Limbaugh's Legacy
The Sandra Fluke incident with its recent apology has reminded readers of the days of Imus and Howard Stern and the networks pulling the plug on their programs. As discovered, the lone incident for Imus, much like Limbaugh, is not an isolated event. Rush's program carries with it a long history of "shock jock" language. I have listened occasionally to Limbaugh over the years and have been shocked myself more than once over his choice of words. To me the problem Imus had with comments about Rutgers Women's Basketball as well as Limbaugh's latest regarding calling Fluke a "slut" caused me to wonder to myself. This has been going on for years and now why all the attention? Alternet has up some of the caustic comments like telling a black caller to "take the bone out of your nose." The fact that Rush called Amy Carter the ugliest daughter of any U.S. President was followed up by stating Chelsea Clinton was the "Whitehouse dog." I remember Rush being solicited to be a commentator for NFL games. Limbaugh had gone out for football once but didn't seem to have much understanding of what it took to play or how it transacted on the field. He shot himself in his foot by claiming Donavan McNabb was overrated as a quarterback simply because he was black. That ended Rush's sports commentary job. Not limiting himself to offending athletes and politicians, he also went after actors. He once claimed Michael Fox was faking his Parkinson's Disease. Rush Limbaugh has used rough language to refer to the Obama administration. He often hosted his own "Barack the Magic Negro" routine. The Oklahoma Observer, in its January 2010 issue, listed a host of offensive statements collected from Rush's programs. Regarding Obama Rush said, "We are being told that we have to hope he succeeds, that we have to bend over, grab the ankles...because his father was black." He also stated that, "In Obama's America, the white kids now get beat up with the black kids cheering." He said that Obama is the greatest living example of a reverse racist. Echoing what his friend San Hannity claimed that the President does not like white people, Limbaugh claimed, "Obama's entire economic program is reparations." Rush claimed the Cash for Clunkers program "helps your shiftless cousin buy more meth, lets you buy cartons of Luckys." Nancy Pelosi is often mentioned on Rush's radio broadcasts. Rush stated, that if Pelosi "Wants fewer births, I have the way to do this and it won't require any contraception: You simply put pictures of Nancy Pelosi...in every cheap motel room...That will keep birthrates down because that picture will keep a lot of things down." Rush calls Pelosi a ditz and Obama is a danger to the nation. He once stated that Hillary Clinton wasn't let into the Marines because "they didn't have uniforms or boots big enough to fit that butt and those ankles." Limbaugh's worldview is often expressed to listeners that we are in grave danger of losing the nation to extremists. He once claimed that CNN and Obama were working together to destroy capitalism. He also stated the two were together in a project to destroy every tradition and institution that makes this country great and "rip it to shreds."
My guess is that this latest fallout over calling Fluke a slut and wanting to watch videos of her having sex since we all paid for her contraception will take a toll. Stern and Imus eventually landed on their feet again and continued to appeal to a loyal following. Limbaugh seems to have a huge appetite for a lavish lifestyle. I doubt he will sink away quietly.
Limbaugh's Legacy | 11 comments (11 topical, 0 hidden)
Limbaugh's Legacy | 11 comments (11 topical, 0 hidden)
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