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 ...
These words were also supposed to light a fire under those conservatives and Republicans who are placidly floating along doing nothing.
In the first place, I'm sure that Rush doesn't want to be the leader of the Republican Party. He is, in fact, the leader of the Conservative movement in this country which, of late, has very little to do with Republicanism. Too damned bad, I might add.
I don't sit around making chit-chat with some jerk sporting two "ear bobs" and I'd be willing to bet that Rush doesn't either. Some of you may strongly disagree with this, but the few words that people like this get from me include a brief "hello" and "goodbye."
I, very lately, took Michael Steele as a very serious conservative. It appears that I may have erred.
Wouldn’t it be poetic justice that SarahPAC received more donations in March than the entire Reoublican party did.
Exactly. I did just that this weekend and it felt GREAT!
Good one. I’m using that line next time they call (which will probably be this evening).
> > ...he should have said...
> But he didn’t did he.
No. So we should just can everyone in the party that doesn’t have the greatest comeback. It was easy for me to type it out - not sure if I’d have come up with it on live TV.
Thanks for posting that.
What a moron.
sorry to say, but Gingrinch went over to the dark side on the Global Warming issue, i wouldn’t trust him to do right for the conservatives.
Have at it!
Categorically false. I just re-watched the clip. Steele himself said, "Yes, it's inceniary, yes, it's ugly." Steele DID say it, and it DID come directly out of Steele's mouth. Watch it again.
Now it’s official: Steele is an affirmative action liberal mole. Goodbye RNC.
he’s also pro-affirmative action.
Rush could be called the de facto leader of the conservative movement, I suppose.
I watched and re-watched the video - particularly Steele's comments at 6:56 - I just don't see where he's directly referring to Rush's speech at CPAC as "incendiary" and "ugly". It's a bit unclear.
I already emailed — I wish millions would do likewise.
et tu Michael?
Maybe like those who voted for but never ready what was in the stimulus.
I didn't see the video when I made my remarks. What did I subsequently say? I said If he indeed made those remarks, he should resign.
“Steele brought this on. He’s the one that used those words.”
And frankly if anyone listened to Rush’s whole speech, he pretty much resaid what Rush said himself on the entertainment aspect.
I’ll make a prediction that Rush will have no big problem with Steele’s comments and if that happens, then is Rush a RINO too?
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