America owes talk host Rush Limbaugh a debt of gratitude, Libertarians say

LP Press Release ^ | October 16, 2003 | Libertarian Party Press

[noprob]

The entire nation owes radio broadcaster Rush Limbaugh a debt of gratitude, Libertarians say, because his ordeal has exposed every drug warrior in America as a rank hypocrite.

"One thing we don't hear from American politicians very often is silence," said Joe Seehusen, Libertarian Party executive director. "By refusing to criticize Rush Limbaugh, every drug warrior has just been exposed as a shameless, despicable hypocrite.

"And that's good news, because the next time they do speak up, there'll be no reason for anyone to listen."

The revelation that Limbaugh had become addicted to painkillers -- drugs he is accused of procuring illegally from his Palm Beach housekeeper -- has caused a media sensation ever since the megastar's shocking, on-air confession last week.

As the Limbaugh saga continues, here's an important question for Americans to ask, Libertarians say: Why are all the drug warriors suddenly so silent?

"Republican and Democratic politicians have written laws that have condemned more than 400,000 Americans to prison for committing the same 'crime' as Rush Limbaugh," Seehusen pointed out. "If this pill-popping pontificator deserves a get-out-of-jail-free card, these drug warriors had better explain why."

Given their longstanding support for the Drug War, it's fair to ask:

Why haven't President George Bush or his tough-on-crime attorney general, John Ashcroft, uttered a word criticizing Limbaugh's law-breaking?

Why aren't drug czar John P. Walters or his predecessor, Barry McCaffrey, lambasting Limbaugh as a menace to society and a threat to "our children?"

Why aren't federal DEA agents storming Limbaugh's $30 million Florida mansion in a frantic search for criminal evidence?

Why haven't federal, state, and local police agencies seized the celebrity's homes and luxury cars under asset-forfeiture laws?

Finally, why aren't bloviating blabbermouths like William Bennett publicly explaining how America would be better off if Limbaugh were prosecuted, locked in a steel cage and forced to abandon his wife, his friends, and his career?

The answer is obvious, Seehusen said: "America's drug warriors are shameless hypocrites who believe in one standard of justice for ordinary Americans and another for themselves, their families and their political allies.

"That alone should completely discredit them."

But there's an even more disturbing possibility, Seehusen said: that the people who are prosecuting the Drug War don't even believe in its central premise -- which is that public safety requires that drug users be jailed.

"The Bushes and Ashcrofts and McCaffreys of the world may believe, correctly, that individuals fighting a drug addiction deserve medical, not criminal treatment," he said. "That would explain why they're not demanding that Limbaugh be jailed.

"But if that's the case, these politicians have spent decades tearing apart American families for their own political gain. And that's an unforgivable crime."

[Dane]

This is always the response of detractors.. It's just very easy for a Libertarian to use the WOD as ammunition to how big government screws EVERYTHING up...

Huh, there was no big government back in 19th century China when opium devastated Chinese society.

Oh that's right, you are a Harry Browne worshipper. So you are pining for the days when any 10 year old during the early 20th century could walk into any pharmacy and buy heroin laced aspirin off the shelf, never mind.

[HitmanLV]

I've done very well, thanks for asking, particularly with people in my life who have either fallen into addiction and needed a good friend, or to younger kinds I know who needed a good example and counseling about the issue to help them avoid the scene entirely.

If you can't see that as good, then of course that would speak volumes for you.

[Protagoras]

Hey! The druggie is here! Welcome dane! Always nice to see a druggie hypocrite when the thread topic is drug hypocrites!

[kidd]

Rush himself....

My inquiry was about the quantity and the type of drug used. To the best of my knowledge, Rush has not specified either.

[Let's Roll]

Losertarians will say anything to promote their agenda.

[Servant of the 9]

If he was a lower middle class hispanic who did exactly the same thing he would have been jailed long ago.

Like the maid who has immunity or the middle class pharmacist who is being charged ?

She got immunity by selling her testimony to the Feds, hardly typical, and the pharmacist seems to be a major drug baron, hardly middle class.

The WOD reminds me a lot of Vietnam. Conservatives all for killing commies, but lets not send my kid, he needs to go to college. Or if he has to go, lets make him an officer and keep him in the rear, or the National Guard.

Now they want to fight drugs, but not if it involves jailing their kid, then they gotta pull strings and get him defered adjudication for rolling over on some low grade dealer.

I was one of those who avoided Vietnam with a college deferment, but I never sank so low as to think I deserved it. It was a rotten corrupt system then, and it made it impossible to keep enough public support to win the war the troops could have won. The WOD faces the same problem. Until everyone is willing to see Rush and their friends and family who break or bend the law do hard time, the whole thing is an expensive farce.

Time to declare victory and drop the whole thing.

So9

[Petronski]

If that question is not rhetorical, you should pose it to the Libertarian Party, not me. If I would answer it, I would say "it does not."

[CWOJackson]

Oh darn. Somehow you think I wasted time on trying to insult you. I must correct you, I would never attempt to compete with the fine job you're doing on yourself.

[kidd]

Rush did not specify the drug or how many were taken.

What is your source for which drug and how many he took?

[noprob]

"Huh, there was no big government back in 19th century China when opium devastated Chinese society."

WAKE UP, our society is being devistated, not by drugs, but by the War On Drugs.

"Oh that's right, you are a Harry Browne worshipper. So you are pining for the days when any 10 year old during the early 20th century could walk into any pharmacy and buy heroin laced aspirin off the shelf, never mind."

They can buy it today in there school... You see my point, it's worthless to waste our money on it this way.. If they were legal, we could have age limits similar to alcohol... Talk to a kid you know, ask them which is easier to get, alcohol or pot..

[VRWC_minion]

Oh, so maybe like Jeb Bush's daughter ?

[Dane]

Hey! The druggie is here! Welcome dane! Always nice to see a druggie hypocrite when the thread topic is drug hypocrites!

You know, JMO, maybe a good career move for you would be to send your resume to Al Franken. You sure do throw out the term "hypocrite" like candy. You would make a good fit in his office, IMO, especially if the foam coming out of your replies, is matched when you speak.

[Protagoras]

Rush did not specify the drug or how many were taken.

You are mistaken. They are the drugs I described. He said he was addicted to "pain medication". He said he was addicted. The amount I described was "enough to cause addiction".

What is your source for which drug and how many he took?

Again, Rush Limbaugh.

[Servant of the 9]

Oh, so maybe like Jeb Bush's daughter ?

Exactly.
If we are gonna have a WOD, then people like her should do hard time the first time, not after God only knows how many chances.

So9

[Dane]

Losertarians will say anything to promote their agenda.

Shhhh, they are very secretive that they follow the Clinton model.

[Protagoras]

The person foaming at the mouth is you. A druggie who seeks out these type of threads to fuel his obsession of hate against libertarians. You are seriously ill.

[HitmanLV]

It's not rhetorical, and I wonder what would make you think it was. You asked me what good I have done, in a rude and confrontational way, which is unfortunate since I have been neither rude nor confrontational to you.

You asked what good I have done, and I told you. If you would say that my actions are not good, that of course is a matter of opinion, and as I said that would speak volumes for you.

Mind you, you don't know what I think about our national drug policy. For all you know, I could have my position against drug use, use mmy influence as a friend and role model to help people handle or avoid addiction, be against the policy as it has been executed now, and still not agree that federally subsidized housing could be the answer.

Then again, I can have a different opinion. Who knows? Certainly not anyone who hasn't asked me.

Keep the faith, kimosabe. The world isn't as nice a place to live in when approached in some ways. I don't know your approach, so I just thought I'd point that out

[Dane]

Exactly. If we are gonna have a WOD, then people like her should do hard time the first time, not after God only knows how many chances.

Uh could you holier than thou Libertarians show where Noelle Bush got off scot free?

You can't, but what the hey, you have your Carvillian tactics to revel in, while you all push your prime directive.

Drugs, drugs, drugs, drugs, drugs, drugs,.....

[noprob]

I've done very well, thanks for asking, particularly with people in my life who have either fallen into addiction and needed a good friend, or to younger kinds I know who needed a good example and counseling about the issue to help them avoid the scene entirely.

This is exactly what I want people to do, let's lean on support groups and churches, not on the government controlling us... Government control does not work. I actually think you agree with me, or you would leave it up to the war on drugs to solve the ills you speak of.

See, I think you are a libertarian after all. You didn't say anything about throwing the worthless users in the pen for 10 years. You wanted to treat the problem and attack it on a proper front.. In private citizens hands, not some judge or politician...

[Protagoras]

Drugs, drugs, drugs, drugs, drugs, drugs,.....

LOL, your obsession. You show up on every thread like this. YOU are the obsessed one. Seek help. The drugs you took and trafficked in have affected your mental abilities.