The Rush bashing continues. A new television ad is going up this week on national cable TV. It’s being put out by Americans United for Change. Watch it here.

Let’s say this straight out. The White House’s political play has been effective…so far. The whole Rush Limbaugh “hope he fails’ comments have put Republican leaders in a tough spot. Defend Rush and look like your taking your cues from a popular radio talk show host or distance yourself at your own peril? Kudos for classic political maneuvering.

So what should GOP politicians do in this situation? A Republican strategist tells the Brody File the following:

“They are smart to try to tag the GOP as being run by Limbaugh, just as we have been smart to say that Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi take their marching orders from MoveOn.org.  One always tries to tie a party to its most extreme leaders.  Republicans should not take the bait.  They should just say that Rush Limbaugh is a friend and a solid conservative with a large audience who is more than capable of articulating his positions and defending himself.  For our part, we would prefer in a perfect world for Obama to succeed, both at home and abroad, but he cannot and will not succeed as long as he pursues the failed policies of the past of trying to tax, spend, and borrow his way out of an economic slowdown.  If he continues to go down that tax-and-spend road, he is doomed to failure.”  End of story.  Instead, Steele and others are getting too defensive.  Everyone understands that broadcasters like Rush and Hannity have one role, and Republican elected officials a different role.”

Comments?