Rush: I'm No Hypocrite

NewsMax ^ | 11/17/03 | Limbacher

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

Top rated radio talker Rush Limbaugh defended himself against charges of hypocrisy on Monday, telling a caller that the fact he was addicted to painkillers doesn't undermine the validity of the positions he took on the air.

"My behavior doesn't change right and wrong," Limbaugh contended. "And just because I may have been doing something that appeared to be contradictory to what I was suggesting others do doesn't mean that what I was suggesting others do is wrong."

The conservative host also said that some of the quotes unearthed by his critics on the issue of drug usage had been taken out of context. "This business about me being hard on addicts, may I be honest with you?," he said to another caller. "The truth of the matter is; I avoided the subject of drugs on this program for the precise reason that I was keeping a secret."

The top talker continued:

"I think there are a lot of phantom quotes out there or people making assumptions about things I've said and they're guilty of it because they think as a conservative I'm a hard-ass on this or that, but I think they're just wrong again."

Limbaugh also went into more detail than ever before about the back pain condition that drove him to seek out more painkillers than he could legally obtain with a prescription.

"As to managing my pain, I've got two herniated disks between C5 and C6 or in that area," the conservative opinionmaker revealed.

He said he was taking Vioxx as prescribed at the treatment center, and that cut his pain in half.

"I'm probably going to have to have surgery for it," he explained - saying the reason he hadn't gone that route in the first place was because the operation could also damage his larynx.

Limbaugh hastened to add, however, that the pain was only a contributing factor, not the primary cause, of his addiction, telling his audience, "I took the drugs because I liked them and I found excuses to take them, so I'm not weaseling. I'm just saying that one of the things was that I did not put my health first."

[Sir Gawain]

So, do as I say, not as I do. Hey I thought that was the liberals' mantra...

[Kirkwood]

Actually more along the lines of don't do this because it is wrong and I'm proof that I was dumb enough to not follow my own good advice.

[CMailBag]

Nice line, but when did he say it??
I've listened to nearly every show for over 11 years and I can't recall him ever talking about drugs except for the line about dope smoking FM types.

[rs79bm]

"My behavior doesn't change right and wrong," Limbaugh contended. "And just because I may have been doing something that appeared to be contradictory to what I was suggesting others do doesn't mean that what I was suggesting others do is wrong."

That was an absolutely brilliant point that Rush made.

[WackyKat]

"I took the drugs because I liked them and I found excuses to take them, so I'm not weaseling. I'm just saying that one of the things was that I did not put my health first."

I remember all the people here who claimed that Rush took drugs only because of his medical condition and savagely attacked anyone who suggested that he took them, even partially, for "recreational purposes."

Those were often the same people who initially denied that Rush took drugs at all, and said the allegations were part of a "conspiracy", and again, savagely attacked anyone who suggested he might have used drugs.

If there have been any apologies from those people, I sure haven't seen them.

I give Rush credit, he has a lot more integrity than many of his fans.

[dead]

I've been pretty hard on Limbaugh over this, but his point is valid.

As La Rochefoucauld said, “Hypocrisy is the tribute that vice pays to virtue.”

Noting what is right, while doing wrong, is definitely preferable to denying what is right.

All that said, a person's addictions to whatever they indulge in is the business of that person, his family and friends. There is no role for government in the equation.

[dead]

Rush's defenders have consistently moved the goalposts as more and more information has leaked out.

It speaks much more to their hypocrisy than his.

[Sir Gawain]

Noting what is right, while doing wrong, is definitely preferable to denying what is right.

So if I kill someone and I know that killing is wrong, that is better than killing someone and thinking nothing of it? I would say that knowing what is right while doing wrong is worse than doing wrong out of ignorance.

[LasVegasMac]

So, do as I say, not as I do. Hey I thought that was the liberals' mantra...

Blow it out your liberal a$$.

This really tickles your sick button, doesn't it.

At least he admitted he has a problem....and he has taken steps to correct that problem.

You, as do all 'Rats and Libs, seem to be having an orgasam that El Rushbo proved to be - human.

Please change your bookmark to the DU site - just my opinion, mind you - you would not make a decent pimple on his ass.

Not that I believe everything he says, but most.

My beef with you is that only a coward takes cheap shots at someone in trouble - like the 'Rats do.

You are a miserable turd.

LVM

[JOE6PAK]

It is so GREAT to have him back live on the air. My day goes so much better with that "LIM-BO" guy on the radio.

Welcome back Rusty!

[MississippiMan]

So, do as I say, not as I do. Hey I thought that was the liberals' mantra...

It may be, but that's not how I interpreted his statement at all. Seemed to me he was saying that the fact that he did something, did not suddenly make it not wrong. I can't imagine a more straightforward thing to have said at this point.

And BTW, I'm certainly not blindly loyal to Rush. Haven't listened to him regularly in years, and I also thought it was blatantly obvious that something was going on as soon as this story broke.

MM

[Sir Gawain]

Yawn.

[sarasmom]

You must not have heard him speak today.
He did not excuse himself from the activity of an addict.
He actually described it rather pointedly.
And said he was one.
You may have escaped having a drug addict in your immediate family.Bless you!
Most of the rest of us have not been quite so fortunate.
Rush Limbaugh does not owe me, you, or anyone else an explanation.
That he claimed all responcibility for his addiction might seem a small thing to you, but to the vast majority of us who live in the real world, and deal with the results of an addict in the family, his words were both comfort and torment.
Comfort, because we know we cant make the addict be other than what he/she is.
Torment, that we cant ever give up hope for them.
I guess you would have to have been there, to understand why few mock Rush Limbaugh for his drug addiction.
And most just pray he overcomes it.

[Hoosier-Daddy]

I'd like to give Rush a jibe about being one of those Maggot Infested Pill Popping FM types himself, but on the other hand I have a feeling, from his (potentially temporary) clarity of understanding, that he may be glaringly clear about his political analysis in the near future. He did not pull any punches wrt Democrats or Republicans, and I half expected him to call Ted Kennedy the Fat Bastard he is. I think therapy has been good for him in that he has alot of pent up opinions that have needed to be expressed. I only hope he remains in therapy. Opiates are very dificult to break. His three hour 'diatribe' was refreshing.

[WackyKat]

That was an absolutely brilliant point that Rush made.

Well, it was an admission that he was being a hypocrite; I'll give him credit for the admission, though I don't see what was "brilliant" about it.

[Hoosier-Daddy]

BTW, can someone please post Ted Kennedy's head on Fat Bastard's body, already!

[Hoosier-Daddy]

... with the Kennedy clan kilt, svp...

[Sir Gawain]

Rush Limbaugh does not owe me, you, or anyone else an explanation.

I never asked for an explanation. I couldn't care less with what he does in his private life.

[dead]

The murder analogy is so over the top as to be ridiculous.

I smoked pot. I'm gonna tell my kid that smoking pot is not good for him.

Should I do otherwise, to avoid the horrific charge of hypocrisy?