Broken Steele

Seriously, this whole battle over who leads the GOP--Rush Limbaugh, Newt Gingrich, or Michael Steele--has reached new heights of silliness.

Michael Steele, the RNC Chair, appeared this weekend on CNN's D. L. Hughley Breaks the News. In talking to Hughley, Steele had the audacity to call Limbaugh "an entertainer" whose show can be "incendiary." Limbaugh tore Steele to bits on his radio program this morning.

And Steele promptly apologized to Limbaugh. Just as Representative Phil Gingrey (R-GA) did
following his own mild critiques of Limbaugh's style of commentary (mind you, Gingrey's criticized Limbaugh while defending his Republican congressional colleagues; he threw over his colleagues to court Limbaugh's favor). And, of course, South Carolina's Republican Governor Mark Sandford. Just who is in control here? Our elected officials, responsible to their audience of 306 million, or the radio broadcaster responsible to his audience of 20 million?

Certainly, Limbaugh can say what he likes. I've no quibble with him speaking his mind. I do wonder, however, that politicians so cravenly seek his approbation. Hello? Backbone?

Update: You can't say the DCCC isn't making hay: "I'm sorry Rush."