[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/POLITICS/05/13/republicans.family.feud/art.michaelsteelemd.gi.jpg caption="RNC Chairman Michael Steele said Friday that the GOP should recognize the 'historic aspect' of Sonia Sotomayor's nomination."]WASHINGTON (CNN) - Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele suggested Friday that Republicans hold off on "slammin' and rammin'" Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor and instead recognize the "historic aspect" of her nomination.
While guest hosting the Bill Bennett radio show on Friday morning, Steele said he was "excited" to see a Hispanic woman in this position.
"The trap here for the GOP I think is enormous," Steele said. "And I know that a lot of folks want to do the knee jerk you know let's start slammin' and rammin', but I think we really need to take a step back from this and deal with two things, one, the historic aspect of it, acknowledge it, but then move on to the substance of the conversation about what this woman believes."
Conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh took an opposite turn from the party chairman, saying that the "way get promoted in the Barack Obama administration" is "by hating white people." Limbaugh also suggested that her nomination would be like picking former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke for the position.
"I think she's disqualified herself. Not only does she lack the often-discussed appropriate judicial temperament, it's worse than that. She brings a form of bigotry or racism to the court," Limbaugh said. He added, "How can a president nominate such a candidate? And how can a party get behind such a candidate? That's what would be asked if somebody were foolish enough to nominate David Duke or pick somebody even less offensive."
During his daily briefing, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs called Limbaugh's comments "offensive."
The republican party is a joke.
I am completely amazed that Rush has any sponsors. I for one wouldn't by anything from anyone that is stupid enough to sponsor a hate mongor like him. Which brings me to another point . . . . . . . . . and that is living in a country that allows you to speak you mind . . . even though what comes out is vicious and distasteful
If a baby cries and constantly cries until they get attention they will always act that way,,,that's how Limbaugh and Hannity behave..if you ignore them watch how fast they will go away.....
Now Limbaugh and his ilk are going to accuse Steele of racism. They just don't get it.
Did somebody unleash the fat slob drug addict again? Will ANYBODY please put Rush back in the yard and throw him some hamburger. Thank you. Be kind to animals.
Rush called Sonia a 'bigot', how utterly nasty.
The real question is when will Steele apologize to Rushie?
Rush should be the poster child for the dangers of drug addiction
I am taking bets on how long it takes for him to apologize to Rush for contradicting him. I am putting the over/under at 16 hours.
Sunday may 31, gee mr rush i apol0gze for my comments and wont say anything without checking with you. yessum boss you is right
people like rush say things that can get people killed. that man is the king of ignorance "period"!!!!
America needs to make a list of all the advertisers and sponsors of Rush and simply make a nationwide boycott of them and their products. He is disgustingly hateful and a force for hatred in America. He lies, he is an unapologetic drug abuser, he hates most of America and his negativity will only bring bad things. Let people listen to him all they want. That won't change much if they aren't thoughtful human beings. So nip it in the wallet. Bad publicity for sponsors might pull some of the wind from the sails of the hate ship.
Rush Limbaugh is single handedly destroying the Republican party. I LOVE IT!!! KEEP TALKING RUSH!!!
The Republicans still don't know which way to turn and the numbers keep getting better for the Dems. Gotta love that in-fighting! Is anyone really leading the Republican party?
This chick belongs to 'la raza' a racist group that promotes hispanic people over all other races! What do you call this racism!!!!!! I was born in the projects of West Oakland, poor, self-made white man! This is offensive as hell to a lot of people!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So she is a latin david duke just like barry obama is a marxist – with his buddies wright, farrakhan, and the whtie terror boy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I really, really hope Rush's kidneys fail.
Limbaugh gets paid handsomely for making outrageous comments, so whatever comes out of his mouth is suspect. It's about time that the RNC Chair took the GOP road less traveled. I hope that Steele stands tall this time and not bow to Rush.
Keep slamming repubs. The hole gets deeper and deeper. Call Limbaugh to help you dig even deeper. I love it. Steele must be getting weak. Call Limbaugh–he will help you out.
These people can't get themselves even close to being on the same terrain. Blood is in the water and they're feeding on themselves. Comparing Sotomayor ,who said something not very smart off the cuff, to a man like David Duke who attended the 'Holocaust is a hoax" seminar with people such as Ahmedinejad, is imbecile speech. Although I'm sure ditto heads will repeat this cretinous chatter ad infinitum.
now apologize.
As A Republican I WILL NOT SUPPORT the Republican party as long as the leave a person like Steele in place. Steele is a puppet of what is WRONG with the Republican party. Steele is NO BETTER than some of the Democrates under Obama. Steele exemplifies what is wrong and if you read some of his statements, he keeps racism aliove as well. I will not support republiocans as long as Steele is in his position.
Limbaugh's getting ahead in the Obama Administration by "hating white people" is the desperate, divisive misdirection of a man who knows his days are numbered. He will be around. He will have an audience. But the 30 percent of the American electorate who still follow him and Gingrich and other radical Republicans will soon be irrelevant. In our democracy, you need more than 50 percent of voters to win election.
Why doesn't Steele just speak english???/ He is such an embarrassment!!!
Only in the out-of-control-politically-correct world of Obamaland can a so called minority make a racist comment, and when called for it, those that point it out are called racist.
Sotamayor is a racist. If a white male had said what she said, he would have been disbarred.
Stop being obtuse and afraid of the truth.
steele the damage is already done. you and your fellow repubs are acting like kids. grown-ups calling an educated and respecful hard working woman, names is very disrepectful. i hope the latino community and all women, will not forget this when they go to the polls. you are all angry people, you bully others very aggressive people, should never be anywhere in a public office. yess am talking about republicans.
Dear Mr. Steele,
You are not a real Republican and are, therefore, kicked out of the Republican Party.
Signed,
Dick Cheney and Rush Limbaugh
GOP Leaders