Brad Woodhouse, president of Americans United for Change, said the group had discussed the ad campaign with the Democratic National Committee. Woodhouse is joining the DNC next week as its communications director. Asked if the White House was notified about the ad, Woodhouse said: "They certainly are aware -- I'm sure they're aware of what we're doing."
Within the GOP officialdom, Limbaugh is a sensitive subject. The new chairman of the Republican National Committee, Michael Steele, said on CNN over the weekend that Limbaugh was merely an "entertainer" -- and an "incendiary" one at that. He also disputed the notion that Limbaugh was leading the GOP.
Limbaugh fired back on his show: "Now, Mr. Steele, if it is your position as the chairman of the Republican National Committee that you want a left-wing Democrat president and a left-wing Democrat Congress to succeed in advancing their agenda, if it's your position that you want President Obama and Speaker Pelosi and Senate Leader Harry Reid to succeed with their massive spending and taxing and nationalization plans, I think you have some explaining to do. Why are you running the Republican Party?"
Steele later called Limbaugh to apologize, Politico reported. Steele released a statement: "I respect Rush Limbaugh. He is a national conservative leader, and in no way do I want to diminish his voice. I'm sure that he and I will agree most of the time, but will probably disagree some as well, which is fine."
In an interview Monday, David Axelrod, senior advisor to Obama, pressed the argument that the real GOP boss is Limbaugh: "I don't see most of these Republican office holders heeling for Mr. Steele like they do for Limbaugh."
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peter.nicholas@latimes.com
