Rush Limbaugh and the Dems' smear offensive

http://www.brookesnews.com ^ | Monday 6 October 2003 | Addison Ross

[sweetliberty]

Perhaps he has, but I am not so quick to judge. There are a lot of players out there with an agenda that would love nothing more than to take Rush down. We don't know most of the facts and the ones we do know just don't add up. Besides, even if there is any truth to Rush having a drug problem, now or previously, so what? Just because you fall into a given sin doesn't mean you have to believe it is okay. In fact, if one has battled a certain sin or weakness and come out on top of it, that person is likely to be its harshest critic because it was an enemy and one with which the individual came to be deeply acquainted. For example, the harshest critics of smoking are often ex-smokers. Some of the strongest advocates for sexual morality are those who have fallen at some time or other into sexual promiscuity and know the damage it can do.

It is a good idea to weigh the facts on their own merit, when we actually have facts to weigh. If it should turn out that he fell into that particular weakness, I think it is more important to remember the good he has done and and the fact that he has for many years spoken what many of us believe when our own voices are lost in the crowd. I am sure that if any of it is true, that Rush will suffer enough humiliation at the hands of his enemies without his friends turning on him too. Which of us is without sin or weakness, or even without an occasional dash of hypocrisy?

[nutmeg]

ping

[Edit35]

In the end, I think it's important that Rush come clean with his audience. Understanding the possible legal ramifications, I can see he may need some time before he can really spill his guts about it.

Hmmm. Lemme see.

By your standard, I guess we should insist that any public figure who is accused of something by anyone, no matter how decrepid, MUST come clean to our satisfaction.

Yeah, that's right. If someone can get the national enquire to write a story implying some nefarious wrongdoing, then we MUST as a society demand that person come clean.

C'mon. No one in authority whatsoever has said anything about Rush, other than the fact that his name came up in conjunction with this housekeeper and her convict husband.

When someone in authority comes out with some hard facts about Mr. Limbaugh, then we might consider asking him.

Until then, you are falling right into the slimebucket trap that is already ruining this country.

Death by innuendo. Paid innuendo, no less.

[FreeReign]

Death by innuendo. Paid innuendo, no less.

All that matters is the seriousness of the charges -- even to some here at FR.

[massadvj]

If Rush has a drug addiction, given his political orientation and relationship with his audience, I think he needs to come clean. Not because he is a public figure, but because he has a bond of trust with his audience and sponsors. It's the only course consistent with his conservative principles.

[dcwusmc]

My understanding is that Florida, like FedGov, treats possession of over a certain amount of any illicit substance as "intent to distribute" so that they can sock it to the user with the stiffest penalties possible, even if it WERE solely for personal use.

[dcwusmc]

So I can put you down in the "END the War on the Constitution (AKA the WOsD) column"????

[BJungNan]

I hope Rush comes out in top form on Monday and gets into all this Recall BS that is flying around.

Wish I had heard John and Ken tonight. Bet it was good. Anyone have any details on the show?

[Timesink]

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[Zevonismymuse]

More likely, they were covering their tracks, attributing inventory that went to others to the Limbaugh account.

You wrote exactly what my family and I suspect happened. We think there is some truth to the rumor that Rush began abusing narcotic pain relievers. God knows it is very easy to become addicted to opiates and Rush is a man with big appetites.

That said, we also think this woman and her husband are huge liars and are using Rush in the way you described. It doesn't matter to me if Rush is an addict. I liked Rush before this happened and I still like him. I want the best for him and I feel like he will face up to his problems like a man.

[nopardons]

Radio broadcasters are prone to loss of/impaired hearing, due to the headsets they wear. Rush wears his for 3 hours, five days a week, and he's done so for decades...most of his life. Why NO ONE has brought this wee fact to light, is quite beyond me; but, it IS a well known, supstanciated F-A-C-T !

[Wacka]

Everybody is assuming that Rush is addicted because he won't discuss the matter.

He doesn't want to say anything to mess up the case against the maid. Being that his faher and grandfather were lawyers,and he is somewhat knowledgeable in these areas.

I believe he is getting his legal staff together to put the Enquirer out of business.

I heard him say on Friday that the truth will be out there very soon and as an aside he said maybe by the end of this coming week.

[Yaelle]

John and Ken were good, as always. You didn't really miss much, in that sense, though, because it was just like their usual show. It was all about the recall, of course, and the two hours just flew by.

[claudiustg]

"In the end, I think it's important that Rush come clean with his audience. Understanding the possible legal ramifications, I can see he may need some time before he can really spill his guts about it. Nonetheless, having listened to him from the first day he came on the air in Sacramento, I WOULD continue to trust him with my daughter, my mother, etc. And I certainly would not hold this weakness against him."

Addiction to opiates is not exactly uncommon. Many of the addicted are very fine people, but addictions are spiritual in nature and have unintended effects. Rush is absolutely right to keep his mouth shut while in legal jepardy. Moreover i don't think we have any right to the personal details of Rush's life. TV or radio confession is not part of any sacrament that I'm aware of, despite the prevailing attitudes of many Americans.

[G.Mason]

"Perhaps you have not; El Rushbo has, however..."

Got a quote?

[G.Mason]

"My understanding is that Florida, like FedGov, treats possession of over a certain amount of any illicit substance as "intent to distribute" so that they can sock it to the user with the stiffest penalties possible, even if it WERE solely for personal use."

Key word?

(((( possession ))))

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

The LA Times went even further by producing more allegations of sexual assaults. To publish allegations without any attempt to confirm them is a gross breach of journalistic ethics.

The First Amendment protects printers from legal consequence for just about anything short of dropping a printing press on your head. So having a journalist toying with peoples' reputations is about like being in a jungle where a tiger may lurk--you don't assume the best but seriously consider the likelihood of encountering the worst.

Belief in "journalistic ethics" is a sign of education-induced brain damage. Why Broadcast Journalism is Unnecessary and Illegitimate is my ongoing FR thread which discusses that reality, and what might be done about it.

[sweetliberty]

If we had half the resources that have been wasted on the WOD, there would be no national debt. Of course, I'm sure someting else would have been found to spend the money on.

[GWB00]

I think he needs to come clean

He will!

[Walkin Man]

I would doubt he had the intent to distribute.

It makes no difference whether a person is selling dope or not, intent to distribute is based solely on the amount of drugs seized, not on actually selling anything.

If Rush was found to have more Hillbilly Heroin than legally allowed, he would be charged with intent to distribute.