Kevin Stevenson On Losing GOP Post After Criticizing Limbaugh (VIDEO)

Kevin Stevenson, a Republican spokesperson from Wisconsin who was booted from his job after criticizing Rush Limbaugh, went on MSNBC Friday to discuss his fall from GOP grace.

"I've been writing commentaries for the "Daily Herald" since October of 2008 for the election. And I wrote a commentary that included Rush Limbaugh, mentioning that we as Republicans need to start coming together," said Stevenson, former spokesman for the Marathon County Republicans. "And it's my opinion that Rush has a very large audience and can be influential, but he is not the leader of the party and he is an entertainer. And he needs to be considered as an entertainer."

Stevenson said the proposal to eliminate his position from a group of county party members "was a surprise to everybody."

"[T]hey didn't like what I said about Rush, and they had tied that into some other things and it basically came up that, well, you're a moderate. Yes, I am a Republican who has moderate views on social issues. And they said, we can't allow that. You can't write for us if you're not with us."

So how does Stevenson feel about the Republican party now? At first he called himself an "invalid Republican," then modified: "I'm an inactive member of the Republican party of Marathon County ... I'm inactive now." But as far as his beliefs, he said, "I am still a Republican.

Watch:

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Get HuffPost Politics On Facebook and Twitter!

Comments

[Hoosierbrad]

Wow, the guy dooesn't get it. He gets thrown out and is still identifying with the party that abandoned him.

[yellowdoggie]

That's because he doesn't see another place to call home. Perhaps he'll call himself an Independent, one of these days. But you should never assume he'll call himself a Democrat. I would certainly never call myself a Republican, no matter what.

[Prakosh]

They just demoted him. They don't necessarily want moderates out--they just don't want them spreading it around--some in the party consider it a disease of sorts that can effectively poison the others in the party.

[HHarvey]

They will continue to throw out all republicans who have moderate views on social issues until those republicans either switch parties or form a broader band of the independent party. The republicans are toast.

[floridafun]

the rr control freaks will be Gods Own Party, but those repubs we can take seriously will still be the Grand Old Party. i usually vote dem but an alternative view based on some degree of reality is always welcome. the Gods Own Party folks are gonna fail and fade howling as they go. buh bye idiots!

[NURREDIN]

Sounds just like the Taliban to me. If you don't agree with our narrow view,off with your head. I can't wait for 2012. They'll be down to 10% by then. Just the Limbaugh/H­annity/Che­ney supporters. They'll have Mississipp­i,Alabama,­Tennessee,­Lousiana,G­eorgia,Ken­tucky,West Virginia,U­tah,Wyomin­g, and the Dakotas. They're gonna lose Texas to the Hispanic vote by 2012,2016 at the worst. I love it. And I used to be a Republican until they massacred McCain in 2000.

[gallon]

Don't forget Alaska.

[QueenMaeve]

Some of us are still holding out hope for Georgia. I can't imagine we'll stay majority Republican another three cycles. (My county, unfortunately, will probably be one of the last hold-outs. We were only able to get a 33% Obama vote in November.)

[Middleclassvotingbloc]

The Republican party of "no and torture" stole the election in Georgia---you were never able to account for thousands of vote.

[DougNTexas]

It will thrill me when Texas goes back Democratic.

[BigAl72]

Excellent point. I would like to add that Obama will take one of the Dakota states and maybe Georgia in 2012. In Texas I'll give him a 50/50 chance.

[Harrier]

Glad the women wasn't laid off. Republicans cannibalizing themselves will continue-All they care about is power. None of what they stand for support the working class or poor to improving themselves. When Regan said the mentally ill are homeless because they wanted to be, I left the party. That's not a country I want to live in. Before Regan I saw no homeless, now I seem them everyday in droves

[yellowdoggie]

What women? I'm confused.

[bluejoni2525]

"Need to start coming together " you should know better than to say that .Then you went on to put down Rush's influence, tsk tsk , you are not a good little soldier in the right wing army. So they have banished you and so many others ----come on over to the only BIG TENT party !!

[wordvarc]

The GOP tent is shrinking. Only purist zealots and extremists are welcome. Their self righteous Manichean paranoia leaves them suspicious of everybody including their own. To the last one out of the tent, "please turn out the lights!"

[gallon]

The blackshirts are purifying the party.

[pstfleur]

womp womp

[Skeetshooter]

Guess what Mr. Stevenson? you are no more a Republican, than a gay person who wants to get married is married. You are no more a Republican than George Tiller is an abortion doctor. You told the truth to power, made a stand for free speech, and you are now a former member of the GOP.

The hijacked Republican party is becoming an oasis of fascism within our Democracy and the more who experience in first hand, the more we will understand it for what it is; American authoritarian theocracy.

They don't want moderates like you. Can't you take a hint, Mr. Stevenson?

[jsgaetano]

The GOP needs to kick out even MORE members! That's how they are going to win elections- more FARTHER to the right!

Stay the Course!

[mergina]

What's a nice girl like you doing in the republican party?

[yellowdoggie]

Are you talking about Kevin Stevenson? I think he's a guy.

[jazzybo]

But he's still a moderate Republican? Tell ya what toots why don't you go out and start a more moderate party,cause the old one is dying.

[babyboomerorig]

It amazes me to know that in a smaller city like Wausau (about 75 miles from me) that there are so many radical right wingers that have the power to take away their spokesman's right to speak for them. After all, they allowed Palin to try to incite race and religious riots last fall. They allow Limbaugh, Gingrich, Bachmann and the Cheney's to their right to speak.

So, Kevin, when are you coming over to the other side? We might not always agree with you, but you're allowed to voice your opinion. We value that opinion and, especially, your right to voice it.

[PwnedByJesus]

You know, every thing that goes down must come up at some point, but apparently Republicans like where they are at right now because it seems like everything they say deters people from voting for them ever again.

[SoccerNana]

Kevin Stevenson should consider himself lucky; death is the only way out of most gangs. LOL

[HHarvey]

HA ha

[mellowrant]

No one can ever accuse the rethugs of believeing in freedom of speech!

[babyboomerorig]

LOL!