Rush Limbaugh
Rush Limbaugh (born January 12, 1951) is a conservative American radio talk show host.
The Rush Limbaugh Show
Limbaugh hosts a radio show famed for its blustery denounciations of anything liberal. He is often at odds with Democrat activist Al Franken[1]. 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]. Rush's conservative talk show is nationally syndicated and averages over 13.5 million listeners weekly, making Rush the '#1 Radio Talk Show Host'.[3]
The Limbaugh Letter
The Limbaugh Letter is a monthly publication that contains conservative articles and humor in Rush's style.
1/2 Hour News Hour
Rush has appeared on the 1/2 Hour News Hour "comedy" show on the Fox News Channel. [4]
Controversy
Limbaugh underwent a scandal several years ago when his housekeeper was caught purchasing oxycontin and other painkillers on his behalf. Limbaugh soon revealed that he was addicted to these drugs after massive back surgery. Both critics and supporters were shocked and disappointed by the revelation, since Limbaugh had often been vocally critical of drug abusers throughout his career. He sought treatment soon afterward.
Another scandal occurred when, "On his TV show, early in the Clinton administration, Limbaugh put up a picture of Socks, the White House cat, and asked, "Did you know there's a White House dog?" Then he put up a picture of Chelsea Clinton, who was 13 years old at the time...". Limbaugh, however denied that he was talking about Chelsea, stating that he was not making a joke, and Chelsea's picture was accidentally put up on a screen[5].
Limbaugh has also been criticized for his comments regarding Michael J. Fox's participation in Claire McCaskill's 2006 senate campaign in Missouri. In his radio broadcast, Limbaugh criticized a campaign commercial Fox filmed in support of McCaskill's position on taxpayer funded embryonic stem cell research. Limbaugh accused Fox of being off his medication in order to generate sympathy. In the commercial, Fox is visibly swaying and moving in sudden, jerky movements which are the symptom of Parkinson's Disease, and the reason the acclaimed actor quit the hit show Spin City.[6]
Another scandal occurred when Limbaugh was returning from a vacation in the Dominican Republic and customs officials found him illegally carrying Viagra prescribed to another man in his luggage.[7]
References
- â Forum thread discussing a NYT Editorial
- â Radio Talk Show Host Fears For True Conservatism's Fate, New York Times
- â The Top Talk Radio Audiences Tallkers magazine online
- â Fox News Channel's '1/2 Hour News Hour': Right Funny, in Spots washingtonpost.com
- â MotherJones: "Lyin' Bully"
- â [1], USA Today
- â CBS on Limbaugh's Viagra[2]