White House vs. Rush Limbaugh
BLITZER: All right, let's bring in our panel. Joining us now, our senior political analyst, Gloria Borger; our CNN political contributor Tara Wall of "The Washington Times;" and Democratic strategist James Carville. They are part of the best political team on television. This has been Barack Obama's second week as president of the United States. Was there a key defining moment in week two for you -- Gloria?</s>GLORIA BORGER, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: For me, it was the vote on the stimulus package. Obviously, Barack Obama was happy because he won. But he was not happy with the way he won it. He would have liked to have had more Republican votes on that. He had a big fat zero on that. They believe they're going to get Republican votes when they get a compromise package through. But it wasn't a great start to bipartisanship.</s>BLITZER: What was the defining moment for you -- James?</s>JAMES CARVILLE, CNN CONTRIBUTOR, CLINTON SUPPORTER: Yes, I agree, the number zero. You know, one of the great inventions in the history of civilization was the invention of the number zero. The Romans, though, didn't have it when they did a lot of engineering. And the fact that zero Republicans voted -- I've got to tell you, as a Democrat, as an American, it probably wasn't a good thing. But I think as a Democrat, the Republican Party sent out a message loud and clear that Rush Limbaugh is running this party, he's in charge and we're not going to go along with anything. And I think the country is not very impressed with that. But we'll...</s>BLITZER: Tara, was there a...</s>CARVILLE: ...see what happens in the Senate.</s>BLITZER: Was there a defining moment for you -- Tara?</s>TARA WALL, DEPUTY EDITOR, "THE WASHINGTON TIMES": Well, the "I won," I think, was the defining moment. And that might have done it for some Republicans that...</s>BLITZER: When Barack Obama, the president...</s>WALL: When Barack Obama...</s>BLITZER: ...said that, you mean?</s>WALL: Yes, the president.</s>BLITZER: Explain what you mean.</s>WALL: Well, when President Obama said, "I won," I think that may have been the impetus for some Republicans, anyway, other than the fact that it was too large a package. For some of them, it could have just been the evidence for them to say that's -- you know, you've made up your mind. You've said, you know, you want to work with us, you want to meet with us, but you've already made up your mind. You've won. You don't won't want to bend on the tax cuts. So why should we vote for this?</s>BORGER: But he said that in a very joking way in the meeting. From the people I was talking to in the meeting, he said, "I won and I think I'm going to trump you on that." And it was kind of jovial and it was not an "I won" and I'm right...</s>WALL: Well, it didn't...</s>BORGER: ...and you're wrong.</s>WALL: But it didn't have to be.</s>BORGER: It was a...</s>WALL: It didn't have to be, I think, for some. For some. I mean, overall, again, I think it was the -- what was in the package and the amount of the package that did it for most Republicans.</s>BORGER: Right.</s>BLITZER: James, how did that...</s>WALL: But again...</s>BLITZER: ..."I won" comment strike you?</s>CARVILLE: It's a fact. I mean, he did. And the issue was -- is that one of the great lies that the Republican Party tells is that people -- that poor people don't pay taxes. And I think that was the issue that he was talking about.</s>WALL: Yes. Yes it was.</s>CARVILLE: And this president is committed, as he well should be, to -- if there's going to be some relief, it's going to be for people making $15,000 or 20,000 a year. And every economist in the world knows that as soon as these people get money, they're going to spend it in the economy. And, actually, it -- he's gone out of his way -- no president has gone further to try to work with the opposition than this president. But there's not going to be -- I mean the House Republicans sent a pretty clear signal, I thought.</s>BORGER: Yes.</s>CARVILLE: And I think they're quite satisfied with themselves and Rush is very pleased with them. And so they're happy.</s>BLITZER: All right. Let's see what happens in the Senate. All right. There's -- Tara, there's a new chairman of the Republican National Committee, the former lieutenant governor of Maryland, Michael Steele, the first African-American to lead the party. You used to work at the RNC. What's the significance of this?</s>WALL: I did and Michael is a very good friend of mine. And I stayed -- I had to stay neutral during this whole thing. But I am very, you know, pleased that he was selected, he was voted in. I think it is a good sign for the party. I think it will hopefully quell, number one, some questions about the party's inclusiveness going forward. But it is a big job for him. One thing, if I could use the words of Malia Obama, you know, the first black chairman better be good, because he has got a lot of work to do. And it's going to be about regaining some House and Senate seats, governor's races. He does have a big task. It goes beyond the race issue. But I think certainly inclusiveness, coalitions, reaching out to youth voters -- that's something that came out of discussions...</s>BLITZER: And he promised...</s>WALL: ...yesterday quite a bit.</s>BLITZER: He promised right away, Gloria, the Northeast -- he's going back after those Republican votes...</s>BORGER: Yes.</s>BLITZER: ...which largely disappeared in much of the Northeast.</s>BORGER: Yes. And it's going to be interesting to see what happens to immigration reform as an issue in the -- in the Republican Party, because that has split the party down the middle and it will be interesting to see which way Michael Steele takes the party.</s>BLITZER: James, how...</s>WALL: Well, he's...</s>BORGER: Yes.</s>BLITZER: How formidable of a leader for the GOP will -- will Michael Steele be?</s>CARVILLE: Well, I've met him on a couple or three occasions. And he's a very personable guy. He's a very good communicator. To the extent that a party chair can make a difference, I think he looks like he's a fine choice for them. He's -- he ran for the Senate in Maryland. He didn't do that that well, but that's a pretty tough state for Republicans anyway. I think they've made their choice. I don't think party chairmans matter a great deal, but what -- my personal contacts with him and what I know about him, he seems like a fine guy.</s>BLITZER: And we hope he'll join us next week right here in THE SITUATION ROOM. All right. Senator John McCain, earlier today was on Fox and said this about Rush Limbaugh. Listen to this.</s>SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R), ARIZONA: Mr. Limbaugh is a voice of a significant portion of the -- of our conservative movement in America. He has a very wide viewing audience. He is entitled to his views. And he's -- he has a lot of -- a lot of people that listen very carefully to him. So I don't know why the president would, you know, take him on.</s>BLITZER: All right, James, why would President Obama even talk about Rush Limbaugh in that -- in that closed door meeting?</s>CARVILLE: Because he is the most powerful leader of the opposition party. The president has an opposition party in a democracy. He has to deal with it as it is. Rich Limbaugh is the de facto head of the Republican Party right now. You see these congressmen just groveling. And he and Rush himself has admitted that he's more powerful, than, say, Mitch McConnell or John Boehner. And so we don't -- it's not the Democrats or the president that are elevating Rush Limbaugh. It is the Republican officeholders who have deemed him his daddy. He is the daddy of this Republican Congress right now.</s>WALL: President -- president...</s>CARVILLE: And so we ought to acknowledge that.</s>WALL: President Obama...</s>CARVILLE: We should acknowledge Rush's position.</s>WALL: President Obama elevated him by engaging him. Make no mistake about that. It's something that in -- you know, in recent history, I don't know of any presidents who have done that. Listen, Rush Limbaugh may be very popular within the Republican Party and among Republican ranks, but he certainly does not enact policy. And I think that it's better served for the president to discuss policy and bipartisanship among members who are actually voting members and who do actually enact and develop policy.</s>BORGER: Can I just say that I was stunned to hear John McCain defend Rush Limbaugh? Because Rush Limbaugh was out there opposing John McCain in those Republican primaries, saying some pretty tough stuff about John McCain. And suddenly to see John McCain out there defending him was sort of interesting.</s>BLITZER: Go ahead, James.</s>CARVILLE: Yes. It is not -- it is the Republican who have elevated Rush Limbaugh. We're just -- this guy Gingrich, some congressman from Georgia, the man is peeling him off the wall, he was apologizing so profusely to Rush. He is the person that they have elevated. Rush acknowledges his position as the most influential Republican. We don't pick Republican leaders, just like Michael Steele. We didn't pick Michael Steele. We deal with him. The elected Republicans have said that Rush Limbaugh is an effective leader. You heard John McCain. His voice was quaking he was so scared when he was talking about him...</s>WALL: I don't...</s>CARVILLE: And you know John McCain is a very brave man.</s>BLITZER: All right...</s>WALL: ...engaging liberal talk show hosts...</s>BLITZER: All right.</s>WALL: ...like Al Franken and others.</s>BORGER: Well, in fact, McCain has been...</s>WALL: I don't...</s>BORGER: ...has been at the receiving end of Rush Limbaugh. He has.</s>BLITZER: Guys...</s>WALL: Well, he recognizes how popular he is in the party.</s>CARVILLE: Again, I...</s>CARVILLE: ...I congratulate Rush on his position as the number one Republican in the country.</s>BLITZER: All right, guys. We'll leave it on that note. Thanks very much. We'll get ready for Super Bowl Sunday. Let's check in with Lou to see what's coming up at the top of the hour. What are you working on -- Lou?</s>LOU DOBBS, CNN ANCHOR: Well, this was very timely, Wolf, because we will be talking about Rush Limbaugh. And we'll be talking about the effort by MoveOn.org and the Obama administration to drive a wedge between the most powerful voice in communications for the Republican Party and the Republican Party rank and file, as well as the Republicans on Capitol Hill. It is a coordinated attack on one of the country's most popular talk show hosts. We'll be talking about that. And President Obama and Vice President Biden launching a task force to help our middle class. Is it going to be enough? We'll have complete coverage. And we'll also be helping out that new task force with a -- with a little research. And outrage tonight over the huge amount of stimulus money being spent on creating government jobs, but not private jobs. And we'll have that in our special coverage, Lou's Line Item Veto. Also, big business and ethno-centric special interest groups combining, trying to destroy the most effective government program against illegal immigration. It's called eVerify. What will the Obama administration do? Will it surrender to special interests? We'll have that report. And two leading senators join me -- one Republican, one Democrat. Senator Jeff Sessions and Senator Ben Nelson will be talking about eVerify and this $1 trillion spending -- at least right now -- spending and borrowing legislation. Join us for all of that and more at the top of the hour -- Wolf, back to you.</s>BLITZER: We'll see you then, Lou.</s>DOBBS: You got it.</s>BLITZER: Thank you. And speaking of Rush Limbaugh, he's going after our own Ali Velshi. They're going head-to-head over tax cuts, with Limbaugh calling our chief business correspondent, Ali Velshi, not such nice names. We'll tell you what's going on because Ali is standing by live. He's going to be responding to Rush Limbaugh. That's coming up next.