Imus Loves Him Some Jake Tapper

Imus kicked off his lovefest today with Jake Tapper, the White House Correspondent for ABC News, by claiming that Tapper is a rare breed of guest capable of figuring out what’s going on in the middle, rather than proselytizing for the Left or the Right. 
 
In return, Tapper offered his services, in whatever capacity they might be needed, to The Imus Ranch. “Come out and read the news to people,” Imus instructed him, then broke down the philosophy of the Imus Ranch for his guest.
 
“Don’t ever let anybody tell you you can’t do something, and don’t be defined by your disease,” Imus said. “Nobody goes through life undefeated. Bad stuff happens to everybody.”
 
Tapper noted how tough it must be for young kids diagnosed with cancer to feel like all they are is sick. Told he could help by going to Amazon or iTunes and buying The Imus Ranch Record II, Tapper happily chirped, “Done and done.”
 
Also done? The Democrats hope of staying in power after November 2. “I talked to a top Democrat today…and he said it feels pretty ugly out there,” Tapper said. “I think that the White House is definitely preparing itself to lose the House, and maybe even the Senate.”
 
Though Imus posited that such a turn of events could actually benefit President Obama because he could use the Republicans as foils, Tapper doesn’t necessarily subscribe to that theory.
 
“I think it’s going to be very difficult for them to work with the President because the Party is being drawn to the Right, to the Tea Party movement,” he said. “And a lot of the people who will be in the Senate will be worried about being challenged from the Right.”
 
As examples, he pointed to Senator Bob Corker of Tennessee and Senator Orrin Hatch of Utah, both moderates known for working with Democrats, both up for reelection in 2012.
 
“Having seen what happened this year, having felt that the energy is with the grassroots, with the Tea Party activists, there will be, I think, a real potential for even more gridlock than people complain about in a normal time,” Tapper said.
 
The noble goals of the Tea Party candidates are all well and good, but Imus wondered what happens when they arrive in Washington, the lobbyist knocks on the door, and they realize they’ve got to immediately begin running for reelection.
 
Sen. Patty Murray“We’ll see,” Tapper said knowingly, and told Imus the story of Senator Patty Murray, Democrat of Washington, for whom Obama campaigned last week. “Patty Murray was this insurgent woman in the year of the woman in 1992, the mom with tennis shoes, and she was going to take on the establishment,” Tapper said. “Now she’s the definition of the establishment: she’s the fourth-ranking Democratic leader in the Senate; the number one group that contributes to her campaign is lobbyists and lobbying firmed; she’s a big fan of earmarks, bringing home the bacon.”
 
He added, “It’s very easy to see how people become part of the system, even if they go there to change it.”
 
On election night, Tapper believes results in Pennsylvania, Delaware and Connecticut will be real harbingers. In an effort to get young people, who tend to vote Democratic, to the polls next Tuesday, President Obama will make an appearance on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart later this week.
 
Informed that Imus is the only person on this program who likes Stewart, Tapper preached, “Hate the game. Don’t hate the player.”
 
Amen.
 
-Julie Kanfer