Smerconish: Glenn Beck, Hannity and Limbaugh Have ‘Supplanted’ GOP Leadership

‘And so those candidates are a reflection, I think, of the talk radio world’

RUSH TRANSCRIPT:
BALDWIN: "There's that word Progressive again but used in a different context. Essentially talking about these incredibly popular conservative radio show hosts and talk show hosts who essentially you're saying have a grip on Republicans."
SMERCONISH: "A greater -- I argue they have a greater sway on the GOP base than does the party leadership. And that that has taken place over last 30 years. Brook, when I'm out and about, not here on CNN, not answering the phone on my own radio program, but leading my real life, people engage me about politics and what I hear most often is the question, people will say, explain to me, how did Donald Trump get to be the front-runner. How did Ted Cruz, two relatively bombastic personalities, get to be in the position."
BALDWIN: "What do you say?"
SMERCONISH: "I say look to the leadership of the Republican party. I'm not talking about Reince Priebus, i am not talking about Sean Spicier. I'm talking about Glenn Beck and Limbaugh and Hannity. And so those candidates are a reflection, I think, of the talk radio world."
BALDWIN: "Rhetoric, everything that's been --"
SMERCONISH: "Absolutely, stirring the pot. The problem I think is the party exists, the Democratic Party, Republican party, for one person, to win elections. Those personalities exact for a different person which is to attract ears and eyeballs and clicks and frankly to make money."

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