Posted on 01/07/2008 4:57:35 AM PST by IrishMike
Rush Limbaugh’s detractors never learn. They’ve tried everything to come between Rush and his more than 20 million listeners, intending to destroy his appeal and impact. But it’s a hopeless, almost laughable endeavor. They led boycotts against his advertisers -- yet his show continues to generate more revenue than any other on radio. They pressured his affiliates to drop his program, but he’s still heard on more than 600 stations -- more than any other talk host. They tried to keep him off Armed Forces Radio, of course, but he has the most popular program on the military’s radio network.
Will Not Be Intimidated
Try as they might, the Rush-haters cannot silence him, or persuade his massive audience to tune him out. After two decades as the top talk host in the nation, his ratings are stronger than ever. He is more popular and influential than ever. And yet, the Rush-haters persist. Their favorite tactic is to twist Rush’s on-air remarks to make them fit their stereotypes and to advance their political objectives.
Rush has never bowed to efforts by the left to control our national debate through intimidation tactics. A few months ago, when the Democrats shamelessly used Graeme Frost, a 12-year-old who had been in a terrible car accident, to promote the expansion of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) entitlement, it was Rush, with information from folks on conservative websites such as Free Republic, who told America that the Frost family was not as it was represented to be by the Democrats and the Big Media. The Frosts had been financially able to purchase health insurance but apparently had chosen not to. Among other things, the parents sent their two daughters to an expensive private school, at an apparent cost of $40,000 per year. For exposing this sham, Rush was accused of picking on the poor seventh grader. Well, as Rush explained at the time, she’d been used, but not by him -- by her own parents, the Democrats and the media.
Home Run After Home Run
When David Ehrenstein, a Hollywood writer, penned an opinion piece last year in the Los Angeles Times, characterizing Illinois Democratic Sen. Barak Obama as “The Magic Negro,” Rush seized the moment to expose liberal hypocrisy with a parody -- “Barak the Magic Negro” (played to the tune of “Puff the Magic Dragon”). The Rush-haters pounced, claiming falsely that Rush, not Ehrenstein, was employing a racial slur against Obama. No, Rush was ridiculing the left, and once again, it hit home. And when Rush was pressured to stop playing the parody, he defiantly played it over and over again.
During the 2006 elections, the Democrats shamelessly used Michael J. Fox in targeted congressional races to campaign against Republicans who opposed taxpayer-financed stem-cell research, including running television ads featuring Fox. And in those commercials, Fox was visibly shaking from the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. The political message was clear: Vote against these Republicans because they are heartless people who oppose curing diseases. Well, Rush would have none of it. He criticized the Democrats’ use of Fox, Fox’s politicization of a medical issue and the dishonesty of the ads. As usual, the Democrats and liberal media distorted Rush’s argument, accusing him of mocking Fox and his ailments. They sought to deflect criticism from their own crude political behavior. But again, they failed.
Most Important Voice on the Right
What is it about Rush that drives the left crazy (that is, crazier than they already are)? The answer is actually quite simple: Rush is the most important voice in the conservative movement. Others want to be, some claim to be, but he is. More than any conservative politician, columnist or pundit, Rush speaks for us. His opinions are principled and consistent. He has a brilliant mind and a voracious appetite for knowledge and truth, all of which he uses behind his golden EIB microphone to teach and persuade as he cuts through the daily media clutter. He has the guts to say what so many of us are thinking to ourselves. And Rush’s likable and optimistic personality and entertaining style attract increasing numbers of conservative adherents. Liberals consider Rush and his talk show the greatest threats to their agenda and pursuit of power, and they’re right.
The most stunning and desperate assault on Rush was launched just a few weeks ago when the ethically challenged Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid (Nev.) -- armed with propaganda prepared by a Clinton front group that calls itself “Media Matters for America” (which also claims to be a tax-exempt charitable foundation) -- tried to use the power of his office to squelch Rush with a threatening letter, signed by dozens of his Democratic colleagues, to Rush’s Clear Channel broadcast partner. What was all the fuss about?
During a Morning Update broadcast, Rush criticized fake soldiers such as Jesse MacBeth and the left’s support for them. MacBeth claimed to have served in Iraq as an Army Ranger. MacBeth was embraced by the anti-war movement and appeared on several media outlets solely because of his vicious smears against the United States military. But MacBeth was a fraud. He was forced out of the Army in 44 days and never received the Purple Heart, as he had claimed. A press release from the United States attorney’s office that prosecuted MacBeth, among other fake soldiers, states:
“Jesse MacBeth, 23, Tacoma, Wash., sentenced today in connection with his fraudulent claims of military service. MacBeth sought medical benefits claiming to suffer from PTSD related to service in Iraq and Afghanistan, in fact, Macbeth was discharged from the Army about a month after he joined. MacBeth never traveled outside the U.S. with the Army. Macbeth duped reporters, claiming to be a decorated Army Ranger who had witnessed war crimes.”
In a subsequent conversation with a caller who complained that the media “never talk to real soldiers,” Rush referred to these fake soldiers as “phony soldiers.” There was nothing remotely controversial about his statement. But Media Matters, putting words in Rush’s mouth, claimed that Rush had challenged the patriotism of real soldiers who had actually served but opposed the Iraq War.
Advocate of the Military
Now, anybody who has spent any time listening to Rush knew this was false. There is no greater advocate -- on or off the air -- for the military and its mission. And unlike Reid and most of the other anti-war Democrats, over the years Rush has quietly made significant contributions to the Marine Corps-Law Enforcement Foundation. But it didn’t matter. Reid ran with the lie, as did many of his fellow Democrats and media friends, believing they could damage Rush’s reputation, drive a wedge between Rush and his audience and advance the Democrats’ political agenda. To my knowledge, never before has a Senate leader attempted to use the force of government against a private citizen in this way. And rather than condemn Reid, the Big Media cheered him on by repeating his lies.
So, the stakes were extremely high. Would a powerful Democratic politician and Clinton front group be able to cripple Rush and damage the conservative cause through intimidation and dishonest tactics? Well, they don’t know Rush like we do. They picked a fight with the wrong guy.
Rush confronted, mocked and exposed Reid and Media Matters as dissembling bullies. And in an act of absolute brilliance, he put the Reid letter -- signed by the likes of Hillary Clinton (N.Y.), John Kerry (Mass.), Teddy Kennedy (Mass.) and other anti-war senators -- up for auction on eBay, not only pledging that all proceeds would go to his beloved
Marine Corps-Law Enforcement Foundation, but announcing that he’d match the winning bid. The auction brought $2.1 million, and when combined with Rush’s matching donation, the Reid letter generated a whopping $4.2 million for the foundation! But Rush wasn’t finished. He challenged Reid to raise or contribute an equal amount for the troops. We’re all still waiting.
For this, and all else he does every day to defend our founding principles, HUMAN EVENTS confers on Rush Limbaugh its 2007 Man of the Year Award.
Same blessing for you, Mark. Love you too.
Everyone who received a copy of Rescuing Sprite from me, as one of their Christmas gifts, loved it...so did I...thanks for writing it.
Words I’d like to hear from El Rushbo.........
“For me, all issues and politics considered, it is Thompson”
Rush has set America back on a positive course. He woke up the conservatives and we will never be quiet again !!!!
.........................................................
“Oprah Winfrey’s recent campaign swing with Democrat presidential hopeful Barack Obama was greeted with wild cheers and record-breaking crowds.” It might have been a Democrat record-breaking crowd, but it wasn’t a record-breaking crowd. Twenty-nine thousand people at that football stadium; El Rushbo, drew 40,000 in Puyallup, Washington, for a statewide candidate running for governor, John Carlson. That’s record-breaking.
"...and when combined with Rush’s matching donation, the Reid letter generated a whopping $4.2 million for the foundation!"
And how appropriate! Talk about putting one's money where one's mouth is!!! We're STILL waiting, HARRY!!! (you little prig)
That lady that placed the winning bid needs more praise, too!!! BIGTIME!!!
I have never seen Rush officially endorse anyone in the primaries. It's easy to see who his favorites are, though, they are the same as mine: Fred Thompson, Duncan Hunter and Mitt Romney. :)
I think he's expecting Thompson to either finish first or a _close_ second in the South Carolina primaries. SC is where he has put almost all his marbles and has barely campaigned at all in Iowa or NH. He's only shown up in those two states because that is where the media have been and that has kept his name and face in the public eye.
If Fred doesn't do as well as he expects to in SC, then all bets are off.
Since Duncan Hunter has been pretty much off the radar screen of most people at this point, I'm hoping for a Thompson/Romney or a Romney/Thompson ticket for '08.
I think Rush is too, but he has already said that he will vote in the general election for who ever the Republican nominee is, as will I. Of course that could mean I'd really have to hold my nose in order to vote for most of the others, but, hey (!)-- that's what I had to do when I voted for Charlie Crist as governor here in Florida.
We have no hope of advancing our agenda unless the party in which we have any voice at all is in power. Our voices may have a hard time being heard in the Republican party, but we have NO VOICE AT ALL with the 'RAT party in power.
Rush always has my vote for “Man of the Year”!!!
That won't be any time soon.
White flag wavers never win and patriotic Americans hate losers. Losers are all that the 'RATS have to offer in '08.
Rush knows Fred cannot catch fire. .
—
Rush knows conservative principles work every time they are tried..............
Yep. McCainiac hasn't missed a chance to take credit for both General Petraeus' and GWB's success. He took credit for it again just last night.
Bravo!!
making sure the volume is loud enough to
disturb liberals in socal parking lots!
i’ve discovered some liberals get visibly angry
when they hear el rushbo!
Let's get together this Saturday and try that stunt down in the 'hood.
Should really get a rise out of the brothers.
"Words"????
You need to get up to speed and learn to "read the stitches on a fast ball". Hone those discernment skills and you won't need "words". bttt
Thank you for agreeing with me, to try conservative principles, we must be in the White House, and Fred, will not get us to the White House. Thnak you for realizing it.
“read the stitches on a fast ball”.
.
.
.
I’m with you.
Rush’s influence and effect on the Conservative movement and American politics in general cannot be understated. I for one am very glad he’s on our side.
Even if Fred wins SC, what then? Tennesee? That is not a national mandate. Fred is simply not photogenically, or tempermentally suited for POTUS, and no wishful thinking, no matter how well intentioned or mean-spirited can change that.
“Rush will soon endorse Mitt”
I do not think so! Rush has stated that he did endorse President Bush back in 2000 only because it got down to Bush and McCain in that Republican primary. Rush also stated that he does not endorse during a primary but made an exception then because he did not consider McCain to be conservative. This primary has just begun. Why anyone would think Rush would endorse at this point, I do not know. I do know that just last Friday Rush stated on his program that if anyone has been REALLY listening they would not have any problem figuring out whom he likes among the candidates. It is obvious to me that Rush likes Fred Thompson, even though I do not think he will come right out and endorse.......especially at this early date. Wait until it is down to Fred and Mitt. Then we will see! :) GO FRED!
ADD TO THAT RUSH'S AFFIRMATION THAT THE COUNTRY IS PAYING A HIGH PRICE FOR STUPIDITY.
vaudine
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.