Bill Maher Comments on the Rush Limbaugh Drug Addiction Story

Bill Maher ^ | 10-13-03 | Bill Maher

[ambrose]

October 13, 2003

Rush Limbaugh

A fair number of Independents could be lured in, or back to, the Democratic Party. For me, a litmus test for that would have to be confronting the Drug War, and as I see the media and the Democratic presidential contenders both taking a huge whiff on the opportunity the Rush Limbaugh story provides, I am not encouraged.

For many years, I've been asked 'why do you read the Enquirer?' and have always said, "because I want to know what's going to be in the New York Times next week."

So, a week after I read the Limbaugh story in the Enquirer I read the rehash of it today in the Times, and again: Media, Pols, hello! If any time was the perfect time to make the case about the massive double standard that is the Drug War, this is it. Rush tearfully talks about his addition to a "medication." Yeah, well everybody likes their "medication" in different forms, pally. It would be funny, but substantially the same thing, if on the 6:30 news they sold bourbon and had the voice intone, "Ask your doctor if Jack Daniels is right for you."

Or pot or whatever it is that mixes better with your body chemistry. Because that's all the Drug War is, persecuting people with a different body chemistry than Plan A. Why does one person like scotch, and another loathes it and likes vodka? Or one like cocaine, and another Metabolife?

Who gives a f**k, that's why. The bottom line is, we all pick our poison and shouldn't arbitrarily punish and shame some, and accept and coddle others. There's nothing about preferring the high from oxycontin or liquor or speed (caffeine, ephedra, etc - speed, the drug America really loves) that makes you morally superior to people who like pot or mushrooms or even heroin for that matter, because that's what Oxycontin is, heroin in a pill. Gee, no wonder it's popular.

When it comes to Rush and pills, an analagous situation would be Reagan and guns. After Reagan got shot, what an opportunity to change that debate on guns! Who could argue about at least debating it while he lay in the hospital from a gunshot wound - like how JFK's program got passed so easily after his assassination, or even Bush's after 911.

But Reagan whiffed. Rush has the chance to change America for the better here. But it must involve his admitting the fundamental truths about drugs:
A: Almost all Americans do them, legal or otherwise; B: It's wrong to inconsistently treat fact A.

And Rush, if you don't see it that way yet, let me put it like this: When you're furtively meeting people in parking lots and exchanging ANYTHING in cigar boxes through car windows - OK, that's a drug addict. Issues of personal responsibility is where I often walked with Rush, and this is a classic. A true test of the man. If he comes out of rehab and says, 'I was wrong about our approach to drugs,' he could single handedly change the way America looks at this problem. If he admits that what separates him and Noelle Bush from crackheads is nothing. Nothing except money, race and lawyers. OK, well that is actually quite a lot. But nothing in the way that makes one of them a stronger or better human being. And that's what Rush has to say:

"I am no better or stronger than a crackhead. I lived for the drug, just like he did; obsessed about getting it all the time, like he did; corrputed and lied about everything else in my life - career, health (the hearing problem is related to this, no doubt - check the amount he was taking daily - Elvis is going "whoa, dude, slow down with that s**t"), relationships, like he did. And we both deserve the same treatment: compassion!"

Because Rush wants, and is already getting, a lot of compassion for this. Let me add my full hearted endorsement of that, and hope for a successful rehab, and a happy life for him whatever he wants to do thereafter. Rush Limbaugh was the first one to say "Bill Maher was right" when I was in the hot seat after 911, and I will always appreciate and remember that. He also has a good sense of humor, and enjoys jokes I've done about him. I want to be able to back him.

But he's gotta keep it real when he gets out. If he starts living the morally indefensible double standard he has been defending his whole career, game over. He learned nothing, or is too weak to admit it. That would be a shame, because I think he has it in him to do this, and the power and accomplishment from turning this battleship around would be, well - a rush.

Posted by safesearching at October 13, 2003 01:14 PM

[uncbob]

Oxycontin lasts for twelve hours. According to the reports he was taking some 30 or more pills per day.

And Rush said the story being reported had a lot of distortions and inacuracies

The only way we will ever know all the true facts is if he has a successful rehab and tells the entire story ( If his lawyer lets him)

[Imal]

For many years, I've been asked 'why do you read the Enquirer?' and have always said, "because I want to know what's going to be in the New York Times next week."

Nice try, Bill, but you'll never convince me that the New York Times is that reputable.

On a recent radio program, he amplified his point:

"Rush has been the coward popping pain pills from 2,000 miles away," Maher said. "That's cowardly. Snorting cocaine off the stomach of a 14-year-old prostitute, say what you want about it, it's not cowardly."

[jwalsh07]

Forget the gun thing, can you explain to me how one mans addiction to opiates is an argument for making opiates more readily available?

[arthurus]

Since you brought it up in his defense then I was forced to shut you down with it's reality..< P>You seem to have a highly inflated view of your own efficacy. You use a Liberal form of argument and seem to have only one line which you repeat again and again. They argue that way over at DU.

[Cold Heat]

As far as I know, I used that word and it is meaning specific.

It means that he did it without medical supervision.

Yes, he apparently purchased pills without a prescription, which is illegal.

So is going to Canada to save money BTW.

[Sir Valentino]

If Rush bought these drugs illegally, he committed crimes and he also used to be on welfare. These are facts.

I am really getting *FED UP* with comments like this. It is clear from your *TAGLINE* that you have no respect for *DRUG LAWS* when it comes to *POT-SMOKING LIBERALS*, and yet you think Rush should be *LOCKED AWAY* forever for *FOLLOWING DOCTOR'S ORDERS*. Simply put, there is *NO* evidence that he committed *ANY* crime.

The *FACT* of the matter is that Rush is completely *INNOCENT*. Can you say the *SAME* about *YOURSELF*? What is *YOUR* drug of *CHOICE*?

[cajun-jack]

go back to elementary school..learn the difference in choose and chose

[dyed_in_the_wool]

What the hell is that supposed to mean?

You got me. I was almost nodding in agreement until that line.
I fail to see how ending the WOD is analogous to getting rid of the second article of the Bill of Rights.

[Admin Moderator]

"And that's the thing.. people on here will throw you under the bus" "But to blindly follow his logic.." "Yap yap yap yap" "I was forced to shut you down with it's reality" "You are still on crack.." "You realize you are on crack right?" "Common sense would tell you that." "cleaver but really stupid" "When it comes down to the nuts and bolts of it you can't defend your position." "Of course you don't see the wisdom in continuing this conversation" "No you are clearly trapped because you continue to spit forth your forced education." "I know this is an arguement I'll never win because you refuse to look outside the box." "I'm wondering.. what kind of crack are you smoking?"

"I'm with God and he's choosen me to speak this way."

If God wants you to continue posting here, he will find a way to steer your free will towards coming up with a new debating style other than constantly belittling, asserting that your point is obvious and the other's is stupid, and generally being needlessly abrasive. Let's pray it is so. Thanks, AM

[bvw]

You sound like Steppenwolf 2003. The dealerman who is your friend versus the pusher who is evil. What it comes down to is you, you and your own close circle of family, friends and co-workers and the smaller group in them who are willing to advise and criticise truly and wisely to who you are. Your physician may or may not be in that group. A lisense from the State is no guaranee of wisdom, and even less of how you are advised and prescribed by that medical agent.

[Cold Heat]

What I understand from your declaration here is that you were unable to get high on Oxycontin. That is called Sour Grapes. Better luck with your next effort.

I have been using it for some years now.

As I said, it has a slight euphoric effect a first dosing, but the effect only lasts a couple days.

The medical descriptions and testing on the drug should be of assistance to you. It will verify or should verify what I said, if you find the complete write ups. The tests can also be found with Percocet, which is the same drug combined with Tylenol.

google it up!

[Amelia]

What is *YOUR* drug of *CHOICE*?

I'm a recovering sugar addict. How about you?

[halfdome]

How do you know Rush was following doctor's orders, or that there is no evidence he committed a crime? If he was buying drugs without a prescription, that is a crime. I don't know of anyone besides Rush and the Palm Beach PD who know what was going on. Are you psychic?

[Yeti]

A true test of the man. If he comes out of rehab and says, 'I was wrong about our approach to drugs,' he could single handedly change the way America looks at this problem. If he admits that what separates him and Noelle Bush from crackheads is nothing. Nothing except money, race and lawyers. OK, well that is actually quite a lot. But nothing in the way that makes one of them a stronger or better human being.

Okay, the Reagan gun analogy in the article was stupid, but *this* is valid, except for the "race" part.

Rush is not going to do time. He will probably continue to support the WoD, because his money protects him from it's tyranny.

At Rush's income level, the only reason we even know about it at all is because politics makes the story newsworthy. If he were a banker, it would be swept under the rug, no problems. If he were a construction worker, he would be in jail, given the quantities involved.

[Republic]

I am too stupid to understand exactly what it is Bill wants Rush to do when he gets out or rehab and having had to relearn how live with daily pain. If his point is that everyone uses drugs, in one form or the other, big deal.

[Almondjoy]

If you had ever taken vicodin before you would know that it does alot more than just cure pain.

[Almondjoy]

If you had ever taken vicodin before you would know that it does alot more than just cure pain.

[jimmccleod]

The *FACT* of the matter is that Rush is completely *INNOCENT*. Can you say the *SAME* about *YOURSELF*? What is *YOUR* drug of *CHOICE*?

You *REALLY* need to get your *KEYBOARD* fixed. It is really *ANNOYING*.