Posted on 12/05/2003 5:04:19 AM PST by governsleastgovernsbest
In the wake of the news that his doctors' records have been subpoenaed, Rush Limbaugh' lawyer Roy Black just completed an interview on The Today Show with Lester Holt (sitting in for Matt Lauer).
The essence of Black's position is that of all the millions of people in the US who are addicted to prescription drugs, Rush is being singled out, not only by the press but more importantly by prosecutors who are engaging in an unprecedented investigation of his doctors' records.
Holt began by casting the situation in the worst light for Rush, alleging that "these are serious charges, going from one doctor to another, trying to get prescriptions."
Replied Black: "Since when do people have one doctor?"
Insisted Holt: "But it is a crime to go to multiple doctors to get multiple prescriptions."
Asked Holt: "Is Rush under investigation?"
Black: "They say they came across his name as part of a large investigation. And once his name turned up, elected official couldn't leave it alone. He is being treated differently."
Holt: "Is Rush being singled out?"
Black: "Of all the millions of people addicted to painkillers, have you ever seen their doctors being subpoenaed?"
Holt: "You say this is a fishing expedition, but the subpoena is specific."
Black: "Specific? Why do you mean it's not a fishing expedition, of course it is. They are asking his doctors for prescriptions, phone records, etc. Every doctor will have those. It is not specific at all."
Continued Black "They're trying to publicly embarrass him and ruin his radio program. He shouldn't be treated differently because he's Rush Limbaugh."
In a show of false concern, Holt inquired "How is Rush doing?"
Black essentially replied "How do you think he's doing? He's gone through five weeks of rehab, dealing with this difficult situation. He comes out, and all the TV and papers are talking about it, people [he specifically cited Holt's MSNBC] are leafing through his papers calling out the names of drugs, doctors, etc."
Olberman is so pompous and condescending while being so very wrong. He so often presents left-spun reports that turn out to be incorrect, but he is not daunted, and continues to maintain his smug and smarmy persona.
It's too bad, because as I've pointed out before, he's very talented and when he stays away from politics he is quite entertaining. IMO.
We tipped over the edge with the Lautenberg Amendment, and it's been going downhill at a faster and faster pace since then. It's beginning to appear that many prosecutions are for the purpose of revenue enhancement, and others are for political gain.
You mean his maid claims she sold him drugs illegally.
I'm not saying she did not, because I have no way of knowing whether she did or not. But neither do you know for a fact that she did.
Could it be that angle fell through, so plan B to get the medical records was activated?
BTW, it was either "Summer Wind" or, Bobby Darin's---"Beyond The Sea".
Somewhere beyond the sea, Somewhere, waiting for me, My lover stands on golden sands And watches the ships that go sailing; Somewhere beyond the sea, He's (She's) there watching for me. If I could fly like birds on high, Then straight to his (her) arms I'd go sailing.
Thanks, Drawsing
I disagree. The state of the American legal system is such that it can be exploited to attack anyone for political or monetary gain. Do you forget the attack on Free Republic? There are a number of liberal websites doing exactly the same thing as FR was doing, after the ruling by Clinton's pet judge. They are not being SLAPPed as FR was.
I would conclude that this is a political prosecution, with the added benefit of revenue enhancement.
Whether or not Rush is "in denial" in his personal life I certainly am in no position to judge. However, when one is facing possible criminal charges and a zealous prosecutor, being publicly "in denial" is the only way to be.
Does anyone know (well, actually I think I know, but I want a citation to prove it) whether the District Attorney investigating Rush is a Democrat or Republican?
Whether the maid's story is true or not, having sold her story to the Enquirer, the prosecutor at least knows what Roy Black would do to her on the stand. They know full well that they need something other than the maid.
I have speculated that the "cleaning lady" bit is without merit, and that she may even have sold Rush's private information on order to take him down. It would be easy to obtain Rush's prescription drug usage by opening the medicine cabinet and taking notes while cleaning. Given this, it would not be a long stretch for her to add that she sold him medication. If she was hired to "expose" him she would have to go to authorities in order to protect herself from prosecution while still bringing him down. It also makes no sense to me that he would buy illegally when he has the legal means to obtain the drugs he needs (or wants).
I suspect this is where the investigation is now. Since the prosecutor has nothing of substance with her he is now fishing for other ways to bolster this non-case.
One last note; I have a close friend in Virginia who has a very messed-up back from an auto accident. He uses oxicontin daily, and works with a doctor who is an expert in pain management. This doctor has told him that pain management is a relatively new field of medicine with many misconceptions. He claims that one of the biggest problems for patients that continue to suffer pain if that they are under medicated.
Are you blind? Rush is the victim of a vast, er, um, left-wing conspiracy..
Rush is more than smart enough to know that this was a consquence of his actions when he began to abuse drugs. Its not a big surprise to him that he has become the target of a zealous prosecutor. If he is going to get past his addiction, the quicker he faces the music of the consequences of his actions the quicker he gets better.
He has way more at stake in this than the potential penalties of criminal charges and loss of income. He needs to stop playing games and face his the consequences of his actions.
Further, if we fans are true friends we would avoid helping stay in denial.
Very few people are investigated or jailed for this offense. He is being investigate for a new law enacted last year. The first person investigated for it actually had two people die in her home from drug overdoses. Using this Doctor Shopping law is rare.
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