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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2009
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25

Steele to Rush: I Take It All Back

RNC chair begs radio host's forgiveness for criticism

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(Newser) – Republicans just can’t stay mad at Rush Limbaugh. A few weeks ago, Rep. Phil Gingrey begged forgiveness after criticizing the radio host. Yesterday, Politico reports, RNC chair Michael Steele came crawling back to Limbaugh, saying he didn’t meant it when he dismissed Limbaugh as an "entertainer" and "incendiary" Saturday night on CNN. Explains the apologetic Steele, "I was maybe a little bit inarticulate."

"I was saying one thing, and it came out differently," says Steele, who now calls Limbaugh "a very valuable conservative voice for our party." Democrats see Steele’s apology as evidence of who really runs the GOP. Says Steele’s counterpart, Tim Kaine, "His apology to Limbaugh proves the unfortunate point that Limbaugh is the leading force behind the Republican Party."

In this photo provided by ABC News, Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele, appears for an interview on ABC's This Week, in Washington, Sunday, Feb. 8, 2009.
In this photo provided by ABC News, Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele, appears for an interview on ABC's This Week, in Washington, Sunday, Feb. 8, 2009.   (AP Photo/ABC News, Lauren Victoria Burke)
Michael Steele, chairman of GOPAC and former lieutenant governor of Maryland, speaks at the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minn., Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2008.
Michael Steele, chairman of GOPAC and former lieutenant governor of Maryland, speaks at the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minn., Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2008.   (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Conservative talk show host Rush Limbaugh talks with guests in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2009.
Conservative talk show host Rush Limbaugh talks with guests in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2009.   (AP Photo/Ron Edmonds)
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RNC s Michael Steele calls Limbaugh's comments "incendiary" and "ugly."   (realclearpolitics)
Rush Limbaugh discusses the comments made by Michael Steel (RNC...   (QHoneybee)

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What I was trying to say was a lot of people…want to make Rush the scapegoat, the bogeyman, and he’s not. - Michael Steele

If I were chairman of the Republican Party, given the state that it's in, I would quit. I might get out the hari-kari knife. - Rush Limbaugh

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25 comments
VIEWING:
 
Doctor_Zaius
Mar 3, 09 7:32 AM CST
So I guess we now know who is the real head of the GOP. Reply
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IN RESPONSE:
jaguarj
Mar 3, 09 10:59 AM CST
Yah..what a wuss!!
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IN RESPONSE:
woody66
Mar 3, 09 5:28 PM CST
Republicans are finding it harder and harder to conceal their disgust for this guy. It ain't over. The pot's just beginning to boil. Time to get some popcorn & soda and watch the show
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IN RESPONSE:
radnip
Mar 4, 09 5:03 AM CST
Did anyone really think Republicans were going to listen to Steele? Remember, we're talking about Republicans -- just look at an audience picture from the convention or from speeches during the McCain campaign. Steele never had any real power. He just got called to apologize to one of the real powers.
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divetrader
Mar 3, 09 7:33 AM CST
Yes! It is so cool that all the Republicans want Rush to be their leader. If they all forgive him for being a drug addict, maybe we can get pot legalized. Reply
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