Late this afternoon, NRSC communications director Brian Walsh responded to Marco Rubio's claim today that national Republicans are shrill and lazy. The NRSC has publicly endorsed Rubio's opponent in the Florida senate race, Gov. Charlie Crist (R), and it's fair to say Rubio's take on the tone in D.C. was aimed squarely at many of the group's senior leadership.

Walsh writes,

"I'm going to decline to comment. If Marco think[s] it's useful to spend time attacking fellow Republicans that's his decision. We're focused on building on the momentum Republicans have been seeing in the polls the last few months as more Americans make clear they do not support the big spending, big government policies that are being pushed by President Obama, Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi."

NRSC officials pointed to Crist's continuing lead in polls and money to show that Rubio's message was falling on deaf ears.