Republican National Committee chairman Michael Steele offended the Republican overlord Rush Lambaugh—himself fresh off an all you can eat crazy buffet at CPAC—by saying in response to D.L. Hughley’s assertion that Limbaugh is the de-facto leader of the Republican that, well, no, Limbaugh is an entertainer. And that he, the latest Republican Golden Child now that Sister Sarah keeps crashing and burning, is really the leader of the Republican Party.
On that same show, Steele sought to up his “street cred” by asserting that he, like the show’s other guest, Chuck D, was from the projects. Chuck D had to correct a brother: “I grew up in Roosevelt, Long Island. It's not the projects. It's where black people live." And so began Michael Steele’s channeling of Michael Jackson—Steele started “Moonwalking” like crazy.
You will remember the Moonwalk as a signature Jackson move where he glided backward across the stage while ostensibly appearing to go forward. Steele’s Moonwalking could have been labeled as the usual RNC worldview wherein reality is best conceptualized via the rear-view mirror of a Mercedes rushing over a cliff. But we have to hook his antics to his expressed desire to make the RNC urban and hip, and, well, you know, “cool.”
But wait, Limbaugh, the Republican Overlord—recently photographed in a manner to suggest an homage to Jabba the Hut—is speaking: “Mr. Steele, if you want to lead the Republican party -- as you say you do -- you need to run for and win the presidency…Republicans and conservatives are sick and tired of being talked down to. Until you show them the respect they deserve, you are going to have a hard time rebuilding your party.”
In the background you can hear Jacko, “Billie Jean is not my lover; she’s just a girl who thinks that I am the one.” And there goes Steele, high-water pants, signature white socks, one hand resplendent in a sequined glove, just moonwalking across the stage.
Steele stops. He’s speaking now: “My intent was not to go after Rush – I have enormous respect for Rush Limbaugh I was maybe a little bit inarticulate. ... There was no attempt on my part to diminish his voice or his leadership."
And so this performance (not to worry—there will be reruns parading as news) ends with a cross-temporal chant from Michelle Bachman, the Wiley Coyote look-alike Congresswoman from Minnesota: “You be da Man! You be da Man.”
Steele smiles and no doubt contemplates his sinking success.
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