Rush Limbaugh = Jesse Jackson

That’s what conservative insider David Frum strongly argues, after presenting his bona fides as a conservative insider.

Frum says the comparison holds true even down to the insatiable drive for headline-grabbing, in speaking of Rush’s famous quote about President Obama, “I hope he fails”:

Notice that Limbaugh did not say: “I hope the administration’s liberal plans fail.” Or (better): “I know the administration’s liberal plans will fail.” Or (best): “I fear that this administration’s liberal plans will fail, as liberal plans usually do.”

If it had been phrased that way, nobody could have used Limbaugh’s words to misrepresent conservatives as clueless, indifferent or gleeful in the face of the most painful economic crisis in a generation. But then, if it had been phrased that way, nobody would have quoted his words at all — and as Limbaugh himself said, being “headlined” was the point of the exercise. If it had been phrased that way, Limbaugh's face would not now be adorning the covers of magazines. He phrased his hope in a way that drew maximum attention to himself, offered maximum benefit to the administration and did maximum harm to the party he claims to support.

For more of Frum’s takedown of the bloviating Rush (who looks more bloated than the Ted Kennedy he recently mocked ever did) read the full story.