Fueled by a heady bout of denial as practiced by an egomaniac, and cheered on by a fan base of enablers, Rush Limbaugh's long-running Sandra Fluke saga is still generating national headlines on its twenty-second day, an eternity in today's sped-up news climate.

How has the story of an AM talker's offensive chatter been able to sustain itself for so long? Why did the Washington Post run a front-page Style section story about the talk radio tumult nineteen days after Limbaugh first called Fluke a "slut"? Because Limbaugh and his conservative cheerleaders have made every possible miscue in dealing with the public relations crisis, thereby stubbornly feeding the damaging story for weeks on end.

The missteps have been innumerable. Aside from the enormous one that was Limbaugh's original three-day misogynistic smear campaign against a law student, the blunders have included Limbaugh refusing to take responsibility for the totality of his actions. They have also included his media defenders refusing to condemn Limbaugh's actions (and often even refusing to describe what they were), while casting him as the true victim of menacing censors.

There has also been the continued public bullying of Fluke, the wildly misguided attack on her boyfriend and her boyfriend's Jewish heritage, as well as the loopy conspiracies about the White House's alleged role in the story and how the grassroots advertising campaign that's knocked more than 50 sponsors off Limbaugh's show isn't somehow real. (It's "astroturf"!)

The blunders, all of which stemmed from an inability (or refusal) to simply do the right thing in the wake of the talkers' obviously offensive behavior, helped transform the Fluke story into a media evergreen.

The punch line from the self-inflected, three-week public relations debacle? Limbaugh gets paid $400 million to be a communicator.

One of the key reasons that the story has unfolded the way it has is because so many right-wing commentators agreed with Limbaugh's nasty evisceration of Fluke's character. (i.e. She's a "slut," a "tool," a "skank," and "rent-a-cooch.") Like him, they labeled her a greedy nympho unable to contain her sexual urges, arguing she deserved to be ridiculed for demanding taxpayers subsidize her raucous campus sex life.

So if Limbaugh's enablers actually believed those wholesale mischaracterizations about Fluke and her public testimony about access to contraception, of course they weren't going to retreat in the face of the controversy. Of course they were going to keep attacking "alleged victim" Fluke and refuse to apologize for the ugliness.

That stubborn ignorance simply added fuel to the fire by emboldening Limbaugh's taunting posture in the days following his two forced and limited apologies. That's what likely led Limbaugh to boast that his listeners didn't even think his smearing comments about Fluke were "that big of a deal to begin with." (Because what's the best way to win back scared advertisers in the wake of a controversy than to suggest the controversy was overblown in the first place?)

And when not openly cheering Limbaugh's verbal assault on Fluke, conservatives did their best to cover-up. At National Review Online, Jonah Goldberg played down the sexual smears by suggesting Fluke was treated by Limbaugh the same way Joe the Plumber, Joe Wurzelbacher, was treated by the press during the 2008 campaign. (Really?)

But the right-wing media's denial has been a hallmark of the three-week Limbaugh controversy, and it began instantaneously. On the morning of March 2nd, just as the Limbaugh story began to make headlines, Republican Carly Fiorina appeared on CBS This Morning and rightfully condemned his Fluke comments as "insulting" and "incendiary."

If most conservative commentators had followed Fiorina's lead the Fluke story would have likely played out in a couple of days as Limbaugh took his well-deserved lumps. Instead, within hours CNN contributor Erick Erickson posted a pointed condemnation of Fiorina. "We should be insulted with Fluke, but Fiorina is insulted by Limbaugh," wrote Erickson, perfectly capturing the siege mentality that quickly enveloped so much of the conservative media.

It was Limbaugh who was the victim; the put-up target of a bully's assault. But what about all those ugly comments he made? They were simply flushed down the memory hole, as his enablers did their best to whitewash Limbaugh's bizarre behavior by making only vague, passing references to the talker's three-day attack, turning them into a single comment, or by completely mischaracterizing his actions [emphasis added]:

-Dana Loesch: "The Left targeted Limbaugh over his disagreement with the sentiments expressed in a White House set-up on birth control."

-Laura Ingraham: "I think he made a mistake."

-Greg Gutfeld: "An unforced error."

-Michelle Malkin: "I'm sorry the civility police now have an opening to demonize the entire right based on one radio comment."

-Tucker Carlson: Rush Limbaugh said some nasty things about a Georgetown law student named Sandra Fluke

Like most hate radio enablers, Carlson never ever actually explained what "nasty things" were said about Fluke. But how could he?

How could Carlson write a column doing his best to downplay the controversy while at the same time detailing Limbaugh's unseemly suggestion that Fluke was having sex as a twelve year old, or that Limbaugh demanded Fluke post sexual videos of herself online so everyone could watch her in the act.

The truth is Limbaugh dealt conservatives like Carlson an unwinnable hand. And yet they tried to play it, over and over again. That's why three weeks later the story's still making news.

http://mediamatters.org/blog/201203220007

I wish it would die,,,,



and people can stop pretending like Rush gets paid to do anything but be offensive to others,,,

Sorry Bestinshow, Rush Limbaugh is still richer and more successful than you and he disagrees with almost everything you believe. I have even more bad news, none of that is going to change anytime soon, unless you swing to the right.

I cant stand Limbaugh.

I am against large socialized government as much as anyone, but dammit if I think his approach is a detriment not a benefit.

I agree, can't stand the man......Here are the eight WORST things he ever said....


"(Feminism) did start with the premise that men and women are the same, and the only thing that makes women subservient to men is that men have run things, so we gotta get rid of men running 'cause we're gonna run things."
This comes from a transcript of Limbaugh's March 5, 2012 radio show titled "How Feminism Screwed up the Sexes." A man called in to discuss with Limbaugh how traumatizing it had been for him in high school to be taught that men and women were equal. Apparently, he had been taught in the classroom that opening a door for a woman was demeaning to the woman. The caller, a Chinese-food delivery man, tells Rush: "You know, I felt like if I approached a woman, I was a monster, just for approaching them." Ladies, whenever you order Chinese take-in, please keep the chain on your door.

"It has not been proven that nicotine is addictive, the same with cigarettes causing emphysema [and other diseases]."
Limbaugh, who loves a good cigar, shared this bit of misinformation on his radio show April 29, 1994. The Journal of the American Medical Association reported back in 2000 that a single cigar provides as much nicotine as a pack of cigarettes. And nicotine's addictiveness has been reported since the turn of the century. The link between smoking and chronic disease is made explicit in the Surgeon General's warning included on the packaging of cigarettes. But remember, comedian Denis Leary once said cigarettes could be packaged in "a black pack, with a skull and a cross bone on the front…" and smokers would still buy them.

"He is exaggerating the effects of the disease. He's moving all around and shaking and it's purely an act. … This is really shameless of Michael J. Fox. Either he didn't take his medication or he's acting."
The disease Limbaugh refers to in this quote from his Oct. 23, 2006 radio show, is Parkinson's disease. Actor Michael J. Fox, who suffers from Parkinson's, is an effective spokesman and advocate for research to find a cure. Fox to his credit, ignored Limbaugh's statement at the time, simply stating, "It's ironic, given some of the things that have been said in the last couple days, that my pills are working really well."

"Feminism was established so as to allow unattractive women easier access to the mainstream of society."
This quote comes from a list of several quotes Limbaugh provided to the Sacramento Union in 1987 under the title "35 Undeniable Truths of Life." Perhaps we should add a number 36 to include, as an undeniable truth, the establishment of talk radio to allow unattractive men to nationally broadcast their unattractive opinions without the fear of actually having to confront the subjects of their rants face-to-face?

"So urinating on yourself — urinating on other people, creating diseases, spreading diseases — that's something you people want to have the right to do, and it's insulting when people tell you that you ought to clean up? Is that what you want us to believe? Because they do. It's exactly it."
Even taken in context, in this case, the transcript of Limbaugh's Nov. 21, 2011 radio show, this quote is a real head scratcher. Limbaugh began this show quoting fellow fathead Newt Gingrich on the Occupy Wall Street movement as saying, "All the Occupy movement starts with is the premise that we all owe them everything." Newt doesn't clarify who "we" is, but Limbaugh runs with it, insisting that the agenda of the Occupy movement is to secure the right of its members to urinate on each other without having to clean up afterward. Which begs the question of how this image of people urinating on each other got into Limbaugh's head, but what you do in your private life, and Gingrich would probably agree with this, should remain private.

"Black unemployment is terrible. The black frame of mind is terrible, they're depressed, they're down — Obama's not doing anything for 'em. How is that hoax and change workin' for ya? They're all livid … And I'm sure Tiger Woods' choice of females is not helping 'em out with their attitudes there either."
From his Dec. 8, 2009 radio broadcast, "On the Black State of Mind." Where Limbaugh found data that speaks to a collective, all-encompassing, yet quantifiable "black state of mind," i.e. the emotional health of every black person in the United States, is anyone's guess. Like professional football, as you'll read in the next item, Limbaugh's lack of knowledge and compassion for whatever subject he chooses to talk about is rarely taken to task by his listeners and conservatives. If you're loud, obnoxious, and host a heavily financed radio show, you can almost convince people you actually know what you are talking about.

"Look, let me put it to you this way, the NFL all too often looks like a game between the Bloods and the Crips without any weapons. There, I said it."
Limbaugh's knowledge of professional sports is pretty limited. He's probably given some respect by his listeners for his football commentary only because he physically resembles a lot of NFL fans and at least one coach. Limbaugh compared NFL players to Crips and Bloods gang members on his radio show back in January 2007. He didn't clarify which specific players reminded him of Crips or Bloods, so we can only assume Eli Manning, Brett Favre, and Drew Brees had him seeing blue and red. And then there's that original gangsta, Tim Tebow…

"If we're going to pay for your contraceptives and thus pay for you to have sex, we want something for it. We want you to post the videos online so we can all watch."
This knee slapper is part of Limbaugh's now infamous Feb. 29, 2012 rant where he called Georgetown law student Sandra Fluke, who testified at a Congressional hearing Republicans held about women's health, a "slut" and a "prostitute." Limbaugh was taking issue with the fact that Fluke advocates that birth control pills be covered by university health care plans. In Limbaugh's world, women who take birth control pills have sex, and women who have sex are "sluts" and "prostitutes." Limbaugh neglected to mention that Fluke pointed out in her testimony that birth control pills can be prescribed as a means of controlling and treating serious health issues.

I don't have time to respond to all of your points, but...

From Michael J. Fox's book...

Newt Gingrich was being ripped by the media and Democrats for saying "Go get a job right after you take a bath."

Rush Limbaugh pointed out that the outrage against this statement was manufactured. Many of the OWS people did have horrible hygiene. They had scabies outbreaks and you can find pictures and videos of them urinating and defecating on streets and in the parks where they setup.

So Rush was having a bit of fun with the whole thing and called it a "Right to lice" event. It was a joke and nothing more.

So what he is richer than me its a safe bet that I am richer than you but thats not why I win every argument or debate.

You can follow Limpbaugh over the edge of a cliff if you choose thats your right, its also my right to find him totaly absurd and discusting.

I would have thought that his suitcase full of viagra and on his plane in the dominican republic would have turned all those social value folks off but it seems they are to brainwashed.

Another joke.

Its **** like this that distracts from the real issues. That is why I see it as a detriment. It just plays into the soap opera style of entertainment but pretends to be serious political commentary.

Thoroughly disgusts me. Just like the media coverage here in Florida lately.

I don't hate you because you have more money than me. I don't hate anyone for their success.



I'm pro-legalization of all drugs, prescription or otherwise. I'm also pro-legalization of prostitution, gay marriage and polygamy, so I'm sure you weren't talking about me when you said the above.

THE TOP TEN RACIST RUSH LIMBAUGH QUOTES.....

1. “Have you ever noticed how all composite pictures of wanted criminals resemble Jesse Jackson?”

2. “Right. So you go into Darfur and you go into South Africa, you get rid of the white government there. You put sanctions on them. You stand behind Nelson Mandela — who was bankrolled by communists for a time, had the support of certain communist leaders. You go to Ethiopia. You do the same thing.”

3. “Look, let me put it to you this way: the NFL all too often looks like a game between the Bloods and the Crips without any weapons. There, I said it.”

4. “The NAACP should have riot rehearsal. They should get a liquor store and practice robberies.”

5. “They’re 12 percent of the population. Who the hell cares?”

6. [To an African American female caller]: “Take that bone out of your nose and call me back.”

7. ”I think the media has been very desirous that a black quarterback do well. They’re interested in black coaches and black quarterbacks doing well. I think there’s a little hope invested in McNabb and he got a lot of credit for the performance of his team that he really didn’t deserve.”

8. Limbaugh’s many attacks on Obama.

Limbaugh has called Obama a ‘halfrican American’ has said that Obama was not Black but Arab because Kenya is an Arab region, even though Arabs are less than one percent of Kenya. Since mainstream America has become more accepting of African-Americans, Limbaugh has decided to play against its new racial fears, Arabs and Muslims. Despite the fact Obama graduated magna cum laude from Harvard Law school, Limbaugh has called him an ‘affirmative action candidate.’ Limbaugh even has repeatedly played a song on his radio show ‘Barack the Magic Negro’ using an antiquated Jim Crow era term for Black a man who many Americans are supporting for president. Way to go Rush.


9. “We need segregated buses… This is Obama’s America.”

10. “Obama’s entire economic program is reparations.”


Like I said earlier, I can't stand the man.....not because of his party affiliation, because of his superiortiy complex.....

Rush was making a point about how Democrats supported aid for Darfur, but deriding the mission to help the Iraqis. Rush felt that Democrat support for Darfur was related to shoring up their black voter base in the US. Now you might disagree with his analysis, but how exactly is this racist?



Rush was discussing how modern football players looked and acted thugish on and off the field. He wasn't commenting on the races of the players. Look a the sports news, there is always an NFL player who is involved in something bad. Rush's point is that football players used to be heroes and now that is no longer true.

You can read the full quote IN CONTEXT here



Fake quotes, he never said these things.



Rush said both of these things while working as a shock DJ. It was that or lose his job. He felt so bad about it, that he quit his job a few days later and left the radio business for awhile.



What is racist here?



Too much to go into now, I'm tired and hungry.



Rush was discussing a video of a white student being beaten by a group of black students on the bus and a Newsweek article that suggested that white babies are born racist.

You can find the quote, in context here



President Obama said as much himself "If we have a program, for example, of universal health care, that will disproportionately affect people of color, because they're disproportionately uninsured, if we've got an agenda that says every child in America should get — should be able to go to college, regardless of income, that will disproportionately affect people of color, because it's oftentimes our children who can't afford to go to college."

Old Rush sure has a command audience.
Even bad publicity turns him big bucks.
Want him to go away?
Quit reporting his every move.
Seeing his name on every 4th or 5th topic makes me interested in hearing about what all the fuss is.

10 WORST LIMBAUGH "AD" SPONSORED ATTACKS ON THE POOR...


One would like to think even Limbaugh could come up with less inflamatory ways to say these things....Wait, silly me!... Sensationalism is worth big media bucks, especially when your only real talent is sarcastic put downs, marriage and divorce, and popping up to 30 Oxycontin pain pills a day....



On June 16, 2010, Limbaugh belittled children who rely on free school meals when he said:

You know, one of the benefits of school being out, in addition to your kids losing weight because they're starving to death out there because there's no school meal being provided, one of the benefits of school being out, college campi being vacant this time of year, is that our audience levels go up. I think, you know what we're going to do here, we're going to start a feature on this program: "Where to find food." For young demographics, where to find food. Now that school is out, where to find food. We can have a daily feature on this. And this will take us all the way through the summer. Where to find food. And, of course, the first will be: "Try your house." It's a thing called the refrigerator. You probably already know about it. Try looking there. There are also things in what's called the kitchen of your house called cupboards. And in those cupboards, most likely you're going to find Ding-Dongs, Twinkies, Lays ridgy potato chips, all kinds of dips and maybe a can of corn that you don't want, but it will be there. If that doesn't work, try a Happy Meal at McDonald's. You know where McDonald's is. There's the Dollar Menu at McDonald's and if they don't have Chicken McNuggets, dial 911 and ask for Obama.

There's another place if none of these options work to find food; there's always the neighborhood dumpster. Now, you might find competition with homeless people there, but there are videos that have been produced to show you how to healthfully dine and how to dumpster dive and survive until school kicks back up in August. Can you imagine the benefit we would provide people?


On February 25, 2010, Limbaugh attacked Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-NY) for telling a story about a woman who was forced to wear her dead sister's dentures because she did not have health insurance or the means to pay for dentures out of pocket, saying:

So if you don't have any teeth, so what? What's applesauce for? Isn't that why they make applesauce?
On December 12, 2011, Limbaugh continued to belittle children who receive free school meals, calling them:

Wanton little waifs and serfs dependent on the state.
On November 16, 2010, Limbaugh mocked the idea of people "fighting off hunger," saying:

Have you seen people fighting off hunger? But you can actually see it. You go inside Publix or any grocery, you see them walk down the aisles, they're reaching for something, and they don't. It's an amazing thing to watch, people fighting off hunger.
On August 29, 2006, Limbaugh attacked a fundraising campaign for the United Nations' Children Fund (UNICEF), saying:

I mean, for decades, all over the world, we've been beat about the head that there are hungry people out there, that they are starving. UNICEF -- how many of you trick-or-treated for UNICEF? Did you "Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF," Brian? We all did -- did you? We all trick-or-treated. One of the biggest scams on the face of the earth. It was -- the scam was to get everybody loving the United Nations. The scam was to get everybody thinking the United Nations is feeding poor people. Remember all these stories: "A dime a day will feed 20 kids in some outward place around the world"?

[...]

This is what happens when you let the left run things. We've been beat about the head. There are hungry people everywhere. UNICEF got it all started. We've seen the babies with the extended tummies, the walking skeletons, told that kids can't learn unless they're fed. We've been guilted into pouring resources on the problem.
On October 8, 2010, Limbaugh said about economic equality:

[S]ome people are self-starters, and some people are born lazy. Some people are born victims. Some people are just born to be slaves. Some people are born to put up with somebody else making every decision for them.
On April 21, 2011, Limbaugh said listeners should ask young people:

Do you know any low-income people who want to get a better job? ... Do they even want to work?
On September 13, 2011, Limbaugh read from a report on appliance ownership of low-income Americans and said:

More than half of poor families with children - defined as poor by our government - have a video game system with either an X-Box or a PlayStation. More than half. I don't even have an X-Box or a PlayStation. The poor have something that I don't have - well, more than half of the poor.
On February 21, 2012, Limbaugh said of low-income people:

n many cases, speaking bluntly, the people that don't do well have only themselves to blame. And those who have no control over themselves are the ones we help.
On April 6, 2011, Limbaugh blasted government safety net programs and those who depend on them:

Democrats get their power by enslaving minorities through welfare. Let's just say it the way it really is. They create a class of utter dependent slaves, people who end up being addicts, who know no other way to get through the day, who know no other way to get through life. ... The Democrat Party is waiting to glom to them, and basically turn them into parasites.

personally, I think the man is miserable,, even with all his money


strangely, I actually feel sorry for him,,,he seems pretty alone and his only purpose seems to be to find flaws and be miserable about everything and everybody,,,

Guys like you are giving him the power!