Roberta McCain: Limbaugh "Does Not Represent The Republican Party That I Belong To" (VIDEO)

John McCain's mother, Roberta McCain, lashed out at Rush Limbaugh on Wednesday night on "The Tonight Show" with Jay Leno. The outspoken 97-year-old said Limbaugh has "nothing to do" with the Republican party.

Mrs. McCain was a regular presence on her son's presidential campaign. During that time, Limbaugh and Senator McCain clashed more than once, with Limbaugh often attacking the Arizona senator on his radio show, branding him a "liberal" and urging his listeners to vote against him.

More recently, Limbaugh said McCain and his daughter, Meghan -- who's become something of a Republican pundit lately -- should take Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter's lead and leave the GOP.

The elder Mrs. McCain told Leno she "belongs to the Republican party," but thinks Limbaugh "has nothing to do" with it:

"I belong to the Republican Party. What [Limbaugh] represents of the Republican Party has nothing to do with my side of it. I don't know what the man means, I don't know what he's talking about."

During the brief late night interview, McCain also said she agrees with RNC Chairman Michael Steele's characterization of Limbaugh as an "entertainer."

"I think [Steele] was exactly right when he defined this man as an entertainer. To my horror, the Republican Party made him back up on it."

Watch:

UPDATE: Limbaugh responded to Mrs. McCain, saying, "She's right. The Republican Party she belongs to gets shellacked in election after election after election." He went on to make fun of John McCain and his mother for calling him an "entertainer." Listen:

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Comments

[Mugzi]

Unfortunately, gop PTB do not agree. rl is the heir apparent spokesman and gopper's seem to be bowing to his approval and disapproval. Greed has taken over the gop. What started out as conservative philosophy as led to massive tax cuts, deregulation, wars to the detriment of the majority of citizens. The last 8 years prove that philosophy does not work for 98% of the Americans.

[Zen0469]

Mrs. Roberta McCain conducted herself with class.

Limbaugh, like the populist hillbilly he aspires to be, never does.

[Ellyllon]

She's also in better shape than Limbaugh. I bet she could take him arm-wrestling!

[Rhubarbarian]

Rush Limbaugh sounds like he is going to self-destruct very soon.

[Ellyllon]

I know this isn't compassionate or bleeding heart, etc, of me - but it cannot be soon enough!

[Javida]

I know 'what the man means': He means to be a crude, obnoxious bully who will steam roll anything or anyone who gets in his way politically or otherwise. He uses any unscrupulous tactic to sabotage and get his way and manipulate others to do his bidding. Limbaugh is so bad for the Republican Party because he, himself, represents what's wrong w/ the political system -- self-aggrandizement and corruption.

[greymom]

During the convention, Mrs. McCain sat, in her Chanel suit, behind the Wasilla hillbillies and her expression of distaste was evident. It made me laugh and I wonder what she was thinking.

[Witkacy]

She looked like she smelled something bad through most of her son's abortive campaign! The inclusion of the Wasilla clan to appease the Bible-freaks and the rednecks no doubt put her over the top...

The GOP squaring the circle: How to bring the country-club set (in which Ronnie and Nancy once figured prominently!) together with the luddites/r­ednecks/na­tionalists­/ignorant working-class slobs? The answer is: you can't - ever. But since it's Republicans who're least likely to acknowledge class differences - let alone to lift a finger to ameliorate those differences! Propaganda about boundless free-market opportunities will suffice - that group must continue to stand as only a very weak coalition. They should NEVER have raised Palin up from obscurity; and should NEVER have brought "Joe the Plumber" into the fold, because those two pose huge electoral risks for country-club GOP pols.

[OGoodGrief]

The McCain family are like moths to a flame. None of them can stop talking about Limbaugh. And it feeds right into what he wants -- more attention for his pathetic program and more PR for him. What a bunch of dumb bunnies to play into his hand. If they would simply ignore him, he'd go away.

[Ellyllon]

I don't know - if Limbaugh was trying to define some group I belonged to, or trashed my family, I'd have a hard time staying quiet - even if I thought that was the wiser response. Basically, he's bait & they're biting, but I can't blame them. It would take a saint to just roll their eyes & go on.

[jme-SD]

About time someone took Rush by the ear and told him what a bad little boy he was. Way to go grandma McCain.

[Hobay]

Rush has "eaten the shark."

[PowerPridePinstripes]

Never realized how much McCain looks like his mom...

[changeme09]

wow..97...­she's a clear thinker.

[kareemachan]

I liked her during the campaign and still do. The lady says what she thinks. Bless her for calling them on the Steele debacle!

[tomasedison]

golly gee Rush has been mighty quiet about this.....

[Ellyllon]

I did hear he trashed her on the air, but I didn't actually investigate much. But if he insults little girls, people with illnesses, I see no reason he'd stop at bashing old ladies.

[dimplesmile7]

A 97 year old woman is more lucid in her thinking than Rush. Not shocked at all.

[MomfromTexas]

Ninety-seven??? Wow! What an inspiration, she is.

[chronic]

I thought Rush was "Dear Leader".

[bronceye]

Fearless Leader, Bullwinkle.

[woodwakr]

Thanks, Rocky...

[darker]

Rush is an ENTERTAINER, a sensationalist who is IN IT FOR THE $$$$$$$$$$­$$$$$$$$$$­$$$$.
He'll toe anybody's party line WHO WILL PAY him!

[marecek]

The Republican girlie-men should take a lesson from a 97 year old woman. I would bet that she is not going to let herself be bullied by the big nasty bear and she is not going to back down when he growls.