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."

[CWOJackson]

Amazing the out pouring of support that is coming from liberal sources. Sure, there are the usual liberal mouths that are enjoying this but you expect it from them. Is it odd how the LP seems to have far more in common with Michael Moore these days then they do with conservative voices?

[BobS]

"And you, conversely, support the "sticking your nose into other people's business" agenda."

There is a line between where other people's business becomes mine. Once that line is crossed, there will be problems.

[CWOJackson]

LOL! If you haven't noticed, with very few isolated locations, grizzlies are pretty much extinct in the lower 48.

Kind of like the LP!

[nsmart]

Jackson, libertarians have seen some of ours murdered in the name of the drug war. Namely, Peter McWilliams who suffered from AIDS and could not tolerate the cocktail which kept him alive. With weed he was able to survive.. so the feds put him on random drug testing even though it was legal in CA. He choked to death on his own vomit awaiting trial.. Murder by government pure and simple.

[CWOJackson]

This is going to sound snobbish but maybe is a class thing. I never considered myself high class but it's obvious that some folks have no class whatsoever.

[Mr. Mojo]

Damn straight. But is some dude smoking a doob on private property your business?

[Mr. Mojo]

Kind of like the LP!

On that, we can agree. .....I vote GOP.

[nsmart]

What about people like Peter McWilliams using Pot to keep down their drug cocktail to stay alive with AIDS.. is that pain or pleasure? the Feds put him on random drug testing and he DIED.. choked on his own vomit. Please show some compassion.

[rdb3]

With weed he was able to survive.. so the feds put him on random drug testing even though it was legal in CA. He choked to death on his own vomit awaiting trial.. Murder by government pure and simple.

Post hoc, ergo propter hoc.

[CWOJackson]

Wow. What a shame you believe he was murdered by the government and that this somehow justifies the press release today or the piling onto Limbaughs problem.

[nsmart]

Do you not understand? I think it is the war on drugs that is the problem.. not the drugs.

[CWOJackson]

Yes, I do understand. After almost 400 posts you're trying to now justify the BS press release that started this thread.

[nsmart]

Post Hoc? sorry, I'm not an attorney.. clue me in

[nsmart]

Justify my foot. I'm a libertarian who has hated the cruelty and the injustice of the drug war for years. People die, like Peter. People with no evidence against them get life in jail. And politicians sons go free. Its insane.

[BobS]

My girlfriend talked with me about the anything-goes attitude prevalent in popular culture. She's pretty smart. I told her outside of population centers like L.A. and the northeast, people are very normal and turn off insulting media. Like all other women there is an emotional drag on her also from the media we consume. I think she'll turn off the TV unless it's FOXNews and the SciFi channel we enjoy together. At least fantasy and reality can be enjoyed by an intelligent choice of preference!

Who are the (surviving) Libertarians anyway? Surely they must have a limited life span because of one disease or another?

[tpaine]

--- a liberal commentator for the Jewish World Review did a piece on this today. He admitted right up front that he opposed Limbaughs politics but in this ordeal he was pulling for him all the way. Class act.

Compare that with these people who call themselves conservative.
-cwo-

______________________________________


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.

-The articles opening line-

---

Irony is wasted on cwo.. Whatta completely dense dork.

Big'L' or little 'l'ibertarians do NOT want to see Rush in jail. We argue every day for the repeal of such unconstitutional 'law'.. We are ALL pulling for him all the way..

And rubbing hypocritical 'warriors' noses in their own BS, the ~rest~ of the way..

[wimpycat]

I think it means "after this, therefore because of this", or something to that effect.

[rdb3]

Post Hoc? sorry, I'm not an attorney.. clue me in

Coincidental Correlation
(post hoc ergo propter hoc )

---

Definition:

The name in Latin means "after this therefore because of this".
This describes the fallacy. An author commits the fallacy when
it is assumed that because one thing follows another that the
one thing was caused by the other.

[CWOJackson]

Do you expect me to express a level of compassion and concern greater then you and your party have expressed for Limbaugh?

Sure....

[VRWC_minion]

Eventually,

you do realize you are all over the place to support your posistion. This may mean that your posistion is not consistant with the facts, but you might be to bias to see that.