Who's the party? GOP edition

I'm never sure whether or where to place media figures in the party network, but here's a nice little story about a GOP officeholder who resisted some key conservative media figures, calling them brick-throwers, and then was forced to apologize.

Here's Rep. Phil Gingrey (R-GA) yesterday:

I mean, it’s easy if you’re Sean Hannity or Rush Limbaugh or even sometimes Newt Gingrich to stand back and throw bricks. You don’t have to try to do what’s best for your people and your party.You know you’re just on these talk shows and you’re living well and plus you stir up a bit of controversy and gin the base and that sort of thing. But when it comes to true leadership, not that these people couldn’t be or wouldn’t be good leaders, they’re not in that position of John Boehner or Mitch McConnell.

And here he is today, after being flooded with constituent phone calls and e-mails:

I regret and apologize for the fact that my comments have offended and upset my fellow conservatives — that was not my intent … Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Newt Gingrich, and other conservative giants are the voices of the conservative movement’s conscience.