CORRECTION: Kaine Statement: Steele Apology to Rush Limbaugh Proves the Point: Limbaugh is Leading Force Behind Republican Party

CORRECTION: Kaine Statement: Steele Apology to Rush Limbaugh Proves the Point: Limbaugh is Leading Force Behind Republican Party

WASHINGTON, March 2 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On the same day GOP Chairman Michael Steele apologized to conservative talk radio show host Rush Limbaugh for courageously challenging Limbaugh's role as leader of the Republican Party calling his show "incendiary" and "ugly," Governor Tim Kaine, chairman of the Democratic National Committee, issued the following statement calling on Republicans in Washington to stop following Rush Limbaugh's lead:

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080519/DNCLOGO )

"I was briefly encouraged by the courageous comments made by my counterpart in the Republican Party over the weekend challenging Rush Limbaugh as the leader of the Republican Party and referring to his show as 'incendiary' and 'ugly.' However, Chairman Steele's reversal this evening and his apology to Limbaugh proves the unfortunate point that Limbaugh is the leading force behind the Republican Party, its politics and its obstruction of President Obama's agenda in Washington. Just this weekend, Rush Limbaugh repeated his claim that he is rooting for the President to fail. The last time Rush Limbaugh said he wanted the President to fail, virtually every single Republican in Congress followed his lead and voted against the President's plan to create or save 3.5 million jobs.

"As Congress works to pass the President's budget, Republicans need to stop following divisive figures like Rush Limbaugh, stop apologizing to him and put aside the failed politics of the past so we can put our economy back on track, reform our health care system, break our dependence on foreign oil, improve our schools, and lay the foundation for long-term growth in the 21st Century."

Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080519/DNCLOGO
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
PRN Photo Desk photodesk@prnewswire.com
Source: Democratic National Committee

CONTACT: DNC Press Office, +1-202-863-8148

Web Site: http://www.democrats.org/

-------
Profile: intent