Dragging Them Down

We hope that by the end of today – which, by the way, is Super Tuesday in the GOP Presidential primary – that maybe the primary topic of political discussion in the U.S. won't be the insulting and slanderous behavior of a talk radio host. We'd even love to see the moment when Rush Limbaugh would honestly, truthfully, and unabashedly apologize, as Ed Schultz did when he crossed a similar line last year.

Of course, we'd also like to be able to eat 6,000 calories a day and look like slim, fit, Olympic-caliber athletes, but that ain't happening either.

We understand those of you who are tired of hearing about this controversy. There's plenty of other political news, including Super Tuesday news, and news about the White House and campaign funding. There's also news about how the rich are doing in this recovery – even news of yet another "Grand Bargain" budget attempt to Capitol Hill in our links for today.

There are still a few more things to say, however, about the Limbaugh comments, and what he continues to do about them– or not do.

Sadly, what the chattering classes in the media have been covering for the most part has been of no more substance than the usual horse race baloney that we've mostly eschewed this year. They've been focused on how many advertisers have permanently or temporarily left Limbaugh (fiftteen, as of this morning), and how many radio stations have dropped him (two so far, in Hawaii and Massachusetts).

From the right, the number of ad hominem defenses of Mr. Limbaugh have been too numerous to count. Most often the frothing, wild-eyed comments and defenses of Mr. Limbaugh have devolved into a "So's your old man" kind of defense - which Ed Kilgore of Washington Monthly points out simply can't work. Limbaugh himself blamed his actions on the political left, and trashed the advertisers who have chosen to leave him - which appears to us like the actions of either a coward or a madman.

In a nutshell, here's why people of many political backgrounds are still so angry - and deservedly so.

Rush Limbaugh chose to verbally attack and slander a non-public, semi-private woman, with misogynistic comments FIFTY-THREE TIMES, in three days, with more sideways insults on Monday. As someone who boasts regularly to be one of the best professionals that the media world has to offer, Rush acted like the most ignorant of amateurs.

He disrespected and/or caused significant headaches to the following: Ms. Fluke; women, in general; the people Rush works with directly, who will be directly affected by his actions; the people who work at Premiere Radio, and will be similarly affected; the advertisers, who he directly or indirectly represents; the HUGE number of Republicans he represents, who disagree with his misogynist comments; and last but not least, his family. He owes all of those people a heartfelt apology - which we doubt ANY of them will ever receive.

There ARE places for off-color comments in our U.S. media – for example, a private comedy club, on satellite radio, or on a pay cable channel. While we find some things at these places offensive, Americans still have the First Amendment. People like Rush can spew nearly any kind of trash he wants to in these venues - and we don't have to listen, watch, or be presented with "entertainment" like this if we choose.

The problem is, Mr. Limbaugh is more than just an "entertainer" as he's attempted to claim in his defense. Elected or not, he's effectively the head of the modern Republican party. He yanks the trunk, and the rest of the animal follows. That's exactly what America doesn't need. What America does need right now, more than ever, are at least two solid, strong, sane, honorable major political parties. Right now, we have one party that mostly - but not always - fits that label.

Instead of trying to fix this gulf in our political discourse, by advocating for a strong and respectful opposition party, Mr. Limbaugh chose to throw women, his co-workers, his employer, his advertisers, and even the political party he claims to support, under the proverbial bus. He trashed a young woman - and women in general -  as a major political and media force, all in order to protect his ability to bully anyone he wants.

If you want to know who's really dragging down the American political system? Try looking at the rat who thinks he's too big to admit he's wrong.

***Full disclosure*** Members of our staff include an alumna of Georgetown, and an employee of Premiere Radio Networks, who is also Mr. Limbaugh's current employer.