web site expresses the ultra-conservative radio host’s response to a request of him to write 400 words on his hopes for the Obama presidency. He answered with only four words: “I hope he fails,” and he proudly defends his stance.

One can easily point out that while Limbaugh has his right to freedom of speech and can be critical of policies, he should not hope that an effort to better the country should fail no matter what way it is accomplished.

Fred Thompson, the former Tennessee senator and Republican presidential candidate, also acknowledged in a CNN interview with John King that he, too, wants Obama to fail. It is easy to realize how ridiculous these statements are, but realize their motive.

“Obama could not have asked for more: Limbaugh gets an audience, Obama gets a target and Republicans get the blame,” wrote David Frum, a self-proclaimed Republican and writer, in his March 16 Newsweek article “Why Rush is Wrong.”

Heed the line, “Limbaugh gets an audience,” and it all makes sense. Not quite? Well, an important fact about Fred Thompson that most people do not probably know is that he is also a radio host. He hosts “The Fred Thompson Show.”

“I think that’s an aspect to be considered,” said media studies instructor Matt Swan. “All media is very competitive. A lot of times a person may say a radical or outrageous statement to generate more of an audience.”

Why should everyone be so surprised? Limbaugh is the Republican bad boy of radio entertainment; that is part of the character or role he plays. Thompson realizes Limbaugh’s tactics and how successful he has become, so he followed.

There is something admirable about it, though. These statements are not sugarcoated. Any member of the media who had personally liberal views and bashed Bush during his terms did it not only because they were critical of his policies, but because they also wanted to prove the rationale of their views. Both men are doing just that; trying to portray their party’s opposition as shameful.

“I think it plays into the whole Republican versus Democrat,” said Jacob Erven, a postgraduate math major. “They’re more concerned about staying in power.”

This is definitely part of both men’s agenda. They are also Americans with an opinion about how the country should be run or not. No matter the validity of their views and statements, though, they are part of the entertainment industry.

So, if their statements seem too bipartisan or offensive for your taste, battle it by ignoring them instead of playing their game for attention.

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