Send a Message to Michael
Monday, March 02, 2009 at 3:57 pm
Does anyone really think it’s good for the GOP, a month and a half into the Obama presidency, to spend so much time scrapping with and about Rush Limbaugh? Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele appeared on D.L. Hughley’s CNN show Saturday and agreed with the Democratic-voting host that Limbaugh’s tone was sometimes bad for the party.
Rush Limbaugh, his whole thing is entertainment. Yes it’s incendiary, yes it’s ugly.
Instead of spending his radio show talking about his own triumphant CPAC speech, Limbaugh fired back at Steele.
The Republican National Committee and Michael Steele need a little leadership … we’re going to have to drag them kicking and screaming back to our core,” Limbaugh said. “They are caught up in so much fear because of where they live and work in Washington, DC,” he said.
Responding to Steele’s argument that he is the “de facto” head of the GOP, Limbaugh warned: “Michael Steele — you are head of the RNC — you are not head of the Republican Party.” Limbaugh went on to say Steele would have to become President for that to happen. He also noted: “… I’m not in charge of the Republican Party, and I don’t want to be.”
….
Limbaugh also noted that he had helped Steele out in the past: “Michael Steele was on this program … he got air time on this program … I personally took time to defend Michael Steele … Something has happened. Now, I’m just an ‘entertainer’, and now I’m ‘ugly’ and my program is ‘incendiary’.”
Steele was just being Steele, as well being a good head of the RNC, tailoring his rhetoric to his audience. Normally, a party leader can get away with this without causing a ruckus. But Limbaugh keeps elevating fealty to conservative philosophy and conservative leaders (like, you know, Rush Limbaugh) as essential to any Republican revival, and relentlessly pounds any party figure who breaks ranks. As a result, the party keeps on losing news cycles like this.
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11 Comments
Comment posted March 2, 2009 @ 1:11 pm
Many thanks to Rush for saying what needs to be said speaking for conservatives. He is as great an entertainer as was Reagan.
Comment posted March 2, 2009 @ 1:24 pm
Dear Sen. Steele:
The only way the Republican Party is going to win elections is by being conservative. We are the other side of the coin. What the Dem's are doing will destroy the country as we know it. We are looking to you to lead this party and get people elected in 2010 and 2012. Get on board and start standing up for our ideals and principals and stop “playing nice” to those on the other side. In your position there are going to those who you at oposition with…but “Rush” ain't one of them. Rush speaks for some 20 million of us (and that number is growing) because he echos the sound of freedom which dates back to our founding fathers. It is time for the RNC and it's chairman to “LET FREEDOM RING !!!
Comment posted March 2, 2009 @ 2:15 pm
Steele should go. The Republican party does not need him any more than it needs Colin Powell.
Rush speaks for conservatives. Conservatives rightly believe that this country's hope for the future lies in Obama failing to take us down the path to socialism/marxism.
Should Obama succeed we will have massive debt; we will be saddled with a program of socialized medicine; we will have powerful unions and we will have dimininished freedom.
The US cannot afford Obama – the Republican party does not need Michael Steele!
Comment posted March 2, 2009 @ 5:17 pm
As a conservative, I am 100% WITH Michael Steele. He is the new face of conservatism (I've been watching him a long time), and quite frankly, one I wouldn't mind representing my views. Rush is embarrassing, and needs to go. Years ago, I used to think of him as a voice of the Republican party, but now, he is exactly what Steele said- an entertainer. Nothing more. If we continue to let the old guard conservatives like Rush represent us, the party will die. Michael Steele owes Rush nothing.
Comment posted March 3, 2009 @ 3:52 pm
Dear Senator Steele,
I have owned a specialty valve manufacturing company. I know what it takes to make payrolls etc. Our present President is taking us down the wrong path. A recession is cured by a recession. It weeds out poor business practices and weak businesses. Loans to bailout out the weak ones only prolong their eventual failure. We are living through this faulty practice now. It is not working now nor will it work in the future. As Chairman of the Republican Party, take the conservative, strong position that productivity leading to growth is the only path our of this recession. To get us back on the road to growth, we must implement conservative principles. You wish to be the Republican Party leader, then lead with a strong conservative voice. Don't hesitate. Don't straddle the middle of the road. It won't work. Historoy shows the truly conservative way is the only way.
I will you well.
Bill Pursell
Comment posted March 4, 2009 @ 6:59 am
The controversy about Michael Steele and Rush Limbaugh (who I don't really particularly listen to anymore) is more than about Rush. When the liberal talk show host said that CPAC looked like a bunch of Nazis Michael Steele nodded in agreement.
Some said his nodding wasn't in agreement with that statement but still at the very least he was quiet and did not speak out against that outrageous statement.
This is more than about Rush the person. This was about the speech he gave and if you listened to the speech and agree with it then it is not only Rush but you, and all other grassroots conservatives that Michael Steele has rebuked in the harshest of terms.
Well, if that is the way the “leader” of the GOP feels about me then I say no, no, no, not God Bless the GOP, GOD DAMN the GOP. It isn't the party I thought I knew!
Comment posted March 4, 2009 @ 7:59 am
By saying you want the President and the Government to fail, you are saying you want failure for the American citizens of this country! How UnPatriotic and UnAmerican is that? Yes, let's listen to a air personality with a drug addiction. nice role model…
Comment posted March 4, 2009 @ 2:43 pm
Mr. Chairman, please offer national support for the “tea parties”. This country needs a way to protest Obama, and it should be massive, covered on the media, and, if necessary, take our message to Washington. You might be surprised at how many people could turn out if it's covered by the media. We just can't sit down on our lowly “behinds” and lose our country. These tea parties are taking place all over the country, but no one is leading the troops. Please be that person while you are also working for candidates needed in Congress. Tennessee has learned a hard lesson on John Tanner (Blue Dog)? Not hardly, just look at how he has voted recently. We are looking for a replacement….Blue Dog just don't GET IT!!!!
Comment posted June 14, 2009 @ 7:37 am
I was just watching George Steffenopolis (sp?) speaking with Mitt Romney about the Republican Party and leadership and health care. As Gov. Romney was talking so eloquently about the future of the Republican Party I thought of a slogan for the next few years:
Like Obama's slogan —–yes we can—
How about – Unite the Voice!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Please think about this!!! We need to unite and communicate our voice. Let's don't change our values and stand in the Republican Party—let's just communicate our values and stand better!!!!!! Unite the Voice!!!!!!!!!!!
Comment posted June 14, 2009 @ 2:37 pm
I was just watching George Steffenopolis (sp?) speaking with Mitt Romney about the Republican Party and leadership and health care. As Gov. Romney was talking so eloquently about the future of the Republican Party I thought of a slogan for the next few years:
Like Obama's slogan —–yes we can—
How about – Unite the Voice!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Please think about this!!! We need to unite and communicate our voice. Let's don't change our values and stand in the Republican Party—let's just communicate our values and stand better!!!!!! Unite the Voice!!!!!!!!!!!
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