Limbaugh’s involvement in beauty pageant sets wrong tone

The Missoulian ^ | October 16, 2009 | Connie Schultz

[2ndDivisionVet]

Miss America officials have decided to kill off their beauty pageant.

That's not what they're saying, but you tell me what it means when a beauty pageant that professes to champion America's young women issues a news release with "Rush" and "thrilled" in the same sentence:

"We are thrilled to have Rush join us for our pageant this year," said the Miss America Organization's president and CEO, Art McMaster. "We know that the 2010 Miss America Pageant will be filled with new twists and exciting opportunities with him as one of our national judges."

No, he's not talking about the Canadian rock band.

Yes, he's apparently serious about right-wing talk show host Rush Limbaugh.

Let's ponder the possibilities, shall we?

All those pretty young women shimmy down the runway wearing skimpy swimsuits and smiles that slowly fade into suppressed shrieks as they come face to ogling face with the same guy who just last month said the Marines rejected Hillary Clinton because they "do not have uniforms that fit that big an ass."

Not a Hillary fan?

OK, here's his take on why John Edwards was unfaithful to his cancer-stricken wife:

"My theory that I just explained to you about ... what could have John Edwards' motivations been to have the affair with Rielle Hunter, given his wife is smarter than he is and probably nagging him a lot about doing this, and he found somebody that did something with her mouth other than talk."

What might the Miss America officials be thinking?

First, a little history: The pageant was founded in 1921, the year after American women got the vote. In its heyday, it had nearly 55 million viewers.

Over time, it lost favor with most of the viewing public for a long list of reasons, which Limbaugh undoubtedly would claim was compiled entirely by "feminazis."

A few years ago, ABC dumped the pageant. Officials moved the contest from Atlantic City, N.J., to Las Vegas, and it had a brief stint on Country Music Television before landing on its current home, TLC. Viewers now number about 2 million, which I imagine is less than the number many infomercials get.

Miss America officials did not return my call by deadline, but McMaster, in an interview with the Las Vegas Sun's John Katsilometes, did elaborate on why he picked Limbaugh.

Well, kinda.

"I want people to understand how the pageant judging happens," McMaster said. "We don't just pick out seven names. We have seven different categories, and we need people who are experts in those categories."

Hmm. What sort of expert might Limbaugh be?

Here's his own description of men like him: "We're not sexists; we're chauvinists. We're male chauvinist pigs, and we're happy to be because we think that's what men were destined to be. We think that's what women want."

You know what else Limbaugh thinks women want?

"Some of these babes, I'm telling you, like the sexual harassment crowd. They're out there protesting what they actually wish would happen to them sometimes."

Makes ya just wanna hug him till he can't breathe, doesn't it?

Full disclosure: In the past year or so, Limbaugh has referred to me as "blitheringly ignorant," a "ditz," "brain-dead" and "mind-numbed." Being my mother's daughter, I smiled politely but told him that no matter how many names he calls me, I can't be his girlfriend.

Five years ago, I might have written quite a rant about the ridiculous and demeaning tradition of the Miss America Pageant.

I would have gone on and on about how the swimsuit competition demeans our bright young women, whose only runway should come with frequent flier miles.

But Rush Limbaugh is the new face of Miss America, and he'd be the first to tell you his influence is far greater than mine.

I'm counting on it, Rush.

[a fool in paradise]

Over time, it lost favor with most of the viewing public for a long list of reasons, which Limbaugh undoubtedly would claim was compiled entirely by "feminazis."

So beauty contests are "evil" because they are sexist, except they are honorable until they hire Rush Limbaugh.

Moonbat logic.

[DTogo]

How’s that chip on your shoulder weighing, Connie?

[popdonnelly]

Let’s go on the attack against Connie Schultz. Who the heck is she to decide who Miss America judges are? The only reason she wrote this is to attack and demonize Limbaugh. These wonderful liberal Democrats are insidious buttholes.

[CodeToad]

I guess Rush isn’t a pole smoker so he shouldn’t be allowed to judge the attractiveness of women??

Liberals are idiots.

[gigster]

I, personally, like to put women on a pedestal...just high enough to look up their dresses.

[TNCMAXQ]

At what point will they be screaming that he be removed as a judge? I bet it happens, though this pageant is probably not considered a big enough deal.

If the winner is white you can be sure the critics will be whining that it was because of Rush.

[TChris]

What is Rush’s roll in the Pageant?

I hope you meant "role", and not "roll".

LOL! :-)

[rushmom]

Again, fabricated quotes. I listen to Rush every day. He never said that stuff. These people are unadulterated fasicsts. She’s an insult to women.

[Niteranger68]

Not to worry Connie. You certainly won't be in it.

[Grampa Dave]

Connie should stick to writing articles pushing the greatness of being Lesbian and gay:

http://www.bing.com/search?q=Connie%20Schultz%20%2B%20lesbian&form=SOLTLB

[a fool in paradise]

"Some of these babes, I'm telling you, like the sexual harassment crowd. They're out there protesting what they actually wish would happen to them sometimes."

During the impeachment hearing, there was a feminist journalist who said that SHE would drop to her knees to give Bill Clinton a Lewinsky because of his stance on abortion.

The ditzy dames have their own numbers to blame for this statement.

[MrB]

Yeah, Rush “sets the wrong tone”,
but having a hatefilled homo activist judging a female beauty contest is OK...

[a fool in paradise]

Five years ago, I might have written quite a rant about the ridiculous and demeaning tradition of the Miss America Pageant.

Um, you just DID. Lying shrew.

[a fool in paradise]

I think what we have learned is that Corporate America is part of the problem. Whether its the NFL or some other large business, they all seem to side with the left on cultural issues. Many people here think that capitalists are natural conservatives. Delusional

Bump. The Socialsts subverted corporate America long ago. "Diversity training" is another term for political re-education. They push "greening policies" and sponsor United Way, abortion groups, and homosexual advocacy campaigns.

[Valpal1]

A few years ago, ABC dumped the pageant. Officials moved the contest from Atlantic City, N.J., to Las Vegas, and it had a brief stint on Country Music Television before landing on its current home, TLC. Viewers now number about 2 million, which I imagine is less than the number many infomercials get.

Well Rush has 20 million listeners, so apparently pageant officials are better at math than Ms. Schultz. That's why they are excited to have Rush as a judge.

[a fool in paradise]

Some of the quotes came from George Soros' Media Matters which has been known to lie at least by omission.

I don't recall anyone ever compiling a list of the "sexist" things that Johnny Carson ever said on his program.

[DoughtyOne]

Poor poor Connie (lay off the..) Schlitz, you almost feel sorry for her.  Almost... Yeah, I know it's Shultz. I coudln't resist. Some of this makes it look like she was drinking.

Connie doesn't realize that some women do like to be harassed.  They like being the focus of men's attention in this manner.  They take it as a compliment.  Oh the humanities...  Hey, I wouldn't do it.  I don't want my wife exposed to it.  I didn't want my girl-friends exposed to it.  It's still a fact that not all of them agreed with me.  Oh the humanities...

I guess we shouldn't expect someone (I'd imagine) would have the NAG network on speed dial to understand this.  One never knows when some beast will whistle at you on the street you know.

So upset is Connie, that she has to desparage the whole Miss America pagent, heralding that it's viewership has declined.  Frankly, I haven't found it necessary to follow the Miss America pagent like Connie has.  My life isn't going to be ruined by this "evil" organization.  No young woman's life is going to be ruined by this organization.  Many women will get college scholarships from it.  Oh the hmanities...

One can actually picture Connie sitting in her chair shaking with rage at the very idea Rush Limbaugh might be associated with the Miss America Pagent.  Why he's even going to be a judge.  Steam from ears...

Can anyone point me to the complaints poor Connie has made about homosexuals that have served as judges on beauty pagents?  Somehow I doubt it.  This is a sector of our society that women of Connie's ilk generally see no problem with at all.  Why they're so charming.  Rush is a slug, but guys that limit their emotional and physical selves with people of their own sex are so shiek.

Still, Connie is ever on watch to protect young women.  Why the idea a man who is attracted to women at all might be a judge, is probably a real downer to Connie.

God have some of our women lost touch with sanity.

[FastCoyote]

Connie, You ignorant slut.

So let’s see, the Pageant is going down the tubes and you want someone from NOW to give it a boost? Bwahahaha.

[TribalPrincess2U]

Rush is “S E X A”