Rush Limbaugh : Media Trying to 'Protect' Obama From His Own 'Red Line' in Syria

8/27/13 - Conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh criticized the political press for engaging in what he called an effort to "water down" what President Barack Obama meant when he said that chemical weapons use in Syria represented a "red line" for the United States. The host cited news outlets which are interpreting Obama's "red line" to mean something less consequential than a military response.

"A red line for us is we start seeing a whole bunch of chemical weapons moving around or being utilized," Obama said in the summer of 2012.

"Now, the grey area there is translating what 'a whole bunch' means," Limbaugh said. "And that's where they're going to play games here."

Limbaugh cited some media reports which provided the government with a more ambiguous reading of Obama's "red line." He identified ABC News as one outlet which was actively trying "to get Obama out of this jam" by liberally interpreting what Obama's "red line" meant.

"So, even when Obama says he's being very clear, he's being too nuanced for us mere mortals," Limbaugh observed.

"Now, how can we be sure that Obama isn't trying to get us into yet another war?" the host asked. "Remember, Obama needs to distract people from his domestic agenda falling apart — well, falling apart from our perspective. From his perspective, it's right on schedule."

But he still needs people distracted from it. People don't like what's happening. They don't yet associate Obama with it. You know that drill. But even, so Obama doesn't want to run the risk that at some point people are going to associate what's happening with him, so just keep people distracted. It's exactly what he accused Bush of doing.