Rush Limbaugh and the Rams

[Dr. Cheese]

Doctor, being African American yourself, please help those of us who are not understand, what has Rush Limbaugh done or said that makes you uncomfortable and draws all the racist accusations. I have listened to his show frequently over the years, and, even at my most sensitive, I can't figure out what he's doing to earn that label.

I have heard Limbaugh, on many occasions, celebrate the sovereign privileges and equality that ALL races born in the USA enjoy, and encouraging ALL races born here to be motivated to take advantage of those opportunites through embetterment and by being productive members of society.

What has he done or said? I want quotes, not emotions, please.

First of all, I really avoid calling people racist because such names rarely lead to any meaningful conversation. I did not call Rush a racist. Rush has said many, many things that I thought were offensive and in poor taste. Other posters have already mentioned many statements. You don't find them offensive or in poor taste. You are entitled to your opinion as am I.

BTW, the bit about quotes, not emotions seems to suggest that those who disagree with you are not rational while you are. Once again, if you feel that way fine. I just don't agree.

 

[AnchorHoy]

We need segregated buses -- it was invading space and stuff. This is Obama's America

I'm guessing that Rush was trying to point out that this is a form of segregation which is tolerated today. He wasn't really calling for segregated buses!

I'm guessing that you have severe problems with reading conprehension [/satire]

Both quotes came from the very same post !!!

 

[Jared Lash]

It's really gotten out of control. Kind of like the word "rape," which once had a defined meaning. Now, it seems to include a woman who had consensual sex but changed her mind later.

 

[Clark Dark]

I've watched pro football for over four decades now. I don't think Rush will have a chance because of the fact that the owners now have bought their teams for around the 200 million mark and now their teams are worth nearly a billion dollars. Even the Rams who are playing for the first draft pick are not hurting financially where the owner is going to want to share the gold. He's a 'controversial talkshow host', no controversy, no show. I'm not a fan and only know his name through hearing others talk of him. Never listened to him. Couldn't care less about his views or commentary, but I will say this if indeed he is uber critical of others, "when you're living in a glasshouse, don't throw no stones" (cough) oxycontin (cough)

 

[username n/a]

These debate thread always make me so sad. Can't we all just get along?


Do it for the guinea pigs.

 

[WRBass]

I'm guessing that you have severe problems with reading conprehension [/satire]

Both quotes came from the very same post !!!

Maybe I don't understand your post. Do you really think Rush got on the radio and seriously called for segregated (white and black) school buses? Or is it more likely he was using sarcasm and irony to make another point about current day race relations?

 

[Dr. Cheese]

...It's really gotten out of control. Kind of like the word "rape," which once had a defined meaning. Now, it seems to include a woman who had consensual sex but changed her mind later.

I don't know how old you are, but my one bit of advice is that there are times when sex just is not worth it. If you feel you are getting mixed signals from a woman, or if she is plausibly drunk, especially if you don't know her well, back the hell off!

Get a clear yes, and have a ball, if not, leave her alone and play with your b@lls.

 

[superblues]

It looks like Rush may not be allowed to be an owner of the Rams because of his profession as a political pundit. I have mixed feelings. First, I do not believe that someone's politics should generally prevent them from buying something, furthermore, I seriously doubt if Limbaugh would be the only owner with his views.

The flipside is that the NFL does not have to let Rush into their club. Concern about their image or possible labor trouble are legitimate concerns. What do you guys think?

The way I see it, the NFL is free to run its business how it wishes. If that means disallowing certain people's memberships, than so be it. Its their club. The NFL has a business to run. If they have good reason to believe that allowing Rush to be a part owner will hurt their league, than they have no choice but to disallow his membership.

Nobody is stopping Rush from starting his own league. If he feels strongly enough about football, he can develop his own league (i.e. Vince McMahon's XFL). Alternatively, he can reject his career as a pundit in favor of something a little more agreeable to the NFL's standards of conduct. Sometimes you have to make sacrifices.

And to whomever compared Rush to Jay-Z, effectively comparing the NFL to the NBA, each league is run differently, with different bylaws and precedents. In this context, comparing the NFL to the NBA is foolish and short-sighted, especially given the current financial situations of both leagues.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

The way I see it, the NFL is free to run its business how it wishes. If that means disallowing certain people's memberships, than so be it. Its their club. The NFL has a business to run. If they have good reason to believe that allowing Rush to be a part owner will hurt their league, than they have no choice but to disallow his membership.

Each league is run differently, with different bylaws and precedents. Comparing the NFL to the NBA is foolish and short-sighted, especially given the current financial situations of both leagues.

Nobody is stopping Rush from starting his own league. If he feels strongly enough about football, he can develop his own league (i.e. Vince McMahon's XFL). Alternatively, he can reject his career as a pundit in favor of something a little more agreeable to the NFL's standards of conduct. Sometimes you have to make sacrifices.

Fair points, IMO.

 

[lbanks]

That doesn't make much sense to me. Rush is not simply unpopular, the great majority of African Americans find him very offensive.

That said, being liked by people is a different issue from having money to buy a team.

And I have always loved the Smothers Brothers! Never missed a (TV)show!

 

[electracoyote]

First of all, I really avoid calling people racist because such names rarely lead to any meaningful conversation. I did not call Rush a racist. Rush has said many, many things that I thought were offensive and in poor taste. Other posters have already mentioned many statements. You don't find them offensive or in poor taste. You are entitled to your opinion as am I.

BTW, the bit about quotes, not emotions seems to suggest that those who disagree with you are not rational while you are. Once again, if you feel that way fine. I just don't agree.

Fair enough. I never said you called Rush a racist. I commented on the discomfort he causes you.

Did you know that Rush supports the rights of ALL Americans to take full advantage of all the rights and opportunities this country affords? Lets have some of those quotes to be fair.

 

[lbanks]

I think he would be good with helping players deal with their post game pains.

 

[Pilgrim]

It should be obvious to Limbaugh that after he has made a career of being an agitator with a smart and abrasive mouth - and making it a point to make borderline comments about minority groups - he will not be received well by the NFL owners, who are controversy-averse. Also, his comments during Monday Night Football may not have been racist, but since they occurred within the context of the NFL, they essentially disqualify him for ownership.

In other words, a man in his business with his abrasive and controversial track record has no business expecting to get into a club like the NFL.

And the word on the news today is that he has been dropped from the ownership bid - the rest of the group recognizes it's a dead issue with him involved.

 

[ThunderLizard]

Dr. Cheese-
I don't listen to RL, but from what I can tell, he's totally into self-promotion through any means necessary. He wants to expand his audience and be a household name. He'll say anything controversial to get an audience. Anything.

Sounds like the NFL doesn't want any part of the controversy baggage that he carries.

Since the NFL owners have a vote on who gets in their club, they're just exercising their right of exclusion to protect their interests. RL might want to buy, but they don't want to sell.

Or maybe RL just hasn't offered enough money. Double or triple his offer for the Rams and then see what happens.

 

[Deluge Of Sound]

Anyone who suggests that drug users should be thrown in jail (and suggests it through a gold-plated microphone) while abusing very heavy drugs himself should have his mouth stapled shut.

 

[electracoyote]

This thread is getting kind of pointless. No one wants to research the man and give a fair characterization, and he's being judged on extreme sensitivity and misquotes.

No fun.

He hasn't done anything so wrong that he should be banned from ownership in a sports team. That's just ridiculous.

 

[Deluge Of Sound]

You don't think substance abuse is wrong?

 

[Brick Top]

Anyone who suggests that drug users should be thrown in jail (and suggests it through a gold-plated microphone) while abusing very heavy drugs himself should have his mouth stapled shut.

LOL. That's a classic.

Cheers,
BT

 

[fdeck]

This thread is getting kind of pointless. No one wants to research the man and give a fair characterization, and he's being judged on extreme sensitivity and misquotes.

I've heard his show.

He hasn't done anything so wrong that he should be banned from ownership in a sports team. That's just ridiculous.

He's a public political figure, so it's open season. He's free to modify his message to satisfy his opponents, so I don't see what the problem is.

Be that as it may, I think he's just pulling a publicity stunt. When he gets "banned," he will have something else to be a crybaby about for a few weeks...

... or months...

... or years...

 

[WRBass]

I don't listen to RL, but ...

I always like it when people start a sentence about Rush Limbaugh with "I don't listen to him, but ...."