DRMIZER
10-17-2003, 11:13 AM
by Joe Conason
As a man with firm and delusional opinions about almost everything, America’s most successful radio personality told his listeners years ago what society should do about unfortunate people like Rush Limbaugh: send them to prison. Back in 1995, arguing against liberal leniency toward dope fiends, Limbaugh endorsed the boilerplate ideology and draconian methods of the drug war with baritone bombast. "Drug use destroys societies. Drug use, some might say, is destroying this country," he intoned. "And so if people are violating the law by doing drugs, they ought to be accused and they ought to be convicted and they ought to be sent up.
"According to him, the proper solution is not to treat addiction among all ethnic groups as a disease rather than a crime, but to arrest more white offenders—and, of course, to "convict them and send them up the river, too.
"Eight years later, Mr. Limbaugh’s "talent on loan from God" has suddenly collided with instant karma. If the story that his former housekeeper told (or sold) to the National Enquirer is true, then by his own standards El Rushbo himself should be headed "up the river" for a spell.
His admitted abuse of Oxycontin, a federally controlled opiate used by millions of patients for the relief of disabling pain, was plainly illegal, as were his alleged purchases of thousands of the little "blue babies."Luckily for him, however, criminal prosecution is unlikely, despite the e-mails, voice messages and other evidence his dealer reportedly kept. To be indicted and convicted of drug offenses, he would have to be caught in red-handed possession of his stash. The credibility of his accusers in court would be nil—not only because they sold their tale to the tabloid, but also because of their own obvious criminal liability. Legal experts in Florida agree that Mr. Limbaugh’s high-priced Miami attorney, Roy Black (best known for defending William Kennedy Smith and Marv Albert), has little reason to worry that his celebrity client will do time.
Rush should get exactly what he deserves! This is, after all, a man who earned millions by lampooning the plight of AIDS victims, spreading rumors that implicated Hillary Clinton in murder and Bill Clinton in cocaine abuse, and mocking the physical appearance of their young child. His brilliant career was founded on daily "entertainment" of this quality.
He is pathetic, in a non-pathetic sense! But, I'm willing to give Rush the same forgiveness he has given all his foe!
Some excerpts by Joe Conason
As a man with firm and delusional opinions about almost everything, America’s most successful radio personality told his listeners years ago what society should do about unfortunate people like Rush Limbaugh: send them to prison. Back in 1995, arguing against liberal leniency toward dope fiends, Limbaugh endorsed the boilerplate ideology and draconian methods of the drug war with baritone bombast. "Drug use destroys societies. Drug use, some might say, is destroying this country," he intoned. "And so if people are violating the law by doing drugs, they ought to be accused and they ought to be convicted and they ought to be sent up.
"According to him, the proper solution is not to treat addiction among all ethnic groups as a disease rather than a crime, but to arrest more white offenders—and, of course, to "convict them and send them up the river, too.
"Eight years later, Mr. Limbaugh’s "talent on loan from God" has suddenly collided with instant karma. If the story that his former housekeeper told (or sold) to the National Enquirer is true, then by his own standards El Rushbo himself should be headed "up the river" for a spell.
His admitted abuse of Oxycontin, a federally controlled opiate used by millions of patients for the relief of disabling pain, was plainly illegal, as were his alleged purchases of thousands of the little "blue babies."Luckily for him, however, criminal prosecution is unlikely, despite the e-mails, voice messages and other evidence his dealer reportedly kept. To be indicted and convicted of drug offenses, he would have to be caught in red-handed possession of his stash. The credibility of his accusers in court would be nil—not only because they sold their tale to the tabloid, but also because of their own obvious criminal liability. Legal experts in Florida agree that Mr. Limbaugh’s high-priced Miami attorney, Roy Black (best known for defending William Kennedy Smith and Marv Albert), has little reason to worry that his celebrity client will do time.
Rush should get exactly what he deserves! This is, after all, a man who earned millions by lampooning the plight of AIDS victims, spreading rumors that implicated Hillary Clinton in murder and Bill Clinton in cocaine abuse, and mocking the physical appearance of their young child. His brilliant career was founded on daily "entertainment" of this quality.
He is pathetic, in a non-pathetic sense! But, I'm willing to give Rush the same forgiveness he has given all his foe!
Some excerpts by Joe Conason