While I do believe in a post-racial selection process, I don't know for a fact just how much race weighed in the choice of Michael Steele for RNC Chairman- it's wrong to assume, and also unfair to Mr Steele. It seems obvious to many, though, that it was a factor in some way. One could also argue that it was wise for Republicans to have taken it into consideration- as anyone who doesn't think Barack Obama is trying to draw racial lines and close-off the GOP into an enduring electoral ghetto isn't paying attention.
That said, I think Steele's a good speaker, and deserves a chance. I liked his delivery on the weekly Republican address [link] and at the State of Black America forum... where he said of his pending calls on the black community "I know some of you are going to yell at me, but I'm coming anyway". His only "crime" was using the word "ugly" to describe Limbaugh's show on CNN, who of course says things to be controversial and gather atttention, it's obviously part of what's made him successful. Rush has built his whole career on speaking his mind, so what choice did he then have but to give the RNC chairman a piece of it?
Mr Steele also finds himself in a difficult position if he is expected to reach-out to minorities and bring them into the party, when many of them may feel Limbaugh is somehow against them. The White House and MSM know this, and will continue to put him and other Republicans on the spot with specious questions about Rush Limbaugh. And Steele was basically right, he just should have put it a little differently, so give the guy a break. He then showed class, and apologized.
The lesson in this week's episode is that all Republicans should not get into inessential and otiose arguments regarding and/or with Rush Limbaugh... exactly as the scheming and underhanded Obama and Emanuel have meticulously planned- DO NOT go for the bait.
This propaganda offensive is meant to divert attention from Obama's ongoing demolition of the country, and drive a wedge between his opponents- betraying insecurity and lack of scruples on his part. The President disengenuously portrays the Republican Party as monolithic and single-minded on one hand, while attempting to exploit the differences that he full-well knows exist on the other. What is obvious is that this political charlatan is out to destroy all legitimate opposition to his ill-concieved policies, and by any means necessary.
Barack Obama also displays signs of a naricissistic personality disorder, and therefore has difficulty dealing with critisism of any sort- making Mr Limbaugh all the more a problem in his mind. Today I read on the Riehl World View of Obama's connection to the recent series of anti-Rush Limbaugh ads (some even in Spanish) [link] through DNC communications operative Brad Woodhouse... allowing Obama to keep a safe distance while others do the dirty work.
And Obama mentor Saul Alinsky's 1971 handbook Rules for Radicals [link] outlined the techniques being used by this administration to try and break any link between Mr Limbaugh and the GOP:
Rule 5: Ridicule is man’s most potent weapon. It’s hard to counterattack ridicule, and it infuriates the opposition, which then reacts to your advantage.
Rule 11: Pick the target, freeze it, personalize it, polarize it. Don’t try to attack abstract corporations or bureaucracies. Identify a responsible individual. Ignore attempts to shift or spread the blame.
According to Alinsky, the main job of the organizer is to bait an opponent into reacting. “The enemy properly goaded and guided in his reaction will be your major strength.”
So, the President knows well that marginalizing and demonizing his strongest opponents could intimidate the fainthearted into supporting or withholding criticism of his policies and increase his chances for success. Alinsky would have likely couched this in different terms, but it's basically a divide-and-conquer approach. The goal is to single Rush Limbaugh out, pick him off, and pull him away from influencing the GOP.
And while Michael Steele was correct in noting that Limbaugh is primarily an "entertainer", the Democrats have no justification to condescendingly purport that this mere "entertainer" is the leader of the Republican Party. Yes, Rush Limbaugh is and entertainer- an influental one who became highly successful in the free market because millions of people want to hear what he has to say. And a lot of conservatives are glad he's around, because a lot of it needs to be put out there... when nobody else in the party is saying it.
I only listen to the show infrequently, but you don't see the GOP putting him in the Senate, do you? Or any office or official party position whatsoever?
Compare this to Al Franken... have the Democrats forgot about that? Franken's radio show was a flop because few wanted to hear his boring anti-American drivel, but that didn't stop the DNC from putting this bozo on the ballot. And they'd have done the same for Chris Tingle Matthews if the polls hadn't revealed widespread revulsion at the thought.
Has Al Franken done anything in his life other than "entertainer" and author... exactly the same as Rush Limbaugh? So, a failed entertainer is OK for Senator... but a successful one (who is a major threat to Obama, apparently) isn't allowed to even have influence?
Limbaugh and the GOP would be well-advised to ignore these malicious hypocrites, and above all, don't play their game. President Obama looks desperate and insecure going after Limbaugh, so just let him go-down with his own misguided policies... shouldn't take long now.
