Yesterday I spent quite a bit of time talking with media folks about this issue of Governor Schwarzenegger and his characterization on the Today Show on Tuesday of Rush Limbaugh (and his listeners) as ‘irrelevant’.
While there were a number of interviews with radio and print reporters, the most fun was participating on Warren Olney’s radio program where I got to participate in a discussion of this issue with my good friend, and a fellow writer for this website, Dan Schnur. San Jose State’s Larry Gerston was also on the audio-panel.
First and foremost, it was very clear that Arnold Schwarzenegger regretting making the offhand comment on the Today show – which would explain his calling into the Rush Limbaugh program yesterday (you can read the transcript, which is linked from the main page). There’s no better way to show that you really do think that Rush, his show and his listeners are not irrelevant than by appearing on the program, right? Well…
Let me quickly add that it was very clear to anyone listening to the dialogue between the Governor and "America’s Talk Show Host" that there is no personal animosity between the two. In fact, it was clear that the two of them have a very cordial relationship.
That having been said, the root of the problem that we have here, which is what caused the off-hand comment on the Today Show to have any traction is that Governor Schwarzenegger has started to become seemingly dismissive of ideologues. He seems to think that his job, as Governor, is to "roll up his sleeves and solve problems" — which of course is certainly a part of his job. But it is important to understand that the entire issue of the proper role and function of the government at every level is inherently an ideological issue — simply because one of the main attributes of our American form of government is that we believe that the very role of government itself should be limited. Because of that, when looking at any "solutions to problems" — and considering a potential government response to, answer to, program for, intrusion into — well, it is not only fair but extremely important to ask the question — "Is this something that government should be doing?"
This is an inherently ideological question — and while it may be ‘inconvenient’ at times for the notion of a limited role for government to get ‘in the way’ of pushing major policy agendas, the Governor should understand and respect that without careful consideration of the cost of a program in terms of erosion of individual liberty, and an expansion (even incrementally) of the government, we may be in danger of violating our charge to maintain a limited role for government in America.
The Governor’s seemingly dismissive attitude towards ideologues is very unfortunate. Because it is in fact the ideologues (frankly, of both parties) who understand that the debate is more than about what government is doing, but whether government should be doing it.
Frankly, it isn’t really a big deal if the Governor, even in a verbal mis-step calls conservatives irrelevant. The bigger deal is whether he believes that we are irrelevant…
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