Be careful what you say aloud. GOP “defacto” head Michael Steele called Rush Limbaugh an entertainer and had to quickly retract. Georgia Congressman Phil Gingrey apologized to Limbaugh for saying:
“I mean, it’s easy if you’re Sean Hannity or Rush Limbaugh or even sometimes Newt Gingrich to stand back and throw bricks. You don’t have to try to do what’s best for your people and your party.You know you’re just on these talk shows and you’re living well and plus you stir up a bit of controversy and gin the base and that sort of thing. But when it comes to true leadership, not that these people couldn’t be or wouldn’t be good leaders, they’re not in that position of John Boehner or Mitch McConnell.”
Rev. Al Sharpton says Jesse Jackson and he are activists who point out issues of concern while Obama is president, one who presides or governs. To me, activists on the left and right serve a purpose and elected officials create policy and law that reflect the needs and best interest of the people. When I was a congressional staffer, House Speaker Tom Foley said from the well that any jackass could kick down a barn but it takes a carpenter to build one. Since Rep. Gingrey is a physician, he could surgically remove the cancerous cells in southern politics and foster the growth of disease-resistant tissue.
Once and for all, many of the personalities on talk radio and talk T.V. aren’t policy experts or journalists. They conduct a healthy and lively debate or discussion of issues and interests to attract listeners and generate ad dollars. I watch Bill O’Reilly and Keith Olbermann, both real journalists, with filters on or (as we say in the south) with a good pair of mucking boots. But, I don’t see these guys as potential officeholders—Lou Dobbs, maybe.
Bottomline: some media personalities mean well and other would say anything to recklessly whip the people into a frenzy—insightful amusement for some but propaganda for the weak-minded.
Project Logic Ga 
The problem here is that anything goes. No one can admonish another within the party or has little accountability for what they say. However, if the minority party is going to become unified and influential anytime in the near future they must be able to accept criticism from within the party ranks and not just go around criticizing others. It appears that Steele is just trying to build a consensus of support that has dwindled over the past decade or so. This issue is indeed a First Amendment issue. Limbaugh and Steele should be able to express their feelings, ideas, and associations freely without feeling like they have to retract a statement or did something wrong. What’s that about? It’s like, I didn’t mean what I said but I said it. ??? Steele must be able to exericse his influence otherwise he is just de facto. Seems Limbaugh is the de jure leader of the party. Maybe Limbaugh would have felt better if Steele would have made private criticism instead. I can understand that. But in strengthening a party maybe it would not be a bad idea to think about what you say before you say it from time to time. At one point that was called being politically correct. Or is that just so passe now.
Retract. I mean that it seems like Limbaugh is a de jure leader and not de facto. He is indeed a de facto leader of the Republican Party as it stands.
Excuse me. I take issue with this comment in the quote above ‘But when it comes to true leadership, not that these people couldn’t be or wouldn’t be good leaders.’ It’s implying that ONLY elected officials are or can be leaders. PULEEEEZEEEEEEEEEEEEE!
You’re right in your comments Ted, that the talk show hosts, community activitists, etc. play a critical role in educating the electorate and population at-large. If some of the elected officials would simply listen to the people, which include talk show hosts, they might not be in the position they’re in today.
Niko: walks into the room with her law degree prominently displayed. Yes, I got the two mixed up because I vaguely remember the differs from civil rights discussions at my HBCU, unlike you at Chapel Hill—all up in class with Michael Jeffery Jordan and Davis Love III.
I know this: Steele needs to get in the background and run the mechanics of the party like Governor Dean and the late Ron Brown. The head of the GOP should be Romney but it is actually Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell—not exactly Palin-attractive.
Limbaugh is the head of the conservative movement.
HBA: (as she sides with her brother of the mic Limbaugh) don’t kill me, I am just the messenger. You should take that up with the congressman from West Georgia, the Honorable Rep. Gingrey. He is lucky your show is not statewide…yet.
But, Gingrey showed me something; standing up and speaking his mind…briefly. Some of you radio cats can be bullies on some level; it’s easy to solve everything theoretically from behind a mic with your Chloraseptic and Earl Grey tea.
They messed around and hit a nerve with HBA. (As she steps from behind the mic, walks outside for a little fresh air and ponders her political ascent to D.C.) At future inaugurations, she will have an appointment seat near the heaters.
Niko: First Amendment issue? Slow down, Perry Mason, no one is saying they don’t have the right to speak their minds. They just need to be prepared to deal with the consequences relative to their positions.
I agree with you that people can make critical statements without needing to apologize the next day. In my community as kids, we would say, “I said it, I meant it and I am here to represent it.”
I have a bad feeling about this situation. Steele has always been a real dude; not one to bit his tongue. As the leader of a major political party, he needs to be smoother and more diplomatic. And you know, the GOP includes some of my rural friends who are not use to talking marching orders from someone who looks like us. I wish he was in the Senate anyway but that did not happen.
Limbaugh can say or do anything he dam well pleases because he is not elected and has no boss.
If he cares about the GOP and the conservative movement, he should be careful because what is in his best interest might hurt the cause. President Obama should get his team to set out of campaign mode and stop picking fights while Rome (Georgia) burns. Then again, that dream team designed the playbook that got him into the White House.
Actually my show is international. One simply has to visit me online and webstream:) http://www.newsradio1230.com Maybe I should sent a note to Rep. Gingrey’s folks….
And not only an appointment seat near a heater, but actually getting in the gate might be a good thing too! LOL..