Rush Limbaugh Republicans

Original Link: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2009/feb/03/rush-limbaugh-republicans-obama

By Steven Guess

Michael Steele is supposed to be the new leader of the Republican party. On face value, this symbolises a shift in the party's approach to race relations. But while Steele has the title of leader, it's hard to imagine Steele's critics pleading for his forgiveness days after attacking his stance on abortion and ability to appeal to social conservatives.

By contrast, when congressman Phil Gingrey lightly rebuked Rush Limbaugh for taking shots at the Republican leadership from the sidelines, Gingrey was brought to his knees and had to tell the conservative radio talkshow host and his fans on air how "stupid" his comments were, after getting a flood of angry Rush listeners. Gingrey went even further and issued a letter to his constituents praying they would see that he was "one of you".

Judging by the degree of grovelling paid to Limbaugh by a member of Congress, it's no wonder why many think Rush has more power in the Republican party right now than anyone else, Steele included.

Whatever goodwill Steele created among African-Americans still pales in comparison to the many ways Limbaugh has insulted African-Americans. Most recently, Rush told his listeners: "[Barack Obama's] not black … he's a human being," adding "We are being told that we have to hope he succeeds, that we have to bend over, grab the ankles, bend over forward, backward, whichever, because his father was black, because this is the first black president."

It was only five years ago that Limbaugh was forced to resign from ESPN for suggesting that Donovan McNabb was chosen as the Philadelphia Eagles's quarterback simply because he is black. Whatever Limbaugh's excuses for his offensive comments, the more Republicans listen to him, the less Steele will be able to change the party.

It may seem odd to think that standing in Steele's way is a radio talkshow host who has never held elective office, never worked in government and for the past 20 years has made a living by ticking one group of voters off after another, from Hispanics to people with Parkinson's Disease. But like most Americans, Limbaugh's listeners would much rather pop a pill and feel better, the pill in this case being told that the Republican party's only problem is not being Republican enough.

In the face of electoral defeat, Limbaugh thinks the party doesn't need a new message, new ideas or new policies. He doesn't think bipartisanship is necessary. Indeed, only a day after the inauguration, Limbaugh expressed his hope that in these perilous times Obama fails, because it would mean socialism if he were to succeed.

Limbaugh tells his listeners that the reason we have an economic crisis is not laissez faire corporate greed in the mortgage market, or an SEC that failed in its oversight duties or any host of other failures. No, our crisis is the result of deficits stemming from entitlement programmes, and the proper response is not for the government to act, but for it to actually do less. Seeking to mobilise demoralised conservatives against the president's economic stimulus package, Limbaugh has dubbed the stimulus plan "porkulus". As Ronald Reagan said, government isn't the solution, it's the problem.

Limbaugh has the advantage of being on the sidelines, making bold proclamations and predictions without the inconvenience of being held accountable. Unfortunately for Republicans, there is a growing sense in the US that their ideas actually caused the problem. The Republican party needs more than a facelift. It needs a revolution in its approach to policy. There is a real danger for Republicans in keeping Limbaugh as their party's ideological anchor.

For Steele to break into the coalition of voters Obama has assembled this past election, he has to make the base of the party more accepting of moderate Republicans who are seen by Limbaugh as weak, not model it after the remnants of the Republican party in the House, which is now almost completely devoid of moderates. It may not be good for ratings, or to rally the troops, but centrist policies are the only path out of the incompetence label attached to Republicans post-George Bush. Republicans need to give voters a reason to trust them again, and try as they might, the mantra of small government is not enough.

And perhaps that's the real reason why Obama didn't invite Limbaugh to his conservative dinner party. There's no point in talking to someone who doesn't produce ideas but makes his living stirring the pot of conservative malcontent. But for the rest of America, Limbaugh rarely makes headlines for espousing something positive, and outside his 13 million weekly listeners, he's seen as a political liability. But while marginalising Limbaugh may be on the to-do list, he remains a force to be reckoned with.

Unfortunately for Michael Steele, for the time being, that means pleasing Limbaugh may be part of his job description.