[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/POLITICS/03/05/limbaugh/art.rush.limbaugh.cspan.jpg caption="Michael Steele said Thursday he agreed with conservative talk show radio host Rush Limbaugh that former Republican turned Democratic Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter was a party dead weight."](CNN) – Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele, who once found himself in a war of words with Rush Limbaugh, said in an interview Thursday he agreed with the conservative talk show radio host that former Republican turned Democratic Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter was a party dead weight.
When questioned on CBS' "Early Show" about which Republican reaction to the Specter exit he most identifies with: Maine Sen. Olympia Snowe's mourning of the loss or Rush Limbaugh's declaration of good riddance, the Republican National Committee Chairman replied, "Rush. I'm sorry I'm not weeping here. I'm sorry."
As to the future of the GOP, Steele wasn't overly optimistic, maintaining that the outlook of his party isn't great as of now.
"Well the future lies down the road a bit. I mean, look, I'm not going to sit here with, you know, pie-in-the-sky talking about, you know, how wonderful things are. They're not," he said.
But like his Republican colleague, Olympia Snowe, Steele insisted there is room for moderates in Republican Party, saying the notion that the party is exclusive "is just crazy."
Rush is a traitor...plain and simple. His comments are treason.... and He can't possibly have any love for america or the american people, when all he wants to do is stop any progress our government gets during this crisis. People are suffering and all he is worried about are his ratings and his money. He said Obama "murdered" the pirates who took our captain hostage.... he lies, and does everything he can to impede the government from helping the american people....all in the name of ratings and money. ANYONE who follows this lunatic is a mindless sheep and needs to start thinking about what is more important... the survival of our country or choosing sides on a partisan basis. RUSH, HANNITY, COULTER and the like need to be brought up on charges and those who follow their everyword like its gospel need to start listening to all sides of the story before rushing to judgement.... DONT BUY THE SNAKE OIL!
Now that he switched parties he's a dead weight? Mr. Steele needs to remove his nose from Rush's large behind.
Sen. Olympia Snowe made a very good point in the NY times."There is no plausible scenario under which Republicans can grow into a majority while shrinking our ideological confines and continuing to retract into a regional party. " she said.
The likes of Rush Limbaugh/ Sean Hannity are actually helping shrink the party base. (Am I complaining? Heck no.) Michael Steele is a lap dog for the old fogeys (like Newt G.) that rule the party.
"I mean, look, I'm not going to sit here with, you know, pie-in-the-sky talking about, you know, how wonderful things are. They're not," he said.
A rare "moment of clarity" for the GOP.
By all means, I hope Steele and Limbaugh continue to run off any Republicans that aren't sufficiently Republican enough for them. Eventually they will achieve complete party purity.
Of course, they will also achieve the smallest GOP minority in Congress in recent memory, but that is a small price to pay for complete and total obedience.
I wonder if they'll say the same thing when GOP voters leave the party in 2010/2012 too.
So, I guess Rush Limbaugh is actually running the Republican "show". The non-believers are now believers . Cowardly describes Mr. Steele...how anyone can agree with Limbaugh's rantings makes me sick – I feel as if I'm watching a remake of the Stepford Wives, but they've replaced the "wives" with Conservative Republicans.... Bravo Sen. Specter for standing up to these jerks!!!!!
Of Course he agrees with Rush...he's already beens slapped by the Boss for disazgreeing with him.
How can any self respecting American choose to be led by these clowns?
Of course you do! He IS your boss...
The leader of the racist xenophobic party.
As a republican I hope we don't follow rush as a republican we have to
remember he is a entertainer not a politician he will never run for office and he would not even qualify so Mr Steele focus on your job so
we don't lose a party.
Mr Steele had to say that to the GOP leader. The republican party is so pathetic. They run to the right and kill off others that are not just like the neo-cons. Then they bitch that Specter, a man of his own mind, for not following Rush down the high cliff into the water bellow. Conservatism is the disease of the republicans. Unless they cure themselves of that, it doom for them all.
Although regrettable that Specter choose to switch sides, I don't see a huge shift in Idealogy. I am sorry to say, but Specter is only trying to save his political neck. Specter will after the election, not attempt to gain praise among Democrats, but instead will continue to vote along his own record. This is being turned into a lie. Specter is not defecting against his own idealogy, but attempting to save his own senate seat.
Why is the GOP letting Limbaugh and his ilk marginalize their party? I
Rush + Steele = EPIC FAIL