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Rush the Race-Baiter
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Limbaugh's fans say unfair charges of racism blocked his bid to become an NFL owner. Could be—but why don't they care when he's the one doing the race-baiting?
Rush Limbaugh maintains that his efforts to buy an NFL football team failed due to the pernicious influence of race-baiters. They are said to include professional demagogue Al Sharpton, the NFL players union, and a left-leaning blogger who falsely attributed a racist comment to the talk radio host, leading to its broadcast on CNN. "I have something in common with Clarence Thomas," Mr. Limbaugh claimed Thursday on his radio program. “I, too, have had my high-tech lynching.”
Mr. Limbaugh’s situation is unworthy of comparison to the ordeal Justice Thomas endured, but he is owed some sympathy. Even a thick-skinned celebrity must recoil when a national television network erroneously attributes a racist remark to their person. What isn't accurate are the broader defenses being offered by Mr. Limbaugh's fans. "It's no coincidence that Democratic Party outlets like CNN had to dredge up fake quotes to make their case," attorney John Hinderaker wrote on the popular conservative blog Power Line. "Nothing Rush actually said would do the trick, even though he's been on the radio three hours a day, five days a week, for more than twenty years."
Based entirely on statements made by Mr. Limbaugh in 2009, one begins to wonder whether he's been a bigger racial demagogue than even Al Sharpton during that period.
National Review's Andy McCarthy went farther. "So Much for the Post-Racial America," he wrote. "That's how Rush treats people — in the Martin Luther King aspiration that the content of one's character is what matters, not the color of one's skin. Yet, in the media narrative, he's somehow the one who's got a race issue — and the guys who trade on race, live and breathe it 24/7, are held up as our public conscience."
The error here isn't criticizing "guys who trade on race."
I share a powerful distaste for characters like Al Sharpton, who deliberately play on the racial anxieties of Americans. As one of the most powerful slurs in American life, "racist" is an accusation that ought to be made rarely, after careful deliberation, with incontrovertible evidence, and never merely to score points at the expense of a political adversary. So I join Mr. Hinderaker and Mr. McCarthy in asserting that Mr. Limbaugh has never been proved a racist, and that race-baiting is an awful feature of American public discourse. It damages reputations and undermines our ability to target actual racism. Those who engage in it deserve our ire.
But even a cursory review of Limbaugh’s radio archives reveal the talk radio host to be a frequent race-baiter, one of the guys who obsessively trades on race.
In fact, based entirely on statements made by Mr. Limbaugh in 2009, one begins to wonder whether he's been a bigger racial demagogue than even Al Sharpton during that period.
At the very least, he's been bandying about the ‘r’ word rather frequently.
Harvard Professor Henry Louis Gates? "He's a racist," Mr. Limbaugh said. "He's an angry racist."
Sonja Sotomayor? "She's a bigot. She's a racist," Mr. Limbaugh said. "How can a president nominate such a candidate? And how can a party get behind such a candidate? That's what would be asked if somebody were foolish enough to nominate David Duke or pick somebody even less offensive."
President Obama? He's "the biggest reverse racist in history." On another occasion: "Just as he is ACORN, just as he is Van Jones, he is racism."On a third: "How do you get promoted in a Barack Obama administration? By hating white people." So implicitly Mr. Limbaugh is labeling multiple figures within the administration as racists too.
Democrats generally? "The racism that everybody thinks exists on our side of the aisle has been on full display throughout their primary campaign."
Liberals? "You know, racism in this country is the exclusive province of the left."
The media circa January? "We're witnessing racism all this week that led up to the inauguration. We're being told that we have to hope he succeeds. That we have to bend over, grab the ankles, bend over forward, backward, whichever, because his father's black, because this is the first black president."
Minorities generally? "The days of them not having any power are over, and they are angry. And they want to use their power as a means of retribution. That's what Obama's about, gang. He's angry, he's gonna cut this country down to size, he's gonna make it pay for all the multicultural mistakes that it has made, it's mistreatment of minorities. I know exactly what's going on."
Oh, and don't forget the NFL. As of this week, it is "an outpost of racism and liberalism." (Strange that a league that is supposedly racist against white owner candidates has so many white owners.)
Remember, the foregoing examples are exclusively taken from radio commentary spoken in 2009.
Is there anyone in America who's accused more people of racism this year than Rush Limbaugh?
Of course, every race baiter must also cast someone as the aggrieved victim. There's the GOP: "They're moving to the back of the bus," Mr. Limbaugh said. "They're saying, 'I can't use that drinking fountain? Okay. I can't use that restroom? Okay.' That's the modern day Republican Party. The equivalent of the Old South. The new oppressed minority."
White people are victims, too. "Obama’s America, white kids getting beat up on school buses now. You put your kids on a school bus, you expect safety but in Obama’s America the white kids now get beat up with the black kids cheering, 'Yay, right on, right on, right on, right on,' and, of course, everybody says the white kid deserved it, he was born a racist, he’s white."
As for matters that only Mr. Limbaugh chooses to make about race, I'll cite only the most egregious: "You let George Bush's Navy gun down three black teenagers out there on the open sea and I guarantee there would be hell to pay..." he said. "If only President Obama had known that the three Somali community organizers were actually young black Muslim teenagers I'm sure he wouldn't have given the order to shoot." Of course, George W. Bush's Navy did shoot at non-white pirates without being accused of racism, and President Obama surely knew the pirates of Somalia's coast were minorities, but never mind.
If you're sympathetic to Mr. Limbaugh, but don't often listen to his program, perhaps you're surprised by how often he invokes race, racism, and racial victim-hood. Suffice it to say that knowing his program, it is utterly contradictory to complain about race-baiting and to hold Mr. Limbaugh up as a thought leader.
It is also understandable that a professional sports league wouldn't want to associate itself with someone who so frequently plays the race card. That doesn't mean Mr. Limbaugh is a racist. I take him at his word that he isn't. He is merely a racial provocateur whose ire at being called a racist doesn't prevent him from affixing the label to others with stunning frequency.
Why doesn't that bother his listeners?
Conor Friedersdorf, a Daily Beast columnist, also writes for The American Scene and The Atlantic Online's ideas blog.
For inquiries, please contact The Daily Beast at editorial@thedailybeast.com.
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Paul Schrodt is a writer living in New York City. He has contributed to New York magazine, Radar, and Esquire.com.
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As vice chairman of Public Strategies and president of Maverick Media, Mark McKinnon has helped meet strategic challenges for candidates, corporations and causes, including George W. Bush, John McCain, Governor Ann Richards, Charlie Wilson, Lance Armstrong, and Bono. McKinnon is co-chair of Arts & Labs, a collaboration between technology and creative communities that have embraced today's rich Internet environment to deliver innovative and creative digital products to consumers.
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larry278
FWIW: Both Al Sharpton & Rush Limbaugh are experts at bating people. They may be called master baiters.
larryt
Fact is without people like Limbaugh to complain about Sharpton and Jackson would be out of a job. Imagine those two if they actually had to look for work.
Elric2171
Rush Limbaugh is the white equivalent of Louis Farrakhan. I have no use for either. Both are Race Baiters in their own right.
spydarmyke
True fact is that without People of Color in the media doing positive things racists such as Limbaugh would be out of work......
thankulord13
Without Jackson and Sharpton the White racist establishment would run amok. This piece is typical of a White male blaming others for the actions of one of their own. Mr Oxycontin makes hundreds of millions off of race baiting but some how this is the fault of Jackson and Sharpton. Let's go to the root which is 300 years of Jim Crow and Slavery and the effects that it has had on all minorities in this country. So if we are going to try to excuse Mr. Oxycontin by blaming Jackson, Sharpton and Farrakhan then lets excuse these there by blaming the White racist establishment. The American way is to excuse some but not others...
UpstateNY
Imagine of Limbaugh actually had to look for work.
TLRTLR
Very true, Al and his posse have been doing it for years, and he knows how to get money for doing it. I've read that Businesses , and Corporations actually pay Al and his buddies a salary to keep him happy.
AngryJ
LOL, that is too funny, mainly because it is true. I do not listen to Rush, and have little sympathy for him. Still, the term "racist" is tossed around way too much. A prejudiced person is not necessarily racist. Another point is that racism is a two way street. Reverse-racism is not an accurate term, you are either racist or not, no matter what your skin color.
kahlo2211
Anyone with half a mind knows that Rush Limbaugh is a racist and even more important, he is one of the most ignorant men in the media today. The term racist is tossed around a lot because we have a lot of racism rampant in the media and on right wing talk shows. I love when white America lives in denial. Is that why you still think you were here before the Native Americans. DENIAL. RUSH is a hateful, hate-spewing idiot who is so intent on destroying Obama. Of course he is a racist racist racist racist- I can't say it enough.
ConservativeMike
You make a comment and have little sympathy for someone you admittedly "do not listen to". Nice that you admit to being ignorant (lacking knowledge or education in general or in a specific subject). It amazes me that people think they are experts on and form opinions about Mr. Limbaugh and they do not listen to him. Most of the comments in this article attributed to Mr. Limbaugh were taken out of context (typical liberal way to make a point when they have no facts to back up there point). Additionally much of what Mr. Limbaugh does is "demonstrate absurdity by being absurd". But of course you do not know that because you do not listen to him. If you were to listen to him you would know that he can back up most of what he says with facts IN CONTEXT. The man has many loyal black American friends hardly what one would expect of a man that is a racist. But then racists like "AngryJ and "kahlo221" probably think those friends of Mr. Limbaugh who happen to be black Americans belong on the porch. The racists are those who cannot tolerate any opinion but there own and form opinions on what they know little about. Racists are those to afraid to even consider that someone that does not share there opinion might actually be correct.
sippewissett
A person IS a racist if the language s/he espouses uses racial epithets and derogatory terms to describe people of another race. Limbaugh does both. An earlier poster has gone to the trouble of finding umpteen examples from Limbaugh's frothings to support the contention that he is a racist, not just "prejudiced."
shag11
Limbaugh is a racist because he uses his media pulpit to negatively influence the behavior directed towards minority groups. He's not an entertainer, he's a twisted pundit. People have been murdered because of words of hatred and bias.
LibertarianKen
Well, that's because you're a Nazi.
LibertarianKen
To kahlo2211:
You can't say Limbaugh is racist enough but can you qualify the remark? Cite some examples of Limbaugh being racist? Name one.
johnrf
Clarence Thomas's "ordeal"? He sexually harassed his employee(s) and got away with lying about it and now sits on the supreme court doing untold damage to our country. Hardly an ordeal...
Limbaugh injected race into sports with his McNabb comments a few years ago. Everyone who injects race into sports is rejected by sports. Remember Jimmy the Greek? The anti-semitic owner of the Reds?
Limbaugh is too excited about race to be involved in the NFL which has made great strides in overcoming racism. His involvement would be a step backward.
escomments
There was no evidence of Clarence Thomas harassing Anita Hill. It was a "he said, she said" Anita Hill had every motive in the world to lie about it. She was put up to it by Kennedy and Boxer. Two unabashed liberals who hated Clarence Thomas for being a Black Conservative that may be eventually seated on the Supreme Court.
Unlike you, I am grateful that Thomas made it to the Court. He may be the only true Originalist up there.
sippewissett
escomments -- You're kidding, right? Kennedy and Boxer put Anita Hill up to it? Oh, goody. Just when I thought we were short of conspiracy theories, along you come.
msn04061960
I won't comment on the Clarence Thomas hearings... It's old news. As for Limbaugh's comment about McNabb he was correct in his premise of McNabb being over rated, and I too believe it was because of the color of his skin. Does that make me a racist? No, not in my eyes. As for Limbaugh being fired from the group trying to buy the sorry St. Louis Rams The union made a big deal of his name being on the groups list. Well when unions run a business we all know what happens.... Remeber GM.
momo33
The only "Race Baiters" and RACISTs are the Lib Heads that don't like anyone that does not fall in line with their thought process. Rush has Never done anything but get under the skin and bust LIBs on the crap they pull. Thus, all the MADE UP race crap! Anyone that has actually listened to Rush knows better. Libs w/ the help of the liberal "press" can make up all kinds of lies but can Never back it up w/ any proof.
Why are libs so easy to lead w/ lies and made up crap? Are they just stupid or LAZY? or both? or just oooooo so sensitive to anything that might hurt their little "feelings" even if it is the truth?
Matt572
"Why are libs so easy to lead w/ lies and made up crap?"
Did you mean 'eager' to lead? Why the hell can't you edit what you type before you click that submit button? I've already used the backspace key a few times myself...
To answer, look at the article again, Rush has said so many racist and race-baiting things the news people probably thought checking its accuracy was a waste of time. They've now learned the accuracy of spelling 'assume.'
Worede
momo33, just like hero Limbaugh, you used the word "Lib Lib and lib". You are one of those herds who take Limbaughs' word as a gospel. I listen to every now and then, the only common thread he and his liteners have is hate, and you all find an outlets to spew your hates. I know so many of these people, most are in walfare, unemployed, inbreeds. Like what we have seen in the socalled town hall meetings these summer, most of them social security, walfare, madicare dependeny yet the object goverment run services. you write "libs so easy to lead w/ lies and made up crap? Are they just stupid or LAZY? or both? or just oooooo so sensitive to anything that might hurt their little "feelings" even if it is the truth?" look yourself in ward, when was the last time you read or listen or watched any other media except talking heads or Fox tabloids.
sippewissett
Good to see someone who represents the 2% of the American people showing up to defend Limbaugh. As David Brooks acutely said recently in his column, the Republican Party is confused between listeners to talk radio (2% for Limbaugh) vs. voters at large.
thankulord13
No the only race baiters are the CONS, they lie at every turn from a war to children fighting in school. The sick thing is sad people like you try to excuse this behavior by blaming someone else.
Your missive is your projection of the Con's like Rush and Fake News. Talk anout sensitivity this is why Rush is mad now because he can't buy into a NFL team because of his racist views... HAHAHA!
KateInMT
You are just so darned cute when you're all riled up! Little red face, furious little fingers punching out words in caps....damn!
Anyone, right or left, who makes blanket statements is either careless or just can't see any view but their own narrow one.
BigD1000
I'm truely amazed by how many so called "Americans" listen to this man each day. He is full of hate for everyone who does not look like him. I would not buy anything from any company that buys advertising time during his show. He was on the Today Show saying it's all about the money to him and he is making a lot of money off ignorant racist people just like him.
MyMoralsArebetterThanU
Nfl commisioner is denying 1st amendment rights to Rush. I only listen on occassion, but he isn't a monster (not particularly bright either). Remember, diversity is a problem because of mistreatment by people against those who are different...diversity should exist, should have always existed so that today it wouldn't be an issue....however the wrong people were abused. Bullies should be humilated and destroyed for hurting the innocent. Can't wait until a truth serum is developed, capital crimes are met with automatic execution, and rapists/child molesters/drug dealers & wife beaters are humilated and destroyed for every single crime they commit world wide....great way to exert population control instead of the wrong ways of racism or china's murder policy.
chengdulaoshi
well, technically speaking, the 1st Amendment only guarantees that the right of freedom of expression will not be abridged by *Government* actors, so the NFL Commissioner has not denied the Learned Bloviator his 1st Amendment rights. The NFL being a private (or quasi-private) entity, it is well within its rights to decide who will or won't play in its blue-blooded sandbox. I do feel terrible about what has happened to Rush in this matter though. Being denied his right to ownership of a private stable of young, virile black boys has to hurt. I hope that Rush won't turn to oxycontin to ease the pain.
TavernWench
"Nfl commisioner is denying 1st amendment rights to Rush."
Good gawd. Please return to High School Government Class, and repeat the course, would you?
sippewissett
His co-investors are the ones pulling back on Limbaugh. They watched the furor over his inclusion in the investment group and know that the divisiveness he caused in NFL and his 'exit' from ESPN are directly related to his unsavory, racist language. They have commented that they didn't want to risk their shot at being owners. This was a business decision. I doubt they looked at the first amendment.
joe762
the nfl commisioner did not deny rush of his 1st amendment rights it was the buyers didnt want to purchase a team with rush because of the negative attention surrounding that loser
artsyfartsy
You and Sarah Palin have a real grasp of our Constitution. Also. You betcha!
Worede
From early 90s', Rush Limbaugh has been cashing on racist, sexiest and the lowest denominations of public views. Most of His followers, find outlets in his shows to express their racist, sexiest and bigoted views of these country. The country is changing so fast, they feel helpless their felow citzens are progressing and they don't want to see things in racist or sexiest point of views, instead they see things as right or wrong. This guy is very dangerous, unlike David Duke or any other folks who are overtly racist, Limbaugh can disguise his racist, sexiest and bigoted views. Though Limbaugh has no formal educations, he is very smart in tapping the worst in human being. I listen to him now and then he is creating atmospher for wana be lone assasiners. Under the pretext of freedom of speech, this guy shouldn't get away with hate filled demagogueries. He milked his bigot listeners on Clinton. Thats what hitler did, he didn't kill all these peoples. He just gave reasons to do it for his followers.
like-mind
~ "master baiters" ~
arh-arh-arh and snort!
flygirl72257
OMG....I don't want to see Rush with a NFL team......and he'll get over it......take 2 Oxy's and don't call the NFL again.........they don't need a Med Head to lead them, he's no one to look up too, in my opinion as a speck on this planet.
pirata
Rush Limbaugh, is just a prejudiced pig with no real self dignity and what is worst and he gets his kick because people like him listen to his show. I will like to see that ballheathed jackass walk in the middle of the nigth in Brooklyn with a sing saying a I do not like "bloods & crips"
djanimaequeen
Blood and Crips are west coast gangs, not to mention they are no longer at war with one another. If he were to go though Brooklyn with that sign no one would look sideways at him except maybe to laugh.
Cocoa1
I recall Obama calling the Clintons and other racists..and wow, he was elected President.
So when one comments upon Obama being racist, it's because he was using the race card at every turn he could...a racial opportunist as Michelle Malkin has put it.
Calling someone a racist to because you want to hurt them politically is disgusting. America has merely taken the lead of the President. He has done this and look where it go him. Oh..now..but when we not what Obama did..we should by boycotted and harassed for speaking the truth.
Sharpton and Obama use "racism" to hurt their political opponents...that is not what Rush is doing..Rush is simply pointing out how they are using race to hurt others..they two complain of wanting racial equality..but there actions show otherwise..they play a fake race card big time. So many are sick of it.
Rush has a great legal case against Sharpton...he needs to pursue it.
djanimaequeen
Actually it's Sharpton that has a better case. Rush claims that Sharpton caused the riots in New York involving the black kid who was run over by a hasidic Jew when in truth, Sharpton was not even involved until after the riots had already taken place AND he was called in by the parents of the deceased child. The bottom line is that Rush is uses lies and misdirecton to incite violence and now he's pouting because no businessman in their right mind wants to be associated with him. But that's the beauty of lawsuits, it'll all come out in the wash. It'll be interesting to see what excuses Rush will use when he has to pay out for libel.
dabsl500
Rush simple statement referring to Mc Nabb is the sole purposes of not wanting him into the leaque. Calling out a player because of his color only causes division and I don't believe that division is needed in ANY professional work place whether it is on Wall Street, Major Sports, or any place of employment. How many people with Rush's
views of how things in life are would want to play for a team owned by Louis Farrakahn. I would venture guess not too may at all.
charlietae
I have listened to Rush and he got lynched on his own words, I believe the real reason the NFL did not want Rush, is his past. He was an addict, high while doing his show and his intelligent listeners never caught on, in and out of Rehab. Oh I am sorry vacations. He tried his hand on TV but just comes off looking sad and not entertaining, he tried Sports casting and sucked at that. He has his niche of loyal followers who are blind to the fact that after 3 marriages he has no children, (Can we say in the closet). He is a master at getting people to buy his radio show and feeds his audience what they want to hear. He is the Wizard of Oz, you just have to ignore the man behind the curtain.
jonjon66
Rush is a clown, but the MSM fear him, why? The race-baiter thrives fear mongering, Why own a team full of "bloods & crips"?
Matt-in-pgh
saying "bloods & crips" is not a racist statement. YOU, jonjon, equated violent gangs with black. I think that makes you the racist. Don't you love how logic works?
HappyTimeHarry
Seeing how it was Rush that delivered the "bloods & crips" line, your logic makes no sense. Notice the quotation marks.
RAGGEDT
Somehow, I think "Bloods" and "Crips" was used to evoke a different gang imagery than, say, Gambinos and Luccheses.
davidrae
sorry, saying that the NFL is just a bunch of bloods & crips without weapons is completely a racial statement. He equated violence with black gangs. A prejudiced person, when referring to colour of a person's skin is racist. Being prejudiced is not an excuse. When he states that in obama's America, it is white kids that are getting beaten up while the black kids cheer says a number of things. Firstly the violence should be condemed, regardless of colour, but for him to believe that somehow a white kid getting beaten up some black kids is a greater crime than the reversal is just plain bigotry. Matt-in-pgh, don't you love how logic works?
dailywackos
Uh, a bunch of violent black people in LA did started "Cribs and Blood". Wouldn't make sense to relate that fact to White or Asian would it now? Logic.
Here's the fact: http://www.streetgangs.com/history/hist01.html
badpaladin
"Bloods and crips" is in quotations, Matt-in-pgh. He's referring to Limbaugh's quote that "the NFL is like the Bloods and Crips without guns". I think that makes YOU the UNINFORMED racist fear mongerer. Don't you love how YOUR logic works?
hawgear
I'll equate blacks directly to violence. There are more blacks incarcerated all across the country ,,, I guess that means more blacks are committing crimes (violent and non-violent crimes, sure I will give you that much)... I hate how logic works actually.
sippewissett
What do you think Limbaugh meant? Can't wait for your explanation.
Margot707
I don't follow sports that much, but I do remember the original comment, and thought "Wow, this guy is a racist pig." It's just the same as Cosell yelling "look at that monkey run" which was one of those unfortunate throw back expressions that slipped out in the excitement of the moment.
nortonclybourn
You can't have it both ways--brag about how many suckers listen to/watch Rush and Fox and at the same time exempt them from being "mainstream media."
NorCalGladiator
so....
are you saying rush isn't racist?
because I felt it was common knowledge that he was..
pizzahead
Do you lack the Facts? Please TRY and remember the facts. There are many a direct remarks by Somotomayer , REAL Racist, but she seems to have gotten the job.....Obama approved.....
nortonclybourn
Oh I see, "there are many a direct remarks by Sotomayer, REAL Racist..."
You might make more compelling arguments if you had passed Third Grade.
enad26
You sound like a typical liberal (maybe you're not but you sound like one). The facts don't matter it's all about how you feel.
The fact is if you really listened to Limbaugh it'd be clear he's not a racists. Unlike most of our country he's not intimidate by the outrageous hypersensitivity there is to any white man making any observation about racists. That doesn't make him a racists, just someone who's willing to ignore the intimidation inflicted by media Bullies like Sharpton and Jackson.
dandelion28
No facts? Did you not read the story? So if Limbaugh isn't racist, but rather not intimidated by hypersensitivity, maybe he just an asshole. Either way, he's no victim of bullies.
trullyliberal69
What is wrong with being liberal. At least LIBERALS strive for fairness across the nation. THEY DO NOT CARE if thou be poor or rich, christian or pagan, white or colored, straight or gay, male or female. LIBERALS believe that whatever is good for the unintelligent MR BUSH is equally good for the Highly inteligent sweet talking MR OBAMA.
I am proud to associate with the liberals of this world, We have remained the general conscience of this nation.
You may bash us as much as you like, but the more you do that the more you display your ignorance and lack of love.
Rush is what he is, he may deny it as often as he wants. We know him, his likes and his antics.
He is only lucky that Mr Obama is unlike Mr Bush or he would have been tried for TREASONABLE FELONY or better still as an ENEMY COMBATANT or be investigated for INSIDER TRADING.
RUSH YOU ARE LUCKY S.O.B,
YOUR PRESIDENT IS A MAN OF PEACE.
SilverBear
enad26 wrote:
You sound like a typical liberal (maybe you're not but you sound like one). The facts don't matter it's all about how you feel.
The fact is if you really listened to Limbaugh it'd be clear he's not a racists. Unlike most of our country he's not intimidate by the outrageous
_______________
Here's a random sampling of some past Limbaugh quotes... note that these are documented quotes:
"Take that bone out of your nose and call me back(to an African American female caller)."
No, telling an African American to "take the bone out of your nose" isn't racist at all...
"The NAACP should have riot rehearsal. They should get a liquor store and practice robberies."
Because black people are always rioting, always hanging out in liquor stores, always committing armed robberies... again, nothing bigoted in that...
Another example that I recall off the top of my head, though I couldn't find the exact quote, was when he opined that a recent, Hispanic winner of the New York Marathon won because "he was being chased by the INS"... because of course, all Hispanics in America are illegal aliens...
I could go on and on (the comparison of an NFL game to a gang fight between the Bloods and Crips, for example, referring to the current President of the United States as a "halfrican American", for another, chuckling as he played the ignorant, offensive song "Barack the Magic Negro" for a third)... clearly, Rush Limbaugh is a bigoted piece of subhuman garbage, and an embarrassment to decent white people everywhere...
But hey, what else can you expect from a drug abusing pervert who takes vacations to Central America to have Viagra-aided sex with underage prostitutes??
Uncommonsense
Wow, another illiterate Limbaugh fan.
And yes, he is a racist.
TavernWench
@trullyliberal69, thank you!! Well said.
blkjk78
Well NorCal...that's 'cause you're an idiot :)
Ozone69
Jesse Jackson was caught on tape wanting to "cut Obama's nuts off!" Is Jesse Jackson a racist? Joe Biden said "I mean, you got the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy," "I mean, that's a storybook, man." (Storybook as in unbelievable, fiction, far fetched). African-American presidential candidates like , Shirley Chisholm, Carol Moseley Braun may disagree with Mr. Biden. Is Joe Biden a racist?
iconoclastus
We need to distinguish between being a racist and race-baiting, otherwise we will continue watering down the already ruined word "racist".
Limbaugh's continual use of the word "ghetto" (as in his discussion of the source of the "fist bump", just to name one example of many), his use of the song "Barack the Magic Negro", his intentional mis-attribution of the character "the Magic(al) Negro" to southern slave culture, when an LA Times media column he referred to clearly detailed its source as 40s-50s white Hollywood movies (a column the details of which he feigned ignorance), his flagrantly incendiary remarks about Crips and Bloods re NFL, media wanting black quarterbacks to succeed (as though they have any effect on players' success, salaries or contracts), then his disingenous denial of any subtextual hidden meaning in such remarks -- I'm just an entertainer! I'm just demostrating absurdity by being absurd! -- Limbaugh is clearly a race-baiter, and is riding that train all the way to the bank.
He is one of the most masterfully disingenuous liars I've ever seen.
As to the post to which I've replied:
Anyone who defines "storybook" in those narrow terms is also doing a very focused spin on the truth, and IMO is race-baiting. Storybook can also mean an inspiring tale. But you didn't want to go there, did you, Ozone? Very apt handle, BTW.
co-intheknow
Which NFL team were Biden and Jackson trying to buy? Oh, that's right...not a one. Analogy FAIL!!!
Ozone69
"He is one of the most masterfully disingenuous liars I've ever seen."
He's right up there with William Jefferson Blythe.
Glad you like my name.
Murray48
Common Knowledge by someone who does not listen or know him. His producer is Black.
nortonclybourn
Oh well, if some of his best friends are Black, that means he isn't a racist.
trullyliberal69
Even a blackman must earn a livelihood. Many black men recognise racism and do not mind, HAVE YOU FORGOTTEN THE HOUSE SLAVES.
Rush is RACIST period, let us stop kidding ourselves.
To defend RUSH is To defend RACISM, but then should I be surprised most of his fans are half educated, lazy, and unintelligent americans. MEN AND WOMEN incapable of indepedent thought, people who do not have no foundation to base rational thinking. They should all go back to school.
thankulord13
You are kidding right? So he has some one who takes out his garbage for him... doesn't mean he isn't a racist.
OOOWWW
How does a drug addict pedophile have so many supporters.
Do you guys have much in common.
deepsouth
pedophile? where di that come from?
superkellster
I didn't know he was a pedophile?
Ozone69
He was addicted to Oxycontin, a painkiller. Pedophile? Please explain.
mjmiller501
The accusation that Limbaugh is a pediphile stems from a 2006 incident in which he detained for carrying viagra into the USA from the Dominican Republic. He was cleared of charges because it was shown that his rehab doctor prescribed the pills, but the question remains: What was he doing with a big bottle of viagra in a country that has a large sex tourism industry that employs mostly minors? There is no real proof that he had sex with minors, but those of us with a very low opinion of him would not be surprised if he did.
vwcat12
I don't think it was due to Sharpton or anything like that. I think the years of divisive remarks, insensitivity and pushing his listeners to rage and hate had alot to do with it.
Rush is instrumental in the age of hate and divisiveness we see right now.
His proclaiming he wants the president to fail and therefore the country to is very upsetting to people. And his controversial remarks over 20 years piled up.
This is not what team sports is about.
Controversies and his pushing things would have followed to the sport, the associations and caused problems.
His racist remarks would make trading and getting good players impossible.
After 20 years of promoting hate, partisanship, resentments towards women and minorities, and causing controversy and being insensitive, took its toll.
Sharpton I think had little if anything to do with the decision.
Noontime
vwcat12:
Excellent points all. But there's really only one reason Limbaugh was denied this bid--the other owners didnt want him in their club. The National Football League's 31 owners ( The Green Bay Packers are community owned) decided they didnt want Rush Limbaugh's brand interfering/tarnishing/conflicting with with their own.
Now, truth be told maybe half of the league's owners may indeed share Limbaugh's views-- on a number of things. They are afterall, extremely wealthy people who are detached from a great number of life's realities. But unlike Limbaugh, they keep their opinions to themselves.
With the exception of Jerry Jones, Daniel Snyder and Al Davis, they maintain mostly low profiles. Having obscene amounts of money and maintaing a low profile are the basic tenents of NFL ownership. Limbaugh qualifies on just one count. Period.
enad26
I've lisented to Rush on and half for 18 of my 28 years of life and not once has he ever encouraged me to hate any one.
If you actually lisented to him you'd know the reason he wants the President to fail is because he doesn't agrea with the Presidents goals. In a democracy we should want our public officals to fail when what they are trying to do is not in the best interest for our country.
As far as his effect on the NFL, the only reason any controversies would have followed him there is if others brought it. In reality he was only going to have a small share of the ownership of the team and very littel if any control over operational decsions.
trullyliberal69
BUSH FAILED FOR EIGHT YEARS, NOW YOU WANT OBAMA TO FAIL AS WELL. YOU MUST REALLY LOVE THIS COUNTRY.
OR IS IT THAT RUSH AND INDEED YOURSELF WANT OBAMA TO FAIL BECAUSE OF HIS RACE.
Perhaps you may have been blinded by race to understand OBAMAS goal.
If you are not made of same MOULD as MR RUSH, go back again and review his policies and stop hidding behind the slogans of those who are benefitting from STATUS QUO to express your racial frustrations.
yarcart
Are you sick enad26. If the President fails this country will fall. It was not this President that got us into this mess.
joe762
so whats the country best interest are u just repeating what u heard someone else said i keep hearing this can u explain President Obama is doin the opposite of what former President Bush was doin which it lead to the situation were in right know so can u please explain
Murray48
You have no clue what he is about. He does want the president to fail, because his policies are horrible. He never said he wants the country to fail. You obviously want something from the government and Obama wants more on the dole like you. What do you want?
yarcart
People who think like you Murray 48 has never had to suffer a day in their lives.
joe762
murray48 i hope u go broke 1 day and see what its like to be broke u have no clue your real name must be rush
artsyfartsy
I just love how you cons just assume we liberals are on the dole and want handouts. I am self-employed, my husband and friends are all professionals with advanced degrees. We make a good living, own our home and pay our taxes. What we want is our government protecting us from out of control corporations, providing a level playing ground, and staying out of our bedrooms and bodies. Exactly how are Obama's policies horrible?
oh2bod
Yes, he shouldn't have said that about the chosen one because anyone with half an intact brain cell knows that Bam will hasten his own demise. He's well on his way to showing how flagrantly unqualified he is to lead a nation so desperately in need of a real leader. Thank God the nation is finally waking up!
yarcart
I agree with you and others vwcat12. He lost the bid because he is a hater of blacks and this country. Al Sharpton said his piece, but had no real influence in this case. Rush did this to himself. People who love this racist, has to be racist themselves or else they are deaf, blind and stupid. I can't imagine listening to such trash on a daily basis and loving it. The fact that he constantly does race baiting concerning the President constantly, shows that persons listening to him have no respect for the President, this country, or themselves. No one sits and listens to constant trash about the President of the United States. It pulls us all down spiritually. What Rush does is what's called killing the soul along with a few others I can name. If we don't show respect for the President, for our country and for ourselves, then who will?
we already have the rest of the world making a laughing stock out of America. They think we're all crazy. No other persons in other countries could get away with this kind of destruction. It doesn't matter who the President is, this should not be allowed. If these people get away with this, it will just get worse in the coming years. There will be no respect for Presidents or this country.
rbrienza
Rush is not a racist. Al Sharpton and Rev. Jackson are racists that are also race opportunists, they will only get involved in a something that they can benefit. Did they come out and give Duke players an apology? Why don't they take on a real cause like black on black violence? (Oh, they cant squeeze money from somebody - ) I can go on about how Sharpton and Jackson are racist.
Rush whether you like or dis like his politics, he became wealthy because of hard work, and dedication to his career. Just like Daymond John (FUBU), The BET entertainment people, the CEO of Beatrice foods, Secretary Rice, General Powell. and others....
trullyliberal69
YET ANOTHER DISPLAY OF ILLOGICAL REASONING.
THERE IS INDEED NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SHARPTONS POLITICS AND LIMBAUGHS.
THEY ARE BOTH OPPORTUNIST, ONE FIGHTING FOR THE INTEREST OF BLACKS AND OPPRESSED AND MAKING MONEY DOING SO, THE OTHER FOR THE INTERESTS OF HORRIBLE RICH WHITES AND THEIR UNEDUCATED THRASH and making money in the process.
LET US THEREFORE STOP DEFENDING THE INDEFENSIBLE.
THERE IS NO MONEY IN IT FOR US.
IS RUSH PAYING YOU OR ARE YOU LIKE HIM? A RACIST!!!!!
yarcart
rbienza, I bet you can't explain in simple terms how Al Sharpton and Rev. Jackson are racists. There is no such thing as reverse discrimination. It the whites who have all the power. When one black person gets a job over a white person, they holler, reverse discrimnation, when It's harder then you know what for a black person to get the same consideration as other races. They are the last hired and the first fired. Some people think they should have it all.
thankulord13
You need to go back and try again because all you proved was that Rush is a racist and seems like so are you.
artsyfartsy
Hard work? Spewing hate to morons is very easy.
piktor
Rush as victim:
http://snipurl.com/sjryw
Rush as funny guy:
http://snipurl.com/sjs08
azsunpower
Really? Really? You find that video footage compelling? You find Rush to be a sympathetic character? You find his reasoning convincing? Really? If Rush is a victim of anyone, he's a victim of Rush Limbaugh. Everything that he has put out into the world, all the hatred and the victimizing, just comes back to him in these little episodes. And that's nothing compared to the hatred he has unleashed in this country. Rush is his own worst enemy. The only sympathy I have for him is that he's too much of a blow-hard, egotistical fool to see how he makes his own life miserable.
Llplo99
Rush is acting like a victim so piktor is right from that perspective. Rush is a big fat rich loser and likes to play victim.
superkellster
That's it....... exercise your hate, Rush deserves pain, he's not human, you are going to be an important person in the new America, we have a job for you.....implementing our final solution for people like Rush.
Reason
Rush embodies so many of the worst traits of the human species that to simply call him racist makes other racists look good.
spotted
Hmmmmm, let's see how Rush scores on the Seven Deadlies:
Envy
Gluttony
Greed
Lust
Pride
Sloth
Wrath
Wow!!!! Seven for seven!
superkellster
wow! with that score he's elgible to be a democrat.
This comment has been removed by The Daily Beast's editors.
deepsouth
you say "crackers" .. wow... how racist is that? do you also say "slant eyes" for Asia people? How about towel heads for Middle eastern people?
jojo12
Limbaugh is a victim of his own big mouth & his racist views. His words came back & bit him on his expansive ass.
SilverBear
Amen... Rush is reaping what he's sown, and it's fargin' hilarious to watch him whine about being "lynched", when what we have here is a classic case of a demagogue being hoist on his own petard (there will now be a brief interlude while Rush's Dittoheads race to look up what that phrase means, LOL)...
scribe1515
r u a "sizist"? what does his weight have to do with it- and if you checked, he isn't fat anymore.
Brianr54
I worked at a radio station that ran Rush's show. I worked as a board op for NINE years and had to run all three hours of his show every weekend (sometimes Saturday AND Sunday), so I know better than many how he sounds over time. He certainly IS a racist.
He is one of those racists that never comes out with a direct slur, so most of his supporters won't define him as one. But, he most certainly is. He is a contemptible coward who refuses to talk to any caller who honestly, calmly and logically will debate with him -- all of his callers are screened to be ass-kissers on the RARE occasion he takes a call. (I have heard people do a bait and switch on him too, where they call pretending to agree and then don't tow the line when they switch on him...he generally will just shout them down on some phony point and pull their phones down so you don't hear the responses from the callers.)
A good example of his racism is calling Obama a 'Halfrican' American. While he can hang his defense on Obama being the President, thus legally able to be verbally attacked as any public figure, and the slant that he's being 'humorous' about his mixed heritage. His coded speech use of the non-word "Halfrican" clearly insinuates that he's half a human being, not worthy of full respect as a person or an American. That is just about the definition of racist.
This kind of insinuation is what most of his 'humor' is based in. I have heard all kinds of coded slights over the years of running the show and know exactly how he operates. Its not really that clever any longer and fools no one who really listens for it.
Plus, if "conservative humor" is so damn funny, why are there so few successful conservative humorists/comedians/comedies (failures from Dennis Miller to that horrible failure of a movie by David Zucker called 'An American Carol')? Of course the defenders would say its the 'Liberal' Media that has kept them down, but, to use their own logic, wouldn't the marketplace have made them successful if there are just throngs of people starving for "Conservative" humor?
Insight
At a higher level, Rush Limbaugh is simply self-seeking. He is certainly neither humorist nor journalist. He does provide entertainment for conservatives, since he articulates their unexpressed thoughts. Those who see him as something greater than he is, need to understand they also are only fulfilling their own needs. If the Republican party adopts Limbaugh's point of view as policy, they will be making a serious error.
superkellster
The left is heavily invested in humor....it's all they have.
TavernWench
Thanks for that, Bryan... interesting and well-written.
No wonder none of the Dittoheads have responded to it. :-)
mbstrong
Years ago, when Rush was just getting well known, Howard Stern, of whom I am usually no fan, made the spot-on observation that the only difference between himself and Rush Limbaugh was that he (Stern) admitted he was just being outrageous on the air in order to make lots of money. I remember when many politically moderate people listened to RL for the entertainment value; most that I have known became increasingly disgusted with him over time and now consider him an opportunistic gasbag.
Over the years, RL has had to get more and more ridiculous to keep pace with his competitors on right-wing TV and radio in spewing hate about liberals, moderates or anyone who does not fit their description of "a real American." The more reaction he gets from people who speak out against him or correct his inaccuracies, the happier he is. Perhaps it is unwise to completely ignore him because he seems to appeal to unstable individuals, but I think it would help limit his influence if the vast majority of people who find him offensive would refrain from giving him the attention that he craves. Monitor his hate-speak, but don't stoop to his level.
connie47
"Look, let me put it to you this way: The NFL all too often looks like a game between the Bloods and the Crips without any weapons. There, I said it." (video available on YouTube)
I am delighted to see the odious Mr. Limbaugh will not achieve ownership in the NFL and I couldn't care less what his hate-filled supporters have to say. Live by the sword, die by the sword.
enad26
Anyone who automatically assumes a refernce to Bloods and Crips is a racist comment must have thier own racial prejudices as that would require the assumption that only Minorities are gang members and thugs.
Personally I'm not racisist like that and neither is Rush so people like us belive all races can act like thugs and be invovled in gangs.
The true context of this quote was a refernce to some thugh like behaviour on the part of a particular player that resulted in a penalty and lost the game for his team. Rush's point was in defense of the ref's, that there's to much mocho tough guy type behaviour on the field. The kind of getting in your face and stuting around you might see from gang members.
SilverBear
You think the Bloods and Crips have a lot of white members, do you, Enod??
Pray tell, what race was the player involved in the "thug-like behavior" that Rush was criticizing??
MaliciousDisorder
I've seen more hate from you in thirty days than I heard from limbaugh in fifteen years. I"ve seen more hate from Obama in the past 7 months than limbaugh in the past fifteen years.
zan1960
Put the crack pipe down.
MaliciousDisorder
see what I mean ?
cbeenthere
How you have the nerve to address hate is beyond me, malicious.
MaliciousDisorder
Read zan1960 and your own. Are you Osoma Bin Laden ?
SteveStephens
Okay Republican mensa, I'm going to challenge you. Can you give any examples?
MaliciousDisorder
Just read the Beast.
connie47
MD: You're being dishonest .... again. You've never seen hate speech from me.That's an idiotic thing to say.
That's as strong as my language gets. For you, it seems that qualifies as hate speech, while playing "Obama the Magic Negro" on the radio does not.
think4yourself
Connie47, you asked for your hate-speech.
I am delighted to see the odious Mr. Limbaugh will not achieve ownership in the NFL and I couldn't care less what his hate-filled supporters have to say. Live by the sword, die by the sword.
If you actually listened to Rush, you would not have said these words. your delight cannot be from logic or reason, ergo, you are biased against either Rush or the Right and your classification of his supporters IS hate speech.
bobbyfagioli
Uh, you need to consult the dictionary for a definition of "hate". and if you support Rush I don't suppose you have any idea what a "lie" is either, because with his lies, he spreads hate and fear constantly.
navyflier
Exactly what hate have you seen from Obama. Be specific. Easy to throw out BS you know nothing about. Limbaugh is a Oxycontin eating, draft dodging (had a pimple on his ass) wortless liar. His rhetoric is inflammitory at best and downright evil at worst. He is a traitor to his country and tries to wrap his fat ass in the flag to cover his tracks. Typical Republican, fill his head with facts and it will explode. The NFL doesn't want Limbaugh for a host of reasons the least of which these owners are in it as a business. That is they want to make money. Limbaugh would no doubt, in there opinion hurt there bottom line. Therefore it is Capitalism that has done him in. The very Capitalism he so often wets his pants over has held him accountable for his actions. Yes, what goes around comes around.
SilverBear
Perhaps a trip to the optometrist is in order, if your vision has been that bad for 15 years, hoss...
yarcart
You are a psycho.
TavernWench
LMAO! You're a spoof-trolll, right? Not possible to be intentionally quite that dense, is it?
cp4thre2
Just to be fair the NFL did agree with Rush and decided to bring in gang experts to look for gang signs during their games.
http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-nflsigns16-2008jul16,0,1332501.story
iconoclastus
Remember the Morton Downey Jr. Show? With that picture of him with his big huge mouth wide open?
Just a photoshop idea for anyone with some time on their hands...
SilverBear
connie47 wrote:
"Look, let me put it to you this way: The NFL all too often looks like a game between the Bloods and the Crips without any weapons. There, I said it."
____________________________________
One wonders why Rush was so eager to be an owner of an NFL team, if that's how he sees the game...
Perhaps he dreamed of assembling an all-white team in St. Louis...
yarcart
connie47, I'm sorry I have the same name as yours. Your reference as the bloods and the cripts is just plain racist. Do I detect some jelousy there? Although I do agrre with you on Rush, who is helping to turn this country back 50 years.
mcmchugh99
Rushton Hundson Limbaugh
MMMMMM....MMMMMMM....MMMMMMMMMMMM
Rushton Hundson Limbaugh
MMMMMM....MMMMMMMMMM...MMMMMMMMMMMMMM
Remember that, pig boy? What goes around, comes around.
kenwin
You my friend, should learn to spell Hudson, is Rush's Middle Name.
superkellster
Augh.....yes....you are taking pleasure in your revenge.
TVLEE00
The liberal democrats are guilty of being the party of race baters. When they are losing on an issue, they always try to play the race card. Why can't people see that, oh thats right the liberal news media won't tell you that!!
Argent
Which issue were we losing in calling Rush a racist? He is a race-baiting bastard and even if he owned the Rams, I am sure the "crips and bloods" of the NFL will have a problem playing for him. Alot of people hate Rush with a passion just as they hate Obama. The big bad "liberal" media isn't leading to believe this it is just a fact of life get over it.
TVLEE00
Ok, I see how this works, you edit or delete anything you don't approve.
krifos
How does it feel to be left out? To be thought of as "not good enough". This is what minorities have put up with throughout history. Rush, change your evil ways and I am sure you will see how forgiving "real Americans" can be. C'mon join us. You can do it.
pizzahead
Get an education you whiney excuse maker!!!
yarcart
You're right Krifos and not one single racist will enter the Pearly Gates. If you cant' love everyone here, you certainly can't love them up there. Heaven is not racist.
superkellster
Augh.....your taking a little revenge.
Jackle48
Using "Real Americans" or even pointing the finger at someone as being evil just because thye have an opinion is why every one of the insinuations are wrong when the start of this was about why Rush didn't get to buy into the NFL! It has always been my impression of the laws and beliefs of this country that everyone has a right to his or her own opinion, whether right or wrong, it is a right I do believe!
So, with that in mind, why have so many failed to see that they have allowed the comments or misinformed opinions of this man to bring out all of the hatred that I have seen in so many of the comments that have been stated here! Do we not know ourselves that it is all for nothing that we are throwing hatefull or racist comments at each other, and for what, because we do not like what this man has said about things that obviously he may not have enough knowledge about when making those opinions public?
We as a whole need to remember ourselves that as long as we allow ourselves to be dragged into all of these debates, or "Blogs" as they are called now, where most of our internal feelings or hatred are being targeted, then we will never be able to defeat the racisism or predjudism within our own society.
We have got to stop allowing any type of political or personal agenda to fuel these feelings if we are going to ever be able to put aside what has always been the downfall of our great nation...the inability of all Americans to feel and act as if we are just that, Americans! If you were born in this nation, it doesn't matter what color or where your race originally came from, you are an American, and if we are ever going to be able to act as one nation of people, we must start teaching and believing as such, that we are all Americans, no matter what color or what part of the country we live in, no matter where our ancestors came from, this is our country and we are all the same, as one people!
If we never do this, then I am afraid that this nation will not survive because there will be too much hate and division among us all to even care about each other enough to make it happen if we are ever attacked on our own soil again! Think about it, with so much hate and bickering among us these days, how can we even imagine being able to stand together and defend what we believe in if we do not believe in each other as Americans!
I know this was long, but so many of the answers on here just made me start to think about these things myself, hope you understand why it did.
Thank you.
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