Rep. Pence Defends Limbaugh And Beck

On his radio show, Rush Limbaugh recently suggested that a New York Times environment reporter should kill himself -- literally.  "Why don't you just go kill yourself and help the planet by dying," Limbaugh said.  Sadly, the comment was hardly a surprise.  For Limbaugh, vile (and violent) attacks are standard. 

So, when there's speculation that Republican leaders are internally worried right-wing media personalities could be hurting the party, it's easy to understand why.  As Politico reported today: 

Many top Republicans are growing worried that the party's chances for reversing its electoral routs of 2006 and 2008 are being wounded by the flamboyant rhetoric and angry tone of conservative activists and media personalities, according to interviews with GOP officials and operatives.

Congressional leaders talk in private of being boxed in by commentators such as Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh - figures who are wildly popular with the conservative base but wildly controversial among other parts of the electorate, and who have proven records of making life miserable for senators and House members critical of their views or influence.

Limbaugh and Beck are proven moneymakers, but they're also extremely divisive and unpopular with the general public (particularly Limbaugh, who's a more well known commodity).  If the conservative message is coming primarily from them, it's not good for the GOP.  

However, House Republican Conference Chairman Mike Pence (R-IN) has already blasted the article, saying that such speculation is "hogwash." In fact, according to Pence, Limbaugh and Beck speak for more Americans than the "mainstream" media:

"You know, the American people cherish their freedom of speech and a free and independent press. That's why I found this morning's headlines so troubling," Pence said Thursday. [...]

"To suggest that men and women that are taking a stand for fiscal discipline and traditional values in the national debate today only speak for 'grassroots activists' is absurd. As evidenced by the hundreds of thousands that filled town hall meetings this summer and the nearly a million Americans who gathered here in Washington in September. Millions of Americans, Republicans, Democrats and Independents are worried about liberal social policies and runaway federal spending, deficit and debt.

"So to my friends in the so-called 'mainstream media' I say, 'conservative talk show hosts may not speak for everybody but they speak for more Americans than you do.'"

This year, multiple Republicans have criticized Limbaugh only to apologize and beg for mercy later.  Now it appears even vague and anonymous concern over his hateful rhetoric requires prompt renunciation.  Obviously, the "mainstream" media has problems of its own, but does Pence really believe that its members should be committing suicide?