Issue date: 5/1/08 Section: Opinion

Galen Kusic [Click to enlarge]

No, this column is not written completely in satire, or trying to be funny - instead, it runs off nothing but cold hard facts about Mr. Limbaugh, and what he has said over the years.

There is evidence and proof below of why Limbaugh is a bigoted, racist, homophobic, non-educated hypocrite. He has no formal education or training in broadcasting, journalism or communications.

For those of you who feel "the author has probably never listened to "Rush," read the REAL lede of that last opinion piece. As in that article, this is for the people who have been exposed to Limbaugh's show against their will, and know that it is nothing more than propaganda and an attempt to ill-inform American citizens.

Lastly, the love that was shown after the last article written on Rush was astounding. Thanks for the support and the opportunity to improve.

Here are a few quotes in recent months from Limbaugh's radio show, verbatim:

"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."

Limbaugh made this comment before the '07 Super Bowl. There is no other way to define it except as ignorant and extremely racist.

"I ask those of you who like Obama because he's a nice guy: Does it bother you at all that the Iranians want him to become president?"

Where are the people who like Obama because he's a nice guy? Never heard of that. Where is the proof Iran wants Obama to be president? It isn't there. Limbaugh rarely uses sources to back his claims.

In this quote, Limbaugh is talking to a caller: "What color is the skin of the people in Darfur? It's black. And who do the Democrats really need to keep voting for them?" (Caller: "The black population.") "Right. If they lose a significant percentage of this voting bloc, they're in trouble. So, you go into Darfur, you go into South Africa and get rid of the white government there. You put sanctions on them. You stand behind Nelson Mandela - who was bankrolled by Communists for a time, and had the support of certain Communist leaders. You go to Ethiopia and do the same thing."

Wow. There is a pattern developing here.

"Hugo Chavez in Venezuela, Daniel Ortega in Nicaragua, and Kim Jong II in North Korea - all of those guys are hoping that Obama is the next president because they see weakness in him."

This quote has no validity, unless Limbaugh speaks to those leaders, because there have been no reports or sources of this. Maybe it is Rush's great insight, or possibly that one year of college he attended at Southeast Missouri State University before dropping out.

Now, just a sample of the all-time Limbaugh bigoted and ignorant comments with no truth or credible backing:

"If you want to know what America used to be - and a lot of people wish it still were - then you listen to Strom Thurmond."

Strom Thurmond ran his 1948 presidential campaign on the platform of segregation and had a marathon filibuster against the Civil Rights Act of 1964 - enough said.

"When a gay person turns his back on you, it is anything but an insult - it is an invitation."

If that statement isn't homophobic, I don't know what is.

"There are more American Indians alive today than there were when Columbus arrived, or at any time in history. Does this sound like a record of genocide?

Yes it does. There are only 2 million Native Americans in the U.S. today. Before Columbus, it is estimated there were between 5-15 million.

"Have you ever noticed how all composite pictures of wanted criminals resemble Jesse Jackson?"

No, I actually didn't notice that. Rush definitely doesn't see color or make it an issue, as he claims.

"Women were doing quite well in this country before feminism came along."

FALSE. Women couldn't even vote.

"The NAACP should have riot rehearsal. They should get a liquor store and practice robberies."

The NAACP has fought against oppression, inequality and violence since it was founded 99 years ago. The great W.E.B. DuBois and Ida Wells-Barnett were two of the founders.

"I don't buy into the disease part of it. The first time you reach for a substance you are making a choice. Every time you go back, you are making a personal choice. I feel very strongly about that..."

HYPOCRITE. Rush obtained around 2,000 oxycontin pills in the span of six months and plead not guilty to "doctor shopping." That is making a personal choice.

In response to a caller saying black people need to be heard, Limbaugh said, "They are 12 percent of the population. Who the hell cares?"

A lot of folks care, actually - much more than 12 percent of the population.

There are endless quotes like this from Limbaugh. Unless education in this country gets better, folks will continue to follow loud-mouthed, ignorant, uneducated talking heads like Rush.

It is sad, but we as Americans have to do better and use our brains. For all that is good, please boycott Rush Limbaugh and his advertisers - it does nothing for this great country but perpetuate stereotypes and backward thinking. Thank you.

Galen Kusic can be reached at gkusic@statehornet.com

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