Voices — Rush Limbaugh, 1989

Posted on March 8, 2009 by lmharnisch

Note: The Daily Mirror likes to revisit Times archival stories about today’s news makers. Here’s one we did on Rush Limbaugh in 1989–lrh

Rush Limbaugh Gives Liberals the Business, Gets Plenty Himself

Radio: The conservative talk-show host, whose program is nationally syndicated, is a major commercial enterprise.

November 25, 1989

By CLAUDIA PUIG, TIMES STAFF WRITER

One moment he claims to be "on the cutting edge of societal evolution," and the next he assures his radio listeners that he is "your epitome of morality and virtue. A man you could totally trust with your wife, your daughter and even your son in a Motel 6 overnight."

Never self-effacing, he repeatedly boasts that he is "recognized as one of the greatest talk-show hosts in America. . . . When I say something on a topic, there’s nothing left to say."

What nationally syndicated radio talk-show host Rush Limbaugh doesn’t say is that he is also a major commercial enterprise.

"He’s selling the product ‘Rush Limbaugh’ and doing it in a lot of different promotional ways," said Howard Neal, general manager of KFI-AM (640), which carries Limbaugh’s program weekday mornings. Limbaugh, whose program showcases his passionately conservative viewpoint on world events and features calls from equally passionate listeners, is currently heard on more than 172 stations nationwide. He has a listenership of about 900,000 during any given quarter-hour period, according to Arbitron ratings calculations.

Last week, about 550 people (300 of them from California) paid $1,500 each to accompany and be entertained by Limbaugh on a weeklong cruise through the Caribbean. The radio personality and his corporation got a percentage of each ticket sold. On the cruise, Limbaugh presided at two round-table discussions and one auditorium performance. (Among the other festivities on board: Limbaugh assembled a group to shout insults at Cuban leader Fidel Castro as the ship sailed close to that island nation.)

In addition to his radio program, which originates from New York, Limbaugh hits the stage regularly on his nationwide "Rush to Excellence" tour. He says he makes about $250,000 per year in his speaking engagements, which he holds almost every weekend.

A recent performance brought the 38-year-old Limbaugh to Irvine (home of one of the "biggest collections of rich Republicans in the country," he says), where more than 3,600 people paid as much as $25 apiece to hear Limbaugh expound on such topics as abortion ("the modern-day Holocaust"), gun control ("the liberals would have you believe that the gun actually triggers itself"), liberal politicians in general and, in particular that night, Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) and Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.).

As the 6-foot, 300-pound Limbaugh stepped on stage at UC Irvine’s Bren Center, the audience rose to its feet, some standing on chairs, whistling, hooting, cheering, chanting his name and generally going wild.

"You’re sexy," yelled one woman.

"Forever my hero," yelled another.

"A lot of people think it’s going to be a lecture," Limbaugh said in an interview after the show. "They think, ‘Here comes this right-wing reactionary extremist fanatic who’s going to denounce all things that are not conservative.’ But it turns out to look to the casual observer like a rock concert."

Many Limbaugh fans–or "dittoheads," as he calls them–are willing to dish out fistfuls of cash for Limbaugh T-shirts, satin jackets, "dittohead" mugs and "Rush to Excellence" videocassettes. Nearly all of the merchandise–$10,000 worth of it–was sold at the Irvine show. Limbaugh says he gets a percentage of the profits from those sales, but won’t say how much.

Limbaugh’s shows are a lot like his radio programs–full of vitriol against liberals.

"Let’s talk a little bit about Barney Frank. . . . He claimed he didn’t know a prostitution ring was being run out of his house. Do you dare challenge the honesty and integrity of Barney Frank? Damn right I do!

"Barney said he’s been careless in his associations. Do we have blatant hypocrisy going on here? When one of our guys does something like this–like Buzz Lukens (Rep. Donald E. (Buzz) Lukens (R-Ohio) who was convicted of contributing to the delinquency of a minor for having sex with a 15-year-old girl)–the Republicans say ‘Buzz, I don’t want you here.’ There’s a major difference in the value structure of the two parties. There are glaring differences between the two parties, and I just like to point it out. By pointing it out, you are accused of being controversial. I love to point it out and I also love to illustrate absurdity by being absurd."

A pregnant pause, then: "Anybody have a condom?"

A pretty blonde in a turquoise dress, who had written to Limbaugh saying she was dying to meet him, pranced up on stage and handed the portly talk-show host a prophylactic.

Then, Limbaugh launched into a routine familiar to his radio fans. He wrapped the condom around the microphone, announcing: "This, my friends, is safe talk." The audience cheered. "You are protected from any evil because of this.

"The idea of these things is not to prevent AIDS," he said of the condom. "The idea of these things is to sell ’em. . . .."

Besides gays and drug users, the homeless are another frequent target. Last spring, Limbaugh was in the national spotlight when he announced plans to take a busload of homeless people into Malibu to see if the city’s honorary mayor Martin Sheen ("Martin Sheenski") would make good on his declaration to make the city a haven for the homeless. The plan fell through after Limbaugh was widely accused of being insensitive and exploiting the homeless.

"I made a real blunder there," Limbaugh says now. "I don’t exploit the homeless. I wanted to discredit Sheen."

Still, he continues to make the homeless an object of his mockery.

"One of the things I want to do before I die is conduct the homeless Olympics," he told his audience. Events would include "the 10-meter Shopping Cart Relay, the Dumpster Dig and the Hop, Skip and Trip," he said as the audience erupted into laughter and applause.

Limbaugh also has come under some fire for conducting on-air "caller abortions." When he doesn’t like what someone has to say, he runs a vacuum sound into the microphone and announces that the caller has been "aborted."

"I made the point with it and it’s not my intent to offend people," he said. "I’m trying to attract an audience, not drive them away and a lot of people thought it was a very tasteless thing to do."

Much of his shtick these days involves defending conservative politicians and skewering such liberals as "Sleazer of the House" Jim Wright and "U.S. Cadaver" Alan Cranston.

"John Tower’s crime was that he liked women," Limbaugh told his Irvine audience.

Then he took a familiar dig at Ted Kennedy: "But when John Tower had a date, at least he got her home alive!" The audience cheered.

Off the platform, Limbaugh claims not to take his role as spokesman very seriously and cautioned a reporter not to.

"I’m a harmless conservative," Limbaugh said. "I’m not out to poison the world. . . . I’m a lovable little fuzz ball."

Indeed, he recalled an article in the Detroit Free Press that described him as being "like the embarrassing uncle that shows up at family reunions and you hope he’s not going to say too much."

"I like the way he articulates the conservative viewpoint," said Ted Hanson, a graphic designer and self-proclaimed "rich Republican" from Carlsbad who attended Limbaugh’s Irvine show. "The man is a very succinct spokesman. He doesn’t take himself so
seriously and the humor injection softens it a bit."

Added Hanson’s wife Trayce: "And there are very few conservatives on the radio."

"It’s very seldom I get to hear the position I support on the radio," said Barbara Cross, 46, who traveled from her home in Northridge for Limbaugh’s Irvine appearance. "He’s a conservative man willing to take to the public airwaves and espouse traditional values, he’s not afraid to say God is the creator, he’s not afraid to say abortion is not right."

Only a few detractors were on hand at Limbaugh’s show.

"He’s funny but we disagree with everything he says," said Marrya Small.

"He’s making a whole career out of gay-bashing," said Ed Uehling, 49. "He says some funny things, even funny things about gay people, but to me it was hypocritical. He sets himself out to be the epitome of decency. . . . He thinks he has to pick on gay people."

"People either love or hate him," said KFI’s Neal. "There’s no middle ground."

It wasn’t always that way. Limbaugh languished in radio anonymity for almost two decades before getting the kind of attention he is receiving now.

He started his radio career 22 years ago at 16, working at his father’s radio station in Cape Girardeau, Mo. After that, he became a Top 40 deejay.

"I was always a moderate failure," the twice-divorced Limbaugh said. "As a deejay, I didn’t amount to a hill of beans."

He got his first radio talk show in Sacramento in 1984 and everything changed. He had found his calling.

Limbaugh tells his radio audience: "The American people are more and more turning to what is called traditional family values and rejecting what is abnormal or perverted."

He attributes his success to a blend of conservative ideology and an ‘Everyman’ persona.

"I don’t want to sound hokey, but I really think that one of the reasons I’m enjoying this success is because I’m just a regular guy," he says after the show. "Pompous and arrogance is the shtick, but I don’t play big time with them at all."

In addition to his stage performances, which started on a regular basis last January, Limbaugh is branching out. He has set his sights on conquering the television world. He recently auditioned for a call-in talk show on Cable News Network and for a remake of "To Tell the Truth."

"To Tell the Truth" producer Mimi O’Brien said she asked Limbaugh to try out for the show "because he’s bright, articulate, intelligent and he has one of the highest-rated radio shows at the moment." He is one of about 20 people being considered as a panelist, she said.

CNN confirmed that Limbaugh had auditioned but Paul Amos, executive vice president of programming, refused to comment further.

Limbaugh said he would like to have a television talk show that would tackle serious topical issues but also inject humor, a sort of "Tonight Show" combined with "The MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour."

"I’d like to be a comedian and I don’t mind being a serious talk-show host," Limbaugh said. "I want to do both. And I think it can be done. I think there’s a market for it."

About lmharnisch

I am retired from the Los Angeles Times

View all posts by lmharnisch →

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76 Responses to Voices — Rush Limbaugh, 1989

Arye Michael Bender says:

March 8, 2009 at 2:45 pm

Limbaugh and Limburger, they smell about the same.

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Kevin says:

March 8, 2009 at 3:50 pm

Let’s face it. Rush became rich and famous by hating his fellow americans. He’s a traitor to the USA and should be tried for treason.

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Lance Newell says:

March 8, 2009 at 3:57 pm

Funny how his drug problems always get left off these interviews,thats why he has a hearing aid,to much Oxy..
Makes one ponder,what is he using these days.

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robotoverlord says:

March 8, 2009 at 3:57 pm

Rush Limbaugh is 58, not 38.

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Jessica Thorpe says:

March 8, 2009 at 4:00 pm

Same old smelly dog, no new tricks!!
Oft Said, proven here: “Those that forget history are doomed to repeat it.”

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genia says:

March 8, 2009 at 4:07 pm

38 yrs. old? 300 lbs. ? What are you smoking?

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bbking says:

March 8, 2009 at 4:09 pm

How is hating left leaning political ideas treason. I think he has been pretty consistant in all his years of radio. People who are uncomfortable being forced to explain their beliefs hate him. I like it.

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figment says:

March 8, 2009 at 4:09 pm

Never heard Rush express that he hated anyone. He speaks his mind and that causes people to be afraid.
It is such an arrogant world view to think that other people spend their time hating . Rush found a viewpoint which millions of people agree with and are willing to pay him to broadcast.
Kevin .. pack up your mac powerbook, go out and get a job that actually produces something, and stop spreading your class envy.

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Mary Bagwell says:

March 8, 2009 at 4:10 pm

This man is beyond despicable. Before he makes fun of homeless people perhaps he should consider how much his brand of conservatism helped to make the homeless in the first place. He has not compassion, no intellect and no guts.

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JR Tomln says:

March 8, 2009 at 4:15 pm

Making fun the seriously ill as he did with Michael J. Fox, oh, yes, he’s hilarious and not mean-spirited or vicious at all. That was articulate and intelligent, wasn’t it?
He’s also good at picking on little kids as I recall. I’m impressed.
However, it does show the real spine that the leaders of the Republican Party have when they go crawling to him on their bellies.

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basementfrog says:

March 8, 2009 at 4:15 pm

Social conservatives by their nature are a hinderance to progress.
Monkeys refused to stand upright, while our ancestors walk out of the jungle on all fours.
Rush Limberger, a smell old cheese, indeed, is still swinging by a limb and crying out to all who will listen to his vile program, “the sky will fall, don’t do it. Its not in God’s plan. If God wanted us to be less selfish and self centered he would have created us as compassionate being rather than tellling us to be compassionate beings.”
“Exploitive healthcare is best, the rich deserve more, businesses can be trusted to run the economy and do what is right for everyone because they are good people who care about their future, rant rant rant.”
Rush, you and your like had your chance. Reaganomics was as dumb and the man who promoted it, and anyone with a brain at the time could see it was the road to ruin. Now shut up.
You’ve destroyed the world economy, the US and most American people’s lives worldwide while your friends have run off with billions (if not trillions) to live in unimaginable luxury.
Here is one that will save your wreched life: give all the food you eat to the poor in your area.
Thanks, you big ape.

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Tim H says:

March 8, 2009 at 4:18 pm

To Kevin: Treason? Really? Can you please describe a specific example of hate? Or a specific example of treason? Just curious…those are strong accusations…would be helpful to have some facts to back up the claims.

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Joe Nelson says:

March 8, 2009 at 4:19 pm

Rush has the most listened to radio show in the world. Why? Because people don’t want to listen to the whining that liberal talk shows are always spouting.

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Kristin says:

March 8, 2009 at 4:20 pm

I like listening to Rush — he is entertaining. I don’t think he’ll be around too much longer — he’s massively overweight and due for a fatal heart attack. At the CPAC event, he looked awful.

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J Beaulieu says:

March 8, 2009 at 4:23 pm

So glad Rush speaks for those of us who don’t have a voice, including unborn babies. He’s using his first amendment rights. Get over it.

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Don says:

March 8, 2009 at 4:23 pm

He has been the voice of the Repubublican Party for a long time and the Dems have had significant victories in that time. So why are the Dems so worried?

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Michael Trenga says:

March 8, 2009 at 4:24 pm

Rush is a rich obnoxious villain, he is a “Fat Cat” and like the person before me posted, should be tried for high treason. He’s a disgrace to manhood and to the human race!!!

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bob says:

March 8, 2009 at 4:24 pm

while easy to critisize, Rush is an institution and speaks his mind. Isn’t that still legal…for now? Personally, I like what he says. And i’m not alone. He stands for individual rights and personal responsibility. Some may disagree with that. I sure don’t.

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PJ Street says:

March 8, 2009 at 4:26 pm

So if you can’t stand the truth about your favorite politicians, then you trash the messenger is that it? Typical NeoLib/NeoSocialist tactic. He’s no traitor and one commenter should look up what that means and he doesn’t smell unless you can’t stand the truth.

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Carpetbeetle says:

March 8, 2009 at 4:30 pm

A terrible, drug addicted person. What else can I say.

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Jerry says:

March 8, 2009 at 4:31 pm

if he is so bad, why has he succeeded when Air(head) America failed miserably? could it possibly be that more people agreed with him than Al Franken?

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Bill O'Reilly says:

March 8, 2009 at 4:35 pm

It’s odd that Rush denigrates the homeless, when the reason there are homeless at all is his hero, Ronald Reagan. Can you spell ‘hippo’cryte?

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Denny Pollard says:

March 8, 2009 at 4:35 pm

I was in Sacramento when Rush first started when we conservatives needed an outlet and got it. The news talk stations of today have Rush to thank for paving the way for FREE speech. Conservative news talk is straight up and the voice of the people hiding from the left wing liberals who want to destroy and take what is not theirs. Rush made his millions by creating an industry when non existed and the left hates him for it.

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Truth_B_told says:

March 8, 2009 at 4:35 pm

Somehow I can’t imagine ANY subscriber of LA Times wanting to go on ANY cruise with ANY member of the LA Times staff. This article sounds like a lot of sour grapes.

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Jerry says:

March 8, 2009 at 4:37 pm

apparently some of the “intelligent ” liberals who posted here can’t tell the difference between a column that is 20 years old and a current one. look at the date at the top, you morons! no wonder spending over a trillion dollars to solve the crisis de jour seems like such a good idea.

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Gubinsky says:

March 8, 2009 at 4:37 pm

Limbaugh is a hypocrite. He should be in jail with the rest of the people caught DEALING IN NARCOTICS.

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Bill O'Reilly says:

March 8, 2009 at 4:39 pm

“a specific example of treason”
That’s easy. Hoping and wishing for the President of the United States to fail. THAT is treason in my eyes. What in the hell would you call it? And BTW, that comment was not taken out of context. He said it and he meant it. Period!

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Joseph Wynne says:

March 8, 2009 at 4:40 pm

If Rush Limbaugh is a traitor for making $250,000 a year making speeches, what is Ex-President Bill Clinton who raked in $21 million? By the way, Clinton took the money from not-so-US-friendly Arab states. The hypocricy of the left knows no bounds!

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george rogers says:

March 8, 2009 at 4:41 pm

People that listen to him are always strange, very strange.

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ster says:

March 8, 2009 at 4:41 pm

The fact that he is on the air 15 hours per week, for 20+ years means that he’s going to say something stupid, once in a while… and his detractors pounce on that. Why? Because they are afraid.
he makes a great point… the Repubs found out that David Duke was a KKK member. What did they do? They kicked him to the curb. What did the Democrats do when they KNEW that Sen. Byrd was a GRAND WIZARD? He’s still in office.
Larry Craig taps his toes, they kick him to the curb. Barney Frank has a prostitution ring run out of his house and what happens? He’s a committee chairman.
Rush is just a talk show host. That’s it.
The ONLY reason that Obama, et al, are going after him is becuase they need an enemy to go after for distraction. Bush is no longer in office, so they needed to find someone. So, the PRESIDENT and his henchmen are now going after a PRIVATE CITIZEN who has a radio show.
The same ol’ same ol’. If you read Saul Alinski’s book, you will see Obama is following this to a “T” to bring about Socialism. You need an enemy to blame things on, Rush is it.
The VERY sad thing is that Rush is just a guy with a radio show. He can’t pass a law, he can’t spend taxpayer’s money, nothing… and they have to attack this guy.
It’s a classic bait-and-switch.
If you’ve fallen for it, you’re one of the SHEEP that politicians need to get their programs through.
Yep… you’re a sheep. Think about it.

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David says:

March 8, 2009 at 4:43 pm

This blowhard’s only objective is to sell ad space and hawk his ghost written penny dreadfuls. It’s all schtick, manufactured outrage, and shock and awe language to appeal to rubberneckers. This is just “news entertainment”. It has no more to do with the truth than pro wrestling has do do with athletic competition.

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Bill O'Reilly says:

March 8, 2009 at 4:45 pm

We know what the date is. The moronic part is how long the lockstep dittoheads have been listening to his blather. He is a roadblock to any kind of compromise to the betterment of the country as a whole.

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Harold Ramis says:

March 8, 2009 at 4:49 pm

Note the date of the article: 1989. That’s 20 years ago, when Rush was 38 and 300 pounds. Now he’s 58 and 500 pounds. If I thought it would kill him any sooner I’d FedEx him a plate of hamburgers myself. Alas, narcotics tend to thin the blood so he’s got some time…

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Bob C says:

March 8, 2009 at 4:49 pm

Rich Limbaugh is good for the right wing of the Republican party, he distorts the truth, preachs his own agenda not America’s, and exposes himself and narrow minded Republicans for what they really are; insensitive, exploitive, only concerned with lining their pockets. Think about the wonderful job Bush and company did with the Banks, Investment companies, Bank Regulators, Energy Policy, Healthcare, etc etc. God does love Rush Limbaugh and George Bush, to bad he gave them a free will because that 400 million contract Rush got makes him a puppet for rich Republicans.

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To Tell The Truthiness says:

March 8, 2009 at 4:52 pm

Limbaugh appeals to bigots, homophobes, the smugly affluent… in short, all the most odious elements in America today. He really is the leader of the Republican party as it has devolved under Karl Rove.

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joycelyn cole says:

March 8, 2009 at 4:52 pm

Rush Limpbrain is a great leader of the Republican party?
What a tragedy for the party.

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Thomas Whelan says:

March 8, 2009 at 4:56 pm

Who really cares what Rush has to say unless you are from the far, far right. He is a major distraction to the United States and a very poor reflection to the Republican party. Rush represents the constant hate that spews from the far right and in the crisis the past administration got us into this country begs for change. The only change Rush has is to his weight. Gooooo Rush and dam the GOP!!!

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Jerry says:

March 8, 2009 at 4:57 pm

The real problem with Rush is that his fans and opponents don’t listen when he tells them not to take him seriously. He’s an entertainer. He says whatever people will pay to listen to. The other problem is that when we take him seriously, we start to hate other people who take him seriously but feel differently about him than we do. So take him at his word; he’s a very rich comedian, and nothing more.

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Reading Comprehension says:

March 8, 2009 at 4:57 pm

For the people who are pointing out that Rush is 58, not 38, you might want to read the date of this article. 1989!
That’s…. wait for it… computing…. 20 years ago!

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soisay says:

March 8, 2009 at 5:01 pm

This “nostalga” article was written 20 years ago, and nothing has changed on the right. Rush still slurs Ted Kennedy and Barney Frank, then blinks his big eyes, calls himself a ‘fuzzball’ and innocently claims he’s just an ‘entertainer’. America, was founded on well thought political dialog (the federalist papers, Jefferson) , but Rush took us back to the ugly eras of empty scare and slur politics like “his fraudulency”, “the corrupt bargain”, “where’s my pa?”, mushroom cloud ads and the hovering wolves of terrorism. Someday Limbaugh (and the ditto heads the worship him) will scratch the ideological bottom, but it has 40 years and they still seek the lowest discourse.

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Chris says:

March 8, 2009 at 5:01 pm

treason was pretty much thrown away years ago, you now have to really be a traitor to be charged with treason and Rush has done nothing to give our enemies the upper hand. Through he is doing every thing he can to hold the republican party back. They need to change and find their own way not take influence in an entertainer/comedian/political talk show host. He is not a politician and I’m sure he wouldn’t be if he tried.

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Thomas Whelan says:

March 8, 2009 at 5:03 pm

Rush who??? This man does not have the maturity to speak for anybody. Every time he opens his mouth all that comes out is jealousy. If he is in any shape, fashion or form a representative of the GOP I am so glad I am a Independent. Rush in nothing but angry and full of hate if you don’t agree with him. What a looser!!!

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mavisdarling says:

March 8, 2009 at 5:03 pm

FOLKS! This article was writted TWENTY YEARS AGO! It’s dated 1989. Back then he WAS 38! Geez Louise, he weighed 300 lbs. at age 38. What an unhealthy glob of fat. Bleah. You would think his heart would give out on him…
We have a guy sort of like him in our little town. This guy looks just like Rush and has the same arrogant attitude. All the ladies around here call this individual “The Creepy Guy”.
That about says it all.

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Thomas Whelan says:

March 8, 2009 at 5:05 pm

Rush who??? This man does not have the maturity to speak for anybody. Every time he opens his mouth all that comes out is jealousy. If he is in any shape, fashion or form a representative of the GOP I am so glad I am a Independent. Rush in nothing but angry and full of hate if you don’t agree with him. What a looser!!!

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Naughty says:

March 8, 2009 at 5:06 pm

What angers me about Republicans & Conservatives? There are so many things to be upset about. Why do they focus on Obama’s stimulus plan instead of the corruption that caused this mess. If Republicans want to get their mojo back they should be first in line to hold everyone accountable. I’m sick of do nothing Washington. Ken Lay (No Justice), Osama (no Justice), and now Bernie and other criminals are robbing America blind. They will continue to do so because no one holds anyone accountable . Even those in Cabinent positions refuse to pay taxes. I guess “Honor among theives” is appropriate.

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Douglas says:

March 8, 2009 at 5:12 pm

Obviously, articulation by liberals consists of name-calling and insults while complaining that some is name-calling and insulting. As Jerry pointed out, most of the critics did not realize that an article titled “Voices — Rush Limbaugh, 1989” above the larger type meant it was 20 years old. Brilliant observational powers.

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NinaK says:

March 8, 2009 at 5:12 pm

I did not look at the date of this article; however, when it referred to Rush L being 38 years old, 6′ and 300 pounds, I figured it had to be an old piece. Rush is way beyond 38 years old today, and surely exceeds 300 pounds! He is one nasty man with a severe case of diarrhea of the mouth. How people can bear to listen to him and to look at him is beyond me! A grossly overweight guy, drug addict with a severe case of diarrhea of the mouth. The repubs sure do love him. Says a lot of the party, doesn’t it?? No wonder it tanked!!

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Forrest says:

March 8, 2009 at 5:12 pm

“So if you can’t stand the truth about your favorite politicians, then you trash the messenger is that it? ”
I see you’ve listened to his show. 😉

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CristianRO says:

March 8, 2009 at 5:15 pm

300lb at 38? Well, he seems to represent the majority of americans. Just look around you.

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Jet Noise says:

March 8, 2009 at 5:19 pm

Folks, check the date on the article, it’s 19 years old, that’s why is says Rush is 38. Reading, comprehension, all the words mean something!!

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blooit says:

March 8, 2009 at 5:21 pm

No Rush isn’t 38, he’s not 300 lbs, and his listenership isn’t 900,000
– ANYMORE
This article was written in 1989 you dim wits . . .
LOL

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Montani says:

March 8, 2009 at 5:22 pm

I admire Rush. As a man who started out as the son and grandson of coal miners and lived in a home with no indoor plumbing until I was 12 years of age, I admire a man that doesn’t have sympathy for lazy free loading people that want to live off of hard working Americans. I worked very hard to achieve a six figure income as an engineer. I didn’t sit around and think the government owed me health care, housing, and food. Only liberals, socialists, unions, and some minority communities think that way. You do not see conservatives asking for hand outs. Rush promotes individual freedom and responsibility. I believe the same. As far as our pro-socailist president that Rush disagrees with so strongly, he has never accomplished anything major in life other than using his color and affirmative action to become wealthy. To paraphrase the great conservative William F. Buckley, ” I would rather be governed by the first 50 people in the telephone book than the entire Harvard faculty.” Rush, I believe, would agree.

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graeme thomson says:

March 8, 2009 at 5:25 pm

He cares passionately about the unborn but if they avoid an abortion and make it out there then he doesn’t care what happens to them.
Totally illogical. For instance, America has a far worse infant mortality rate than Cuba.
This is due to the fact the poor in America have a sub-standard health care system.
So Rush will save American fetuses but turns a blind eye to avoidable deaths one they are born.
This guy suffers from politcal and moral myopia.

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Joe Marcucilli says:

March 8, 2009 at 5:27 pm

Mocking the homeless is typical of a sociopath whose hatred of mankind is only exceeded by his hatred of himself.What a misanthrope, and all the dittoheads who follow him over the cliff like the Republican party.

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ish says:

March 8, 2009 at 5:28 pm

I dont know why would someboby bring up his drug problem, obama did durgs to and he is the president.
And all the homeless problem or forclosers is not because of Replublican.

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Jimmy says:

March 8, 2009 at 5:37 pm

“‘I’d like to be a comedian and I don’t mind being a serious talk-show host,’ Limbaugh said. ‘I want to do both. And I think it can be done. I think there’s a market for it.'”
Aw, Rush, your dream never came true. Though you were right it could be done — sure worked out well for Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert. Probably that’s because either of them are funnier and more intelligent than you and all of your chins combined.

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Wind Energy says:

March 8, 2009 at 5:38 pm

I love that Rush exploits his fans, who like Rush are undereducated white males with a victim complex.
Rush’s practices what he preaches: self-indulgence, racism, homophobia and rage, all grounded in his deeply-rooted antisocial behavior. Rush has founded what I call Antisocialism.
God bless ’em, if the GOP thinks they’re going to sweep back in to power in 2010 on Rush’s base of angry white male losers, they’d better start raising money today.

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Steve says:

March 8, 2009 at 5:41 pm

The king of all media, Howard Stern, does some obnoxious things, too. It seems that in order to be a success in radio you have to go off the deep end of decency. I think that one difference is that Stern does not seem to speak so hatefully; he mocks and abuses people, but without speaking from a judgemental or authoritative perch. He does not rally people to active hate of others who are different.
As for the age and other details that are bothering people: check the date on the report–its 1989. I think the point is obvious given the sudden re-emergence of the nation’s most divisive porker.

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perry says:

March 8, 2009 at 5:51 pm

Thank you Rush.
For converting more and more voters to the democratic party.
Call your republican congressman and tell them you support Rush. The republican party is eating their own young.
We democrats love this stuff.
Thanks again Rush, we Dems love you.
Your the best thing that has ever happened to the democratic party.

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hopptm says:

March 8, 2009 at 5:53 pm

If we take the bible at face value, divorce and homosexuality are equal crimes in the sense that both lead to hell. Rush Limbaugh loves to probe into the morality of others, but the true irony is that in him, we have a morbidly obese, former drug addict who has been divorced three times.
It’s a shame that the new morality is simply highlighting the perceived immorality of your neighbor.

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Hmmm. says:

March 8, 2009 at 6:05 pm

Limbaugh is an entertainer. He says anything for ratings and to line his pockets. Since when do we take entertainers seriously.

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George says:

March 8, 2009 at 6:09 pm

Limbaugh puts the CON in CONservative.

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BillC says:

March 8, 2009 at 6:15 pm

Started at 16 22 years ago? Math’s a tad off, huh? Anonymity? You gotta be kidding…I’m not a fan of Rush, but he’s been very well known since he started his national show in 1988 or 9. And had lots of national play when the Republicans retook the House in 1994. Plus, why no mention of his previous nite time television show? Did I give this a sloppy read over or is it a sloppy article?

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greg says:

March 8, 2009 at 6:17 pm

this was a piece from 20 yrs ago, when he was 38 and 300 lbs. kind of interesting how consistently hateful and tactless limbaugh has been for a very long time ago, and how he has been able to make a career of it (amazingly, highly influential, at that!)…all with the same half dozen or so talking points.
no use slamming him for his hypocrisy when it comes to drugs…that’s a very human failing (one of his few human traits, really) and we should be the bigger person and sympathize with anyone who suffers from addiction. the truly sad part is that there’s so many people who blindly agree with his nonsense.

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bob martinson says:

March 8, 2009 at 6:43 pm

who cares? The mans a whinner, Andy Rooney with an attitude. I’ve never heard him offer a solution for anything.

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Rob S says:

March 8, 2009 at 7:25 pm

Rush Limbaugh is just as human as the rest of us. Disagree with his opinions if you must, but don’t impune his character. Every joke about Ted Kennedy, Barney Frank, Barack Obama, et al is based on known facts unless he himself says otherwise. His veracity is well documented. He does not make these things up.
Feel free to make jokes about his oxycontin problem as well, after all, it is true.
Now I do have a problem with a President who, either personally or by proxy, points out individual american citizens by name in an effort marginalize them. The President is supposed to represent all the people and should never target individuals with intent to harm them in any way. Rush Limbaugh is an entertainer and an opinion leader for his “dittoheads”. And for the uninformed author of this article, the term came from listeners who declared themselves to be like-minded by saying “Ditto” to previous caller’s accolades.

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william says:

March 8, 2009 at 7:29 pm

he has definately learned how to cause dissention among the people of america. and make money from it.

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Hank says:

March 8, 2009 at 7:48 pm

Something always strikes me about those republican conservatives: See if you detect a pattern.
George W. Bush: C student.
John McCain: Graduated 894th out of 899
Sarah Palin: 6 years and 4 colleges to graduate
GOP here Joe the Plumber: Can’t even get his plumbing license.
Rush Limbaudh: (ex?) drug addict. College dropout
Sean Hannity: College dropout
Glen Beck: ex alcoholic, ex druggie, College dropout.
Why are so many republicans and conservative so eager to listen to intellectual midgets like those people? Can’t they make up their own minds?
What is also so strange is that the likes of Limbaugh, hannity and Beck are making millions doing nothing truly productive, unless you consider spewing hatred as productive. They would like to make you believe that their views are wonderful. They simple are “Every man, woman and child for themselves”. They don’t realize how very lucky they are, given their lack of education, to be where they are financially. For a bunch of uneducated people sitting on their arses 3 hours a day (at least in Limbaugh’s case), spewing hatred, they are very lucky to be making millions of dollars. But then again, only in America! I just wish all the “Dittoheads” would start thinking for themselves and ask “Why is it that most of our leaders are such intellectual loosers?” Perhaps that explains the mean-spiritedness of those conservative views. There seems to be an anger associated with those people. Maybe they feel they don’t measure up intellectually. Again, look at their standard bearers.

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Augusta says:

March 8, 2009 at 8:29 pm

The Republicans should be ashamed of themselves. Limbaugh railed against drug users and then admitted he was hooked on oxycontin. Not only that he doctor shopped. Limbaugh alluded to a 13 year old girl being a dog.
Why do Republicans embrace this paragon? Because modern Republicans are not conservative. They are not the GOP of old. They are merchants of hate and they have brought the country to the state it’s in.

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Mightyquinninwky says:

March 9, 2009 at 1:37 am

This just shows how the Republicans are going further and further right and further out of touch with Americans as a whole. Its funny to here these sour grape conservatives try and defend this guy (i refuse to even use his name) and say that liberals can only name call, what does (he who shall not be named) do the entire time he talks. He bilittles people that have no ability to fight back and acts like a he is a Christian. The last time I read the bible it talked about being your brothers keeper and how it will be easier for a camel to get through and eye of a needle (and its not refering to an enterance in a town, but a real needle) than it will be for a rich man to get in heaven. This means giving to help those less fortunate, he would have called Jesus a socialist if he was alive today saying these things. The Right has become a joke and the Republican party is full of hypocrits. No wonder they have lost so badly in the last two elections and why so many Rep. senators (eight sitting senators) are not running for re-election. It seems the rats are jumping off the sinking ship!! It will be nice if the Reps get to the FDR numbers..19 Republicans in the senate in 1940. It is time America had a government that worked and helped to make this country a better place, instead of people that hate government and while in power do everything possible to make it fail, and fail it did under G.W. bush. Now that the Republican party has OxyCotin boy as their defacto leader, and Steele giving it a “suburban hip hop” make over, its become a great comedy to watch. A great sit com here, an overweight loud mouth drug user and a bolsterous out of touch African American (“the anti-obama” for the right) , you couldn’t write something like this, and no one would believe it if you did. Can’t wait to see the next act!!! Are you down with the GOP, no not me!! lol How far the mighty have fallen. Also one last thing..the oxycotin blowhard really on gets 1.4 to 2.4 million listeners a day..the way they do radio ratings is much different than the way tv ratings are done..the put all the rating of the week together and make a number instead of a daily track…so his audience is as big as its made out to be..just all the right wing extremsit and they are becoming an endangered species thankfully!!

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Dave, Santa Barbara says:

March 9, 2009 at 1:53 am

Dittoheads’ favorite term? “class envy,” which allows them to justify their hate–they explain it away by saying the poor are envious.
Problem is, we’re not all poor who think think Rush is a hatemonger and bigot.

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tedly says:

March 9, 2009 at 2:50 am

Were there really no homeless people before Ronald Reagan?
Has Rush really done something that specifically calls for a trial on treason charges?
Did he really make fun of Michael J Fox, or just say it was delusional to think stem cell research would cure his Parkinson’s tomorrow?
Can you people really not read closely enough to see this article is a reprint from 1989, which is why everything is 20 years off?

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D. Reed says:

March 9, 2009 at 3:01 am

Rush carries on and continues to entertain audiences because he can see absurdity and illustrate it by being absurd himself. It is apparent here that BasementFrog is just as absurd.
Reagan had it right — and it will work today the same as it did 27 years ago to repair the mess the economy is in — to lower taxes and encourage growth that will carry the economy forward. We won’t go forward by continually stating that the american people are poor and downcast and that we haven’t seen the bottom yet. The economy IS run by business. It cannot be run by the government and in no instance has an attempt to do so ever worked. Government is POLITICAL and by its very nature changes too quickly for any economy supported by it to survive. Economy needs constancy, and business with all its evils of constantly trying to make money drives the economy forward by achieving its very purpose.
Maybe there is a country that isn’t founded on our Constitution that limits the purpose and power of its Government where you could move and have your health care provided for you. Just go a little north. When those people really need health care, they come HERE.

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charlie says:

March 9, 2009 at 4:23 am

The fact of the matter is Rush can only hurt the GOP party in the coming years and I encourage all conservatives to spread his word.

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Lazlo Toth says:

March 9, 2009 at 8:22 am

Limbaugh is a comedian and an entertainer. He has been doing the same act for 20 years. The sad thing is there are millions of Americans out there that don’t get the joke.

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Fair Guy says:

July 17, 2010 at 9:29 pm

I was there. He was great.

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