Posted on 11/08/2003 1:48:19 AM PST by JohnHuang2
Rushing back to radio
Posted: November 8, 2003
1:00 a.m. Eastern
© 2003 WorldNetDaily.com
On Oct. 4, six days before I would know the truth, I wrote in my column, "Somehow, I have to believe this was manufactured. If Rush [Limbaugh] really did have such illegal and substantial problems since 1998, as the housekeeper claims, it would have been reported long ago by a more reputable source."
Oct. 10 came. I was wrong in my assessment. I remember being at school, listening to Rush online – I heard the words that millions heard that day: "So I need to tell you today that part of what you have heard and read is correct. I am addicted to prescription pain medication."
He said, "Immediately following this broadcast, I am checking myself into a treatment center for the next 30 days to once and for all break the hold this highly addictive medication has on me."
It was, of sorts, a shock. Of course, Rush Limbaugh isn't above such sinning, but being as principled as he is, I truly never expected him to be involved in these illegal activities – much less being addicted to prescription drugs. Remember, he was addicted to these pain killers before his cochlear implant surgery. He was deaf and addicted to drugs, while running a national radio show with 20 million listeners – it wouldn't seem possible.
Yet, whatever I hoped and whatever I believed, it wasn't true. I was definitely disappointed.
Although most haters of Rush hope his audience abandons him, I definitely won't be included in that. In confessing his problem, he did it in class, he didn't make excuses, and he's trying to fix the problem. I really think most of his fans realize that.
On RushLimbaugh.com, there are over 30 pages full of supportive e-mails, with Limbaugh receiving tens of thousands of letters of support. Additionally, recent polling shows that listeners are staying with the show by nearly a unanimous margin, with an additional 95 percent saying they agree that "Rush is human, he has made mistakes and is entitled to a second chance with a clean slate."
The real question for me and I'm sure for millions of others has been, when will he be back? The fill-in hosts are unarguably not up to par with the king of radio. Our answer has finally come.
MediaDailyNews is reporting that Rush Limbaugh will return to the airwaves on Nov. 17. The day will be here soon, but what happens then? Some have said he might return as a liberal, but through his brother David, Rush has responded, "I am not a liberal."
His ideology isn't changing and his audience isn't leaving, so nothing is going to change. Wrong. A lot will change. The program that will start at 12 p.m. Eastern on Nov. 17 will be a new Rush Limbaugh program.
Rush is going to be back better than ever. I firmly believe that he'll be back on the air with a greater appreciation of the gifts God has given him, appreciation for his loving audience, as well as the freedom we have here in America.
In addition, after being humbled and confessing to the things he has, I believe he'll come back with a bigger heart – with more compassion. He'll be back with a sharper mind and quicker wit.
Some say this will hurt his career. Maybe they're right, but whatever happens, this whole ordeal will end up being a good thing for Rush Limbaugh.
Ironically, I've had some people who say I'm some sort of a clone of Rush Limbaugh – as if it's an insult. While my views are certainly not a copy of his, I would take such a comment as an extreme compliment. Rush has propelled conservatism more into the mainstream view of American politics than any other person.
He's fallible. He sins like we all do, but he's a hero of the conservative movement and of mine.
I'm looking forward to the 17th.
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