Not to put too fine a point on it but in the words of Al Franken, Rush Limbaugh is a “big fat idiot.” Limbaugh’s arrogance is matched only by his girth and appetite for Oxycontin.

Controversy is a radio talk show host’s best friend, and Limbaugh goes out of his way to make outlandish statements that translate into high ratings.

But controversy is the last thing the Republican party needs as it fights to stay relevant in a political world dominated by President Barack Obama and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi.

Unfortunately for the GOP Limbaugh has been all over the news recently thanks to his dust-up with Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele. The details of this episode have been repeated ad nauseam — suffice for me to state the bare facts:

Steele called the radio personality an “entertainer” whose comments are sometimes “incendiary” and “ugly”. Rush took exception to Steel’s comments (the truth hurts) and he responded in typical bombastic fashion. The cowardly Steele then publicly apologized to the talkmeister.

The press has given the Limbaugh/Steele fight saturation coverage to the delight of the Democrats and the consternation of the Republicans. The Dems would love for Limbaugh to be the face of the GOP, and the Republicans can’t afford any distractions as they battle Obama’s policies tooth and nail.

The Republicans just want this controversy to go away, and that’s why some of them are now calling for Steele to step down from his post.

“A member of the Republican National Committee called yesterday for Michael S. Steele to step down as the party’s national chairman, a job that Maryland’s former lieutenant governor has held for less than five weeks.

The demand by Dr. Ada Fisher came in the wake of Steele’s recent squabble with talk-radio host Rush Limbaugh over Republican leadership. Fisher termed the flap a “Republican horror show” and predicted that donations to the party from conservatives would dry up as a result, according to The Hill, the Washington newspaper that first reported the contents of her e-mail to fellow committee members.

Fisher of Salisbury, N.C., is one of three black members of the Republican National Committee. She could not be reached yesterday for comment.” — [ MORE ]

It very telling that some Republicans side with the talk show host bully, and seek to banish Steele to oblivion for having the temerity to tell the truth about the big fat idiot.

This incident tells me all I need to know about the GOP: It’s a party of cowards who coddle bullies. They want to get rid of the first African American Chairman of the Republican National Committee after he’s served only a few weeks.

What message does this send to minorities who are considering joining the GOP? Come under the Big Tent, but make what we consider a mistake and we will kick you to the curb.

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