Posted on 06/28/2006 6:04:09 PM PDT by Aussie Dasher
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – Fox News host Bill O'Reilly is coming to the defense of his radio competitor Rush Limbaugh, claiming authorities in Palm Beach County, Fla., are "out to get" the conservative talk-show host, and are maliciously targeting him for prosecution.
"He is an American," O'Reilly said of Limbaugh last night on "The O'Reilly Factor," "and I believe powerful people in his home county are trying unjustly to harm him."
On Monday, Limbaugh was held up for more than three hours at Palm Beach International Airport after authorities found a bottle of Viagra pills in his possession prescribed to someone else.
Roy Black, Limbaugh's attorney, issued a statement noting a doctor had prescribed the drug, but it was "labeled as being issued to the physician rather than Mr. Limbaugh for privacy purposes."
Though Limbaugh was not arrested, O'Reilly noted it was unusual authorities checked the shaving kits of people flying on private planes, and that the story was leaked to the press almost immediately.
"This is malicious, and this is unnecessary," said O'Reilly. "I only can conclude that in Palm Beach, where Mr. Limbaugh lives, they're out to get this guy."
O'Reilly said he had no vested interest in coming to Limbaugh's defense, having met the fellow broadcaster only "once for about 10 seconds," but he ripped local officials for trying to destroy the most listened to man in the history of radio.
"It was a malicious, cheap, cheap tactic by the Palm Beach authorities, and they ought to be ashamed of themselves," he said. "If I were Limbaugh, I'd move right on out of there. I'd get out of there. ... This is a political persecution. That's what this is."
As WND previously reported, the state attorney's office is reviewing the case after being supplied a report from the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office.
"We believe there may be a second-degree misdemeanor violation, which is possession of certain drugs without a prescription, because the bottle does not have his name on it," sheriff's spokesman Paul Miller told the Associated Press.
On Limbaugh's radio broadcast yesterday, he made light of the whole affair.
"I've been racking my brain. I'm trying to figure out how Bob Dole's luggage got on my airplane," Limbaugh clowned. "I told the doctor, I said, 'Look, I'm worried about the next election, not ... .'"
Former Sen. Bob Dole of Kansas is well-known for his use and endorsement of Viagra, a male sexual-enhancement drug.
In April, Limbaugh and the Florida state attorney, Democrat Barry Krischer, reached a settlement in a long-running prescription-drug investigation of the conservative radio giant, who termed the matter a political witch hunt as well as a "fishing expedition" by prosecutors.
Under the agreement, a single charge of doctor shopping was to be dismissed in 18 months if Limbaugh continues to seek treatment from the doctor he has seen for the past two and a half years for back pain.
bttt
I haven't listened to either O'Reilly or Limbaugh in some time. Their overinflated egos make doing so impossible for me.
Your premise should be obvious to anyone.
The tactic used by O'Reilly is the same one used by Bill Clinton when he refers to Hillary . . . thank goodness.
As if the media ever tells the truth about anything. They've minimized themselves.
However, I have been wrong before and respect your opinion.
I doubt that one of the security folks at the airport had it in for Rush Limbaugh. If he saw a prescription bottle with a name other than the passenger's name, perhaps it is normal for them to question that. If so, then there is probably a statistic that details how often that happens, since a report would have to be filed.
I agree totally with O'Reilly that the local authorities calling the Associated Press had absolutely nothing to do with any legal proceedings in this case.
That truly was slime.
"Once authorities decided to call the AP the whole notion that this was legitimate when out the window."
They acually did this? If so, you're absolutely right about legitimacy being tossed out the window.
"I never carry those bottles with me."
You, me, and just about anybody who has to swallow a handful of pills every morning.
BOR reported that the Fed's called the local authorities. Someone there called the AP.
I never heard of such a thing. I have plenty of samples that my Dr. gives me before I go and fill a prescription. Is that illegal?
My doctor does the same thing. There are no names on sampler packs provided by drug salespeople.
It should be kept in the news. It should be rubbed in the Socialist National Committee's (Formerly known as "Democrat National Committee") face. The people need to be reminded of the real culture of corruption, the Socialist Party and all of their operatives.
I agree with OReilly on this one-if for no other reason to quite paying taxes to the state of FL (Sales tax and property tax). He could easily move to one of the Islands off of the GA coast-St. Simons or Jekyll. The climte is nice and the locals are probably more conservative.
I agree that the leprechaun is doing nothing more than hyping the non-story to his own benefit.
Rush handled it well with humor and I am sure that he does not need other so-called talk show hosts bringing the story up.
That would be great. I don't think is the fighting kind though...
We all support Rush and without a doubt, Rush is a brilliant individual and King of Radio. Having said that, we can only hope and pray that Rush is being very, very cautious as to whom he associates with and confides in.....Rush cannot and must not trust ANYONE...even within his own circle of friends.
Rush pays nice Taxes to that County. He should move out and go back to NY!
He had to pay the County $30,000.00 in investigation costs as part of his plea deal. Maybe a civil suit to recover that much plus his lawyers fees from the County would be in order. Then the world will be back in balance, spinning on its axis with no wobble.
Sometimes when I go to the doctor, he gives me samples, in an envelope, no less, and it doesn't even having any writing on it...I guess I'll never go to Florida without having actually paid for my meds!
Yes(!#). . .and e-mailed Fox News again; about this man appearing as Fox News analyst. .
. . .a kind of 'stop the madness' message re his ever 'self-serving' interpretations of all things Military; and the President's MO on the WOT.
Cannot stand it. . .and good news. . .I do not have to. But more and more often I forget to turn the channel back to Fox News; after he is gone. . (surely cannot be alone in my criticism; or in my dilemma of staying 'on point' with Fox News. . .)
Fox News loses the challenge of credibility everytime this General shows up.
Anyway. . .explained it in a 'nutshell and hope they are hearing from 'far and wide' and 'loud and clear' on this one. . .
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