Rush vs. Steele

I need to rant a little over the whole Rush Limbaugh – Michael Steele controversy.

Some of the GOP dissatisfaction has focused on new chairman Michael Steele, who has delivered a string of gaffes on television, while not putting much infrastructure in place at the party’s headquarters. Steele criticized Limbaugh as being merely an “entertainer” who makes “ugly” remarks – then said he was sorry two days later.

Ok. First off Michael Steele needs to get a better handle on PR. This one of two primary functions of his role as chairman. Fundraising is the other. Chairman Steele you aren’t getting off on the right foot. You need to stop making stupid comments. You are playing into the Democrats hands, and it is just a smokescreen that is failing.

Rush responds:

“The RNC is against Obama’s agenda too, but they’re too afraid to stand up and tell the press that they want Obama to fail. Stop sending me facts and quotes about how bad the Obama agenda and then not stand up against it,” says Rush to Republican National Chairman Michael Steele in response to Michael Steele calling Rush’s words “ugly”.

On the other hand, now we have an RNC member calling for his resignation.

In an e-mail to fellow RNC members obtained by The Hill, Dr. Ada Fisher, North Carolina’s national committeewoman, said Steele is “eroding confidence” in the GOP and that members of his transition team should encourage him to step aside. Fisher added Steele’s personal e-mail address to the e-mail.

I think this is a little premature. Limbaugh isn’t above criticism. The RNC needs to give its new chairman more than month. Both Rush and Steele need to realize that this is a distraction to the real problem at hand.

So Chairman Steele you need to recognize that Limbaugh obviously has influence within the party and pick your battles. On the other hand, nobody had elected Rush to anything, and while I resonate with much of what he has to say, he is not “the” leader of the GOP. He isn’t causing the GOP sink either.

Can we move on and address what really ails our nation?

People of color have not been receptive of the 20th Century rhetoric of the Republican Party. Rush's tone and strategy tend to alienate the very people the party needs to not only gain power but retain power. Palin was viewed as an affirmative action/identity politics pick. If in fact we recognize the need to diversify, using the same logic as John McCain and most of the conservative pundits (including Rush, Ann Coulter, Hannity, Ingraham etc… who supported his diversity pick) lets get diverse people who can help us win. As long as republican nominees are almost exclusively white for statewide and national elections the party is wasting its time seeking to win minority votes. If we are going to break the Democratic Party’s stranglehold on the minority vote, the party has to show real and demonstrable change. Remember talk is cheap. When minorities see significant change in the fabric of republican politics then the Democratic Party will be crippled. Is affirmative action, which is pretty much a moot point) more important than national defense, the economy, abortion, traditional marriage etc…?

President Obama brilliantly attacked the conservative strength, as being the party who will give tax cuts, with his “95% of Americans will receive a tax cut” promise. The party needs to attack the DNC strength, which is being the party of diversity, if the party is going to gain political dominance. Conservatives need to prioritize. Again, is affirmative action, which is pretty much a moot point, more important than national defense, the economy, abortion, traditional marriage etc…? Losing national elections due to holding on to dubious/failed strategy, rhetoric, and policy should not be a source of joy for the RNC or conservatives.

Consider that something like 95% of Blacks and 67% of Hispanics voted for President Obama. Again, I think we should focus on winning rhetoric, policy and action. The extremely negative response to Chairman Steele by some conservatives will do nothing but promote the Liberal assertion that the RNC is the “Whites only club”.

6 comments

Wickle says:
March 6, 2009 at 2:40 pm
Part of the problem, I'd argue, is that Limbaugh really has started believing his own press.
More to the point, though, it's worth remembering what Limbaugh's job is: his job is to draw attention to himself, pull in advertising, and build his audience. I'm not convinced that he cares two shakes about the Republican party or anything else at this point.
Sadly, much of his audience seems to mistake him for an actual activist.
Patrick Addison says:
March 7, 2009 at 11:17 am
People of color have not been receptive of the 20th Century rhetoric of the Republican Party. Rush's tone and strategy tend to alienate the very people the party needs to not only gain power but retain power. Palin was viewed as an affirmative action/identity politics pick. If in fact we recognize the need to diversify, using the same logic as John McCain and most of the conservative pundits (including Rush, Ann Coulter, Hannity, Ingraham etc… who supported his diversity pick) lets get diverse people who can help us win. As long as republican nominees are almost exclusively white for statewide and national elections the party is wasting its time seeking to win minority votes. If we are going to break the Democratic Party’s stranglehold on the minority vote, the party has to show real and demonstrable change. Remember talk is cheap. When minorities see significant change in the fabric of republican politics then the Democratic Party will be crippled. Is affirmative action, which is pretty much a moot point) more important than national defense, the economy, abortion, traditional marriage etc…?
President Obama brilliantly attacked the conservative strength, as being the party who will give tax cuts, with his “95% of Americans will receive a tax cut” promise. The party needs to attack the DNC strength, which is being the party of diversity, if the party is going to gain political dominance. Conservatives need to prioritize. Again, is affirmative action, which is pretty much a moot point, more important than national defense, the economy, abortion, traditional marriage etc…? Losing national elections due to holding on to dubious/failed strategy, rhetoric, and policy should not be a source of joy for the RNC or conservatives.
Consider that something like 95% of Blacks and 67% of Hispanics voted for President Obama. Again, I think we should focus on winning rhetoric, policy and action. The extremely negative response to Chairman Steele by some conservatives will do nothing but promote the Liberal assertion that the RNC is the “Whites only club”.
Shane Vander Hart says:
March 7, 2009 at 12:46 pm
I wouldn't quite agree with you. I do think he cares about the party, but I think he cares about himself more.
Shane Vander Hart says:
March 7, 2009 at 12:49 pm
I agree with you that the bloodletting needs to stop. Steele needs to realize when he is being bated to parrot Obama talking points.
You are right that we also need to prioritize. No I wouldn't elevate affirmative action to the level of importance of the other issues you mentioned.
Kansas Bob says:
March 7, 2009 at 1:21 pm
Why blame Steele? He is not the leader of the GOP. Unfortunately the GOP does not have a leader.. until Rush anoints one 🙂
I think that El Rushbo is jsut upset that he is not as popular as his liberal counterpart – Oprah. Too bad the GOP doesn't really have an Oprah.