2008 Woodie Awards
Rush Limbaugh's shame
Michael Corcoran
Issue date: 11/9/06 Section: Opinion
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Until last week, it seemed right-wing smear merchants could not set the bar any lower.
Michelle Malkin writes a book defending the internment of Japanese citizens during World War II; Republicans question the patriotism of former Sen. Max Cleland, a Vietnam veteran who lost multiple limbs in battle; and Ann Coulter defends Joe McCarthy and attacks 9-11 widows.
This must be rock bottom, right?
Wrong.
It appears the depths of Rush Limbaugh's ignorance, hatred and vitriol go much deeper than one would expect.
Last week, he accused actor and Parkinson's disease sufferer Michael J. Fox of faking the side effects of the star's ailment in a campaign ad for Missouri Democratic Senate Candidate Claire McCaskill.
"He's moving all around and shaking, and it's purely an act," said the conservative host while literally shaking his body and flailing his limbs to mimic the side effects of Fox's illness. Contrary to several reports, Limbaugh has not apologized for his statement. "I take back none of what I said," he said.
Upon learning that Fox's condition was sincere, many on the right accused him of being exploited by Democrats, despite the fact that Fox campaigned for Republican Senator Arlen Specter in 2000.
It would be nice if we could just ignore the bigotry and idiocy of Rush Limbaugh and the like-minded simpletons who spread his hate-filled venom. If only we could turn our heads, rest assured in the knowledge that others will do the same.
In this talk-radio world, however, it is not enough to merely suffer morons. We also must make pains to counter their gross distortions of reality-because, sadly, people actually listen to their blather.
Rush Limbaugh's nonsensical musings reach an audience of 13.5 million people every week, according to Arbitron, an audience research organization. Many of these listeners hang on his every word as if it were gospel. Worse, President Bush appeared on the program the same week that Limbaugh made his statement, seemingly unperturbed by the fact that Limbaugh baselessly attacked a disabled person.
Michelle Malkin writes a book defending the internment of Japanese citizens during World War II; Republicans question the patriotism of former Sen. Max Cleland, a Vietnam veteran who lost multiple limbs in battle; and Ann Coulter defends Joe McCarthy and attacks 9-11 widows.
This must be rock bottom, right?
Wrong.
It appears the depths of Rush Limbaugh's ignorance, hatred and vitriol go much deeper than one would expect.
Last week, he accused actor and Parkinson's disease sufferer Michael J. Fox of faking the side effects of the star's ailment in a campaign ad for Missouri Democratic Senate Candidate Claire McCaskill.
"He's moving all around and shaking, and it's purely an act," said the conservative host while literally shaking his body and flailing his limbs to mimic the side effects of Fox's illness. Contrary to several reports, Limbaugh has not apologized for his statement. "I take back none of what I said," he said.
Upon learning that Fox's condition was sincere, many on the right accused him of being exploited by Democrats, despite the fact that Fox campaigned for Republican Senator Arlen Specter in 2000.
It would be nice if we could just ignore the bigotry and idiocy of Rush Limbaugh and the like-minded simpletons who spread his hate-filled venom. If only we could turn our heads, rest assured in the knowledge that others will do the same.
In this talk-radio world, however, it is not enough to merely suffer morons. We also must make pains to counter their gross distortions of reality-because, sadly, people actually listen to their blather.
Rush Limbaugh's nonsensical musings reach an audience of 13.5 million people every week, according to Arbitron, an audience research organization. Many of these listeners hang on his every word as if it were gospel. Worse, President Bush appeared on the program the same week that Limbaugh made his statement, seemingly unperturbed by the fact that Limbaugh baselessly attacked a disabled person.
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