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.”
The dust-up comes at a time when top Democrats are trying to make Limbaugh the face of the Republican Party, in part by using ads funded by labor. Americans United for Change sent a fund-raising e-mail Monday that begins: “The Republican Party has turned into the Rush Limbaugh Party.”
Steele told CNN host D.L. Hughley in an interview aired Saturday night: “Rush Limbaugh is an entertainer. Rush Limbaugh — his whole thing is entertainment. He has this incendiary — yes, it's ugly.”
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.”
“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.”
The dust-up comes at a time when top Democrats are trying to make Limbaugh the face of the Republican Party, in part by using ads funded by labor. Americans United for Change sent a fund-raising e-mail Monday that begins: “The Republican Party has turned into the Rush Limbaugh Party.”
Steele told CNN host D.L. Hughley in an interview aired Saturday night: “Rush Limbaugh is an entertainer. Rush Limbaugh — his whole thing is entertainment. He has this incendiary — yes, it's ugly.”
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.”
Rest at link.
Say what you mean. Mean what you say.
Michael Steele is a punk.
He should just slink away. Who will take him seriously after this episode?
Posted by: brotherbrown | March 03, 2009 at 05:10 AM
We cannot afford "Remus" brothers like Steele anymore.
Posted by: Will Smith | March 03, 2009 at 08:44 AM
This may rank as the most punk move in the history of american punkery, and we've had some doozies. Bill Clinton and Jesse Jackson have mutually punked each other, but this is on another level.
But I will say this: If Rush claims 20 million listeners as his clout, that means 38 million non-rush listeners also voted for McCain.
Posted by: brotherbrown | March 03, 2009 at 10:27 AM
OMG I had some respect for you and your stance when I heard you speak before the GOP, on the news, CNN & with D. L. Hugley, then you bowed down to that idiot RUSH fat butt Limbaugh. I am embrassed for you and ashamed of you. You poor poor little black boy. You better stay in your place n*%$#^
Posted by: fran | March 03, 2009 at 06:22 PM
Steele I am so embarrassed for you and ashamed of you for backing down to that blubber butt Rush. BTW, I wish that people would look at the real reason why Rush does what he does $$$$ in his pocket. He is the shock jock and the more shock he stirs up the better his exposure and ratings. He just signed a $400 million dollar contract, so do you really think that he gives a crap about the real, the middle class,the poor? Hell no! Listen GOP stop being so stupid!
Posted by: fran | March 03, 2009 at 06:30 PM
Steele you really PUNKed out! Don't you feel stupid? How can you face your kids and family? You are a disgrace to the other brown skin people in America. Go home, change your name, get out of the lime light!
Posted by: fran | March 03, 2009 at 06:33 PM