PRES. OBAMA PUSHES BACK AGAINST THE RADICAL GASBAGS

Unlike Medved, Pres. Obama wasn't shy about naming a couple of the radio freaks who are trying to inflame their listeners. In a brief interview with Harry Smith on CBS' The Early Show, he spoke out:

Obama: Extreme Right-Wing Shows "Troublesome"
Tells Harry Smith He's Concerned about "Demonization" in Politics; Calls on Dems, GOP Alike to "Tone Down" Rhetoric

(CBS) President Obama has noticed the "vitriol" in the nation's political atmosphere these days and says it's time both sides cooled it.

In a brief interview with "The Early Show" co-anchor Harry Smith Thursday before they shot some hoops on the White House basketball court, Mr. Obama called the extreme nature of some of the barbs directed his way on conservative talk shows "troublesome."

The remarks came in response to Smith telling him he's been listening to talk radio and "the kindest of terms you're sometimes referred to out in America is 'a Socialist.' The worst of which I've heard is -- called 'a Nazi."'

Asked by Smith whether he's "aware of the level of enmity that crosses the airwaves and that people have made part of their daily conversation" about him, Mr. Obama replied, "Well -- I mean, I think that -- when you've listened to Rush Limbaugh or Glen Beck it's …"

"It's beyond that," Smith interjected.

"It's pretty - apparent," the president continued, "and -- it's troublesome. But -- you know, keep in mind that there have been periods in American history where this kind of -- this kind of vitriol comes out. It happens often when -- you've got an economy that is making people more anxious and people are feeling that there's a lot of change that needs to take place. But that's not the vast majority of Americans."