LISTEN: Rush Limbaugh Attempts To Defend Himself Against Accusations Of Selling Out

[corbe]

LISTEN: Rush Limbaugh Attempts To Defend Himself Against Accusations Of Selling Out

Posted at 9:00 am on June 22, 2017 by Susan Wright

Rush Limbaugh is gone.

Many have realized that for some time, and his shtick has long since worn thin. I personally gave up on him during the primaries, when conservatives had such a wealth of good choices to go with as nominee, but Limbaugh began gushing like a 13-year old girl at a One Direction concert over Donald Trump… the bottom of the bottom of the barrel!

Limbaugh’s show has devolved into a long, ridiculous fan club newsletter for Trump, and it’s hard to imagine anybody still hanging in with him, unless they are either part of Trump’s MAGA club, or they’re just a glutton for punishment.

On Wednesday, Limbaugh used his show to scoff at the notion of an “alt-right,” and to suggest that he was being labeled “not conservative” for not trying to take Trump out.

Victimhood used to be something we (conservatives) accused leftists of wearing like a cloak.

   <..snip..>

   AUDIO AT LINK

http://www.redstate.com/sweetie15/2017/06/22/listen-rush-limbaugh-attempts-defend-accusations-selling/

[Cripplecreek]

On Wednesday, Limbaugh used his show to scoff at the notion of an “alt-right,” and to suggest that he was being labeled “not conservative” for not trying to take Trump out.

Only idiots and embarrassed members are still trying to sell the fantasy that there is no alt right amd no one was asking him or anyone else to "Take Trump out". All any of us ever asked for from the once conservative media was honesty. Instead we got lying and promotion of their rich buddy.

[TomSea]

Oh boy, Red State says that. Well, that settles it. Maybe next we can listen to Ben Shapiro or the other true sell outs.

I guess Red State is disappointed they aren't part of the movement that has tossed the democrats out on their ears. Must be mad seeing Obama's legacy dismantled.

[corbe]

   @Frank Cannon have you taken your Blood Pressure Meds yet?

[roamer_1]

From the article:

To begin with, the alt-right is a thing, Rush. An ugly, twisted, anti-conservative, anti-liberal, anti-intellectual thing. Trump spoke directly to their confused minds, and brought along their pied piper, Steve Bannon, to keep them dancing on the end of a string called “nationalism.”

Like a pack of slobbering, wild dogs, Trump tossed them chunks of meat, and they proceeded to tear up everything in their path.

Limbaugh, like other so-called “conservative” voices had the platform to speak out against the race to the bottom that Trump and his madness represented. He chose not to, however. Instead, he, Fox News, and too many other talking heads immediately abandoned principle and reason to board the Trump train.

YEP.

[Bigun]

Only idiots and embarrassed members are still trying to sell the fantasy that there is no alt right amd no one was asking him or anyone else to "Take Trump out". All any of us ever asked for from the once conservative media was honesty. Instead we got lying and promotion of their rich buddy.

From my perspective I see Rush as having been TOTALLY honest!  I personally heard him say MANY TIMES that Trump was not ideological and thus not a conservative!  He also pointed out several times that if you were conservative you had only one choice in this primary and that choice is TED CRUZ!

You can deny that he did those things till hell freezes over if you want but it will not change the FACT that he did them!

[Cripplecreek]

@CatherineofAragon

You might enjoy this follow up to the Shapiro piece.

[EC]

Don't see why anyone listens to any of the talking heads. They add no value. 

[INVAR]

Don't see why anyone listens to any of the talking heads. They add no value. 

^ THIS.

Limbaugh can do all the justifying he wants to about why he did not sell the principles he preached for decades down the river for a lifelong NYC Liberal Democrat.

I'm not listening to him anymore and consider him as much a fraud to Conservatism as I do Joel Osteen and Benny Hinn frauds of Christianity.

[Bigun]

Don't see why anyone listens to any of the talking heads. They add no value. 

Rush has ALWAYS maintained that he has an audience ONLY because he is on the radio validating things most people already know!  I agree with him!

You can't find that very many places in media now days!  MOST of the media is too busy trying to influence what you think!

[EC]

I guess, my brother. 

Never seen the appeal of sitting in the choir, myself. Not much cop with harmony. 

[Cripplecreek]

Don't see why anyone listens to any of the talking heads. They add no value. 

I don't call Limbaugh or others "sell outs" because I don't believe they're conservative in the first place. They've made a living pitching conservatism as if it were some kind of miracle over the counter drug when its clearly not.

[Bigun]

I guess, my brother. 

Never seen the appeal of sitting in the choir, myself. Not much cop with harmony. 

We are not disagreeing but Rush has made millions off of those who NEED to hear someone on the radio validating their thoughts.

He is also providing a VERY valuable service in writing children's books that teach history long since dropped from the curriculum of our government centers of indoctrination AKA public schools!
 

[roamer_1]

Don't see why anyone listens to any of the talking heads. They add no value. 

I am still listening to Shapiro... But not any other that I can think of.

[driftdiver]

I don't call Limbaugh or others "sell outs" because I don't believe they're conservative in the first place. They've made a living pitching conservatism as if it were some kind of miracle over the counter drug when its clearly not.

Yes conservatism is  a false theory right.    It doesnt work.   its evil

Thats what they teach up there right?

[driftdiver]

From my perspective I see Rush as having been TOTALLY honest!  I personally heard him say MANY TIMES that Trump was not ideological and thus not a conservative!  He also pointed out several times that if you were conservative you had only one choice in this primary and that choice is TED CRUZ!

You can deny that he did those things till hell freezes over if you want but it will not change the FACT that he did them!

I have more respect for Rush now then before the election.   He didn't take sides until after the primaries although he did tend towards Cruz.

Rush is a businessman not a religious leader.   I figure we can work with what we have and move this country back from the abyss or we can sit and throw a temper tantrum.

[Bigun]

I have more respect for Rush now then before the election.   He didn't take sides until after the primaries although he did tend towards Cruz.

Rush is a businessman not a religious leader.   I figure we can work with what we have and move this country back from the abyss or we can sit and throw a temper tantrum.

I don't think it's any longer a matter of CAN it has become a MUST work with what we have!  If we allow the left to take Trump down it's all over at least for what remains of MY lifetime!

[roamer_1]

I figure we can work with what we have and move this country back from the abyss or we can sit and throw a temper tantrum.

 
Now that's funny, considering the advent of a new phrase: Trumper tantrum.

[Bigun]

Now that's funny, considering the advent of a new phrase: Trumper tantrum.

No worries mate!  Just like always, the rest of us will do it for you!

[TomSea]

Red State does not even allow discussion there, the NTs need their safe spaces. 
They have comments but whom they allow is very limited.

[skeeter]

From my perspective I see Rush as having been TOTALLY honest!  I personally heard him say MANY TIMES that Trump was not ideological and thus not a conservative!  He also pointed out several times that if you were conservative you had only one choice in this primary and that choice is TED CRUZ!

You can deny that he did those things till hell freezes over if you want but it will not change the FACT that he did them!

It was exactly as you say.

However, I wish Rush would stop with the Nevertrump references. It doesn't matter if there are those to whom Trump can do absolutely no good - at some point we need to stop highlighting divisions on our side.

Obviously Rush is personally irritated with those who've been openly critical of his failure to walk the conservative talk during the primaries, but today he's not doing his own purported agenda any favors with these references. We really need to put this behind us.

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

Sadly there are still fools here who hang on his every word.

[Bigun]

It was exactly as you say.

However, I wish Rush would stop with the Nevertrump references. It doesn't matter if there are those to whom Trump can do absolutely no good - at some point we need to stop highlighting divisions on our side.

Obviously Rush is personally irritated with those who've been openly critical of his failure to walk the conservative walk during the primaries, but today he's not doing his own purported agenda any favors with these references. We really need to put this behind us.

Thank you!  I fully agree with all that you said!  We ALL need to drop the "never Trump"  business now and get on with it!

[jpsb]

YEP.

The liars that write for Red State are vile people.

[corbe]

   The Red State hate is on display this morning.

    If someone posted a Huffpo or Brietbart piece I wouldn't disparage the Author or the originating website, I probably wouldn't even click on the article not trusting the veracity of the report, but that's just me and I've been discombobulated of late.

[INVAR]

However, I wish Rush would stop with the Nevertrump references. It doesn't matter if there are those to whom Trump can do absolutely no good - at some point we need to stop highlighting divisions on our side.

"Our side"?  I do not think that exists anymore and Rush and the GOP and the Trump Faithful have made that perfectly clear.  We were told to shut up, get on the train or get out.

So - they are not on 'my side' and the division they put there - is one they continually reinforce.

Obviously Rush is personally irritated with those who've been openly critical of his failure to walk the conservative talk during the primaries, but today he's not doing his own purported agenda any favors with these references. We really need to put this behind us.

By ignoring the fact that Conservative principles are no longer seen to be valid or of importance enough to effect policy?   

"Limbaugh even went on to say on his Wednesday show that he saw no one in that vast bench of talent at the beginning of the primary season who could beat Hillary Clinton"

Which means Limbaugh never really believed his statement that Conservatism works every single time it's tried, and that principles matter above all else and will win every single time they are tried and expounded.

Instead he went with a lifelong NYC Liberal Democrat as the ONLY person who could 'beat' Hildabeast.

So I listen to him no more and pay him no regard as any voice of Conservatism.

[BassWrangler]

From my perspective I see Rush as having been TOTALLY honest!  I personally heard him say MANY TIMES that Trump was not ideological and thus not a conservative!  He also pointed out several times that if you were conservative you had only one choice in this primary and that choice is TED CRUZ!

You can deny that he did those things till hell freezes over if you want but it will not change the FACT that he did them!

I am in total agreement with @Bigun here. What I heard coming from Rush during the primaries was someone who clearly didn't want to endorse any candidate. He even said so at one point, because he was getting flack from the supporters of various candidates. After Trump won the primary, Rush did get behind him. Throughout it all he went after Hillary.

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

I am in total agreement with @Bigun here. What I heard coming from Rush during the primaries was someone who clearly didn't want to endorse any candidate. He even said so at one point, because he was getting flack from the supporters of various candidates. After Trump won the primary, Rush did get behind him. Throughout it all he went after Hillary.

If you cannot trust the well-reasoned opinion of a guy who literally ends every single sentence in an exclamation point, who can you trust right?

[roamer_1]

The liars that write for Red State are vile people.

What he said is perfectly true.

[Frank Cannon]

when conservatives had such a wealth of good choices to go with as nominee,

Sure thing PinkState. Let's see....we had Grahamnesty, JEB!, Kasich, Rubio, Christie Creme. So many Awesome severely Conservative WINNERS to choose from.

Eff you PinkState, you pile of worthless horse shit. You guys were pimping for garbage like the exposed fraud McMuffin. You have no credibility and only Glenn Beck flakes even take you seriously anymore.

#MAGA

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

@Weird Tolkienish Figure

I've removed your insult.

Folks, let's show some restraint.

[roamer_1]

No worries mate!  Just like always, the rest of us will do it for you!

Knock yourself out.

[Old Warrior in Exile]

Is that old windbag still on the air?

[Cripplecreek]

I am in total agreement with @Bigun here. What I heard coming from Rush during the primaries was someone who clearly didn't want to endorse any candidate. He even said so at one point, because he was getting flack from the supporters of various candidates. After Trump won the primary, Rush did get behind him. Throughout it all he went after Hillary.

That's the same shtick he runs with in every election. I can hunt down his 2012 interview with Greta Van Sustren where he declared Rick Santorum to be the only true conservative in the race BUT....

He should drop the act and just come out and say he really doesn't care about social issues as long as they leave his money alone. At least that would be honest. While he's at it, Limbaugh, Hannity, and others should drop their false outrage over the "fake media". They're from the same litter of pups and are no different than anyone else. Their claim to be different is about as valid as Newt's claim to be a DC outsider.

[XenaLee]

I still love Rush for many reasons, not the least of which is that he makes lefties' heads explode.  They literally HATE him.   They have that in common with quite a few Trump-bashers here.  And Rush is, as usual, laughing all the way to the bank.... as his bashers continue to flail blindly at him.  That's the reality.  Suck on it, lefties.  Suck on it good and hard.

[Old Warrior in Exile]

I still love Rush for many reasons, not the least of which is that he makes lefties' heads explode.  They literally HATE him.   They have that in common with quite a few Trump-bashers here.  And Rush is, as usual, laughing all the way to the bank.... as his bashers continue to flail blindly at him.  That's the reality.  Suck on it, lefties.  Suck on it good and hard.

You go, girl!

[driftdiver]

I still love Rush for many reasons, not the least of which is that he makes lefties' heads explode.  They literally HATE him.   They have that in common with quite a few Trump-bashers here.  And Rush is, as usual, laughing all the way to the bank.... as his bashers continue to flail blindly at him.  That's the reality.  Suck on it, lefties.  Suck on it good and hard.

[EC]

I'm good with that. Rush is, as you correctly say, laughing all the way to the bank. Without my money. 

[Jazzhead]

Rush is a smart guy and fun to listen to. And I think that, on most things, he says what he believes.  But he's always said that he's an entertainer first and foremost.  That means he doesn't report the news, he spins and comments on it.   

[Jazzhead]

What I heard coming from Rush during the primaries was someone who clearly didn't want to endorse any candidate. He even said so at one point, because he was getting flack from the supporters of various candidates. After Trump won the primary, Rush did get behind him. Throughout it all he went after Hillary.

That sounds about right to me.   Entertainers don't take sides in primary battles.  Why alienate a large chunk of one's audience?   

[driftdiver]

That sounds about right to me.   Entertainers don't take sides in primary battles.  Why alienate a large chunk of one's audience?

Why would any media person take a side contrary to the majority of their customer base?

[roamer_1]

Without my money. 

yep. ever since Romney.
Nevermore.

[skeeter]

"Our side"?  I do not think that exists anymore and Rush and the GOP and the Trump Faithful have made that perfectly clear.  We were told to shut up, get on the train or get out.

So - they are not on 'my side' and the division they put there - is one they continually reinforce.

By ignoring the fact that Conservative principles are no longer seen to be valid or of importance enough to effect policy?   


Which means Limbaugh never really believed his statement that Conservatism works every single time it's tried, and that principles matter above all else and will win every single time they are tried and expounded.

Instead he went with a lifelong NYC Liberal Democrat as the ONLY person who could 'beat' Hildabeast.

So I listen to him no more and pay him no regard as any voice of Conservatism.

With his disposal of the term 'conservative' it does seem like Limbaugh has thrown in with the populists.

I'd be interested to hear from him what he thinks 'conservative' means these days - I hear him applying the inappropriately & almost derogatorily all the time, as if referred simply to an opposing political faction rather than being an overarching political and social philosophy.

What does he believe? Does he think our medical insurance system needs to take care of everybody? Is he a economic Keynesian now?

Maybe he has only been an entertainer all along.

[INVAR]

With his disposal of the term 'conservative' it does seem like Limbaugh has thrown in with the populists.

I'd be interested to hear from him what he thinks 'conservative' means these days - I hear him applying the inappropriately & almost derogatorily all the time, as if referred simply to an opposing political faction rather than being an overarching political and social philosophy.

What does he believe? Does he think our medical insurance system needs to take care of everybody? Is he a economic Keynesian now?

Maybe he has only been an entertainer all along.

I think so.  I think Rush demonstrated that what really matters the most is being able to charge confiscatory advertising rates and garnering the biggest audience and I think he assumed (perhaps correctly) that the majority of Americans are no longer interested in Conservatism or Conservative Principles - and would prefer Populism and Socialism if packaged correctly.

I think some of the discourse on this board and other formerly "Conservative" forums is a good indicator of that fact.  America has already been fundamentally transformed via decades of incrementalism and Conservatism is either rejected or seen as inadequate to provide what the people want.

So Rush may have the pulse of what is now Populist Social Nationalism, but those of us who were led to believe Limbaugh actually believed in what he preached for decades have learned it was all an act for ratings and self-promotion.

I wish I had all the money back that I spent on the decades of being a Limbaugh letter subscriber and 24/7 member. 

Walking away from betrayal is becoming a learned practice these days.

[roamer_1]

Walking away from betrayal is becoming a learned practice these days.

Like never before.

[Sanguine]

I have more respect for Rush now then before the election.  He didn't take sides until after the primaries although he did tend towards Cruz.

Rush is a businessman not a religious leader.   I figure we can work with what we have and move this country back from the abyss or we can sit and throw a temper tantrum.

No, he didn't. During the primaries, he would say he admires Cruz and then spend the next 2.9 hours speaking about Trump in glowing terms.

[INVAR]

No, he didn't. During the primaries, he would say he admires Cruz and then spend the next 2.9 hours speaking about Trump in glowing terms.

I remember when a woman called into his show during the primary and said that if Trump was the nominee, she could not in good conscience vote for Trump and would go third party - and Rush said plain as day : "Then you are voting for Hillary" - upon which I immediately turned off his show and never again put it on after decades of being a loyal listener.

But I saw the handwriting on the wall.  I had cancelled my 24/7 membership about a month prior to that call, and after I heard that - I was done with him period.

Limbaugh is a party loyalist before he has fealty to the principles he paid lip service to all those years apparently.

In fact, they all do.  Levin was the last one I held onto listening to, and finally couldn't when he too revealed he was all talk after repeatedly warning the GOP he was an inch from leaving their party - only to insist all of us vote for them and for Trump.

I can say that I feel a whole lot better having given talk radio the heave-to, and the only time I get my blood pressure up is when I have to read all the stupidity rather than hearing a steady diet of it 6 or more hours a day.

[Sanguine]

I remember when a woman called into his show during the primary and said that if Trump was the nominee, she could not in good conscience vote for Trump and would go third party - and Rush said plain as day : "Then you are voting for Hillary" - upon which I immediately turned off his show and never again put it on after decades of being a loyal listener.

But I saw the handwriting on the wall.  I had cancelled my 24/7 membership about a month prior to that call, and after I heard that - I was done with him period.

Limbaugh is a party loyalist before he has fealty to the principles he paid lip service to all those years apparently.

In fact, they all do.  Levin was the last one I held onto listening to, and finally couldn't when he too revealed he was all talk after repeatedly warning the GOP he was an inch from leaving their party - only to insist all of us vote for them and for Trump.

I can say that I feel a whole lot better having given talk radio the heave-to, and the only time I get my blood pressure up is when I have to read all the stupidity rather than hearing a steady diet of it 6 or more hours a day.

I still listen to Levin.  He's been very even-handed and consistent. 

[catfish1957]

Yeah, he sold out and lost plenty of listeners like me.

Water over the bridge at this point.  Not worth worrying about it.

[Sanguine]

Yeah, he sold out and lost plenty of listeners like me.

Water over the bridge at this point.  Not worth worrying about it.

Agreed.  Rush who?