Rep. Tom Price (R-GA) went on MSNBC’s Morning Joe today and publicly distanced himself from Rush Limbaugh’s version of the Republican party. Price said that “it’s not up to Rush Limbaugh to decide who ought to be in the Republican Party” and such exclusivity is “counterproductive.” He also said that Vice President Cheney was wrong in saying that Limbaugh is a better Republican than former Secretary of State Colin Powell:
SCARBOROUGH: Congressman, do you disagree with Rush Limbaugh that Colin Powell should leave the Republican Party?
PRICE: Look, it’s not up to Rush Limbaugh to decide who ought to be in the Republican Party. There are all sorts of wonderful folks across this land who hold dear the fundamental principles that we, as Republicans — [...]
SCARBOROUGH: Congressman, do you believe that Rush Limbaugh or Dick Cheney are better, quote — I’m just using terms that we hear every day on TV and radio — that they are somehow better Republicans than Colin Powell?
PRICE: No. Goodness.
Watch it:
Price has been called one of the “rising” stars in the conservative movement, so it’s interesting that he is so willing to buck Limbaugh and Cheney. The other Republican to do so recently was Rep. John Shadegg (R-AZ), who dismissed the hate radio host as just “a television personality.” (He has yet to apologize or backtrack, as so many of his colleagues have done.)
Transcript:
SCARBOROUGH: Congressman, Joe Scarborough here.
Do you believe that the Republican Party is big enough to hold both Rush Limbaugh and Colin Powell?
PRICE: Without a doubt. Without a doubt. If we — if we are concentrating on fundamental principles, those principles of economic freedom and economic liberty and opportunity, national security, and adhering to the social values that have made America great, then that’s a party that’s broad enough for the vast majority of the American people.
SCARBOROUGH: Congressman, do you disagree with Rush Limbaugh that Colin Powell should leave the Republican Party?
PRICE: Look, it’s not up to Rush Limbaugh to decide who ought to be in the Republican Party. There are all sorts of wonderful folks across this land who hold dear the fundamental principles that we, as Republicans –
SCARBOROUGH: But do you disagree with that viewpoint, Congressman? You disagree with that viewpoint that Colin Powell should not be a Republican? You want him to be a Republican?
PRICE: I’m an arms-open guy. I want folks all across this land who believe in the fundamental American principles that we embrace to join us and move forward in a positive way as opposed to the kind of exclusive decision that we so often see in Washington. It’s so counterproductive.
SCARBOROUGH: Congressman, do you believe that Rush Limbaugh or Dick Cheney are better, quote — I’m just using terms that we hear every day on TV and radio — that they are somehow better Republicans than Colin Powell?
PRICE: No. Goodness.
SCARBOROUGH: God bless you, Congressman. God bless you.
(LAUGHTER)
PRICE: This division that we seem to be embracing across this land has just got to go away. Look, we are all Americans, and we need to fight for fundamental principles. And that’s what will carry us — carry the day.
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