On CNN on Friday, Paul Begala described the head of the Republican Party as a “corpulent drug addict with a AM radio talk show.” He wasn’t referring to Michael Steele, the recently elected chair of the GOP who is already being marginalized, of course. He was describing the party’s real leader, Rush Limbaugh.
Let’s get some analysis now from our CNN political contributors, the Democratic strategist, Paul Begala and the Republican strategist, Bay Buchanan.
First on Michael Steele, a new face for the RNC.
PAUL BEGALA, DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST: And a good choice. It’s none of my business, it’s not my party. But Michael’s been here in THE SITUATION ROOM many times, we’ve debated issues. Terribly smart guy. I like that he’s run for office. He served as Maryland’s lieutenant governor. He had some failed bids for office, which is good too. You learn a lot from the canvas. So, good for them.
But I think Candy’s piece is instructive. The real leader of the Republican Party in America today is a corpulent drug addict with a AM radio talk show, Rush Limbaugh. He’s the real power in the Republican Party. And so Michael Steele is going to need to stand up to Limbaugh if he wants to actually lead the party of Lincoln.
BLITZER: He was suggesting, Rush Limbaugh, the other day, maybe he was being just rhetorical, that he’s more powerful than the Republican leader in the House or the Senate for that matter. Is that true?
BAY BUCHANAN, RUPUBLICAN STRATEGIST: Well, I think more Americans know him, that’s for sure. They know the name, they know he’s out there, he stands for something. And he really is inspirational. He’s sending a very strong conservative message to those here in Washington to stand up and they did. But the key here is what Paul’s suggesting is just absolute nonsense.
Rush Limbaugh has always played a major role in our party, represented the conservatives. But Michael Steele here is somebody entirely different and what he brings to this party is an articulate new, fresh face with great ideas, great energy, and he has the ability to reach out with a message that’s very important, one he carries from his heart. He’s from working middle class folks, you know, working people. And he knows that the way we’re going to win back this party is to reach into their hearts and let them know there is a place in the party, we’ll fight for their homes, for their families.
BLITZER: There’s an elite little club in Washington called the Alfalfa Club. Are you involved? Are you –
BEGALA: I’m not a —
BLITZER: Are you involved in the Alfalfa Club?
BUCHANAN: No, no.
BLITZER: It’s an elite group of business –
BEGALA: Are you?
BLITZER: No, no journalists are allowed. It is business leaders and political types. They’re having their annual dinner tomorrow night here in Washington, about 200 people or so usually go. Among those who will be attending will be President Obama and the Alaska Governor Sarah Palin. Interesting stuff.
BEGALA: I think it’s good, it’s interesting. I’m told that these things – you know the tradition is that big politicians and other big shots get up and give speeches and that they try to be funny. That’s hard to do in Washington. But if I could give some advice, I’ve watched Governor Palin carefully in the campaign. And I think her biggest short coming is that she seems attracted to sarcasm and bitterness. That she uses humor in a weapon in a way that Ronald Reagan never did, or that Barack Obama –
Oddly, Obama is stylistically much more like Reagan. He certainly can throw elbows in a partisan way, but he’s always welcoming, he’s warm, and self-deprecating. Remember he was talking about finding a dog and called himself a mutt. Like he was not going to get a pure bred dog, he was going to get a mutt, like me. That’s Reaganesque. Palin is a completely different model. She seems, to me, very bitter, and divisive. I think at this dinner, she may very well have a chance to learn from the master.
BUCHANAN: You know, this is interesting advice from someone who took a cheap shot at Rush here.
BEGALA: Oh, but I’m not a politician. And Rush is a drug addict.
