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Had Rush merely stated that McNabb was a mediocre quarterback who owed his success to his defensive unit then he would be preparing for his ESPN show tomorrow. That claim is a legitimate opinion, one open to arguement but well within the bounds of a sports pregame show. Where he crossed the line, and where he interjected his politics into his sports, was with his asinine claim that McNabb's success was due to some conspiracy among liberal sportswriters in their desperate attempt to artificially create a black hero. Hello. There are 10 or 12 starting black quarterbacks out there. Blacks have won Superbowls and been leading teams for going on 25 years now. Why in the world would the liberal media see the need to create a successful black QB? And if so, then why did they settle on McNabb? Why not Vick or McNair? Rush did it all on his own, and has nobody but nobody but himself to blame.

Exactly

If Rush had said McNabb was "overhyped," none of this would have happened. But, for a "highly trained broadcast professional" to say what he said, well, he deserved a little heat.

Why in the world would the liberal media see the need to create a successful black QB?

Did Tiger need any help? (No.) Did he get, let's say, extravagant, fawning coverage? (Yes) Does he still today, even when he's having a bad day? (Yes)

The media is infected by this. I imagine it even embarrasses Tiger.

And if so, then why did they settle on McNabb?

McNabb was the topic of discussion, for one thing. Rush, as far as I know, didn't bring up the topic. Also, Rush didn't say McNabb was the only black quarterback getting undeserved praise. Finally, even if he was implying that, perhaps he felt the media considered McNabb to be the best (or most promotable) black QB today. There are black golfers, but they are not promoted like Tiger Woods. I know, I know, Tiger is not over-rated. My point is that Tiger is an example of the media 'conspiracy' promoting one athlete heavily. Rush merely posited that in McNabb's case, his race gave him extra coverage over QBs of equal or better ability. I'm interpreting in that last sentence, but I believe that to be what he meant.

”Had Rush merely stated that McNabb was a mediocre quarterback who owed his success to his defensive unit then he would be preparing for his ESPN show tomorrow. That claim is a legitimate opinion, one open to arguement but well within the bounds of a sports pregame show. Where he crossed the line, and where he interjected his politics into his sports, was with his asinine claim that McNabb's success was due to some conspiracy among liberal sportswriters in their desperate attempt to artificially create a black hero.”

Whoa. Back up. I heard the same argument from a friend of mine who took your position … and tried to make the claim that McNabb was a great QB.

First, Rush did not call McNabb mediocre. He said that he was not as good as his press. Now, I’m not a sports fan and didn’t know McNabb from a ham sandwich (but thanks to this controversy, I’m learning fast).

Second, let’s remember what Rush is and what he is not. The reason to add a person like Rush, or Dennis Miller or someone other than another sports figure to a show like this is to get a different perspective. Any over-the-hill jock can call McNabb a bad QB. Only someone like Rush would have introduced the political or social angle to the discussion. Leave that out and you have no justification for his participation.

Third, the hysterical reaction his accusation – that the o-so-politically-correct sports media will go out of their way to pump up black QBs and managers – is a strong indication that he’s right. And the interesting thing about it is that, since he said it, other sports writers are now emboldened to say the same thing. I refer you to the article on Slate of all places that says that Rush is right.

Again, let me say that I’m not a fan. If you are, perhaps as an exercise, you can find us articles that claim that a black QB is not good enough and should be fired. Since, as you say, there are a lot of black QBs, there should be a lot of articles like that around. Are there?

Whether Rush is right or not that McNabb was over-rated "by the media's desire to see Black QBs do well" is not the point. Whether or not McNabb is over-hyped at all is not the point. Whether or not Rush knows a football from his ass is not the point. The point is: what Rush said was not, in any way "hate speech".

Sports pundits say wrong things all the time, and piss people off all the time. This McNabb remark simply was not the racial slur it's being made out to be, it is hardly worth all the outrage it has caused among the democrats.

I do agree it was stupid of him to "go there" on ESPN, but the racial angle he was pursuing did not in any way denote racism on Rush's part. I think this will blow up on the libs/dims. I think Joe Six-Pack will see as frightening the media firestorm that has resulted over such an innocuous remark.