Re: Limbaugh to Powell: 'Become a Democrat'
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Viva Las Espuelas
who's begging?
Quote:
The GOP Chairman
GOP leader Michael Steele's apology to Rush Limbaugh came with a price
Dawn Turner Trice
March 9, 2009
A "Sister Souljah moment"occurs when a politician tries to take the middle ground and finds himself having to repudiate a party extremist. The politician does this to show that he isn't beholden to the same-old, same-old.
When it comes to dealing with conservative commentator Rush Limbaugh, Republicans need a Sister Souljah moment.
I posted an item last week on "Exploring Race," asking readers whether Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele should have apologized to conservative talk show host Limbaugh. (You can visit chicagotribune.com/race to see the responses.)
This all began when Steele appeared recently on CNN's "D.L. Hughley Breaks the News" and disagreed when host Hughley called Limbaugh the de facto leader of the GOP. "Rush Limbaugh, his whole thing is entertainment," Steele said. "Yes, it's incendiary. Yes, it's ugly."
Dawn Turner Trice Bio | E-mail | Recent columns
Before the interview, Steele, who's the RNC's first black chairman, gave an impressive address to an overwhelmingly black audience at Tavis Smiley's "State of the Black Union" summit. By the time Steele arrived on Hughley's show, the chairman must have felt pretty cocky, which is why he slammed Limbaugh.
Two days later, Limbaugh lambasted Steele on his radio show and the chairman lost his Sister Souljah moment by apologizing.
The Sister Souljah phrase originated with Bill Clinton when, during his 1992 presidential campaign, he was forced to repudiate Sister Souljah, a black entertainer/activist/author, who had made some pretty harsh comments about white people. Clinton's rebuke came during a speech before Rev. Jesse Jackson's Rainbow/PUSH Coalition.
President Barack Obama had his Sister Souljah moments during the controversies over Bill Ayers and Rev. Jeremiah Wright.
When Steele called Limbaugh an incendiary entertainer, it appeared the chairman was trying to signal that he wanted to change the perception of the GOP. In an almost Clintonesque way, Steele had told the "State of the Black Union" crowd that although he believed in the GOP's core principles, he still could feel their pain. He intimated that he was sensitive to the needs of people of color. Last month, Steele even said he would take the GOP message to the hip-hop community.
But, by apologizing to Limbaugh (who once told a black caller to take the bone out of his nose) Steele lost credibility and showed that he was concerned less about expanding his party's tent than about alienating the party's conservative base, a.k.a. Limbaugh's huge radio fan base.
If Steele is hoping to bring more people of color into the fold as well as appeal to the far right wing of the GOP, then he's in an untenable position.
But that's what happens when politicians find themselves having to share the stage with these outsized characters (Limbaugh, Jackson, Rev. Al Sharpton) who appear so leaderly.
Nobody elects these guys so they're not accountable to anybody. But, with fire and brimstone, they know how to play to their party's base. Limbaugh isn't a "reverend" like the others, but he's certainly ministerial. Take a look at him during his recent keynote address to the Conservative Political Action Conference.
The Limbaughs, Jacksons and Sharptons know how to use an all-too accommodating media. This gives the misconception that they are leaders, but they're really activists—civil rights activists, conservative rights activists—who provide great theater.
Steele was right to call what Limbaugh does "entertainment." But entertainment isn't always benign. It has consequences.
A quasi-leader can incite and say things that are ugly.
A real leader should not. Steele backpedaled and looked weak. Not because he apologized, but because he forfeited an opportunity to take a stand on what was truly right.
linky..http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/c...1999545.column
Re: Limbaugh to Powell: 'Become a Democrat'
Quote:
Originally Posted by
George Gervin's Afro
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Viva Las Espuelas
basically because they're stupid.
Re: Limbaugh to Powell: 'Become a Democrat'
http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/ent...in-powell.html
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Dick Cheney tells CBS: I'd take Rush Limbaugh over Colin Powell
Former Vice President Dick Cheney just made news in his appearance on CBS' "Face the Nation."
He weighed in on the sniping between radio host Rush Limbaugh and former Secretary of State Colin Powell.
CBS' Bob Schieffer asked whether Cheney would side with Limbaugh or Powell in that battle of Republican titans. Here's the way Schieffer put the question: "Rush Limbaugh said the other day that the party would probably be better off if Colin Powell left and just became a Democrat. Colin Powell said Republicans would be better off if they don't have Rush Limbaugh out speaking for them. Where do you come down?"
Cheney said: "If I had to choose in terms of being a Republican, I'd go with Rush Limbaugh, I think. I think my take on it was Colin had already left the party. I didn't know he was still a Republican."
Cheney cited Powell's support for Barack Obama.
Schieffer seemed astonished by Cheney's frankness. "You promised some news. I think we probably made a little," Schieffer said.
I'd like to thank Cheney for clearing up the question of who speaks for the Republican Party. I'd also like to invite moderate Republicans who identify more with Powell than Limbaugh to join the Democratic Party. We are truly the party that represents the great middle of America and we welcome people of good will even when we disagree on some policies. (As a pro-life Democrat, I am speaking from experience.)If your party has left you, welcome to your new home!
Dick please keep them coming. The comments ( in the comment section follwoing article) that accompany the article sum up nicely how I see this issue. Don't worry Dick we'll take all of those moderates you and Hush don't want.
Thanks for being a dick Dick.
Re: Limbaugh to Powell: 'Become a Democrat'
Quote:
Originally Posted by
George Gervin's Afro
http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/ent...in-powell.html
Dick please keep them coming. The comments ( in the comment section follwoing article) that accompany the article sum up nicely how I see this issue. Don't worry Dick we'll take all of those moderates you and Hush don't want.
Thanks for being a dick Dick.
Yeah, Arlen Specter's a peach. You're welcome to him...and Colin Powell.
Re: Limbaugh to Powell: 'Become a Democrat'
The Democrats will be glad to receive him if he wants to switch.
Re: Limbaugh to Powell: 'Become a Democrat'
Surely someone's asked him by now.
Re: Limbaugh to Powell: 'Become a Democrat'
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Originally Posted by
Winehole23
Surely someone's asked him by now.
That'd be fine with me. I'd love to see them screw Colin over like they did Arlen.
Re: Limbaugh to Powell: 'Become a Democrat'
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Originally Posted by
Yonivore
That'd be fine with me. I'd love to see them screw Colin over like they did Arlen.
Voyeur.
Re: Limbaugh to Powell: 'Become a Democrat'
I don't believe Powell ever was a registered republican until he took the appointment. He always was too liberal.
He has always fit better as a democrat than republican.
Talk him democrats!
Re: Limbaugh to Powell: 'Become a Democrat'
Well as of last October....
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Eighty percent (80%) of voters have a favorable view of Powell....15% have an unfavorable view
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/publ...ma_as_possible
This could only help the Democrats.
Re: Limbaugh to Powell: 'Become a Democrat'
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Originally Posted by
ChumpDumper
Aren't there a bunch of rabid lefties still pissed at him over his U.N. testimony?
Re: Limbaugh to Powell: 'Become a Democrat'
Is it any surprise Cheney shits on Powell? That's all he did back when Colin was in office.
Re: Limbaugh to Powell: 'Become a Democrat'
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Originally Posted by
baseline bum
Is it any surprise Cheney shits on Powell? That's all he did back when Colin was in office.
Seems to me Colin Powell emptied his bowels first.
Re: Limbaugh to Powell: 'Become a Democrat'
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Yonivore
Aren't there a bunch of rabid lefties still pissed at him over his U.N. testimony?
Rasmussen says there aren't many at all.
