Clearly the G.O.P. Does Not Have Balls of Steel When It Comes to Limbaugh

I guess if you were to look up the word "naïve" in the dictionary you might see my picture. See I was one of the people who genuinely applauded Michael Steele's ascension to the head of the Republican National Committee. I had the opportunity to interview him for my book Party Crashing, about the evolving politics of African-American voters and found him to be not only gracious but incredibly forthright -- a quality that journalists (shockingly) don't always encounter in those in politics. But what I admired most about Steele was his willingness to be his own person. Whether you agree with him or not, you have to admit that it takes a strong individual to be willing to be in the ultimate minority, among minorities, and that is what someone who is both black and Republican is -- especially when they take decidedly non-conservative positions in support of affirmative action and in opposition to the death penalty. (Steele's independent streak earned him high profile black supporters, including mogul Russell Simmons and nearly 30% African-American support during his Senate run). During our conversation Steele even joked about the times when his own mother expressed loving consternation at his chosen political path. But something that she and others could be proud of was the fact that he was his own man.

At least that's what I thought until yesterday.

I cheered Steele on when he forcefully reclaimed the reins of the party he was elected to lead by proclaiming that he -- not Limbaugh -- was the Republican Party's rightful leader. On Sunday I expressed a similar sentiment on CNN's Reliable Sources, noting that there are plenty of Republicans who do not think that the Rush Limbaughs and Ann Coulters of the world speak for them. Limbaugh and Coulter may hog the limelight (and yes I cringe at the thought that I am giving them even more right now), and they may still sell books and line up some listeners, but they no longer command the cultural army they once did in their glory days of the Republican Revolution. (If they did then a black guy whose middle name is Hussein would not be going by the salutation "Mr. President" right now). That's the only reason they are so desperate to command even more attention, and ultimately why they are overcompensating by being even louder, more outlandish and in Rush's case larger than life -- literally -- than ever before. So I was incredibly disappointed to read that Steele had called Limbaugh to apologize, for simply telling the truth.

Speaking as an Independent, but more importantly as someone who truly believes that it is in the interests of all voters, of all ages and colors, to have viable political options from a diverse array of qualified candidates from different parties each election cycle, I was hopeful that in Steele we had found someone who could help advance this cause.

Clearly I was wrong.

What's particularly disturbing about this story is that just weeks after Steele spoke about his party's efforts to reach out to minority voters, he became an unfortunate symbol of one of the party's most troubling historic images; the idea of a strong, black man being forced to go hat in hand to a white man, for no other reason than to keep a job that is rightfully his.

Let me be clear. The purpose of this piece is not to kick Michael Steele when he is down. After all, any person who inspires David Duke to near suicidal apoplexy will hold a measure of begrudging respect in my book. I get that Steele finds himself between a rock and a hard place, but it is a rock/hard place of his choosing. He chose to take on the task of leading his party. Now it's time for him to act like the "Man of Steel" he has proclaimed to be, and stand up to Rush Limbaugh and any other voice from the right, that stands in the way of the G.O.P. becoming a party that truly represents America.

www.keligoff.com

Comments

[barnybilt]

They may not have balls of steel when it comes to Rush but they have balls. Balls the size of the moon because after what they have caused to not quietly go away and shut up takes big ones.
It shows what part of the country is like that they still have support. Those people keep saying stab me again please I didn't feel it enough and I need to lose more blood. Name one thing that the republicans have done that was good for the country. Don't mention Ronald Reagan he should have went to jail for the Iran Contra Business but like Bush they won't hold their own to account for anything.

[dogman44]

Only Superman has balls of steel.

[cap10gil]

Someone posted earlier that Rush is making about $400 million. people should keep in mind that after individuals reach a certain level of prosperity, money is no longer the object to be acquired. Power becomes the motive, whether you lean Democrat or Republican. This is one reason why our political system does not work well for the average citizen. These 535 people, with some exceptions are power hungry. I also find it amazing that Republicans in general claim to despise government and evidently do not see themselves as part of government and yet, here they are making policy and laws right and left. No pun intended.

[tweedy54]

You were INCREDIBLY NAIVE!!!!!!!

Why would you be proud of a black man that ascends to the higher ranks of of party that....

1...USED HIM AS A PAWN?
2...A PARTY THAT DOES NOT HOLD THE BEST INTEREST OF MINORITIES?
3...A BLACK MAN WHO IS INCOMPETENT?
4.. A MAN WHO IS MORE INTERESTED IN HIS OWN SELF PROMOTION, THAN WHAT HE 'SAYS', HE REPRESENTS?
5..A MAN WHOSE HUBRIS IS BEYOND HIS INTELLECT?

I am BAFFLED by your NAIVETE, for I usually find you quite perceptive.
I too am a black woman, who DOES NOT take PRIDE in the ascension of power for member of my race, who is a member an organization, that seems to hate everyone that is NOT "THEM"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Steele ONLY HAS HIS BEST INTEREST IN MIND!!! I revel in his demise, I hope it is QUICK AND HUMILIATING!!!!!!!

[joceeco]

Now that Steel's head is so far up Rush's rump, there is more room for my shoe!

[some-realtalk]

THIS IS WHO THE REPUBLICAN PARTY HAS PICKED TO BE THEIR LEADER:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036677/29518606

[neenj]

"Now it's time for him to act like the "Man of Steel" he has proclaimed to be, and stand up to Rush Limbaugh and any other voice from the right, that stands in the way of the G.O.P. becoming a party that truly represents America."

this will NEVER happen. the Limbaugh and the Coulter following are too hateful and divisive to represent what America is about.

[dhinds]

Limbo represents the ugliest side of America, the kind of American nobody outside the USA can identify with.

Neither Rush nor the RP have anything of value to offer anyone anymore and these deceitful thugs will never, ever occupy the white House again!

The sea came in, crashed on the shore and washed all the flotsam away.

[LollieDotCom]

Oh Happy Days!!!!

The repuglicans and rush are drowning in their own poisoned stew.

I love it, I just LOVE it!!

[GAbrownpeach]

What do you expect from a Republican...say one thing and do another! This is also why they have no credibility. It's absolutely incredulous that elected Republican officials feel beholden to a radio talk show host. To expect the public to look at them for guidance and leadership is a joke.

[robjh1]

The subject line for this piece says it all.

[AgentMuu]

Wow, I'm a Maryland resident who was never a fan of Steele, but reading David Duke's laundry list of reasons to disagree with him - like this Steele quote,

“Society should draw lines. What do you need an assault weapon for, if you’re going hunting? That’s overkill. But I don’t think that means you go to a total ban for those who want to use gun for skeet shooting or hunting or things like that But what’s the point of passing gun laws if we’re not going to enforce them? If you want to talk about gun control, that’s where you need to start. We’ve got 300 gun laws on the books right now. At the end of the day, it’s about how we enforce the law.”

being painted by Duke as calling for "harsher enforcement of draconian laws" - actually makes me like Steele a whole lot more now.

[PWM]

Limbaugh is the GOP god.

[Dolphinfan65]

Balls of Steel......................lol. None of the black men, who claim to be republicans, seem to have any self respect, when it comes to Rush Limbaugh, he is a satirist, a conservative satirist. What Steel said on Saturdays' D.L. show was the truth!! He should have never apologised, and worse, go on this mans show and be, BERATED, the whole time. NO man of any stature, especially the so called leader of a party, should have that happen.

[TheMadBlacksmith]

Hydrogen and Stupidity

Are the two most common elements, according to Einstien. And the republicans keep proving he was right. Idiots keep voting for them even after they have completley buggered up the economy, started two wars, doubled the national debt, and done their best to shred the Constitution. I am not saying the Dim-ocrats are God's gift to America. They have some very strange social ideas, and are almost as much in thrall to the bank gangsters as the Rethuglicans.
But come on- after what the GOP has done in the last 8 years, voting for THEM makes about as much sense as running back into into a burning house!
And by the way-while i am not an O'bama-worshipper, they ought to give the guy a chance before they start trying to hack him to pieces. They're probably afraid he will do so much better than THEM it wont even be funny. Heck, a monkey could do a better job than Bush& Co. did! O'bama may not be Thomas Jefferson, but at least he has a mind.