Rush takes responsibility -- but will he learn forgiveness? (BARRRRRFFFFFF!!!!!)

Chicago Sun-Times ^ | October 12, 2003 | RICHARD 'DOPEY' ROEPER SUN-TIMES COLUMNIST

[Chi-townChief]

'There's nothing good about drug use. We know it. It destroys individuals. It destroys families. ... 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, Oct. 5, 1995, on the Excellence In Broadcasting network.

Rush Limbaugh's fans often tell me I don't have the right to criticize "El Rushbo" because I don't regularly tune in his program.

Granted, I often go weeks without listening to Limbaugh, but I do check out his show from time to time, and I have read his books, and I even pay to subscribe to his Internet newsletter, purely for journalistic purposes. ("Poor Diet? Lack of Sleep? Time to take your Stresstabs," read the ad on Limbaugh's home page last Friday.)

As I've said before, I disagree with about 90 percent of Limbaugh's positions -- but I do think he's a greatly talented broadcaster. No matter how much Limbaugh frets about "the media," he IS the media. He wields more clout, makes more money and has a larger audience than a dozen Michael Moores.

Still, I freely and gladly acknowledge that there are tens of millions of Limbaugh loyalists who are infinitely more familiar with his radio show than I am -- and to those dittoheads, I ask:

Is Rush the forgiving type?

Does his heart bleed for addicts and others who might be considered weak or lost or helpless?

How does he handle it when a public figure under fire minces words and says things like "Trust me" -- and then later confesses a very human weakness?

Does Rush say all people -- Democrats and Republicans, blacks and whites, straights and gays -- should be given a second chance?

Let me be more specific. If Al Franken (or Hillary Clinton, or Jesse Jackson) announced an addiction to painkillers and issued a statement about going into rehab, would Limbaugh publicly wish this person well and tell his listeners to say a prayer -- or would he mock their moment of darkness and use it for comedic purposes and political ammunition?

'I am no role model'

Even after the National Enquirer broke the story about Limbaugh allegedly purchasing illegal painkillers from a black market ring and even after the mainstream media confirmed that Limbaugh's name had come up in an investigation in Florida and even after Limbaugh tiptoed around the issue on his show, it was stunning when he told his audience that he's addicted to painkillers and would be checking in to rehab for 30 days after the show.

"I am not making any excuses," Limbaugh said. "You know, over the years, athletes and celebrities have emerged from treatment centers to great fanfare and praise for conquering great demons. They are said to be great role models and examples for others.

"Well, I am no role model. I refuse to let anyone think I am doing something great here, when there are people you never hear about, who face long odds and never resort to such escapes. They are the role models. I am no victim and do not portray myself as such. I take full responsibility for my problem."

God bless Limbaugh, that's perfectly put, and I believe it's a sincere statement.

It's also a far cry from the man who once boasted, "I'll tell you everything you need to know. You never need read a newspaper again. I'll read them for you and tell you what to think."

We all live in glass houses

When the allegations about Limbaugh and painkillers first surfaced, a caller to his show expressed undying support and noted, "We all make mistakes."

I don't think that's the general philosophy of Limbaugh or his audience when it comes to his targets. It sounds a lot more like something a liberal caller might say to an NPR host, doesn't it?

But you know what, the last resident of this planet who didn't make any mistakes was named Jesus -- and the rest of us, conservatives and liberals and moderates, could all be a little more forgiving when our foes fall on hard times.

I'm going to tell you something most of Limbaugh's opponents will probably never admit. The dark truth is, a lot of us grinned from ear to ear when we learned Limbaugh might have some kind of substance-abuse problem. We abhor Limbaugh's arrogant stance on so many issues that we greeted this possible chink in his armor with pure glee. This was Bill Bennett squared, Newt Gingrich to the third power. There's nothing better than a hypocrite exposed!

We should be ashamed of ourselves. We're supposed to be better than that. We're supposed to be the bleeding hearts who feel the pain of those who are suffering. We're NOT supposed to be doing touchdown dances around an enemy who has been crippled.

"I ask now for your prayers," said Rush Limbaugh.

He deserves them. So do all God's creatures.

And while we're praying for Rush, how about another prayer that when he recovers and he's back at full strength, he finds it in his heart to be a little more understanding and forgiving when his opponents fall on hard times?

[Chi-townChief]

Roeper's the same guy who was practically dancing a jig when he learned of Rush's hearing loss. And somehow, I bet he actually believes that Rush is serious when he says, "I'll tell you everything you need to know. You never need read a newspaper again. I'll read them for you and tell you what to think."

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[cyborg]

hefty garbage bag-size vomit alert

[Thebaddog]

This article is full of fibs.

[cyborg]

Thanks to this POS reporter, I just signed up for Rush24... so TAKE THAT. You know what I hate? I hate people who are JEALOUS. They lie in wait for something bad to happen to you. They're like ANIMALS.

I really hate liberals.

[Texas Eagle]

Let me be more specific. If Al Franken (or Hillary Clinton, or Jesse Jackson) announced an addiction to painkillers and issued a statement about going into rehab, would Limbaugh publicly wish this person well and tell his listeners to say a prayer -- or would he mock their moment of darkness and use it for comedic purposes and political ammunition?

He would probably mock their moment of darkness and use it for comedic purposes and political ammunition. You know. Kinda like what you are doing now.

Or are you going to deny that the reference to the banner ad for Stresstabs was used for comedic purposes?

[cyborg]

wow did you take meds before reading this article? so terse and calm a response... now I feel humbled :-)

[prairiebreeze]

More reason to avoid purchasing much of Chicago's press...

Prairie

[aruanan]

Rush Limbaugh, Oct. 5, 1995, on the Excellence In Broadcasting network. Rush Limbaugh's fans often tell me I don't have the right to criticize "El Rushbo" because I don't regularly tune in his program. Granted, I often go weeks without listening to Limbaugh, but I do check out his show from time to time,...

Try 8 years, given the reference above! Anyway, there's a big difference between "having a nose like a Hoover" and becoming addicted to a prescription drug in the course of medical treatment for chronic pain. In the quote above, Rush was referring to the former. As far as the latter is concerned, there's about as much moral baggage involved as in getting a stroke as a consequence of open heart surgery. Both are understandable risks run for legitimate reasons. Leave it to a liberal to be incapable of acknowledging, much less understanding, the difference.

[knuthom]

What amazes me in all the brouhaha about Rush is that so few seem to consider that the route a person takes to drug addiction. I think there is a major difference between taking drugs for pain relief and becoming dependent vs taking drugs for recreational purposes and becoming dependent.

[Kay Soze]

Agreed:

"Gary Bauer, president of the conservative organization American Values, drew a distinction between a crack addict and Limbaugh’s brand of addiction. “From a moral standpoint, there’s a difference between people who go out and seek a high and get addicted and the millions of Americans dealing with pain who inadvertently get addicted,” Bauer told NEWSWEEK.

How many made fun oo JFK. And he was a presidnet on anti-psychotics during the Cuban Missles crises!

Factoid:
-The upper 1% of wage earners pay 37.4% of all taxes and account for only 20.8% of all income in the US

-The top 10% of wage earners pay 67% while earning only 46%

-The lowest 50% of wage earners paid only 4% pay while earning 14% of total income

[ Stock bubble burst reduced tax revenue because the tax base is too heavily dependent on the rich as they pay almost twice their share. ]

[Kay Soze]

agreed:

If all in this nation that are on Prozac, Zoloft, Paxil, Effexor and Celexa were made to stop taking thier meds the nation would stop while we awaited thier detoxification!

[Orangedog]

I think there is a major difference between taking drugs for pain relief and becoming dependent vs taking drugs for recreational purposes and becoming dependent.

And that is the line of thinking that gets a lot of addicts back into trouble. Ask anyone who's been through AA or any of the other roads taken to overcome addiction.

[Catspaw]

Anyway, there's a big difference between "having a nose like a Hoover" and becoming addicted to a prescription drug in the course of medical treatment for chronic pain.

What difference is that? Is Rush any less addicted, or is he a higher class of addict because his drug of choice was an opiate rather than cocaine?

[Jaidyn]

There's nothing better than a hypocrite exposed! I've searched the net and couldn't find any drug comments from Rush after 1995, so assume he wasn't as commited to WOD as some are imagining. Before '95, it was '93, but this is as close to hypocrisy the liberals can get. What is worse than Rush's addiction is the downright hatred and animousity from the so-called 'it's for the children' crowd. They are the crowd who said it was ok for Bill to make time for Monica while he's talking war on the phone. It's ok for Willie to give speeches in public while liberals pretend his red bulbous nose isn't visible. So much hypocrisy from the left and it's going to bite them in the butt.....again. Clinton might have gotten away with being a lowlife but those who supported him are not having his luck.

[peter the great]

I could not agree with you more. This article is pure garbage. First of all I really do not look to the Republican Party or politics for a religious experience. Second of all absolutely no one is without sin, meaning that we all have our faults. Third these were not street drugs that we are talking about and he was truly in pain due to an unsucessful surgery so what is one in his situation to do? I listen to Rush quite a bit and he did have compassion for the guy who stole a train in New York City because he wanted to be a train conductor and it was when thetrain was running on time that Metro dtermined that something was definately wrong. Secondly, I felt that he was vey compassionate towards Monica Lewinsky during the impeachment process he talked about being overweight and articulated it very well it was awesome stuff. Also if you listen to people who know him you will hear stories about his kindness and generosity that are very moving. But to say that he is a hypocrite really is totally false and those who say that realy are not listening very well Rush's message is that when times get tough you have to take the bulls by the horn and deal with the situation and that is exactly what he is doing. Finally in all of this I would not be surprised to discover that someone very high up the food chain in the Democratic party was behind this. The timing seems a little odd, secondly one of those rag papers either the Star or The Enquirer do have Clinton operatives working for them look back to the impeachment and you will find that. Even if The Enquirer is the wrong paper it would not be a stretch for that paper to give the story away look at how the New York Times influences the media and there are many industries that work with their competition in some way. Last when I was in college we were reading Marx and raised a question about the historical context in which communism was brought to the world. My liberal commie Professor was not impressed and his response was, "what does Marx's background have to do with the truth of his ideas? To paraphrase that question, "what does Rush's drug adiction have to do with the truth of his ideas?

[cyborg]

I rather buy the Enquirer than the New York SLIMES anyday... The only thing I'd use this issue of Newsweek for is to pick my poodle's crap. I hate snob journalism. Don't know if you listen to Art Bell, but he's back on 770 WABC, Rush's flagship station. His back is worse than Rush's back, and he had the kindest words to say.

BTW that boy who stole the train was from my mother's country, Trinidad. My grandma knew his family and he's a very bright boy. Rush as usual is right. Whenever the train is on time, one has to wonder if it's a two year driving it.

Rush NEVER teased Chelsea Clinton either...

No thanks... I'll keep Rush and the vast right wing conspiracy as opposed to MOVEON and other liberal cesspool dwellers.

GOOD POST btw

[knuthom]

This is the difference. The recreational addict got addicted doing something completely avoidable. He knew it was bad for him and did it anyway. It was strictly a hedonistic thing.

The medical user starts off doing something that the doctor prescribes to help him. He is not doing it to get high, but to control pain. The intent is completely different, even if the result may be the same.

[aruanan]

What difference is that? Is Rush any less addicted, or is he a higher class of addict because his drug of choice was an opiate rather than cocaine?

It's the difference between accidental homicide and a premeditated murder. You may as well be asking "What difference is that? Is the person any less dead?"

[Catspaw]

The intent is completely different, even if the result may be the same.

A good friend of ours failed at rehab the first two or three times because she thought because she was addicted to "prescription" drugs (opiates) that she wasn't as addicted as someone who did cocaine--she did get them "legally," from at least four different doctors in three different cities--in addition, of course, to stealing drugs from friend's medicine cabinets, stealing one doc's prescription pad and a whole lot more. When she finally realized that yes, indeed, she was as addicted as the person who did cocaine was she able to rehab successfully.