Steele Takes On Rush Limbaugh: "Ugly," "Incendiary" (VIDEO)

UPDATE - 6:20PM ET: Michael Steele has apologized to Rush Limbaugh for referring to him as an "entertainer" who can be "ugly" and "incendiary," Mike Allen reports.

"My intent was not to go after Rush - I have enormous respect for Rush Limbaugh," Steele said. "I was maybe a little bit inarticulate. ... There was no attempt on my part to diminish his voice or his leadership."

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EARLIER:

Republican National Committee chairman Michael Steele took umbrage Saturday night when CNN's D.L. Hughley referred to radio host Rush Limbaugh as "the de facto leader of the Republican party."

"No he's not. I'm the de facto leader of the Republican party," Steele said. The RNC chief went on to call Limbaugh, who that very day delivered the keynote address to the Conservative Political Action Conference, a mere "entertainer" whose show is "incendiary" and "ugly."

On his radio show today, Limbaugh fired back, calling the RNC and Michael Steele "so-called Republicans" and saying that they "need a little leadership."

"So I am an entertainer and I have 20 million listeners because of my great song and dance routine," Limbaugh said. "Michael Steele, you are head of the Republican National Committee. You are not head of the Republican party. Tens of millions of conservatives and Republicans have nothing to do with the Republican National Committee...and when you call them asking for money, they hang up on you."

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"I hope that changes," Limbaugh continued. "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 being some talking-head media star."

UPDATE: Rush continued firing shots at Steele later in the show.

"I'm not in charge of the Republican Party, and I don't want to be," he said. "I would be embarrassed to say that I'm in charge of the Republican Party in a sad-sack state that it's in. If I were chairman of the Republican Party, given the state that it's in, I would quit."

Rush then mocked those who have criticized him for saying he wants Obama to fail, and directly challenged them to choose: You either want Obama to succeed or fail at his goal of dismantling conservatism.

"So send those fundraising requests out," Rush said in a sneering tone, in an apparent reference to Steele, adding: "Make sure you say, `We want Obama to succeed.' So people understand your compassion."

Some audio from Limbaugh's show:

Comments

[neoprimordial]

What is it in the human psyche that seems to make us gravitate towards following a leader, particularly when in hindsight we are forced to ask ourselves "WTF were we thinking???"? Bob Dylan got it right when he said, "Don't follow leaders; watch the parkin' meters." Steele should have lived up to his name and stood his ground against that arrogant loudmouth Limbaugh. Now he deserves to be dismissed. Really, as soon as he apologized for telling the truth, he also needed to use the exit.

[gi]

Micheals inner voice spoke out.

[gi]

Who die and said Rush could talk to people in this manner this is BS.

[PWM]

The GOP is about to get rid of another black man, and Jindal will be next. Racism is at the core of the GOP.

[morgan12731]

I just read Michael Steele has came up with a plan to help his party by using the 12-step format.
what a joke.... it seems as though Rush may have told him NA worked for him by following the 12-steps. So here is how I figure it to be - Rush is the sponsor. it will take them a long time to get over the 1st step, and no telling how long on the 4th. GOOD LUCK!!

[morgan12731]

Listen, let us keep it real... Michael steele was "spanked" by Rush for getting out of place. I believe Steele meant what he said, and became very comfortable with being on the show with Hugley and the other guest..... in other words, him being black, and discussing minority issues and concerns brought him back to reality for a moment. I assure you, the scolding he received from Rush on the air forced Michael Steel realze he is nothng but a pawn, he was elected by the party to go and win minorities (blacks, hispancis, american indians and the like) over. So Mr. Steele is not "THE MAN". Rush made it perfectly clear for him to stay in the background as told, and to not get besides himself. Steele's apology was the same as him saying, yes masser, i sorry, it won't happen no mo".

[Tony Zeoli]

Agreed that Rush Limbaugh is an entertainment using his radio power as a bully pulpit to decry liberalism and organize campaigns to discredit anything he or the Republican party don't like. I am not for the "fairness doctrine." However, Rush and talk show hosts like him are using radio to articulate a voice that cannot be gotten from newspapers, which are read and not heard. When you turn on the radio and are a passive listener, it is a different action than picking up a paper and reading, which is active. I'm sure there are studies that show that audio affects the brain differently than the text, because of the way each sound is delivered into the human ear. It's amazing to me Rush and conservative talk show hosts like him get away with spewing such nonsense every night of the week. They'll repeat it until they are blue in the face. And what gives them the special knowledge or understanding of government or policy to even comment in the first place? That's my question. How does Rush Limbaugh know what's good for 300 Million people from all walks of life? How did he glean his perspective and how does he keep on top of it? Does he really know what he's talking about, or is just a reactionary blow hard who only wants what's good for him and a few select friends. He has yet to convince me that he speaks for me. He does not.

[edsel]

There not the only ones

[DaisyDooks]

Good post. Very insightful. Steele is a dweeb. He brought on his own Karma.

[Ohioliberal]

I guess that this will leave only four - (4) - down from five - (5) minorities for the camera folks to focus in on during the next GOP convention. It was funny what happened in St Paul with every fourth camera shot showing the same five minorities

[MexiChick67]

Steele was shown his 'place'. He was elected as a token by the Republican party to show 'dem liberals' that 'we're open minded, too!'. Steele is nothing but a 'straw man' being put up to take the hits being thrown by everyone around. Rush is there to fiddle away while Rome burns. Very sad.

[Iluvkids]

I think the Rebubs. picked Steele only because he is black. They didn't take into consideration that he is not a very bright communicator...funny yes-politically bright?- no

[wmary82]

Show me one Republican that is bright, so therefore they are definitely not bright communicators, Remember george bush

[americanalien]

The Republican Party is imploding like the former Soviet Union. In all my life I have never seen anything like this. I always pray that this would happen, but I never knew it would happen so swiftly. The party of Nixon is in open revolt - a civil war is at hand. The bloodletting among them is profound. This is sweeter than honey.

[Dalpine]

This story is ancient history! What about the 410 omnibus bill and the budget that's going down Now?

[morgan12731]

WHAT ABOUT IT?

[MsMadame]

Rush has let Steele know that he's not really part of the gang.

That is why selling out is never a good thing.

[wmary82]

he is another Armstrong Williams

[darnsannity]

My question to all HuffPo readers:-Why is that all republican radio talkshow hosts dwell on Regan legacy? What about other republican Presidents including our 43rd ?

[Iluvkids]

All they want to do is take the focus off the present party...actually not a bad strategy since they are failing so miserably.

[Obamalicious]

Regan was legendary. No other president has had such a honorable and successful legacy since Washington.

[ContraEgoiste]

Bwaahaha!

Legendary alright. He put us on the road to this legendary economic tradegy.

Just another puppet for the neocons who spent his 2nd term in an Alzheimer daze. At least he had the acting credentials that GW lacked and managed to fool the public.

His ideologies which all subsequent Rep. presidents followed, have now proven to be an utter failure.

[darnsannity]

MARCH 4, 2009
On Wednesday’s Mark Levin Show: Mark calls the hotel where the AFL-CIO leaders are partying with the union worker’s money and dues. Will the Democrats in Congress condemn these union bosses? Of course not. Mark discusses the Republican Party and how they have abused what the conservative movement gave it and have destroyed the conservative foundation within it. When you don’t have limits on the constitution or politicians, and a Party wins a simple majority of the votes and controls the Congress, then liberty is threatened, rather than enhanced. David Frum calls in and debates with Mark about the conservative movement and pseudo-Republicans.

This guy was barking at each and every caller today..Go away Mark...