ZACHARY PLEAT/Media Matters For America
Under criticism for discouraging Republicans from cooperating with Democrats to pass legislation, Fox News and Rush Limbaugh are telling Republicans how to move on comprehensive immigration reform.
President Obama told The New Republic that it would be easier to work with Republicans to pass legislation "[i]f a Republican member of Congress is not punished on Fox News or by Rush Limbaugh for working with a Democrat on a bill of common interest." Fox and Limbaugh lashed out at Obama in response to his comments on Monday, but on Monday night, Fox host Sean Hannity advised Republican lawmakers to "proceed with caution" on immigration reform. During the segment, Republican Senator Marco Rubio said that Hannity gave "good advice."
While Fox was dispensing advice to the GOP, Limbaugh declared that "it's up to me" to stop comprehensive immigration reform because he doesn't think Fox "is that invested in this." Rubio will be on Limbaugh's program on Tuesday to discuss the immigration reform that Limbaugh has pledged to halt.
As Fox and Limbaugh criticized Obama for highlighting their ability to sway Republican lawmakers, they proved him right with their comments about immigration reform. This is not the first example of their influence over the GOP - past media reports indicate Fox News and Limbaugh's influence on key Republican lawmakers crafting laws and negotiating bills with Democrats.
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