Limbaugh: De Facto G.O.P. Boss

Conservatives, by definition, typically hold to traditional attitudes and are cautious if not averse to change or innovation in relation to religious principles, and fiscal and political values. It is clear, however, to reasonable conservatives and moderate republicans that the party has to either jettison outdated ideology or give up hope of regaining power for at least twelve to sixteen years.

As the unofficial leader of conservatives and too many republicans, Rush Limbaugh has de facto control of the Republican Party. After the 2008 general election, Steve Forbes, President, chief executive officer, and Editor-in-Chief of Forbes magazine, posited that if Republicans had followed Limbaugh's advice, the GOP would still have a majority in Congress and the party would have had a landslide victory in the 2008 Presidential election.

Mr. Forbes fails to mention that Rush Limbaugh is a businessperson and an opportunist mainly interested in making money. Limbaugh is unabashed by his blatant exploits of post-2008 election circumstances, (such as lack of G.O.P. leadership and vision), to fatten his bottom line. Almost as dramatic as the financial scale of our economic mess is the growing political fallout of the Republican Party's devastating election loses, which seems to be of little concern to the conservative radio host. Rush Limbaugh feigns concern for the Republican Party but in reality, he is not interested in the Party's troubles or their ability to win elections in the near future. He believes Republican Party election loses is a deserved recompense for not following his advice.

Making money is at the center of Limbaugh's narrow world and to this end, it is important economically that Limbaugh maintains an image of an egomaniacal ideologue interested in the ideology of republicanism, and preserving the purity of conservative values and traditions within the Party. Holding to rigid ideologies pays handsome dividends and thus is more important to Limbaugh than tolerating those with opposing opinions or showing direct concern for the Party's future and its ability to win elections. That being said, I do believe Limbaugh is a true conservative in regards to his political philosophy. Being true to conservatism, he has little tolerance for change and fresh ideas. While he does much through his radio broadcast to popularize conservative ideals, he does not offer the party any fresh thoughtful ideas of his own. Limbaugh's main mission is to make money. He accomplishes this through the outrageous statements and personal attacks on his radio broadcasts. Choosing rather to reject any points of view that are contrastive to his, Limbaugh is highly successful at denigrating conservatives, moderates, republicans, democrats, and anyone who opposes his views. Unrestrained by the exigencies of tolerance toward other people, their opinions, ideologies, and values, his main mission as a radio host is to attack those with whom he disagrees as the "enemy" and induce them to see the errors of their ways or else become a target of his vile personal attacks.

Rush Limbaugh is disaffected with the likes of General Colin Powell, Senator John McCain, Representative Eric Cantor of Virginia, Ex-Governor Jeb Bush, and Michael S. Steele—de jure Chairman of the Republican National Committee—all of who have expressed opposing views, ideas, and actions. At one point on his radio show, Limbaugh demanded General Colin Powell to leave the Republican Party and join the Democratic Party and charged that Powell was really a democrat. Limbaugh’s scourge was solely because Powell dared to excoriate Limbaugh for the rancorous manner in which he spoke about those who had opposed his views, and because Powell had voted for Barack Obama. Recently, when asked by Bob Schieffer, host of Face The Nation television broadcast, if he agreed with Limbaugh’s comments about General Colin Powell, former Vice President Cheney said he would rather follow Rush Limbaugh as a Republican political leader than General Colin Powell. One must keep in mind that Cheney used to be Powell’s boss while they both worked for President Ronald Reagan. Notwithstanding, General Powell has faithfully served our Nation as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and as Secretary of State, and has held other high-ranking federal positions in three presidencies. Cheney’s statement is tantamount to endorsing Rush Limbaugh as the Republican Party’s de facto leader. With such high-powered endorsements coupled with a huge listening audience, Rush Limbaugh is able to use the power of his impressive ratings to bully defiant conservatives and republicans into submission, and at every opportunity disparage those who disagree with him.

The G.O.P. squawks at the suggestion that Rush Limbaugh is in fact the leader of the Republican Party. However, in his article entitled ‘Empowerer of the Modern Conservative Movement,’ published 2008 by HumanEvents.com, conservative republican Steve Forbes wrote, "the current adverse environment -- won't last forever -- because Rush Limbaugh will be constantly and happily showing us the way to secular salvation."

Too many G.O.P. leaders are in denial to the fact that Limbaugh is indeed their Party's de facto leader. Rush Limbaugh has hijacked the Republican Party and handed it over to the Party’s right wing extremists. Limbaugh and the party’s extremist base have gained too much momentum and are too powerful for any Republican leader to be able to stop them. They, Limbaugh and the party’s base, are not as interested in winning elections as they are in conservative ideological purity. Much like a storm raging unabated, they are bent on purging the party of moderates—from Senator Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania to the likes of General Colin Powell.

Where is the Grand Old Party of conservative and moderate Republicans who favor reducing the size and role of the government and support less government control over the economic rights of individuals and corporations? The G.O.P. is a great Party and is worthy of grand leaders like Presidents Ronald Reagan and Abraham Lincoln, the first Republican president of the United States of America. Where are the grand leaders of the party that won the civil war? The extremist base of the Republican Party has pushed Rush Limbaugh to the forefront of the G.O.P. and the conservative movement. G.O.P. leaders are obliged by Limbaugh's huge listening audience, which is also the Republican Party's base, to recognize Rush Limbaugh as the Party's de facto leader. It would be funny if it were not so pathetic.