Limbaugh mute on drugs, little else

Atlanta Journal Constitution ^ | October 4, 2003 | ROBERT P. KING

[Cincinatus' Wife]

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Here's something you probably never expected from Rush Limbaugh: No comment.

The nation's talk radio king, opiner on everything from Bill Clinton's misdeeds to feminazis, repeatedly declined Friday to discuss accusations that he illegally bought prescription drugs.

"I haven't yet gotten to the bottom of what all this is about," Limbaugh said during his three-hour broadcast, which reaches an estimated 20 million listeners. But when he knows more, he promised, "I'm going to come clean, as I always have."

Instead, Limbaugh used his electronic bully pulpit to defend -- and refuse to apologize for -- his controversial comments on ESPN's "Sunday NFL Countdown" about race and football.

"I meant everything I said, thought about it the night before, intended to say it, very proud that I said it, think it's right," said Limbaugh, who resigned Wednesday from the sports network because of the flap over his remarks. "So throw me in jail. So fire me. ... If that's what it takes to stand up for free speech, fine."

That approach seemed just fine with his loyal listeners, who proudly call themselves "ditto-heads" for their frequent agreement with Limbaugh. And at least for now, outraged defiance probably will be good enough to let the Palm Beach resident hold on to his radio empire, media relations experts said Friday.

But they warned that the drug allegations could cause lasting damage if not resolved soon.

Until then, he's trapped in Limbaugh limbo, unable to proclaim his innocence or seek his listeners' forgiveness as long as he is in jeopardy of prosecution.

"The very thing he needs to do is the one thing he can't do," said Robert Thompson, director of Syracuse University's Center for the Study of Popular Television, who listened to Friday's broadcast. And that could conflict with Limbaugh's reputation among listeners as a deflator of liberal lies.

"His whole thing has been getting to the truth: 'Forget all this dissembling and parsing of sentences,"' Thompson said. But when Limbaugh resorts to cautious, lawyerly language, he's doing "some of the things he has made a career exposing others for doing."

Del Galloway, incoming president of the Public Relations Society of America, said he's never heard of a celebrity in a position quite like Limbaugh's.

"The attacker is being attacked, and he's in uncharted waters," said Galloway, partner in a Jacksonville advertising and PR firm.

"If it were a mainstream, less controversial figure, I would urge the client to step back, step up and take responsibility for those comments and mend relationships," Galloway said. But for Limbaugh, "his success has been from being in your face. Why would he now back away from it?"

If Friday's show is any guide, Limbaugh can expect plenty of support. He said on the air that he had received 35,000 e-mails, overwhelmingly in his favor, since the ESPN flap erupted Tuesday.

One caller, Kurt from Traverse City, Mich., took the drug issue head-on:

"I support you whether you did anything or you didn't do anything," Kurt told Limbaugh. "People do things wrong in their life. It doesn't make them a bad person."

Other callers seconded Limbaugh's comments on ESPN, in which he accused journalists of excessively praising Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb out of a desire to advance black athletes. One caller said nobody complained about racism in the movie title "White Men Can't Jump."

But some chided Limbaugh for the way he said it.

"Mega free-speech dittos," said his first caller, Jerry in Wilton, Conn. But then he added: "I think you're a knucklehead for bringing up the racial aspect of the press coverage in a forum like the ESPN show, because it's basically a sound-bite forum."

"This was the place to say this," Limbaugh responded. "It's a football show!"

Limbaugh's show is syndicated to about 600 stations, said Keven Bellows, spokeswoman for Premier Radio Networks. In 2001, Limbaugh signed a nine-year, $285 million contract with the network, reportedly the richest deal in talk-radio history.

Other broadcasters have lost their careers because of remarks that were deemed racially insensitive. For instance, CBS football analyst Jimmy "the Greek" Snyder was fired in 1988 after saying blacks were "bred" to be athletes.

And Limbaugh has a throng of loyal, ideologically committed listeners to back him up, Thompson noted.

On the other hand, unlike many celebrities, Limbaugh can't slink away from public view until the controversy goes away. He has 15 hours of live air time to fill every week.

"I have to admit he finessed it pretty good," Thompson said after Friday's show. "He really did not come on today like a whipped dog.

[freekitty]

They keep saying Rush is an attacker. That is the furtherest thing from the truth.

[JohnSmithee]

I can't believe anyone would attack Rush Limbaugh over the supposed use of illicit pain killers. I never listen to him, and I am not a fan, but let's have some sympathy for him. Everyone understands pain and ultimately most people believe in the freedom to choose for themselves.

[JohnSmithee]

"OK folks, If the slathering dog demorats wnat to play this game let us all start researching and listing all demorats who have a drug problem and what drugs they are taking."

Dunno, to the democrats drug use is almost a sign of belonging. It's just part of the culture.

[lelio]

Rush has his own show and huge audience on which he can and does espouse his peeves, but in his zealousness he just can't lighten up in public.

Posters are going to flame you for "well he shouldn't have to do that, its PC" etc. But I agree with you 100%. It would be like having Tim Robbins do a voice over in a cartoon and him saying something like "Remember that Bush is evil"

But having said that did ESPN expect to happen? Rush's an ardent NFL fan and is very knowledgable about the sport but listen to his show and you'll know within an hour he'll never be able to leave the conservative talk just to his 15 hours a week.

[lelio]

Everyone understands pain and ultimately most people believe in the freedom to choose for themselves.

Well if Rush came out in support of medical marijuana I would have some sympathy for him, but I don't. You make your WOD bed and you lie in it.

[Cold Heat]

Why would Rush need to buy drugs on the black market if he had a legal prescription?

I am sure Rush used pain killers for his post operational pain and would have had a prescription.

As to the charges, I believe they are bogus or only partly true. It is possible that he got some extra meds in this way, but the quantities and other stuff is unbelievable to me.

[dwd1]

I am not saying that Rush is a racist or not (though I do believe he has made some racist statements) but may I suggest that you not use the "Some of my best friends are black" defense regarding Clarence Thomas. It does not help.


Being friends with one percenters(most successful, most influential) is easy. These are the best and brightest and considered likable by many in many different communities but being friends with Clarence Thomas is evidence of nothing except that you are friends with Clarence Thomas.

[Ferret Fawcet]

excellent points! (((BUMP)))

[JohnSmithee]

"You make your WOD bed and you lie in it."

Didn't know Rush was a WOD "warrior". Oh, well, hopefully he will learn something from this experience.

[Devil_Anse]

My father recognized the puffiness of Kennedy's cheeks as a sign of use of some drug or other, I can't remember what it was, b/c I was a kid when he said it. He used to point that out when he saw Kennedy on TV.

This is not to say that Kennedy was using the drug illegally. What I'm saying is that my father recognized the signs of being medicated with a certain drug, which led to speculation of what Kennedy was being medicated for. (Turned out to be Addison's Disease, among other things.)

[Cold Heat]

No, taking them that way, it would not be enough to start an addiction. Percocets are only 5mg. of Oxycodone.

If you took them around the clock, it would be different.

That is in effect what I do, so I have to deal with the nature of the beast, so to speak. But, I do not abuse the drugs. If I did, I would not get my scrip renewed and would have some serious problems dealing with day to day things. The drug can render you useless if you take too much. You would appear drunk or high on something and risk breathing difficultes (paralysis) that can kill you and does frequently.

[uncbob]

Well if Rush came out in support of medical marijuana I would have some sympathy for him, but I don't. You make your WOD bed and you lie in it.

My feelings exactly and it gauls me no end how he deprecates those who want to end the insane WOD because of what it is doing and has done to our civil liberties.
He smart ass arrogant use of the term ADULT BEVERAGES instead of liquid drugs is another irksome part of his mantra

HOWEVER all that said I hope these charges are false ( although it doesn't look good ) for the simple fact that he is a Conservative Icon and his fall would be a huge gain for the left wing

[lelio]

I didn't mean to imply that he's a WOD warrior, just that he's come out against medical marijuana use on his show. For all I know he could be against the WOD, but he hasn't stated anything on his show.

[fat city]

Someone please help me out here with my ignorance of the law.

If Wilma Cline wore a wire for immunity from prosecution and

If accepting money from the Enquirer for her story automatically recuses her from testifying for the prosecution, then

What value is she in a case against Rush Limbaugh (unless they had used the wire to bust him as the deal went down)?

[krb]

who proudly call themselves "ditto-heads" for their frequent agreement with Limbaugh

That's not what the term ditto-head means.

[JohnSmithee]

"I didn't mean to imply that he's a WOD warrior, just that he's come out against medical marijuana use on his show. For all I know he could be against the WOD, but he hasn't stated anything on his show."

OK, I don't know either. I haven't listened to his show in a long time so I wasn't sure.

[Libertina]

Interesting point, Annie.

[weegee]

On a serious note though, I think the one person who can empathize with Rush right now is probably Pee Wee Herman.

Except that Pee Wee was guilty of masturbating in a theater and later of having nude polaroids of an actor (Jeffery Jones) cavorting with a nude boy.

Richard Jewel (the falsely accused Olympic park bomber) and Michael Savage (who was run off the air because of an outburst at a prank caller) have more in common with Rush's current situation (with ESPN and "legal" problems). When Rush is charged with a crime, then there may be more seriousness associated with the drug claims. In the meantime, it is the word of some criminals who were busted possibly trying to save their own hides (by offering up another fish) and line their own pockets (to the tune of 6 figures).

[Howlin]

"The medical records reveal that Kennedy variously took codeine, Demerol and methadone for pain; Ritalin, a stimulant; meprobamate and librium for anxiety; barbiturates for sleep; thyroid hormone; and injections of a blood derivative, gamma globulin, a medicine that combats infections."

http://abcnews.go.com/sections/GMA/GoodMorningAmerica/GMA021118JFK_medical_problems.html

[dr_who_2]

Wilma has said she has "emails" from Rush to prove it. Ha. I've been through something like that with someone using MY computer to send out emails with my "imprimatur"-- long ago, and it was limited.

Yeah, emails can be spoofed in all sorts of ways even without the victim's own computer. It's one of the things about email that makes it such a great way to deliver viruses and spam. I think Rush is right to wait for the facts first, whether he's guilty or NOT.

Can't disagree with you there. He doesn't know yet if this is everything the Democrat bottom dwellers have planned for him.

Oh My! How Unusual for someone to do this, right?

Nothing unusual about it at all, if you recall what happened to Newt Gingrich (who the Democrats often tried to gag). It's particularly true this season, since the Dems are searching for a new issue that will stick, and they realize that the party of big government, socialized medicine, gun control, high taxes, big unions, and identity politics can't easily pass itself off (convincingly) as an alternative to Bush, at least in a way that can make their party attractive to voters.

You can tell where their sore spots are. First, they went after Rove (that fizzled, what's left is an official investigation that will produce nothing), then Schwartzenegger (they need California), and then Rush (a constant thorn in their side). I don't think the momentum is with the Republicans either, but the Democrats must really be on edge.

The Mainstream Media is hating this. He's in their FACE again. I say BULLY FOR YOU! RUSH -- KEEP 'EM SPINNING WITH FRUSTRATION! They aren't the courts. They aren't the law.

Whatever Rush says, the media will spin it to make it look like Rush is falling apart. They'll only stop until they notice their ratings drop, something sweeps it off the headlines, or there's some sort of backlash.