Limbaugh speaks to GOP faithful in search of leader

Radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh, arguably the nation’s most controversial conservative, is set to address thousands of his “ditto-head” faithful tonight in Washington.

Limbaugh, who has been at the center of the debate over the GOP’s future since President Obama’s election, will be honored tonight by the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), which is giving the firebrand commentator its “Defender of the Constitution” award on the final night of its three—day conference. Limbaugh will also speak to what is expected to be a packed audience of conservative activists gathered for the annual conference.

{mosads}His address closes several days of speeches by national Republican leaders, including three 2008 GOP presidential contenders; former governors Mitt Romney (Mass.) and Mike Huckabee (Ark.) and Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas). But Limbaugh’s appearance is the most anticipated moment.

After suffering demoralizing defeats in 2006 and 2008, conservatives have been searching for an outspoken leader to rebuild the party brand. They have flock to Limbaugh’s three-hour daily radio show in the hope of an anwer and inspiration, and Limbaugh, whose popularity grew the last time Republicans lost the White House during President Clinton’s administration, is winning his highest ratings in 20 years. He now attracts an estimated 14 million listeners.

The man with self-proclaimed “talent on loan from God,” has been unafraid of bashing the new president, unlike other national party leaders. Limbaugh contends that Obama is threatened by his daily attacks on the White House, and in late January attracted attention for saying as much.

“Obama is obviously more frightened of me than he is [of Senate Minority Leader] Mitch McConnell (R-Ken.). He’s more frightened of me, than he is of say, [House Minority Leader] John Boehner (R-Ohio), which doesn’t say much about the party,” Limbaugh told his audience in reaction to reports that the President warned GOP Congressional leaders to steer clear of Limbaugh’s message.

Congressional Republicans grasping to regain the label as fiscal conservatives have had a tough time reinventing themselves as true reformers. Limbaugh, on the other hand, continues to galvanize the party base and recently ignited a firestorm on Capitol Hill when Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (Ill.) fought to reinstate the so-called Fairness Doctrine, which would require that broadcasters provide equal time for different political perspectives. Conservatives say this would hurt the bottom lines of radio shows broadcasting Limbaugh and others on the right, and the debate has been a major these of this year’s CPAC conference.

Limbaugh mocks Durbin, the second-ranking Senate Democrat and Obama’s closest ally in the chamber, as “Dick Turban” and says Durbin is trying to silence him by pushing the Fairness Doctrine. Durbin told the chamber that his purpose was not an effort “to muzzle Rush Limbaugh.”

The 9,000 estimated CPAC attendees will or already have also heard from potential 2012 presidential contenders Gov. Tim Pawlenty (Minn.) and former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich (Ga.). Romney, who gave a well-received speech on Friday, is mentioned as a contender as well.