Posted on 03/02/2009 9:59:48 AM PST by Sub-Driver
Limbaugh's latest attacker: RNC's Steele By: Jonathan Martin March 2, 2009 12:07 PM EST
On the same night he was offering the keynote address to the Conservative Political Action Conference, Rush Limbaugh drew criticism from an unlikely source: Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele.
In a little-noticed interview Saturday night, Steele dismissed Limbaugh as an “entertainer” whose show is “incendiary” and “ugly.”
Steele’s criticism makes him the highest-ranking Republican to pick a fight with the popular and polarizing conservative talk show host.
But the new RNC chairman’s extraordinary comments won’t sit well with the millions of conservative listeners Limbaugh draws each week, and Steele aides scrambled to limit the damage Monday morning by trying to change the subject.
“Rahm Emanuel and the Democrats know they lose an argument with the Republican Party on substance so they are building straw men to attack and distract,” said RNC spokesman Alex Conant.
“The feud between radio host Rush Limbaugh and Rahm Emanuel makes great political theater, but it is a sideshow to the important work going on in Washington. RNC Chairman Michael Steele and elected Republicans are focused on fighting for reform and winning elections. The Democrats’ problem is that the American people are growing skeptical of the massive government spending being pushed by Congressional leaders like Nancy Pelosi.”
Limbaugh, asked to respond, said he’d save his counter-attack for his listeners.
“I’ll handle it on the radio,” he wrote in an e-mail.
In an interview on CNN with D.L. Hughley, Steele assured that he, not Limbaugh, was in charge of the party before saying that he wanted to put the right-wing talker “into context.”
“Rush Limbaugh is an entertainer,” Steele said. “Rush Limbaugh, his whole thing is entertainment. Yes it’s incendiary, yes it’s ugly.”
(Excerpt) Read more at politico.com ...
Thank you MortMan! Just stay in to change the Party is all I am saying! I see you are a Gulf War vet - my question to you is - in the middle of the Gulf war - would you have just pulled up your weapons and walked out because you did not like what you saw? I know military - and they do not accept defeat - they may change course and strategies - but they stay in to win!
The only place I heard him mention pro-life is at the end, and I took it to be in an unfriendly manner regarding the pro-life movement. I’ll try to get the exact quote. I’ll go back and rewatch and see if he mentions pro-life anywhere else in this interview. I appreciated the mention about what the left did to GWB. I appreciate the mention about the Maryland schools being run by Dems. However, Steele’s got to be on his toes all the time and he shouldn’t be slamming conservatives that are sticking up for conservatism.
I liked the Steele interview better then Rush’s speech, aside for that dumb comment at the end about Blacks being best.
He (Rush) made a fool of himself. I was all fired up to hear the Rush I listen to daily but wow, was he drinking or something. I’m not talking about the content of what he was saying but how he presented the speech. Reminded me of a conservative Ted Kennedy, I could hardly make out what he was talking about. Don’t get me wrong I love everything Rush stands for and think his radio show is great but that speech was bad. He would just bring thing up out of nowhere and not in context of what he was just talking about, I was like dude, finish the last point before moving on.
Some got on to Jindal for his speech, but it was 2 times better the Rush’s.
Now there is an idea, The Tea Party, the real conservative party. As for staying home from and election I will never do that, I will vote for someone, just not the usual suspects.
Anita, you seem to be missing my point entirely.
The “stay the course and vote R” route has been taken, and is an absolute failure. Any competent military leader understands that no battle plan survives first contact with the enemy - and here we see Michael Steele and the rest of the R party stubbornly pretending that their “plan” cannot be changed, and it cannot fail.
That is bovine excrement.
At what point does an abused spouse have the right to terminate the marriage? Conservatives have been and are being abused. Now, we are standing up for ourselves and our principles.
I, for one, do not believe standing up in this manner is wrong.
I guess those 100 standing ovations Rush got was from all the people who are not blessed with your insight. It is incredibly easy to tell a troll. Rush gave the speech of his life and all real conservatives recognized it as such. Too bad you didn’t.
If anything....Steele is more of a RINO like McCain than a conservative.
"I've been a Republican since I was 17. It was a choice that I made before the pro-life issue was out there...before a whole lot of stuff that now defines this party was in play."
Can you point to time in the video where he is praising pro-life issues/movement? I don't have time to re-watch the whole thing right now.
Such an elegant defense of the GOP.
Undoubtedly this approach will gain
new adherents.
Call me a troll all you want, but I’ve Listen to Rush beginning in the early 90’s. Even used to watch his TV show, even he will tell you his talent is not TV, that’s why he cancelled the show. People cheered his points as I did, I’m talking about the presentation. I think Rush was a lot better in the Hannity interviews, public/TV speaking not his thing, even Rush has stated that.
I made the call...
Others need to now.
“Apologize, retract or resign.”
You didn't mention the Nazi Party remark by Hughley and Steele not saying anything to that racist comment, but slightly nodding his head up and down as if in agreement. He can say a couple of wonderful things, but if he's couching it in apologies and pandering and slams against conservatives, it doesn't do us any good. He better clarify and make amends and shape up or he needs to go. We don't have time for these kinds of mistakes.
Dittos. I used to like Steele, but he is being REALLY stupid coming out against Rush. When will the Repub establishment get a clue?
One last thing. The atmosphere wasn’t hostile. It wasn’t pro-conservatism, but it wasn’t hostile. Hughley actually complimented Steele several times.
Mortman - we are arguimng the same point - I do NOT believe in staying the same course! believe in CHANGING the course! NOT quitting!
I agree - where there has been abuse - you leave - but in this case - where do you leave to? There are not third parties that can win in the set-up we have in the elections - and I know you definitely can’t go to the Dimms because of your beliefs.
And if you stay at home - that is the same thing as voting for the opposition.
That is what I mean. Thanks for the great discussion BTW! We’re all on the same side - vote for ‘Change WE can believe in’ - Get the RINOS OUT!
I disagree that we are arguing the same point, FRiend. Your stance appears to be cheerleading to “change the party from within”, whereas I have simply stated that the party must conform to a certain standard of principles in order for me to be part of it.
I have no commitment to staying with the R party, much the same as they have shown no commitment to staying a conservative party. If they choose to change themselves, I will consider them.
If they choose to continue in their current course, they can kiss my wide rear end.
It has been proven time and again that I, like a plethora of other conservatives, have no influence in the party beyond the ability to withhold my support. The party has chosen to push me to a point where I am withholding support.
And to those who would complain I am “taking my ball and going home”... I could not care less what your opinion of my actions is. Attempting to affect the course of the party from within has been shown to be futile. Now, the party can either field a candidate that meets my standards, or they can forgo my support.
Oh well.
The new breakaway republic we are going to create to replace the burning embers of what had been the USA.
Mr. Steele, Rush is the ONLY leader of the republican party right now. Until you get a backbone and start bringing the fight to the libs, I suggest you cease attacking ANYONE in the conservative movement let alone Rush. You DEFINITELY haven’t earned that right.
Praise God! - There you go! We are weeding out the chaff! Goodbye!
Steele is already hinting that he’s the wrong man for the RNC chairmanship. And I’d bet that, despite of what he says, he listens to Limbaugh’s show quite frequently and/or gets reports on it regularly.
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