Limbaugh's straight talk ducks his hypocrisy, criminal inquiry

<i>The Austin American- Statesman</i> ^ | 11/18/03 | AAS Editorial Staff

[WinOne4TheGipper]

Rush Limbaugh returned to the radio after five weeks in a drug treatment program with all the bluster and bombast for which he is famous.

Limbaugh, who has the largest radio audience in the nation for his conservative talk show, withdrew from the airwaves last month after his addiction to pain killers was revealed. He seems to have lost none of his antipathy for Democrats, liberal causes, "enviro wackos" and Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., in the interim.

Limbaugh did admit that he had lied for years about his addiction, which he said began when he took the narcotics for pain after back surgery in the mid-1990s. He also said he lied to his audience about his knowledge of drugs such as OxyContin and Vicodin, which he had been taking since his surgery.

His loyal listeners were not only willing to forgive Limbaugh's lapse, but said they were proud of his honesty, forthrightness and willingness to deal with his problem. And some plunged right back into the political fray, berating liberals and Democrats with the gusto of old.

But Limbaugh probably disappointed many who tuned in to hear his apologies for being harsh with drug users in the past. And those hoping for some contrition for his lock-'em-up stand against drug abusers and other criminals didn't get any. Limbaugh's apparently illegal purchase of the prescription-only pain killers is being investigated by police in Florida, where he lives.

On his first day back, Limbaugh was not giving in to those who call him a hypocrite for his positions against drug use and criminal behavior. At one point in the show he said that because he didn't follow the line he demanded of others, it didn't make him wrong or a hypocrite.

That's debatable. Limbaugh has become a millionaire many times over by pointing out the faults, or perceived faults, of others, and demanding a just punishment. He may not want to talk now about the possible criminal case pending against him, but more compassion and understanding for all those in the grips of addiction wouldn't be out of line.

Limbaugh said his situation was the same as if he had told his audience to obey the speed limit and then got caught speeding. The advice is still valid even if he didn't follow it.

But the "do as I say, not as I do" defense doesn't work well for those who set themselves up as moral, religious or political leaders. It always smacks of rank hypocrisy. And buying narcotics on the street for years -- for which thousands of men and women are in prison -- cannot be equated with speeding.

Limbaugh is a particular talent, as his 20 million listeners and 600 radio stations attest. He strikes a chord with conservative Americans and his political influence is enormous in Republican circles. Liberals and Democrats are trying everything within their imagination to match Limbaugh's star power.

So he will likely survive his fall, even if criminal charges are brought. Americans love to forgive a sinner. But Limbaugh could have salvaged something other than his career if he had brought more depth and humanity to the problem of drugs, addiction and the value of a compassionate response to difficult personal problems.

[WinOne4TheGipper]

The bolded part is what you call spin. He did not say that. What he said was that he (as a human) is not perfect, but that does not and should not stop him and others for striving for something better.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

He seems to have lost none of his antipathy for Democrats, liberal causes, "enviro wackos" and Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., in the interim.

Good.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

But Limbaugh probably disappointed many who tuned in to hear his apologies for being harsh with drug users in the past.

Good, again.

[Always Right]

The bolded part is what you call spin. He did not say that. What he said was that he (as a human) is not perfect, but that does not and should not stop him and others for striving for something better.

The whole article is full of spin. The article doesn't mention that its been over 8 years since Limbaugh has talked about harsh penalties for drug users, and even then the comment was more about race than about drugs.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

So he will likely survive his fall, even if criminal charges are brought. Americans love to forgive a sinner. But Limbaugh could have salvaged something other than his career if he had brought more depth and humanity to the problem of drugs, addiction and the value of a compassionate response to difficult personal problems.

"If only Rush had become a Liberal he could have salvaged something other than his career."

Rush screwed up. He admits it, and will accept the legal consequences.

Name one Liberal who has ever acted with that much integrity.

Bill Clinton?

[_Jim]

I would still like to know when he was harsh (especially since the press keeps repeating this old saw AS IF they listened to him on a regular basis!) - so far, the few critics/a few posters on this board who have 'cited' instances, these instances were tertiary to the 'tear'/argument he as on at the time and mentioned 'drugs' or drug users as a handy reference - and not as a central core to a dissertation.

[Sir Gawain]

The bolded part is what you call spin. He did not say that.

"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."

Rush: I'm No Hypocrite

[demlosers]

AAS Editorial Staff

Nobody put thier name to this.

[Thebaddog]

Austin will probably be the next site of a civil union lawsuit. I wouldn't worry about what the paper has to say to normal Americans.

[longtermmemmory]

And yet again: Florida has a drug offender court. First time offenders are sent to treatment as part of their court case. After the treatment is completed the court case is dropped. Its as if it never happened.

Those who are screaming for prosecution and an arrest are the true hypocrits. First they have to actually catch him red handed. (not present in ANY of the media releases and any alleged tapes of the maid are automatically INADMISSIBLE pursuant to FL law.) Since the best a prosecutor can achieve on a this case is a dismissal, why bother OTHER THAN FOR POLITICAL GAIN.

Absent any additional ADMISSIBLE facts, Rush is in Zero danger of any jail time. Near Zero of any arrest. All this, the SAME as anyone else. (politics aside for prosecuting)

[MHGinTN]

The Austin American- Statesman ... is this a Begala bilge? To attack Rush over his admitted addiction is not statesman-like. Bunch of Dem lapdogs, sounds to me.

[thinktwice]

Rush is a victim of pain, a type of pain that doctors can't treat without risking their licenses -- a pain that is not legally treatable thanks to government regulations.

If there is a crime in treating such pain, the criminal is government.

[WinOne4TheGipper]

Well, that stood out the most. I'd write a letter to the editor, but they're too damned holier-than-thou. Statesman, one last warning: you may make me consider the nuclear option. I've got experience in media. I've got a computer. A lot of people are sick of your spin.

[11th Earl of Mar]

But the "do as I say, not as I do" defense doesn't work well for those who set themselves up as moral, religious or political leaders.

I guess this also applies to the way the Kennedy/Clinton/Dodd/Davis crowd treats women like Mary Jo Kopekne, Juanita Broaderick, the rest of Clinton's victims, and lord knows how many others.

[Williams]

I have never noticed Rush to be a super duper anti-drug crusader, I mean it's hardly his lead issue. These libs want to nmake it sound like his show is an anti drug show. Further, he got caught up in a drug addiction. Does that invalidate his anti-drug positions? Obviously, he was right then and it was a mistake to get hooked on pain killers. So Rush is not perfect. Big revelation. Finally, EVERY celeb who has gotten hooked on pain killers has received nothing but sympathy in the press. (for example, Brett Favre).

[Ole Okie]

And those hoping for some contrition for his lock-'em-up stand against drug abusers and other criminals didn't get any.

I've listened to Rush regularly since 1988, when I first found him on Tulsa's KRMG AM radio.

Outside of his "maggot infested, dope-smoking, FM types" patter, I don't really remember him being hard on drug addicts. Maybe he was, but it sure didn't make an impression on my impressionable brain.

[Political Junkie Too]

And buying narcotics on the street for years -- for which thousands of men and women are in prison -- cannot be equated with speeding.

It is interesting to see the comparisons being put forth to justify demanding harsher judicial treatment for Limbaugh. It isn't as though he was stealing and burgling to support his habit.

How about this example: Last year, Democrat strategist Bob Beckel was being blackmailed by a prostitute that he hired and paid for by personal check. Prostitution is a crime, and "johns" are routinely picked up "on the street" by police. Where were the demands for harsh legal treatment for Beckel?

-PJ

[WinOne4TheGipper]

That's because editorials are meant to be the view of the entire editorial staff, and thus the entire paper.

[MrsEmmaPeel]

I don't see what the big deal is. Rush paid for his drugs.

[elli1]

Libs have been telling us for years that Rush is "only" an entertainer. Now they're trying to tell us he's a moral leader. Since it's convenient, I'll go w/ the "Rush is an entertainer" label for now. Entertainers are always running into trouble w/ substance abuse. big deal FTR, I think of Rush as a very astute political commentator. I was really angry w/ him for doing something so incredibly stupid, but I got over it. Everyone makes mistakes. It's part of being human and the only tragedy will be if he has leaned nothing from his mistake. If he succeeds in beating his addiction, then his will be an inspiration to recovering addicts everywhere. I wish him success.