I can say without even having to think about it that I've never laughed at a thing Rush Limbaugh has said or done. I don't get him. His performances are like those of a mean, out-of-control drunk who thinks everything coming out of his mouth is either hilarious or golden. He begins every riff quietly, taking his time, pausing, letting his words sink in, and builds to an awesome, wiggly, crazed crescendo. Oh, my God. Electrifying to dittoheads and the uninitiated. Wow! But to those of us who have been exposed to his antics for decades, they're nothing more than the usual carefully calculated theatrics. Ho hum.
That's what makes his latest rantings against a Georgetown University law student fighting her college's policies on insuring birth control aids so mystifying. His initial comments about this young female student were so breathtaking in their vile putridity, the reactions against them were, at last, refreshingly awesome and swift. Hundreds of thousands of people protested his words. Even his usual defenders could be seen slinking away from the ten-foot pole they wouldn't use to touch them. Yes! Limbaugh is a pariah!
So did he finally stop and think about what he had said and realize he'd overstepped? The woman he so viciously word-raped was a young college student and not a politician or a public figure. She was not fair game and she was not a joke. But no, he didn't. He was so sure of his base, so sure of the politicians in his thrall, so sure that his advertisers would be too busy counting their money to notice, he came back the next day and the next and attacked this same young woman again. This time he demanded videos of her sex acts.
His politicians, true to form, gave out some half-hearted hand smacks, reminding us that he's an entertainer, not a Republican spokesman--as if he's only pretending to be one because he'd slept at a Holiday Inn once.
At last count, seven of Rush's sponsors have dropped him, at least for the moment, until all the fuss dies down. Dozens of petitions are still making the rounds, working to gain enough signatures to pressure all of his backers to leave him helpless and wiggling on his own. It took all of that for Rush to give an inch and release an odd written statement that, considering who it is from and how rare those things are coming from him, some might take to be an apology.
A Statement from Rush
For over 20 years, I have illustrated the absurd with absurdity, three hours a day, five days a week. In this instance, I chose the wrong words in my analogy of the situation. I did not mean a personal attack on Ms. Fluke.
I think it is absolutely absurd that during these very serious political times, we are discussing personal sexual recreational activities before members of Congress. I personally do not agree that American citizens should pay for these social activities. What happened to personal responsibility and accountability? Where do we draw the line? If this is accepted as the norm, what will follow? Will we be debating if taxpayers should pay for new sneakers for all students that are interested in running to keep fit? In my monologue, I posited that it is not our business whatsoever to know what is going on in anyone's bedroom nor do I think it is a topic that should reach a Presidential level.
My choice of words was not the best, and in the attempt to be humorous, I created a national stir. I sincerely apologize to Ms. Fluke for the insulting word choices.
"I did not mean a personal attack on Ms. Fluke." Really? How would you go about attacking someone for three solid days if you DID mean it?
In Rush Limbaugh's 24 years on the air he has apologized six times for the things he's said that backfired. BuzzFeed has put them all together here.
In 1988 he called Amy Carter "The most unattractive presidential daughter in the history of the country", and "apologized".
In 1992 he called Chelsea Clinton "the White House dog" and "apologized", blaming his crew for confusing him by mixing up pictures of Chelsea and the Clinton's dog.
In 1996 he made fun of Michael J. Fox, saying he either didn't take his medication on purpose or he was faking it when he appeared in a commercial for Claire McCaskill. In his "apology" he said, "All I'm saying is I've never seen him as he appears in that commercial. . ."
In 2008 he compared then-Senator Obama to Curious George and in his "apology", threatened to fire the caller who brought it up, ha ha, saying he never knew Curious George was--Gosh!--a monkey.
This is not to say that Rush has never said stupid, hateful, racist, misogynistic things before or since. Oh, he has, and plenty. That's apparently part of his appeal, God help us.
So think of it. One of the wealthiest, most famous entertainers in America right now is a stupid, hateful, racist, misogynistic radio personality who broadcasts a show three hours a day, five days a week highlighting his own peculiar, insulting, disrespectful brand of humor. Millions of seemingly sane listeners adore him and are honored to align themselves with him.
In many dark parts of our nation he is paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to deliver a one-hour speech to friendly packed houses, mirroring the stupid, hateful, racist, misogynistic rantings direct from his incredibly popular radio show.
He is so successful, grown politicians fear him more than they loathe him and cannot bring themselves to denounce a man who, underneath all that bluster, is a weak-kneed coward.
He will not debate or answer to anyone. His radio callers are screened so no one can ever dispute anything he says. He won't make public appearances in places where people who disagree with him might be in attendance. He has never appeared on a program where he might be asked hard questions. He attacks women and children and the handicapped with impunity and laughs along with his audience at the outraged responses.
He is a monster in the eyes of most normal human beings, and so I ask this question in all seriousness:
What is so goddamned funny about Rush Limbaugh?
(Update, 3/8/12: Media Matters reports that Limbaugh made disgusting comments about Sandra Fluke 46 times over three days and only apologized for two words. They're listed here. Over 40 advertisers have retreated from his show. Sen. Carl Levin wants the Armed Forces Network to stop broadcasting Limbaugh's show to the troops. Rush says it's all good.)
It's a joke on you, Racist Liimpballs has been doing this for 20 years. 20 years of vile filth designed to create "dittoheads" who repeat his disgusting lies as a mantra until they have turned themselves into dutiful slaves for the Plutocracy and Patriarchy.
ReplyDeleteMy question is rhetorical, of course. I've been around since Rush first began his radio show. He used to tell his audience every day not to think--he would do their thinking for them. I keep looking for an old broadcast transcript to prove that, because I don't think anyone believes he actually said it, not once but hundreds of times.
ReplyDeleteThat's the real origin of "dittoheads", no matter what anybody says.
Nobody has ever been able to explain his 24-year rise to popularity. I know WHAT he does. I just don't know HOW he does it. It's making me nuts, I don't mind admitting.
I've never been able to listen to Rush for any length of time. As soon as he starts lying, I turn him off or switch to another station.
ReplyDeleteHe used to tell his audience every day not to think--he would do their thinking for them.
For years I've been mystified by the "Dittoheads". Here are grown people proudly proclaiming they are too stupid to think for themselves. But now I know, they were told to be that way.
Yup, but what they didn't know is it all started as a joke. Rush invented the "Excellence in Broadcasting" schtick, pretending he had a HUGE audience when it was actually pretty pathetic at first. We were in Detroit then and our area was one of only a few places where he could be heard.
DeleteHe invented that huge (alter) ego, too, and when he kept telling his audience he would do their thinking for them, it must have stunned him that people actually went along with it. He would have been a fool not to go along. He became a millionaire by treating his audience like the idiots they were/are.
A "Sugar Daddy" website just signed up for half a million dollars worth of advertising on Rush's show.
ReplyDeleteTargeted advertising
http://www.politico.com/blogs/media/2012/03/limbaugh-adds-sugar-daddy-advertiser-116642.html
Lol, sugar daddies and sugar babies! Good, serves him right.
DeleteA late comer but something that folks overlook about Mr. Limbaugh - the man is DEAF. Literally stone cold deaf. He wears a colear implant (you can see in profile) so he can continue being a radio broadcaster. In short, affirmative action, the ADA at work, an employer health plan (those implants are expensive), and rich irony too.
ReplyDeleteyeah i agree so
ReplyDeletenice, i recommand it to my friends and i,ll be back again and again visit
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