Limbaugh Urges Traficant: Blow the Lid Off Dem Scandals

NewsMax.com ^ | 7/19/02 | Carl Limbacher and NewsMax.com Staff

[kattracks]

America's number one talk radio host Rush Limbaugh urged Rep. James Traficant, D-Ohio, on Friday to deliver a "farewell expose" on his fellow Democrats before they vote to expel him from the House on corruption charges next week.

"Congressman, I know you're out there," Limbaugh told his audience. "I would love to hear you deliver a farewell expose, if you will, on the floor of the House, blowing the whistle on all the Democrats who stood behind Clinton and Condit but aren't standing behind you."

The conservative talker said Traficant's bribery conviction paled next to the crimes of the Clinton administration.

"We have a president who was convicted of perjury, lying before a federal judge," he complained. "We had a guy who was perhaps giving nuclear secrets to the Chinese, breaking all kinds of campaign finance laws."

Back then, Limbaugh reminded, senators said they acquitted Clinton because removing him from office would have been "overturning the will of the people." Democrat leaders Tom Daschle and Dick Gephardt made much the same argument for their decision not to force Rep. Gary Condit, D-Calif., to resign last year over the Chandra Levy cover-up.

Under House rules, Traficant will have 30 minutes to address his colleagues before any expulsion vote.

"He's promised one hell of a show on the floor of the House," said Limbaugh. "And what he's done so far probably is nothing compared to what he's going to do."

Two years ago, Traficant accused former Attorney General Janet Reno of treason, telling Fox News Channel that the Clintons chose her for the job because she has a sordid past that made her easy to blackmail.

Read more on this subject in related Hot Topics:

Clinton Scandals
DNC

[DJ88]

Heck...even if the CSPAN didn't cover it (although they have to) the PRESS would.

I don't know whether to laugh or cry about this request from Limbaugh...everyone in the freaking country must think Traficant is a lunatic.

[Brad C.]

My apologies for my ignorance, you see sir, I live in Alaska and do not have cable (by choice) so I don't watch C-Span.

I should have known that everything becomes a part of the record, yet I thought this was a rather unusual event having only occured twice in our history.

Again, being a special, rare event, I thought that there might be special rules and regulations invovled in the removal of an elected official from his seat. Basically saying to that group of citizens that they no longer have representation in the house.

As for daschle, I know full well that he runs the Senate and not the House. I also know that the GOP runs the house. My thoughts are in regards to the democratic party, of which daschle is a proud member and one of its recognized leaders. A man who has ralled his troops time and again, blocking legislation, impeachments and Lord knows what else. I think we can both agree that daschle power extends beyond the door of Senate.

All that said, I agree with you that I need to educate myself more on all of these matters and more. One of the reasons I spend so much time on this board is the ideas and thoughts presented here. Might I also suggest some reading for you. I know there are several books on civility and manners available, which might provide some guidelines for you.

[Theodore R.]

Traficant probably ruined himself because he accused his fellow lawmakers of corrupt practices. His vote for Hastert for Speaker also make him anathema to the Democrat leadership. And if there is one thing the Congress won't tolerate, it is having a member hurl invective at the whole legislative branch.

[ventana]

Rush is wobbly here. If Trafficant were to name names legit, it would amount to a protectionist pass for those he implicated as he is such a cartoon nothing he says will be viewed prudently. Better to have him attack Bush and every Republican with every awful slander he can muster, thereby innoculating the pubbies with the legitimacy that would accrue by virtue of the notorious buffoonery of the accuser. V's wife.

[Catspaw]

I just hope that Traficant shows up sober. He sounded drunk before the committee the other day.

Was that the 3rd day, the last session? I thought he sounded drunk on that day. I didn't post anything because I figured I'd get flamed. But he'd drink out of his water glass like he was the guy at the other end of the bar, the one's that the permanent fixture, guzzling his brandy manhattan.

[desertcry]

I don't think Traficant is ready to go 6 feet under yet. If he does what Rush says, he woun't even get a chance to go to jail. There's just too many lonely Parks in the DC area.

[A. Pole]

I don't know whether to laugh or cry about this request from Limbaugh...everyone in the freaking country must think Traficant is a lunatic.

He is in a sense a lunatic since he likes to speak loudly what he thinks is true. Not like the hundreds of others in Congress and Senate.

[gitmo]

Unfortunately, Traficant has mostly destroyed his own credibility..

And I think he's got some dirty laundry of his own to worry about.

(could be tied to the mob and involved in murder.)

But wasn't that Rush's point? Clinton had the same issues, and they backed him 300%

[IronJack]

If anyone saw Traficant before the House Ethics Committee, it is obvious that man is deranged. Apparently he thinks that because he's watched a couple of episodes of "L.A. Law," he's now an attorney. And because he swiped a cheap thesaurus, he's eloquent. What he really is is a fat, loutish thug who impresses only himself, and who is crookeder than a drunk snake's trail.

If the Republicans need a buffoon like him on their side, they are pitiful indeed.

[Fintan]

I hope he wears that cool squirrel wig.

Yeah, but he's one badass MF...Woof!!!!

[Catspaw]

And foul-mouthed. You forgot that. He's crude and boorish.

What was amusing in a 1 minute speech became quite tiresome in his hourlong screeds before the ethics committee. I was embarassed for him because surely he wasn't embarassed for himself.

[Jhoffa_]

Perhaps it was Rush's point..

But my point is that he may have very compelling reasons to just keep his mouth shut (aside from a token protest) do his soft time and retire...

If you read the article I posted and linked you will see why this may be the case.

[PhiKapMom]

Sincerely hope that Traficant is the DemocRATS worst nightmare!

[Jhoffa_]

He's also likely linked to the mob..

Which (and I know the soprano's fans here on FR will crap a golden brick) should scare everyone silly.

They know all about corruption, they practically invented it.

[DJ88]

"He is in a sense a lunatic since he likes to speak loudly what he thinks is true."

Yes, that's true...however, speaking loudly in front of a court of law did not gain him an acquittal, did it?

"Not like the hundreds of others in Congress and Senate."

This is true; however, we can't lump all of them in there....there are more than a few who have tried to speak out only to be silenced by the liberal media.

If he had been acting normally on the floor and he was going to be expelled, I could see it...however, he was not, and unfortunately, the only thing that most Americans see are the sound bites that the liberal media like to play over and over and over, until they have proven their point.

He may have a lot of information he could expose, but I am sorry to say that I do not think anyone would believe him given his record and this would be just another chance for the RATS to tell us just how partisan and bitter a REPUBLICAN is...no matter what the actual facts are in any given case.

[Non-Sequitur]

Come on, Rush. If Traficant had any dirt on anyone do you really think they would be booting him out? Wasn't too long ago you were suggesting that he bolt to the Republican side of the aisle. I guess we've dropped that idea.

[My Favorite Headache]

LMAO..nothin like them 2am votes. Go Jim!

[It'salmosttolate]

They came for the consevatives and I did nothing.
They came for the Christians and I did nothing.
They came for the patriots and I did nothing.
They came for the VRWC and I did nothing.
They came for the heterosexuals and I did nothing.
They came for ChaseR and I did nothing.
They came for freedomnews and I did nothing.
They came for t-shirt and I did nothing.
They came for Black Jade and I did nothing.
They came for ratcat and I did nothing.
They came for IllumiNOTI and I did nothing.
They came for the WTC and I did nothing.
They came for Dan Burton and I did nothing.
They came for Traffacant because He told it like it is.

[clintonh8r]

"...blowing the whistle on all the Democrats who stood behind Clinton..."

Uh, Rush, Traficant voted against impeachment. That would hardly put him in a position to blow that particular whistle.

[IronJack]

I thought it was interesting to note the contrast between the "prosecution" attorney (I forget his name) and Traficant. The prosecutor was smooth, unemotional, and effective. Traficant was a gibbering idiot, who could not put together a coherent sentence, much less a convincing defense. It's almost as though he thought the whole thing was a big game, and he was the star. His mugging for the cameras was downright juvenile, and his rhetoric was random outgassing.

He's doomed.