For the Good of the GOP, Put the Limbaugh-Steele Battle to Bed
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}By Alice StewartMedia Consultant/Journalist
I hesitate to feed the Limbaugh-Steele beast, but it's time for its Last Supper, time to put the beast to bed. Here we have two powerful forces, committed to building a strong conservative Party, and they alone can make certain Democrats don't win their game of "divide and conquer."
Conservative talk show host Rush Limbaugh is an inspiring entertainer, with 22 million listeners, and has been a defining voice of the conservative movement for 20 years. Former Maryland Lt. Gov. Michael Steele is an honorable leader and the principled Chairman of the Republican National Committee. They've become the faces of the Party for liberals who are trying to paint a portrait of division within the GOP -- it's nothing more than a game of distraction and distortion.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Chief of Staff Rahm Emmanuel is among those distorting the facts about who is the leader of the Republican Party. Using ads, e-mails and interviews, Democrats are trying to say Rush Limbaugh is the face of the GOP, and because hewants Obama to fail, all Republicans want Obama to fail.
Limbaugh has made it clear he wants America to succeed and wants Obama's socialist agenda to fail. That explanation has fallen through the cracks, Limbaugh's "I want him to fail" comment is Democratic ammunition in their war against the GOP. Here are the various battle scenes:
1. On his conservative radio show, Rush Limbaugh says he hopes Obama fails -- in the context of wanting socialism to fail.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}2. Democratic ads and allegations are rolled out calling Limbaugh the de facto leader of Republicans.
3. Limbaugh steals the spotlight at the Conservative Political Action Conference on February 28. In his crowd pleasing speech, he said it's not unpatriotic to want Obama to fail because the president's socialist agenda will make America fail.
4. After Limbaugh's CPAC speech, a previously taped interview with RNC chairman Michael Steele airs on CNN's "D.L. Hughley Breaks the News." RNC Chairman Steele makes it clear he is the leader of party and does his best to outline the efforts underway to rebuild the GOP. He iss cut short when Hughley says, "I think the brand you're selling ain't for us. It's Ivory soap baby." As the subject turns to Rush Limbaugh, Hughley hits all the Democratic talking points about the radio talk show host being the "de facto" head of the GOP, wanting Obama to fail, and says his incendiary rhetoric is destructive. Steele takes the bait and says "Rush Limbaugh -- his whole thing is entertainment. He has this incendiary -- yes, it's ugly."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}5. Chief of Staff Rahm Emmanuel speaks with CBS News anchor Bob Schieffer, criticizing Republicans for "clinging" to Limbaugh who he says is praying for failure.
6. Limbaugh blasts Steele on his radio show, saying it's time "for you to go behind the scenes and start doing the work that you were elected to do instead of trying to be some talking head media star, which you're having a tough time pulling off. I hope you figure out how to run a primary system."
7. Sean Hannity reports Steele admits he misspoke on CNN. Steele says he and Limbaugh have talked, and the two have made amends.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}8. On his talk show on Tuesday, March 3, Limbaugh responds to a journalist's e-mail asking if Steele went far enough in his apology. Limbaugh says, "No comment, that's yesterday's news."
There you have it, guns down, this Democratic-prompted war is over. Let's keep our powder dry.
Republicans have more important things to do, like re-building a party and fighting for liberty. With a united front, that's a fight we will win.