Difference between revisions of "Rush Limbaugh"
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== Radio == | == Radio == | ||
| − | Limbaugh | + | Limbaugh hosts a radio show famed for its blustery denunciations of [[liberalism]] and [[liberal]]s. He is often at odds with [[liberal]] activist [[Al Franken]]<ref>[http://fireside.designcommunity.com/topic-9993.html Forum thread] discussing a NYT Editorial</ref>. He habitually refers to [[feminists]] who support [[abortion]] as ''feminazis'' and to his own self as having "talent on loan from [[God]]". |
Limbaugh's style has been credited with "reviving AM radio in the United States, and is considered by many to have been a catalyst for the [[Republican Party]]'s 1994 Congressional victories"<ref>[http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F10813FA3B5D0C708EDDAB0894DE494D81&n=Top%2fReference%2fTimes%20Topics%2fPeople%2fL%2fLimbaugh%2c%20Rush Radio Talk Show Host Fears For True Conservatism's Fate], New York Times</ref>. | Limbaugh's style has been credited with "reviving AM radio in the United States, and is considered by many to have been a catalyst for the [[Republican Party]]'s 1994 Congressional victories"<ref>[http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F10813FA3B5D0C708EDDAB0894DE494D81&n=Top%2fReference%2fTimes%20Topics%2fPeople%2fL%2fLimbaugh%2c%20Rush Radio Talk Show Host Fears For True Conservatism's Fate], New York Times</ref>. | ||
| − | + | Limbaugh's conservative talk show is nationally syndicated and averages over 14 million listeners weekly, making Rush the '#1 Radio Talk Show Host'.<ref> | |
[http://www.talkers.com/main/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=17&Itemid=34 The Top Talk Radio Audiences] Tallkers magazine online</ref> In July 2008, Rush announced "he has renewed his contract with Premiere Radio Networks and Clear Channel Radio, continuing syndication of his show 'many years into the future.'" <ref>[http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=27326 Rush Renews Contract], ''[[Human Events]]'', July, 2, 2008</ref> | [http://www.talkers.com/main/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=17&Itemid=34 The Top Talk Radio Audiences] Tallkers magazine online</ref> In July 2008, Rush announced "he has renewed his contract with Premiere Radio Networks and Clear Channel Radio, continuing syndication of his show 'many years into the future.'" <ref>[http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=27326 Rush Renews Contract], ''[[Human Events]]'', July, 2, 2008</ref> | ||
=== The Harry Reid Letter === | === The Harry Reid Letter === | ||
| − | On October 2, 2007, [[United States Senate|Senator]] [[Harry Reid]], [[Democrat|D]]-[[Nevada|NV]], wrote a letter to Mark P. Mays, President and CEO of Clear Channel Communications, who | + | On October 2, 2007, [[United States Senate|Senator]] [[Harry Reid]], [[Democrat|D]]-[[Nevada|NV]], wrote a letter to Mark P. Mays, President and CEO of Clear Channel Communications, who is Rush Limbaugh's chief patron. In it Senator Reid essentially demanded that Mr. Mays order Mr. Limbaugh to apologize for remarks he made concerning "phony soldiers."<ref name=ReidText>Reid, Harry, ''et al.'' "[http://reid.senate.gov/newsroom/record.cfm?id=284699 Letter to Mark P. Mays of Clear Channel Communications]." [http://reid.senate.gov/ Electronic Office of US Senator Harry Reid], October 2, 2007. Retrieved October 19, 2007.</ref> A ''phony soldier'' is someone who is not a soldier at all but is pretending to be one, especially in a public forum. Such activity is unlawful, and the [[Jesse MacBeth|person]] whose activity prompted Mr. Limbaugh's remarks has since been convicted and punished.<ref name=PhonySoldier>Limbaugh, Rush. "[http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_092807/content/01125106.guest.html The Anatomy of a Smear: 'Phony Soldiers' Is a Phony Story]." ''[http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/today.guest.html Rush Limbaugh Official Site]'', accessed December 25, 2007.</ref> |
| − | Mr. Limbaugh obtained that letter, apparently from Mr. Mays' office, and publicly exhibited it to an audience in [[Philadelphia]], [[Pennsylvania]], on October 11. The next day he placed the letter for sale at public auction at eBay.com.<ref name=eBay>[http://cgi.ebay.com/Original-Harry-Reid-Rush-Limbaugh-Smear-Letter_W0QQitemZ260170172469QQihZ016QQcategoryZ4105QQcmdZViewItem Auction listing of original of Harry Reid letter]. [http://www.ebay.com/ eBay.com]. Retrieved October 19, 2007.</ref> Mrs. Betty Casey, trustee of the Eugene B. Casey Foundation and a notable philanthropist in her own right, won the auction and paid more than two million US [[dollar]]s for the item. Mr. Limbaugh donated the entire proceeds to the Marine Corps-Law Enforcement Foundation | + | Mr. Limbaugh obtained that letter, apparently from Mr. Mays' office, and publicly exhibited it to an audience in [[Philadelphia]], [[Pennsylvania]], on October 11. The next day he placed the letter for sale at public auction at eBay.com.<ref name=eBay>[http://cgi.ebay.com/Original-Harry-Reid-Rush-Limbaugh-Smear-Letter_W0QQitemZ260170172469QQihZ016QQcategoryZ4105QQcmdZViewItem Auction listing of original of Harry Reid letter]. [http://www.ebay.com/ eBay.com]. Retrieved October 19, 2007.</ref> Mrs. Betty Casey, trustee of the Eugene B. Casey Foundation and a notable philanthropist in her own right, won the auction and paid more than two million US [[dollar]]s for the item. Mr. Limbaugh donated the entire proceeds to the Marine Corps-Law Enforcement Foundation and included a matching contribution of his own. |
Images of the text of the letter, and the signatures of the Senators, appear below: | Images of the text of the letter, and the signatures of the Senators, appear below: | ||
Revision as of 18:02, August 12, 2008
Rush Limbaugh (born January 12, 1951) is a conservative American radio talk show host.
Radio
Limbaugh hosts a radio show famed for its blustery denunciations of liberalism and liberals. He is often at odds with liberal activist Al Franken[1]. He habitually refers to feminists who support abortion as feminazis and to his own self as having "talent on loan from God".
Limbaugh's style has been credited with "reviving AM radio in the United States, and is considered by many to have been a catalyst for the Republican Party's 1994 Congressional victories"[2]. Limbaugh's conservative talk show is nationally syndicated and averages over 14 million listeners weekly, making Rush the '#1 Radio Talk Show Host'.[3] In July 2008, Rush announced "he has renewed his contract with Premiere Radio Networks and Clear Channel Radio, continuing syndication of his show 'many years into the future.'" [4]
The Harry Reid Letter
On October 2, 2007, Senator Harry Reid, D-NV, wrote a letter to Mark P. Mays, President and CEO of Clear Channel Communications, who is Rush Limbaugh's chief patron. In it Senator Reid essentially demanded that Mr. Mays order Mr. Limbaugh to apologize for remarks he made concerning "phony soldiers."[5] A phony soldier is someone who is not a soldier at all but is pretending to be one, especially in a public forum. Such activity is unlawful, and the person whose activity prompted Mr. Limbaugh's remarks has since been convicted and punished.[6]
Mr. Limbaugh obtained that letter, apparently from Mr. Mays' office, and publicly exhibited it to an audience in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on October 11. The next day he placed the letter for sale at public auction at eBay.com.[7] Mrs. Betty Casey, trustee of the Eugene B. Casey Foundation and a notable philanthropist in her own right, won the auction and paid more than two million US dollars for the item. Mr. Limbaugh donated the entire proceeds to the Marine Corps-Law Enforcement Foundation and included a matching contribution of his own.
Images of the text of the letter, and the signatures of the Senators, appear below:
Body of the letter
Rest of the body and twelve signatures
Eighteen signatures
Eleven signatures
Politics
Limbaugh has endorsed Mitt Romney for the 2008 Presidential Election. [8]
Painkiller addiction
On October 6, 2003 Limbaugh told his audience he was addicted to OxyContin and other painkillers citing a failed back surgery as the cause of his pain and subsequent dependence. [9][10] Limbaugh underwent treatment for his addiction, and charges against him for alleged "doctor shopping" to procure prescription medications were dropped on the condition that he continue treatment for his addiction.[11]
Other Media Work
The Limbaugh Letter is a monthly publication that contains conservative articles and humor in Rush's style.
Limbaugh is involved in the conservative satire show "The 1/2 Hour News Hour" show on the Fox News Channel. [12]
Limbaugh briefly held a position as a commentator on ESPN's Sunday NFL Countdown pre-game show. He resigned from the show on October 2, 2006 after criticism of his statement that Philadelphia Eagles quaterback Donovan McNabb was overrated because the media wanted to see a black NFL quarterback succeed.[13]
References
- ↑ Forum thread discussing a NYT Editorial
- ↑ Radio Talk Show Host Fears For True Conservatism's Fate, New York Times
- ↑ The Top Talk Radio Audiences Tallkers magazine online
- ↑ Rush Renews Contract, Human Events, July, 2, 2008
- ↑ Reid, Harry, et al. "Letter to Mark P. Mays of Clear Channel Communications." Electronic Office of US Senator Harry Reid, October 2, 2007. Retrieved October 19, 2007.
- ↑ Limbaugh, Rush. "The Anatomy of a Smear: 'Phony Soldiers' Is a Phony Story." Rush Limbaugh Official Site, accessed December 25, 2007.
- ↑ Auction listing of original of Harry Reid letter. eBay.com. Retrieved October 19, 2007.
- ↑ Limbaugh Endorses Romney, Melanie Hunter, CNSNews, February 05, 2008
- ↑ The Rush Limbaugh Show, October 6, 2007.
- ↑ [http://www.cnn.com/2003/SHOWBIZ/10/10/rush.limbaugh/ "Limbaugh admits addiction to pain medication"
- ↑ http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/04/28/national/main1561324.shtml
- ↑ Fox News Channel's '1/2 Hour News Hour': Right Funny, in Spots washingtonpost.com
- ↑ http://espn.go.com/gen/news/2003/1001/1628537.html