The Rush flap revisited

Republicans worked hard last week to recast the debate over Rush Limbaugh’s role as a Democratic conceit cooked up by the White House and liberal blogs.

And fair enough. Democrats clearly fanned the flames, following Rush’s high-profile appearance at CPAC.

But the reality is clearly much more damaging for Republicans. Rush feuded publicly with embattled RNC chair Michael Steele.

Then conservative author David Frum gave Rush both barrels in the pages of Newsweek, arguing that Rush is essentially sabotaging the GOP to advance his own career:

Rush knows what he is doing. The worse conservatives do, the more important Rush becomes as leader of the ardent remnant. The better conservatives succeed, the more we become a broad national governing coalition, the more Rush will be sidelined.

And now Rush is going head-to-head with Newt Gingrich, describing the former House speaker as one of the “fly-by-night operators” in Washington.

Republicans can pretend that this is a Democratic scheme. They can argue that it’s a good thing that they’re leaderless and that Rush is elbowing his way into that vacuum.

But that’s nonsense. The other day I was talking to a North Country Republican — a woman — who made a face at the mention of Rush’s name.

“He’s not my leader,” she said angrily.

Until the GOP finds a better standard-bearer, Rush will continue to loom large.