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

'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:

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?

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."

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.

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?

Nope, he did once. He made some comment about a White House dog and then held up her picture.

Nope. He never did that (nor did he hold up any pictures. The pictures were flashed on a video monitor).

There's plenty of comment and verification on this incident, just do a Google search.

All google will do is show you how often a lie has been told. How a lie gets passed from liberal to clueless liberal. Here's something better than google. A partial transcript from lexis nexis:

Copyright 1992 Multimedia Entertainment, Inc.
RUSH LIMBAUGH
SHOW: RUSH LIMBAUGH (9:00 PM ET)
November 6, 1992, Friday 11:15 AM

LIMBAUGH: Thank you. This show's era of dominant influence is just beginning. We are now the sole voice of sanity, the sole voice of reason. We are the sole voice of opposition on all television. This is the only place you can tune to to get the truth of the opposition of the one-party dictatorial government that now will soon run America. Oh, I mean, we are only beginning to enjoy dominance and prosperity. Most of these things on the in-out list are not even funny, but a couple of them--one of them in particular is.

David Hinckley of--of the New York Daily News wrote this, and what he has--he's got--it's very strange. He says, In: A cute kid in the White House. Out: Cute dog in the White House.' Could--could we see the cute kid? Let's take a look at--see who is the cute kid in the White House.

(A picture is shown of Millie the dog)

LIMBAUGH: (Voiceover) No, no, no. That's not the kid.

(Picture shown of Chelsea Clinton)

LIMBAUGH: (Voiceover) That's--that's the kid. We're trying to...

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