That didn't take long. Just a couple days after calling Rush Limbaugh "an entertainer" and "incendiary" (what a concept), RNC chairman Michael Steele has apologized, according to today's New York Times.
According to the Times:
Mr. Steele told Politico on Monday that he had called Mr. Limbaugh to apologize.
"My intent was not to go after Rush – I have enormous respect for Rush Limbaugh," Mr. Steele told The Politico. "I was maybe a little bit inarticulate. There was no attempt on my part to diminish his voice or his leadership."
Democrats reacted with glee to the exchange. "Michael Steele has denounced himself for renouncing Rush," said Paul Begala, an ally of Mr. Emanuel and one of the Democrats presenting Mr. Limbaugh as the face of the G.O.P. "Can anyone seriously argue now that Rush is not the unchallenged leader of the Republican Party?"
All this came after Rushbo said:
"It’s time, Mr. Steele, 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."
"Mr. Steele: You are head of the R.N.C.," Mr. Limbaugh said. "You are not head of the Republican Party. Tens of millions of conservatives and Republicans have nothing to do with the R.N.C. and right now they want nothing to do with it."
Can there be any lingering question about who's calling the shots in the Republican Party? Apparently, Rush's rousing oration at CPAC did the trick. Eric Cantor, House Minority Whip, who also criticized Rush over the weekend, should be the next one to come crawling back.