When Michael Steele is talking sense

I think I've made my feelings about Michael Steele clear, no? So imagine my surprise when I found myself agreeing with him. From Politico:

On the same night he was offering the keynote address to the Conservative Political Action Conference, Rush Limbaugh drew criticism from an unlikely source: Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele.

In a little-noticed interview Saturday night, Steele dismissed Limbaugh as an “entertainer” whose show is “incendiary” and “ugly.”

[snip]

In an interview on CNN with D.L. Hughley, Steele assured that he, not Limbaugh, was in charge of the party before saying that he wanted to put the right-wing talker “into context.”

“Rush Limbaugh is an entertainer,” Steele said. “Rush Limbaugh, his whole thing is entertainment. Yes it’s incendiary, yes it’s ugly.”

First of all, I can imagine that Steele doesn't like the idea that he's second fiddle in his party to a man that sang "Barack the Magic Negro" on his radio show. It makes it harder, doubtless, to bring that hip-hop sensibility to the GOP.

Secondly, it's probably not great for the party that Rush's stated desire for Obama to fail has caught on. (My mind still reels at the unbelievable hypocrisy involved in hoping for this, while serially impugning the patriotism of anyone that had the temerity to question Bush in the run-up to the Iraq War. But that's our GOP, ladies and gentlemen.) As much daylight as the Republican party (or sensible members thereof) can put between itself and those calling for the wholesale failure of the newly-elected President, the better for them in the long term.

On a similar note, Steele is clearly aware that the Democrats are all too happy to link Limbaugh's purulent rhetoric and the heart of the Republican party.

Appearing on CBS's Face The Nation, Emanuel brought up Limbaugh without being prompted. Applauding the conservative radio personality for being upfront in his desire to see the president fail, Emanuel went to great lengths to make the case that Limbaugh, more than any other contemporary figure, is the leader of the GOP.

SCHIEFFER: We talked about Newt Gingrich a lot this morning and now you bring up Rush Limbaugh. Who do you think now speaks for the Republican Party?

EMANUEL: You just named him: it is Rush Limbaugh. He has laid out his vision, in my view. And he said it clearly. I compliment him for that. He's been very up front and I compliment him for that. He's not hiding. He's asked for President Obama and called for President Obama to fail. That's his view. And that's what he has enunciated. And whenever a Republican criticizes him, they have to run back and apologize to him and say they were misunderstood. He is the voice and the intellectual force and energy behind the Republican Party. He has been up front about what he views and hasn't stepped back from that, which is he hopes for failure. He said it and I compliment him for his honesty. But that's their philosophy that is enunciated by Rush Limbaugh and I think that's the wrong philosophy for America...

Steele can argue all he wants, but Limbaugh's power in the party is pretty impressive. Just ask Georgia's Rep. Phil Gingrey, who made the mistake of criticizing him. (It didn't pan out well.) So, while it's probably not fun to be a Republican right now, it sure is fun to watch the circular firing squad.