Dems’ Dean says ‘enough’ on Limbaugh

Former Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean said “enough is enough” when it comes Democrats delighting in the hullabaloo over Rush Limbaugh.

Asked during an interview Monday with The Washington Times if the Limbaugh situation was getting too much play from the Democrats, Mr. Dean laughed and responded: “Of course it is.”

“You expect people to have fun, and it was fun, but enough is enough,” he said. “The reason it’s fun is because it’s true.”

The conservative radio host has been a top headline for more than a week after first being scolded for sharply criticizing President Obama and saying he wants the Democrat to “fail.”

Democratic activist groups and official Congressional fundraisers seized on the remark — and pushed the idea that Mr. Limbaugh is the true leader of the Republican party.

That was only furthered when Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele first dismissed Mr. Limbaugh as “entertainment” who offers “ugly” comments. After being excoriated by the radio titan, Mr. Steele apologized.

Mr. Dean told The Times it was “an embarrassment” and “ridiculous” that Mr. Steele felt he had to apologize to Mr. Limbaugh.

He said he can’t blame Mr. Steele, adding as the leader of the Republicans he shouldn’t have to apologize for pointing out the party’s sorry shape.

He said the inner-party squabble “reminds me of what happened when I got here,” though disputes he had with entrenched party leaders were kept private “instead of a public fight with a very prominent figure.”

The comments came as Americans United for Change released a new television ad mocking Republicans who said “No,” to Mr. Obama’s economic stimulus plan.

“So who are Republicans saying yes to?” a narrator asks, before showing a clip of Mr. Limbaugh speaking recently to the Conservative Political Action Conference.

“I want Barack Obama to fail,” Mr. Limbaugh said in the clip.

“Tell Rush and the Republicans America won’t take no for an answer,” the narrator concludes, guaranteed to keep the controversy alive another day.

As White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs left the briefing room Monday, a reporter asked about the radio host.

“You are willing to debate Limbaugh now, aren’t you?” the reporter said, referring to Mr. Limbaugh’s challenge to debate Mr. Obama.

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