RUSH: Jeb Bush. “Former Governor Florida Jeb Bush said yesterday that he found it troubling that the 2012 presidential candidates are, quote, ‘Appealing to people’s fears and emotion on the campaign trail.’ Bush expressed concern about the type of rhetoric the candidates were using, without getting specific or naming names.” Here’s a quote, Jeb Bush to Fox News: “I used to be a conservative, and I watch these debates and I’m wondering: I don’t think I’ve changed, but it’s a little troubling sometimes when people are appealing to people’s fears and emotion rather than trying to get them to look over the horizon for a broader perspective.”

I have all the respect in the world for Jeb Bush, but I really wonder how many Republicans actually understand what’s going on? Fear and emotion? Governor Bush, the people of this country are scared to death without the Republicans saying a word! Republican conservative primary voters are already scared of what’s being done to their country. Yesterday, they have to hear Obama promise: In five more years, look out what I can do. Yeah, he gave an interview. By the way, this funny. He gave an interview to Univision radio, what the media is calling “the Latino Rush Limbaugh.” There is no Latino Rush Limbaugh! I am the Latino Rush Limbaugh.

But they’re out there saying that Obama’s told these people… And what he was doing, he was telling the Hispanic audience, “Look, I got five years coming to me. I’ll handle this illegal stuff next term when I don’t have any accountability, when I don’t have to run for reelection. Just hang in there is, be cool, be patient. I’ll take care of it.” That was the unspoken message from Obama to Univision radio. But presidential candidates are appealing to people’s fears and emotion? Uh, what do the Democrats do? Every day! Isn’t every day in this country a crisis that needs an immediate government solution right now? Isn’t that the Democrat Party modus operandi?

There’s already fear and emotion in everybody’s everyday lives because of what’s happening to the country. Honestly, when I hear some of these high-ranking Republicans discuss what this campaign is, sometimes I wonder if they really have a grasp on what’s happening, at least in the minds of Republican voters. In fact, I will tell you: I betcha the Tea Party and a number of Republicans will tell you that they’re mad because the Republican elites aren’t being scary enough! That they’re not warning people of the dangers ahead enough! That would be my guess.

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RUSH: It is amazing to me. It is, even though it shouldn’t be, but it’s amazing to me — how Jeb Bush and Rudy and Chris Christie, all these people… Jeb Bush, we quoted him earlier today. He’s nervous. He says (paraphrased), “Ah, don’t start talking about fear and emotion. This is not what I want to hear our nominees talking about.” Christie and a lot of these people say: You gotta stop talking about social issues.

Republicans are say, “We’ve got to stop talking about this abortion stuff. We gotta stop talking about contraception.” It is the Democrats who are obsessed with this stuff! Why can’t our people go on offense? Why can’t our people say, “It’s the Democrats who are obsessed with all of these social issues”? Look: “Maryland Gay Marriage Bill to Governor’s Desk.” That’s not a social issue, gay marriage? We have a federal judge this week in San Francisco who ruled that the Defense of Marriage Act, signed by Bill Clinton, is unconstitutional. He just took it upon himself to say that a piece of legislation is unconstitutional. Defending traditional values is not modern? It’s off topic? Attacking them is modern and good politics?

That’s what we’re to believe here? All we’re doing is defending traditional values. All we’re doing is defending the institutions and the traditions that have made this country great, and apparently that’s what you’re not supposed to do? “No, no, don’t do that! Mr. Limbaugh, you’re just gonna make people nervous. Women aren’t going to understand.” You wouldn’t believe the e-mails. “Rush, women’s brains can’t compute this way. You’re making a big mistake here just by bringing this up.” Oh, so we can’t defend all these great traditions, but the left can attack them? The left can attack them and rip them apart and tear them down, and that’s good politics? Is that what we’re to believe?

We’re supposed to sit by while great traditions and institutions like marriage are ripped to shreds. Obama just, as a dictator would, demands that contraception be free and paid for. He can’t do that! We’re supposed to not say a word because “Obama’s on the right side, here. That’s good politics” We conservatives are on defense on these matters. We’re not trying to change the world. We’re trying to preserve it! I’m just gonna tell you: For all of you friends and not who are telling me to leave this stuff alone, please take it somewhere else. If you don’t have the desire to defend this stuff, then don’t get mad at me, because I do. Because I am not gonna join the side of this that says, “The good politics, the smart politics, the side of this you want to be on politically is to tear down these traditions and institutions.”

I am not going there. I’m not gonna go there to attract a larger audience. I’m not gonna go there to avoid criticism. We’re not the ones that issued the rule violating the First Amendment. They did! We didn’t go to federal court to impose our will and to claim that the will of the people is unconstitutional. They did! We are not the ones doing social experiments with the US military. They are! And yet we’re divisive? We’re anti-modern? We’re unfocused? We’re old-fashioned? We’re racist, sexist, bigot homophobes? I’m sorry, I am not gutless. And, by the way, I discussed economic issues and every other aspect of Obama long before anybody else got to the table. While everybody else was afraid to be critical of Obama, I was not.

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RUSH: Jim, Danville, Virginia, welcome to the program. Hello.

CALLER: Hey, Rush, mega dittos. Hey, just to give you a quick unsolicited promo for Two If By Tea, if I can: I bought eight cases before Christmas to give out as gifts; everybody loved it. But to get right to my point —

RUSH: Now, wait just a second.

CALLER: (chuckles)

RUSH: This blows me away. How many people…? (laughing) How many people buy bottled iced tea to give it away as gift? I can’t thank you enough for that. That’s eight cases you bought.

CALLER: It’s awesome. It’s awesome tea. But anyway, to get to my point.

RUSH: Yes?

CALLER: You made a comment earlier in the show — and I just wanted to call to confirm that you are 100% correct, not 99.9% correct. You made a comment about that you felt in reality that conservatives and Tea Party members were actually upset with the Republican establishment because they were not screaming about what everything that’s going wrong.

RUSH: Yeah. This was the Jeb Bush. We all love Jeb Bush here, but he was saying that he used to be conservative. He’s look at the nominees, he doesn’t like all this emotion and fear in the campaign. And what I said was, “I don’t know if these people really understand what’s going on with the voters. You’re already filled with fear over what’s happening to the country, and you’re already emotional about it!” The nominees, the candidates don’t have to do anything. It’s already there. The fear is palpable! I appreciate your calling to confirm that because I have no doubt about it.