Recently, Republican National Committee chair Michael Steele, in an interview with the "Washington Times," said he was planning an "off the hook" public relations offensive for the RNC.

"We need messengers to really capture that region -- young, Hispanic, black, a cross section ... We want to convey that the modern-day GOP looks like the conservative party that stands on principles. But we want to apply them to urban-surburban hip-hop settings."

Last week, Colbert latched on to this hip-hopification of the GOP and challenged Mr. Steele to a freestyle rap debate about core conservative values.

Steele told Politico.com that he accepted the challenge, but failed to show up last night (we have no idea if he was actually invited.) As a result, Colbert felt it necessary to school Steele in the rules of a rap battle.