Limbaugh attacks Palm Beach prosecutors, newspaper in ads

Miami Herald.com ^ | Thu, May. 13, 2004 | JILL BARTON AP

[restornu]

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Rush Limbaugh attacked prosecutors who are investigating whether he illegally purchased prescription painkillers in full-page ads in two South Florida newspapers on Thursday.

In the ads, the conservative radio commentator renewed his accusations that the criminal investigation was politically motivated, and he accused one of the newspapers, The Palm Beach Post, of trying to discredit him to justify the investigation. The ads include a reprint of a favorable 600-word editorial from Sunday's edition of The Washington Times.

Limbaugh, who has not been charged with any crime, told his listeners on Thursday that he bought the ads because "we just can't get our story out in the editorial pages of The Palm Beach Post." The other ad appeared in the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

Post editor Edward Sears said Limbaugh has never responded to reporters' requests for comment.

"The Post has accurately and responsibly reported on both Mr. Limbaugh's admitted prescription drug abuse and the conflict between his lawyers and the state attorney's office," Sears said. "If he wants to get his story out, he's welcome to return our calls and talk to us."

State Attorney Barry Krischer, a Democrat, declined to comment on the ads but he has previously denied Limbaugh's allegations that he began the investigation for political reasons.

The criminal investigation against Limbaugh is on hold pending a decision from the 4th District Court of Appeal, which will rule whether to release Limbaugh's medical records. Investigators seized the documents last fall but they were sealed after Limbaugh's attorneys argued the seizure violated his privacy rights.

Prosecutors argue they need the records to determine whether Limbaugh illegally "doctor shopped" to obtain pain pills, visiting several doctors to receive duplicate prescriptions.

Limbaugh, who has repeatedly declined to comment outside of his radio show, called the investigation "excessive" and took aim at the Post for a Sunday opinion piece.

The column said Limbaugh "excused the inexcusable" when discussing the photos of Iraqi prisoners being abused at the Abu Ghraib prison.

"This is no different than what happens at the Skull and Bones initiation," the column quoted Limbaugh as saying. "I'm talking about people having a good time. These people, you ever heard of emotional release? You heard of need to blow some steam off?"

Limbaugh made the comments during his May 4 broadcast but said they were taken out of context.

The columnist's "point was that because of my Skull and Bones comment, this entitled the Palm Beach State Attorney to go after me and do whatever it takes to show me, to teach me a lesson," Limbaugh said Thursday. "And I was astounded that anything that I would say about any issue could become a factor in a legal case that is about evidence."

Sears questioned why Limbaugh would take issue with the remarks of another commentator.

"I find it amusing that opinions disturb Rush Limbaugh," Sears said.

Limbaugh admitted his addiction to prescription painkillers in October, saying it stemmed from severe back pain. He took a five-week leave from his afternoon radio show to enter a rehabilitation program. By then, prosecutors had already begun their criminal investigation after learning from Limbaugh's former maid that she had allegedly supplied him with large quantities of pills for years.

__

On the Net:

Rush Limbaugh: www.rushlimbaugh.com

Palm Beach State Attorney: www.sa15.state.fl.us

[restornu]

CTR

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Sears questioned why Limbaugh would take issue with the remarks of another commentator.

Because that "other commentator" is colluding with a crooked prosecutor to destroy him?

[clintonh8r]

Palm Beach Post and Sun Sentinel...

Excuse my vulgarity, but I wouldn't use either of these to wipe my @$$.

[dadokane]

hannity is behind this.

[middie]

Herr Limbaugh is the best example of the worst that the American Right can produce. He is a dreary, potted, pretentious and self-centered megalomaniac whose intellectual depth is roughly that of a teaspoon. The "Doctor of Democracy" indeed, a more accurate handle would be the "Doctor of Demagoguery."

[Ignatius J Reilly]

"Drug use, some might say, is destroying this country. And we have laws against selling drugs, pushing drugs, using drugs, importing drugs. ... And so if people are violating the law by doing drugs, they ought to be accused and they ought to be convicted and they ought to be sent up," Rush Limbaugh

[restornu]

I guess your tagline reveals -

Please: NO profanity, NO personal attacks, NO racism or violence in posts. HATE OK.

***
May I suggest Love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

[restornu]

You do have a right to at your age to continue to rebel!

[restornu]

May you never have serve pain!

And most likely you will never give birth for if you are male, man ability to endur pain is nil!

[Pablo64]

"Herr Limbaugh is the best example of the worst that the American Right can produce. He is a dreary, potted, pretentious and self-centered megalomaniac whose intellectual depth is roughly that of a teaspoon. The "Doctor of Democracy" indeed, a more accurate handle would be the "Doctor of Demagoguery.""

Come on now, tell us how you really feel about him! LOL! You have to be careful. Some folks feel that way about lawyers (just a little jab...read your bio;-) By the way, thank you for your years of service to our country).

[restornu]

I a little person and I don't feel like you do! Are you for Kerry?

[dadokane]

1. read tagline instructions.
2. look up "sarcasm."
3. look up "obvious."
4. preach elsewhere.

[restornu]

I know it is tagline instructions

words failed me on your reply

hannity is behind this!

So you took offence to my suggestion of a more friendly approach!

[newsgatherer]

Are you the former 0-6 that went after Gen. Nutting?

[Tribune7]

Those newspapers made a nice chunk of change off those ads. Rush should of rented a billboard.

[saminfl]

He is a dreary, potted, pretentious and self-centered megalomaniac whose intellectual depth is roughly that of a teaspoon.

This is an accurate description of your post, and probably of you. Maybe you should try listening to him once in awhile. You might learn something. I would suggest you go back to posting on DU.

[pke]

He is a dreary, potted, pretentious and self-centered megalomaniac whose intellectual depth is roughly that of a teaspoon. The "Doctor of Democracy" indeed, a more accurate handle would be the "Doctor of Demagoguery."

I'm sorry colonel but you had better rewrite your bio.

[saminfl]

I was always told that when you are selected for 0-6, you are sent to Fort Carson Colorado to an underground hospital and given a lobotomy. In his case, I guess it worked.

[restornu]

Rush walk with God so he CAN'T be dreary!

Rush never did Marijuana so he is NOT potted!

Rush a man who's word has value so he is NOT pretentious

Rush hardly talks about himself so he is NOT self-centered

Rush has stood the test of time 98% accurate so he is NOT a
megalomaniac!

whose intellectual depth is roughly that of a teaspoon - middie you should have his teaspoon of his intellectual!

Rush if far from being Demagoguery!

If you really are for the underdog should you listen to Rush with what the good Lord gave you would would know there is a better way and your field of options would blossom and you could share these treaures with those who feel hopeless!