The Rush to Attack Limbaugh
Dear Readers,
The question has come up regarding why we haven't covered the Rush Limbaugh stories that have come up recently. Quite frankly, the reason is that we were waiting to see what Rush himself had to say before commenting on the situations. On Friday, Mr. Limbaugh addressed the drug issue to the point where we now feel comfortable discussing our thoughts.
Matt's Chat
First, the football issue. It would appear that if you look at the statistics of both the Philadelphia Eagles and Donovan McNabb, Rush's argument does have a ring of truth to it. Rush was not "attacking" McNabb though, he was bringing up the point that the coverage of McNabb was unfair to the team's defense, which (in Rush's and others') opinion is actually the reason why the team has had success.I am disappointed that Rush left ESPN because he has always encouraged his fans to stand tall and defend your point of view. I understand that he left out of respect and courtesy for his fellow castmates, but have to point out that his defending his viewpoint on this issue on his radio show isn't taking the challenge seriously.
Second, the drug addiction issue. Rush has been advocate for strong law enforcement. He continues to do so even as he himself is in trouble. He has accepted responsibility for his crime and is cooperating with legal authority. He explained his situation, not for the purpose of making excuses, but rather to describe what happened so that the record could be straight. Is he engaging in hypocrisy? No, he is doing the right thing by accepting responsibility for his actions and facing the music.
I am disappointed in those who normally would engage in compassionate behavior towards someone in Rush's situation that are rather attacking Mr. Limbaugh because of his political orientation.
Recently, I have been preparing a piece on heroes. One of my themes is the need for a hero that engages life with integrity. Rush is not a hero. What he has done will certainly color his reputation. And it should. When you put yourself on the front lines of a battle using morals as your weapon, you must brandish that weapon with care. While forgiveness is something that we should all be prepared to give, Mr. Limbaugh will have to realize that people will now question his integrity because of this issue. What Rush has going for him is the fact that he has been upfront and honest about his situation. It speaks volumes for his character. And that should still count for something.
In the end, we all should watch the Limbaugh situation as it develops. He checked himself into a treatment center. He should now have the motivation to rid himself of his personal demons. People are praying for him; they want him to win this very personal battle. He should take strength in that and find hope for recovery.
Mark's Remarks
The reason I did not cover it is that I did not want to meddle in someone's personal business, and did not see why it was needed in this blog. Of course, some people love wallowing in the misfortunes of others, and love it when conservatives prove that, they too, are human. I just did a sermon at church today where I used Mr. Limbaugh as an example. Even the most upright of us can fall prey to temptation. What matters is how we deal with that temptation and the consequences of falling victim to it.It aggravates me as well, that some delight in this, like the Ed Asners of the world and most other so called elites. Give me a break. Many in Hollywood have gone through this and blanche when they face a backlash over drug use. I believe Mr. Limbaugh knows that he is going to have to prove himself again to some, but that is not the most important issue.
The most important issue is that this man has a problem. He saw it, and he is seeking help. For that, he has my respect, in that he took the initiative to confront this head on. I pray that he is successful in this battle against the temptations and addiction that he is dealing with, and hope he comes back better than ever.
Of course, Mr. Limbaugh is no hero. He is merely one man out there with an opinion. He can be inspiring, in that he went from a nothing washed up dj to a media mogul. Of course, he will be maligned from now on, because once liberals find something on you, they keep at it...however, they call you living in the past and petty when you bring up there issues (Chappaquitick, anyone?).
Rush, I wish you a speedy recovery, and I will look forward to seeing how things go if/when you come back to the airwaves.....If you do not, thank you for the time you gave, and I am only saddened that your bout with temptation and making a bad decision had to be so public. Unfortunately, liberals do it all the time and expect easy forgiveness (Robert Downey Jr., Woody Harrelson, among others), but if you are a conservative, you are supposed to be perfect. I am sorry, Mr. Limbaugh, but you will be in my prayers.
