Revisiting his Limbaugh comments, Steele reportedly says, "There was no attempt on my part to diminish his voice or his leadership"
March 02, 2009 6:59 pm ET by Media Matters staff
The Politico reports:
Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele says he has reached out to Rush Limbaugh to tell him he meant no offense when he referred to the popular conservative radio host as an "entertainer" whose show can be "incendiary."
"My intent was not to go after Rush - I have enormous respect for Rush Limbaugh," Steele said in a telephone interview. "I was maybe a little bit inarticulate. ... There was no attempt on my part to diminish his voice or his leadership."
[...]
Steele, who won a hard-fought chairman's race on Jan. 30, told Politico he telephoned Limbaugh after his show on Monday afternoon and hoped that they would connect soon.
"I went back at that tape and I realized words that I said weren't what I was thinking," Steele said. "It was one of those things where I thinking I was saying one thing, and it came out differently. What I was trying to say was a lot of people ... want to make Rush the scapegoat, the bogeyman, and he's not."
"I'm not going to engage these guys and sit back and provide them the popcorn for a fight between me and Rush Limbaugh," Steele added. "No such thing is going to happen. ... I wasn't trying to slam him or anything."
[...]
In the interview with Politico, Steele called Limbaugh "a very valuable conservative voice for our party."
"He brings a very important message to the American people to wake up and pay attention to what the administration is doing," Steele said. "Number two, there are those out there who want to look at what he's saying as incendiary and divisive and ugly. That's what I was trying to say. It didn't come out that way. ... He does what he does best, which is provoke: He provokes thought, he provokes the left. And they're clearly the ones who are most excited about him."
Asked if he planned to apologize, Steele said: "I wasn't trying to offend anybody. So, yeah, if he's offended, I'd say: Look, I'm not in the business of hurting people's feelings here. ... My job is to try to bring us all together."
MK3872...
From an earlier thread over this last weekend... I misread a post of yours and laid the smack down on you...
It was brought to my attention by two other posters and so I firmly and wholly apologized to you... whether you saw it or not... I just wanted you to know.
As for Michael Steele sucking up to Rush Limpballs...
If that ain't proof enough that Rush is the de-facto leader of today's GOP... I don't know what is!
The really funny thing is that it's all true:
Limbaugh's rhetoric IS "incendiary" and "ugly", and this is what makes him the face of the Republican party.
Does this remind anyone of when Cheny shot that guy in the face and the guy apologized to Cheney?
That is power.
I think that it is good to get Rush out in settings that he can not control.
Rush will bring down Rush, and he has been trying hard for some time to do it. The man made himself DEAF for god's sake! For a broadcaster that is very bad. But he had the health care dollars to get part of his hearing back.
See Michael Run. Run Michael Run.
What a disgrace. Before the last of the winter snows have melted, I predict that every notable Republican in the US will have been forced to beg this gasbag's forgiveness. How the hell can we take anyone in this party seriously, when they are so clearly chained to a fat Oxycontin addict?
It would be great...if it wasn't in the 80s. Back then, the GOP was in charge, so Rush could rest on his laurels.
Time changes a man. Sometimes for the worst.
If you took all of the words spoken at the conference this past weekend, especially all the words spoken by rush limbaugh, and added to those words also, all of the words spoken by limbaugh on his radio show, and boiled away from it all the water (boiled away as steam), would the residue that was left in the pot, contain even a single Public Policy opinion?
I mean truly, is there even a single Public Policy opinion behind all of this noise?
And the opinion of "I hate President Obama and am wishing for his failure", or "I hate Democrats", those are not actual Public Policy opinions, and so they don't count.
I could be wrong I'm sure, but hatred anger insult slander ridicule innuendo and lies, are not qualifications to make or administer U.S. Law.
Are these people truly wondering why they've been shut out of political power by the American People?
If so, then I'm confused: it's like they're in a boat that's sinking, and they're drilling holes in the hull, to let the water out (which I believe is a Three Stooges gag, except they did it for laughs, and not as a demonstration of how they're qualified to write or administer U.S. Law).
Uh.......no....and nobody capable of being a standard bearer, no coherent policy for dealing with the nation's troubles, no excuse for what their past actions (or lack of them) did to our nation, .....and more than anything...no clue!
Bring back Newt, Bring back Reagan, cut my taxes and the world will be right again.....real real real right.
We couldn't ask for a better scenario that this one...anyone anywhere who dates to question these folks quickly comes groveling back and begging for foregiveness...whether it be to right wing shock jocks during the CA Budget crisis or GOP Chairman faced with the "philosophy" of Ruxh. Purity of purpose.....that will keep them where they are today......totally irrelevant.
Cowardice and Bloviation...
Conservatism is finished.
If the author of this article was in charge of the GOP, maybe they'd have a chance.
To deliberatly mis-quote Dr Frasier Crane:
"If it wasn't for the starch in his shirt he probably wouldn't be able to stand upright!!"
I've also ben wondering who limbaugh reminds me of, and l finally got it while watching a classic film on tv. rush is the bloviating old racist guy in Twelve Angry Men who finally drives he other jurors away from him with one too many racist rants. The more he rants about failure and the more the republicans support him and kiss his ring (as well as the one on his finger) the further away serious and rational people who are in trouble and need help will move from them in droves.
Standing upright? Rush has no worries about falling.
Weebles wobble, but they don't fall down.
This is good, very good...thank them when you see them.
Well, the token black guy in the Republican Party only thought he could speak his mind. He found out different wouldn't you say?
The reality is that the far right screech monkeys have ruled the party for some time now. Who can forget Bush inviting so many of them to the White House for closed door meetings? These guys are flat out dangerous. Does anyone not believe that if LImbaugh and Hannity called for armed insurrection that many of their followers would not oblige?
HIstory teaches us many things. One interesting comparison is to compare the rhetoric of southern seccessionist before the Civil War and the rhetoric of LImbaugh, Hannity, Beck, and others of their ilk. The similiarities in some instances are downright scary.
They use the government for their benefit when necessary while at the same time scream about government intervention. It is sickening and I must say that until recently I was totally against the Fairness Doctrine. But now, I say it is a necessity.
It is funny and so nice to see payback come to good ole' Rush, FoxNews, and the Republican Party from their own political play book. During the '08 Presidential Elections Rush, FoxNews, and the Republican Party got away with chopping people's words to smear them.
Well, the Democrats didn't even need the smear part and look what is happening all by itself from these guys (Rush, FoxNews, and the Republican Party are smearing eachother). Too funny, indeed.
It's official. Rush Lumbaugh is now the undisputed defacto leaser of the reupublican party. He is not only their voice, but their sould and their brains as well. God help them. And God help the USA if the Democrats screw up and these idiots end up getting elected again.
Just two thoughts..
Will that fine newspaper publish a cartoon of Rush Limbaugh standing over a monkey, shooting the monkey and saying, "I am your leader, don't think, just listen". OR.......
When the Repubs finally awake and realize what Master Rush has done to them (and has personally benefitted), the Republicans will be begging Reid and Pelosi to bring back the Fairness Doctrine. Just wait....the Repubs will revolt and take Rosh to task...as a group.
I've said for years that the Republicans need to have a civil war to flush the religious nuts and other knee-jerk idiots out of the party.
Now is the time.
Seriously, why the hell not? Democrats can pass whatever they want anyway, so you're not losing anything there. Bush was a disaster, so it's not like people wouldn't understand the efforts to correct their path. Obviously what they've been doing isn't working. Sucking up to the religious right, defending radical policies, blind and partisan obstructionism...people aren't responding to that.
So when Limbaugh says that Republicans should just be theparty of opposition, not ideas, Steele should spank him royally for that. And he should never apologize. Call his bluff. Tell him if he doesn't like it, go form your own party. Take Palin and Joe the Plumber and Michelle Bachmann and found the Conservative Party. Run your own candidate instead of forcing formally-moderate candidates to suck up to religious radicals. Republicans can compromise with Democrats, while the Conservatives make fun of community organizers and volcano monitoring. Republicans work towards solutions, Conservatives attract Klan members while musing about armed insurrection. Let's see how that works out for you.
What's Limbaugh going to do except fold? If you stand up to him and say "this is what we're going to do", he'll make himself look like an ass railing against the Republicans while their approval numbers go up.
Let's take a moment, put all of the hatred of our God, country and the way of life that our forefathers laid out for you all to take advantage of that you ALL want to CHANGE for a minute...When you have $20 in the bank, do you go charging your credit cards or do you cut back spending until things get better? OR you could do like democrats and throw money at problems (our market, education, welfare on and on) and watch them fester even further! There is no logic in the actions of these politicians whatsoever. Meanwhile, dems can blame Bush for any and every problem. This mentality consumes the democrat party. My life is the rich man/go-getters fault. Poor people should not be poor. (Even if they are content to sit and wait for handouts) Reparations for people mostly dead and gone already. I am hated by the left for being a conservative. We are talked down to from folks that consider themselves brighter than us. As a Christian man, I hate the sin not the man. So, as a Republican, I despise the socialism but I don't think that I am better or any smarter than a democrat. The venom that comes from the left has always driven me away from ever consider being a democrat. That is pulling the country down that I proudly served and that keeps me angry. Stop throwing gas on the fire irresponsible media! (You are an American first! Or are you?) Sometimes you have to lose something to truly appreciate it. I hope that never comes to fruition!
Quite the unhinged rant. A couple of things:
Nobody thinks that there shouldn't be poor people. The issue is what sort of minimum standard you have for living. That isn't socialism.
The government is the entity that can spend money right now. That's why stimulus is better than tax breaks or refund checks. Most people would save money if they got it right now, while the government can actually take the initiative in revitalizing the economy.
I am hated by the left for being a conservative.
Well, after the past 8 years, can you really blame us Democrats for hating the conservatives?
What are you talking about? Which sources do you find despicable? Rush? Michael Steele? These are the sources being used.
Who is hating your God? Who is hating your country? What exactly is this way of life laid out by your forefathers that someone is trying to change? I think if you did even a little historical research on our forefathers you may find them to be heathens as well.
The Democrats throw money at problems? Clinton balanced the budget - your conservative G-Dub threw us into debt. You look very silly and completely unserious when you make ridiculous claims like this. I was one who voted for Republicans for fiscal conservatism in the past - that is not what they are about anymore. You do not cut taxes on the wealthy while increasing spending - that is illogical. The mentality of supply-side economics does indeed consume the Republican party. That is their only true religion.
I am very intrigued by your belief that poor people are "content to sit and wait for handouts". I wonder what your God, who is suffering through so much hate in this country, would think about your opinion of the poor. I have no idea what reparations you are speaking about and I believe maybe you don't know either. Once again - silly and a little hateful. How Christ-like of you.
Who hates you for being conservative? Have you ever considered the possibility that you see yourself as a martyr because that is how you want to think of yourself? I particularly love the way you accuse some mystery people of being "smug" and "talking down to you" while you speak to your political opponents with open hostility, smugness, and of course by talking down to them. Classy.
The left has venom? Maybe you should re-read your own statement and see if it includes any venom? Toward the poor perhaps? Or blacks - or whomever you think are waiting for reparations?
What is it you despise about socialism? Do you despise Social Security? Medicare? Medic-Aid? How about the FDA? The FDIC? What is it that is scaring you? Don't be afraid because the voice on the radio tells you to be afraid.
Call it god, my spirit, or just plain acting decent, but the words and actions that I look up on this page and see is not anything respectable or honorable. It's actually very embarrassing. Please don't hold my flag up and act/carry on this way.
Know who you hate before you comment. I am a conservative, christian, etc. I believe in private property rights, small goverment, control of my own money, etc. I don't think that anyone should be able to tell me what to do (within reason) in my car, in my yard, etc. I live in the South. Lumbee Indians seeking reparations. Blacks on the corner with a 40 oz waiting on Obama to take them out of the endless cycle they are in;awaiting the check. Ignorance breeding ignorance. I am no racist, but I despise SLOTH. Of the financially challenged percentage of our population how many are democrats? Of the uneducated that decide work is too hard how many of those are democrats? I know the answer. I don't care to wallow in the mud with those. I am no better than them, but I give my all for my family.
You never voted for a REAL conservative. You could not have! No one has ran yet...
No before you hang me on the cross...I believe that good, solid morals and values are part of the foundation of this country. Part of what makes this country great and separates us from the world in that respect. However, I respect others right to not participate in my faith. That was how and why the country was founded in the first place. Religious freedom.
LieBuster,
Do yourself a favor and at least educate yourself on the things you write about. It is quite obvious that you are doing nothing more than perpetuating known myths about the poor.
Actually it is quite easy, simply do a Google search of "welfare myths." If you do this: at least you will be speaking from an informed position. I don't think you are lying right now because you aren't saying things that you know to be untrue. Once you inform yourself and continue on with these myths about poor people you will officially be a liar. Is that what you really want?
"After the last 8 years?" Bush WAS NOT a conservative!!!! he spent his rear end off and expanded government himself! You guys joke my ignorance of liberals when I know what a true conservative stands for. I know what the liberal movement is now doing to this country. Very clear. being that I am a descendent of Andrew Jackson, I understand what kind of heathens they could be. Two wrongs do not make a right.
Read the posts above as critically as you read mine and ask yourself...If I wanted to live in France, why am I not there?
Yes, I do strongly disagree with supplying folks on unemployment medicaid benefits. Why give them even more reason to sit at home? If i can sit at home and bring in $400 a week with medical, why would I go to work for $420 or $500 a week when I can sit at home and play Playstation? Or eat Swiss Cake rolls?
I despise failure. Socialism has and always will fail. To know ANYTHING about economics would make this a no-brainer. This never has succeeded and NEVER will. President Obama can singlehandedly bring our country to its knees. (To kneel before the government) I don't ever want to be comfortable taking from my hard working neighbor. He has lowered the bar and pushed mediocrity. What do you think attorneys or dentists or anyone that reaches the $250,000 mark is going to do? They are going to curtail business(hurt the economy) to avoid crossing the $250000 threshold. Penalizing those that give their work their all. Penalizing folks for hard work. That is not good stuff. That pulls down the effort of our own citizens. That hurts our economy.
I am very educated. I don't claim to be the brightest. (However, you guys enjoy insulting intelligence from a differing view.) However, when I look at the posts above, I think...do these people actually understand what they are asking for? Why has the last 200 years been so bad here? I'd like to understand your mindset, honestly. It is not beyond my reach to understand most deep thoughts. Why are you all seeming to be from some other planet in some other universe? I served my country and I love this place. For all of those that just sit and do nothing and allow our country to turn into THIS, I am ashamed. It pains me to see this. This adds to the stress of the economy and seeing so many fail and lose jobs. I love this country just as much as anyone here and have laid my life on the line for it.
For those that serve to get the GI Bill for school. Good for you. Keep in mind that you have to serve though. This is not free money. there is no such thing in this world as FREE. There is always a price.
"Minimum standard for living????" Who decides what THAT is? My minimum standard is much different that many other Americans. That is why i am not broke or bankrupt and I live within my means. That IS socialism you speak of. A HUGE can of worms. You are a globalist that wants to make our country like the rest of the world. Not acceptable."
Society determines it. I don't see why the standard is different for one person or another. If you want more than what you really need, then earn it or deal with it.
It is not socialism, and that is not going to change just because you keep saying it is. If our system doesn't work as well as that of other countries, then the smart thing to do is to emulate their systems.
What the hell is $400 a week in medical? Your costs get covered, it's not like you get a check for medical expenses you might have, and otherwise can buy pastry with it.
You do realize that people making under $250K still pay taxes, right? It's not like that's the line where people go from paying nothing to paying 39%. The overlap is not great enough for someone to deliberately stop working in order to avoid crossing that line, and if that were true then it would have always been true since tax brackets have different percentages to begin with.
This makes PERFECT sense. It's simple math. Are you that poor that you think $250000 is rich? I don't make $150000 but I
When you insinuate that a man flipping a burger should make more because a rocket scientist makes so much...that makes ABSOLUTELY no sense!!! Why exceed your Dad's efforts? Why push yourself to be the best that you can be for your children? Do you actually know how much money is given to charity from the right compared to those that complain so much from the left?
If someone's in their last week of the tax year and they're afraid of going over $250K, they might take a break. Big deal. Otherwise, how do you know you won't make up the difference by continuing to work? Is someone going to quit in November? October? It's ludicrous on the face of it. And of course $250K is "rich". By what standard is it not, when comparing it to a handful of actors and athletes that bring in headline-making salaries? Give me a break. That is a very comfortable living, to the point where I seriously doubt that a higher tax is going to make any noticeable difference in their lifestyles. As if people are going to be clipping coupons or something because they pay $101K instead of $94K.
I never said burger-flippers should be paid more because a rocket scientist makes more. Work that requires higher qualification will always get higher pay, even if disparity of pay is narrowed to a reasonable level.
I do not know what else you could possibly be saying then. Disparity in pay is there because there is a serious disparity in the difficulty level and qualifications of the two positions. Wow.
It is commonplace in Europe for entire families to live in one home. I know when my 3 kids hit 18, they are OUT! The fact is that families there cannot afford to survive. Have you been there to see what it is that you are asking for? I just cannot think that is what you want as an outcome. The rest of the planet envies us. They come here in boatloads. I just cannot understand your line of thinking it makes no sense. This is pure class envy. If you give slack effort, you get a slack salary. If you underperform as a parent, you SHOULD EXPECT your kids to underperform. Some kids are unique/the exception but most need a solid example to look up to. You just want to slack and get paid like a go-getter!!!!
The impression you gave was that I thought burger-flippers should get paid more because others get paid more, as if there was some unfairness there. That's ridiculous. Again, people who are more educated still get rewarded even if the disparity is reduced. This isn't a radical concept.
Has it occurred to you that if you increase pay and improve living conditions that it will be easier for your kids to get out of the house? Or do you think they can get into their own apartment while working for $8 an hour part-time?
Let me throw this one at you. Should a guy that flips 1 burger an hour make the same money as one that flips 20 per hour? Disparity is not such a bad thing. This is the catalyst that drives folks to do more to get more. Maximizes potential for those who want to be the best. If they are paid the same, why should the guy that flips 1 burger flip anymore than he does? America was built on sweat and hard work. Folks did not just sit on the roof of their cabin awaiting horse carts of food back in the day! Hunger caused them to go find something to eat!
Yes, financially saavy businesses (Since my wife is an accountant and processes taxes for businesses that can attest)will do what is necessary as they always have to survive. Many will not want to give the voluntarily poor folks more excuse to be poor. In THIS economy you better do whatever is possible to save a dime. Many will pull back on the reins to avoid this. (Just as many sit at home and await handouts)That is FACT.
There is a minimum. You don't work, you don't eat and then you have ribs showing, etc. This is a free country. You make your bed, you lie in it. The statement of yours above is not socialism by definition, but it's right there. If you are hungry, nice people like me will help you on our own if we see you trying to help yourself. I do not need the government irresponsibly handing out my money. They are horrible at checks and balances.
You get a minimum standard of living with a minimum amount of effort. Extreme disparity is GOOD! It motivates like hunger. Getting paid for showing up or just breathing is not acceptable. Convincing me to lower the American standard of the quality of work is not acceptable either. I am emotionally involved, yes. This is my country. When you love something that means there is emotion involved.
"There is a minimum. You don't work, you don't eat and then you have ribs showing, etc."
You assume that anyone who doesn't work makes a choice in the matter. And obviously we're talking about an imposed standard, not the course of nature when you can't afford to buy food. Get a soul.
"This is a free country. You make your bed, you lie in it."
That's all well and good, but the question of proportional consequences still remains.
"The statement of yours above is not socialism by definition, but it's right there."
No, it's not socialism and it's not anything like socialism.
"If you are hungry, nice people like me will help you on our own if we see you trying to help yourself. I do not need the government irresponsibly handing out my money. They are horrible at checks and balances."
Then government shouldn't finance police, fire departments, etc. because they're horrible at checks and balances. It has nothing to do with anything. If something serves the public good, it's in the realm of government whether it runs perfectly or not.
"You get a minimum standard of living with a minimum amount of effort. Extreme disparity is GOOD! It motivates like hunger. Getting paid for showing up or just breathing is not acceptable. Convincing me to lower the American standard of the quality of work is not acceptable either."
You're completely lost. I'm talking about disparity between classes. Extreme disparity is only beneficial to those at the very top. A more balanced system helps everyone. Why are you hallucinating about anyone talking about sacrificing the standard of work?
"I am emotionally involved, yes. This is my country. When you love something that means there is emotion involved."
It's my country too. That doesn't mean I feel a need to misrepresent anyone's position in order to further my personal ideology, as you do.