( CNN ) -- Rush Limbaugh brought a cheering crowd to its feet several times Saturday at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington as he called on fellow conservatives to take back the country . Conservative talk show host Rush Limbaugh energizes crowd of supporters in CPAC keynote speech . `` We conservatives have not done a good enough job of just laying out basically who we are , because we make the mistake of assuming that people know . What they know is largely incorrect , based on the way we 're portrayed in pop culture , in the drive-by media , by the Democrat party , '' the conservative talk show host told a mostly young crowd of energized supporters . `` We want every American to be the best he or she chooses to be . We recognize that we are all individuals . We love and revere our founding documents , the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence . We believe that the preamble of the Constitution contains an inarguable truth , that we are all endowed by our creator with certain inalienable rights , among them life , liberty , freedom -- and the pursuit of happiness , '' he said , pausing several times for enthusiastic applause . Looking ahead to the 2012 election , Limbaugh said conservatives will have to choose the right candidate to take the country back . Limbaugh 's impassioned keynote speech , punctuated by chest-thumping , fist-pumping and chants of `` USA '' from the crowd , capped off three days of talk at CPAC focusing on rebuilding the Republican Party . `` He played to his crowd here , '' CNN political editor Mark Preston said . `` And this crowd is now energized , something we have n't seen from Republicans , certainly not conservatives , since the November election . '' Limbaugh used his self-described `` first national address , '' which ran more than an hour longer than his allotted 20 minutes , to accuse President Obama of inspiring fear in Americans in order to push a liberal agenda of `` big government . '' `` He wants people in fear , angst and crisis , fearing the worst each and every day , because that clears the decks for President Obama and his pals to come in with the answers , which are abject failures , historically shown and demonstrated . Does n't matter . They 'll have control of it when it 's all over . And that 's what they want , '' Limbaugh said . `` They see these inequalities , these inequities that capitalism produces . How do they try to fix it ? Do they try to elevate those at the bottom ? No , they try to tear down the people at the top . '' Limbaugh praised Obama as one of the most gifted politicians he has seen , but said , `` It just breaks my heart that he does not use these extraordinary talents and gifts to motivate and inspire the American people to be the best they can be . He 's doing just the opposite . '' Limbaugh also dismissed the notion of bipartisanship as a `` false premise '' given the diverging views of the Democratic and Republican Parties on a variety of issues , including the recent $ 787 stimulus package signed by Obama . `` Bipartisanship occurs only after one other result . And that is victory , '' he said . Watch Limbaugh discuss bipartisanship » . `` What [ Democrats ] mean is we check our core principles at the door , come in , let them run the show , and then agree with them , '' he said . Limbaugh 's rollicking speech came the day after Obama supporters put out a political ad implying that the conservative radio host has become the de facto head of the Republican Party in the absence of a clear GOP leader . The ad argues that the Republican leadership in Congress is following Limbaugh 's lead in opposing the Obama administration 's stimulus package . `` So who are Republican leaders listening to ? '' the announcer asks , before the 30-second ad cuts abruptly to footage of Limbaugh saying , `` I want him [ Obama ] to fail . '' It was paid for by Americans United for Change and the American Federation of State , County and Municipal Employees union , two groups that supported Obama during the election and are advocating for his agenda . Limbaugh does n't speak for all Republicans or conservatives . Copies of the American Conservative magazine with the headline `` How radio wrecks the right '' were distributed to CPAC attendees , Preston said . `` There is some criticism of Rush Limbaugh . Some people think he is a reactionary , '' Preston said . Limbaugh defended his remark about wanting Obama to fail , comparing it to his desire to see the Arizona Cardinals `` fail '' in this year 's Super Bowl game against the Pittsburgh Steelers . Watch Limbaugh explain failure remark » . `` This notion that I want the president to fail , folks , this shows you a sign of the problem we 've got , '' he said . `` What is so strange about being honest and saying , I want Barack Obama to fail if his mission is to restructure and reform this country so that capitalism and individual liberty are not its foundation ? Why would I want that to succeed ? '' he said , bringing the crowd once again to its feet . `` Did the Democrats want the war in Iraq to fail ? Well , they certainly did . And they not only wanted the war in Iraq to fail , they proclaimed it a failure . ''
`` We want every American to be the best he or she chooses to be , '' he says . Limbaugh says American need to choose right candidate to take back nation . He accuses President Limbaugh of inspiring fear in American to push his agenda . Opponents had put out political ad implying Obama was de facto head of the American Conservative .