Strange Bedfellows

Limbaugh Defends Emanuel's 'Retarded' Gaffe

John Hudson 616 Views Feb 4, 2010

Rahm Emanuel, the gleefully bellicose White House Chief of Staff, is no pushover. He's got a rap for harsh epithets, dramatic kiss-offs, and bare-knuckle tactics--not apologies. Lately that's changed. When word got out that he called some liberal allies' ad campaign "fucking retarded," he offered mea culpas left and right. Some even think there's an assiduous plot to "force" him out.

Fortunately, he's got a strong--if unlikely--ally in Rush Limbaugh. On his show, the conservative radio host said this:

I think the big news is the crack-up going on. Our political society is acting like some giant insult's taken place by calling a bunch of people who are retards retards. I mean, these people, these liberal activists are kooks, they are loony tunes. I'm not going to apologize for it, I'm just quoting Emanuel, it's in the news.

Want to add to this story? Let us know in comments or send an email to the author at jhudson at theatlantic dot com. You can share ideas for stories on the Open Wire.
John Hudson

Presented By

Topics: The White House

Related Articles				More by John Hudson
Allahpundit on the White House-Fox News War	Bush Mulled Firing Cheney to Show He Was 'In Charge'	Happy Hour Vid: Biden Appears on 'The View,' Manages Not to Swear		R.J. Cutler: What I Read	Gavin Newsom: What I Read