Republicans are hopelessly stuck with the same problem that has plagued them through two election cycles: a vast gulf between their base and majority of Americans. And, as we know, Obama and Democrats have successfully exploited this by focusing attention on Rush Limbaugh, driving the wedge between Republican officials and American voters even deeper.
So what happens when two high-profile Republicans try to distance themselves from Limbaugh -- the Republican base erupts and condemns their own leaders. Can't win for losing in the GOP these days.
Last night on D.L. Hughley's show, RNC Chair Michael Steele committed a mortal Republican sin:
STEELE: Rush Limbaugh is an entertainer. His whole thing is entertainment. Yes, it's ugly. Yes, it's incendiary.
Uh-oh. How long before Steele crawls before Limbaugh, pleading for forgiveness?
But that was just the beginning. Appearing on This Week with George Stephanopoulos, GOP House Whip Eric Cantor didn't have any kind words for Rush either:
"So the Rush Limbaugh approach of hoping the president fails is not the Eric Cantor, House Republican approach?" [Stephanopoulos] asked.
"Absolutely not," Cantor said. "And I don't -- I don't think anyone wants anything to fail right now. We have such challenges. What we need to do is we need to put forth solutions to the problems that real families are facing today."
(Video)
This is not going to end well for the GOP...if Republican leaders want to maintain the support of their own base (the only supporters they have). And the early returns indicate that wingnuts are indeed angry as hell and eager to reject Cantor and Steele. How dare they dis the Great and Powerful Rush?
Over at Free Republic, the rabble is pissed...and I've been enjoying the show:
Is he nuts? Does he not want contributions? You insult or stand AGAINST Rush....you are spitting on your base. Looks like I may have to change my affiliation to INDEPENDENT (until CONSERVATIVE) is allowed. I didn’t leave the Republican party...they left me.
This is very disappointing.
Personally I was jazzed by everything Rush said.
I've never been inspired by Michael Steele's comments on Fox. Now I see why. He's one of "them".
buh bye credibility of Michael Steele-
what little you had with me
knowing what a political campaign loser you were in Maryland with the very folks and factions you claim to be leading the RNC to attract to the GOP
Perhaps Mr. Steele should be reminded that he can be replaced.
You are the head of the RNC and you don’t want him to fail?
Pray for America
I think Steele might be a Dem plant to destroy the GOP from the inside.
HEY STEELE
Country and free marktets are going to hell in a handbasket WHEN IS THE TIME TO BE INCENDIARY? When its %*$ Gulags for Conservatives?
Thats it I am leaving the party.
Limbaugh and other limited government folks are drawing a line in the sand.
The Republican Party whores like Steele do not want lines. Instead they want to transcend across ideological plains with the hyper-collectivist who constantly play them like a Stradivarius.
Are the Republican leaders just this stupid? Really, here we have a man, Rush Limbaugh, who brings down the house, with the audience on their feet, comment after comment. Twenty-two million people can not wait until noon every day to hear his comments. What does the Republican party do? They make Limbaugh an enemy. It is beyond belief.
I just emailed Steele and gave him a piece of my mind. He is pitiful, spineless, and a disgrace.
I am disgusted.
Fire that lameass RNC leader. Fire him now!
WHAT HE SAID WAS INEXCUSABLE!
In his high position, he should be trained enough to control his words.....especially when he trashes someone ON OUR OWN SIDE!
Steele has revealed himself.....and the only thing we can do now is vote with our wallets when it comes to donations to the RNC.
He'll probably give the usual portion of OUR money to Snowe, Collins, Spectre and McCain, anyhow.
I'm livid! Was the man drunk?
And what would a Freeper meltdown be without some racism?
Steele really disappointed me in his comments. I wonder if he is revealing his deep hidden allegiance to obuma’s skin in the game loyalty of race?????
Rush’s comments were clear, consise and to the point. Rush said what the Repubs are too, scared to say "the truth."
In summation, steele is just "another got skin in da game rino brother."
Gee Michael, maybe your BROTHERS will share a spliff w/you later. How pathetic to cave so they can say your bright. He thinks your a wimp and he’s right.
Frankly, I wouldn't take this too seriously. Steele will be glad to have Rush on his side when the time comes. This is, to be honest, a black guy talking ya-ya with other black guys and that kind of "dialog" never yields anything terribly useful.
It’s like Rush said, we’re always acting like we’re the minority, letting the dems set the agenda while all we do is react to their bullying. We’ll, they set the agenda with a black president, and the pathetic GOP had to find their own black person to put in the store window. Enough of that crap.
And the backlash against Cantor is just beginning:
Well, Steffie succeeded in his goal to get Cantor to repudiate Rush’s "fail" remark.
That was a big mistake by Cantor. Instead of answering the question whether he agreed with Rush that this jerk in the wh should fail by saying no one wants him to fail, he should have said that Rush only wants him to fail in taking us away from liberty and free market principles.
We need to start a Rebel Republican movement to drag the GOP our way. Or perhaps its time for the Turd Party? What have we got to lose?
Pray for America, Our Troops and obama’s Failure
The denizens of RedState are also fuming:
If Steele and the GOP think they can shun Rush Limbaugh Conservatives, they are headed for years, if not decades, in the minority.
I saw [Cantor] on Hannity this week refuse to criticize Obama. He fears Obama.
This is quite depressing esp since Rush had Cantor on the show a few weeks ago. I would say that Cantor is quite vague in his criticism. coward
what’s wrong with our leadership–they can’t even agree that they want this socialist experiment with our country to fail! Which leaves a huge amount of confusion for ignorant voters who don’t understand what’s wrong with Obama’s plans for America in the first place. If we can’t castigate socialism and show the problems with it in comparison to freedom and capitalism, then what have we got?
What are these guys thinking? Pampering with the MSM? MSM’s line is a no-brainer:
"Diss GWB and Limbaugh.... and you’ll be fine with us!"
They are making a big mistake... like the mistakes of John McCain.
the past 10 days is astounding. I wonder if Obama now has a Clinton like mafia with dirt on everyone that they can silence critics with?
Oh my. What will the GOP do? Continue to inch away from Rush and completely alienate their base (perhaps incrementally improving their public image)? Or do they beg Rush for forgiveness, strapping themselves to a sinking ship?
The have no good choices...thanks to Rush (with a little help from Obama).
UPDATE:
Erick Erickson at RedState has now decided that Cantor didn't really repudiate Rush. It's a hit job by ABC News!
According to George Stephanopolous, Eric Cantor (R-VA) publicly rejected Rush LImbaugh’s rhetoric.
It is an absolute lie.
Remember, folks, Stephanopolous has daily phone calls with Rahm Emanuel to plot Democrat strategy via ABC News. No doubt this is a coordinated effort to cause a rift in the party where there is none.
But Erick's readers aren't buying it:
While Cantor may have gotten around to making Rush’s point, why give Stephy and the MSM the opportunity to take this out of context. Sorry, I don’t feel sorry for Eric. He went along with the media set narrative, and then hoped to make Rush’s points by providing futher context.
I saw Cantor myself on Hannity this week and he was way too timid in his deference to Obama and his agenda.
This is really quite depressing when one considers that Cantor is supposed to be one of our stars!
It would have been better if Cantor had said "Limbaugh makes a good point and here’s why..."
Why is it the the Dems could rip Bush and accuse him of everything, but the GOP must sit there like trained seals and bark on cue to whatever the Libs throw at them?
Are there any heroes in the GOP? Have they all gone into retirement?
What a disapointment. Don’t any of our cowering representatives have the intestinal fortitude to stand up to this idiot Obama?
They all simper and whine and go crawling to whatever summit o summons them too.
Eric Cantor is making the same terrible mistake that Tom DeLay made. He is the whip he needs to be the whip and get his face off national TV. ABC understands that the more Cantor talks the more he will be less effective.
Cantor has to park his ego and get off TV. Let the firebrands go on the air that is what they are for to stir the masses.
Hilarious. I'm reminded of Chris Matthews being perplexed about why Obama would ever want to elevate Limbaugh. Yes, what a terrible strategy that was.
UPDATE #2:
Ben Smith notes today that Erickson has joined Limbaugh in rooting for Obama's failure. (h/t to Setrak) The RedState founder is even trying to recruit new "soldiers" for the RedState Strike Force, "to undermine Barack Obama's agenda and [help] him fail." Oh Noes!!!
Also, for more wingnut-meltdown schadenfreude check out the comments on Hot Air. A few examples:
I think I can honestly say that if this is the best that Steele, and Cantor can come up with, I hope they too fail.
and does anyone really wonder why the republicans are a bunch of losers?
spineless wimps...they care more about the democrats liking them than they do about freedom.
Cantor....cross another name off the list. I want no part of this weenie.
Steele...so far, more ‘cringe’ moments than ‘attaguy’ moments. Also looks like a bust.
GOP=Whigs.
GOP: The party of wusses. And they wonder why they lost the election?
It goes on and on like that...truly a Ship of Fools.
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