Limbaugh Critic: Rush's Rights at Risk

NewsMax ^ | 1/11/04 | Limbacher

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

Making clear that he's anything but a fan of Rush Limbaugh, Waldo Proffitt, columnist and former editor of Florida's Sarasota Herald-Tribune, says that Rush is entitled to the same rights as any other American citizen.

Proffitt added ominously that, in Limbaugh's case, it appears his rights are at risk.

Writing in the Herald-Tribune this weekend, Proffitt noted that Palm Beach County prosecutors have seized the records of four of Limbaugh's doctors and appear to be moving in the direction of charging him with "doctor shopping" – going to different doctors to obtain multiple prescriptions for drugs. "Florida considers doctor-shopping a serious offense," Proffitt explained, adding: "Conviction can bring a prison sentence of up to five years. Yet a record search by the Palm Beach Post found that the county had filed charges in only one case. The defendant in that case died before coming to trial."

Proffitt also quoted Limbaugh's lawyer, Roy Black, as charging that "Rush Limbaugh has been singled out for special prosecution because of who he is. We believe the state attorney's office is applying a double standard."

Proffitt commented, "The possibility that statement might be right is what worries me."

"It is precisely because he is who he is that Limbaugh is getting splattered with so much opprobrium. That's fair. But celebrity should not affect the way a person is treated under and by the law. If Limbaugh were just your average citizen, I doubt the prosecutor would be spending all this time on his case. Mr. Average Citizen might be prosecuted, but, given the preponderance of the evidence, he would probably plead guilty to one misdemeanor count, pay a fine and go about his business."

Predicting that "Limbaugh may yet do that," Proffitt asked, "And what harm to public welfare argues against it? What is at stake sufficient to justify the invasion of privacy involved in opening medical records?"

"I think the seizure and public disclosure of medical records is serious business – an assault on privacy rights that should only be used in rare circumstances when necessary information cannot be obtained in any other way. And, it seems to me enough information is already available to justify filing charges."

Proffitt is not the only liberal concerned about the apparent selective prosecution of Rush. Democratic pundit and former Harvard law professor Susan Estrich recently said the Florida inquiry into Rush's prescription drug addiction "stinks, this one really stinks."

Estrich offered her comments to Fox News' Geraldo Rivera. "I have been sitting here stewing about this Rush Limbaugh one for a long time," Estrich said. "First of all, this doctor shopping: How many senior citizens decide which doctor they like better? This notion they are going to get him for going to two doctors in the same thirty-day period to dupe them into giving him a medication, this is an utterly ridiculous charge."

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

THE	TIME	FOR	FR		GIFTING		IS		HERE.
THE	TIME	FOR	FR		$ GIFTING $		IS		HERE.
THE	TIME	FOR	FR		GIFTING		IS		HERE.

THE	TIME	FOR	FR		GIFTING		IS		HERE.
THE	TIME	FOR	FR		$ GIFTING $		IS		HERE.
THE	TIME	FOR	FR		GIFTING		IS		HERE.

[Support Free Republic]

Rank	Location	Receipts	Donors/Avg		Freepers/Avg		Monthlies
11	Washington	871.00	32	27.22	461	1.89	305.00	18

Thanks for donating to Free Republic!

Move your locale up the leaderboard!

[Scenic Sounds]

Poor Rush.

[Cathryn Crawford]

Well put - took the words right out of my mouth.

Good post!!

[Northern Yankee]

Poor Rush is right...

I just wonder how many felonies the Clinton's have committed, and they will probably be never brought to justice.

The fact that these clowns can get paid for speaking engagements, and a position in Government makes it even further reprehensible.

[whereasandsoforth]

This entire situation with Rush is becoming a punchline (just as I predicted some time ago). The Florida prosecutor has nothing of substance on Rush and is beginning to look like the fool I'm sure he is.

Rush Limbaugh will not go quietly into that goodnight. Rush is a powerful and formidable man. I'd think twice before screwing with him.

[Guillermo]

Even leftist Julian Epstein said Rush was being railroaded.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

At least Rush didn't say that he never inhaled.

Evidently you're okay with the Florida prosecutor as long as you remain in denial.

[Dr. Scarpetta]

Poor Rush.

You should resign yourself to the fact that liberals will go after Rush. They tried for years and never got anywhere. Now it's their big chance to get him off the air.

[RS]

"Now it's their big chance to get him off the air."

Guilty or not, Rush will be on the air -
It's his credibility that has taken the hit here.

Right now it is his Kennedy lawyer that is delaying the process, and the longer it takes, the further into the election cycle we are.

[jagrmeister]

Poll was taken by one of the major brodcasters (not Clear Channel) on whether his credibility suffered- and it barely registered. So far, it's been seen for what it is- a political witchhunt and that overshadows any wrongdoing, however minor, that may have been committed.

[RS]

"Poll was taken by one of the major brodcasters (not Clear Channel) on whether his credibility suffered- and it barely registered."

I hope it holds... hate to see it hit the fan just after Hillery gets in the race.

One way or the other, sure hope he get it cleared up before then.

[skinkinthegrass]

The Palm Beach D.A. must a real fool...more than likely, a Shrillary Clown.

[ladyinred]

I think the same thing. I am not condoning what Rush did (if he did all of these things) but I do think this is being treated differently than usual.

[joesbucks]

I believe the poll was comissioned by Premiere Radio.

[joesbucks]

It's his credibility that has taken the hit here.

Right now it is his Kennedy lawyer that is delaying the process, and the longer it takes, the further into the election cycle we are.

Isn't odd that his attorney is doing just that. Allowing a slow creep on Rush's credibility. Maybe it's part of the process, but the longer this goes on, the longer it's top of mind that Rush did something wrong.

[an amused spectator]

Guilty or not, Rush will be on the air -

As I've pointed out to you before, EVERYBODY is guilty. We just haven't been prosecuted yet.

Denial ain't just a river of RS' BS. :-)

[RS]

"As I've pointed out to you before, EVERYBODY is guilty. We just haven't been prosecuted yet.

Denial ain't just a river of RS' BS. :-)"

I guess so... say hello to Art Bell for me....

[Valin]

I was a security policeman in the AF, and after a while that is just the attitude you develop.

[lelio]

How many senior citizens decide which doctor they like better?

Susan should read up on the law a little bit. The doctor shopping law spells out that you must go back and forth to mutiple doctors in a short time frame and not tell them about other medications you're on, trying to get multiple prescriptions for your ailment. It has nothing to do with going to a different doctor as you don't like the first.