Limbaugh Misquotes Constitution During CPAC Speech

During his much-discussed keynote address at the Conservative Political Action Conference on Saturday, Rush Limbaugh accused Barack Obama of pursuing the "bastardization of the U.S. Constitution."

It was one of the more politically acidic notes in a speech defined by rambling political assaults. But the conservative talk show host wasn't exactly standing on firm footing. Just a few moments earlier he himself had actually -- not theoretically -- "bastardized" the Constitution by confusing it with the Declaration of Independence.

From Limbaugh's speech:

We want every American to be the best he or she chooses to be. We recognize that we are all individuals. We love and revere our founding documents, the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. [Applause] We believe that the preamble to the Constitution contains an inarguable truth that we are all endowed by our creator with certain inalienable rights, among them life. [Applause] Liberty, Freedom. [Applause] And the pursuit of happiness. [Applause] Those of you watching at home may wonder why this is being applauded. We conservatives think all three are under assault. [Applause] Thank you. Thank you.

Limbaugh, it seems, meant to say "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness," which, of course, is in the Declaration of Independence. Just to be sure, however, the Constitutional Accountability Center compared his remarks to the Constitution's preamble, and didn't find a match.

Here is the Constitution's Preamble: "We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."

In the end, of course, Limbaugh's gaffe was just that: a rhetorical hiccup in an otherwise long (the speech went on for 90 minutes) and brash address. Still, in the process of accusing Obama for a lack of reverence of the Constitution, it would have undoubtedly served him better to have properly recognized the Constitution himself.

Comments

[Cunningham]

The funniest/saddest part of this is that they gave the Limbaugh a Defender of the Constitution award. Shouldn't he/they have been made to READ it at least once?

[clarinetmama]

Could Rush get any fatter? He's apparently the reason for the expression, "He has a face for radio."

[JodyMcg]

I lost 40 lbs. on the Rush Limbaugh diet. See a picture of Rush = automatic fasting. Good for Lent though.

[darter22]

If I see him in the restaurant, I'll buy him a double bacon cheeseburger and a chocolate covered deep-fried twinkie.

[Washette]

All I can think of when I see clips of him talking is his comment about Michael J. Fox claiming that Fox was "faking it" by moving his arms around to make people think he was sick with Parkinson's disease and that Fox had deliberately not taken his medication so he would get more attention. My 55 year old brother has advanced Parkinson's and makes many of the same involuntary movements that Fox did in his taped interview due to the disease and the side effects medication. He is suffering a lot. If Limbaugh is speaking with as much authority about all the other issues as he did on Parkinson's, then I'm assuming everthing he says really is a big fat lie. He just seems to start talking and anything that pops into his negative mind becomes instant truth to him. I can't understand why so many people listen to him. He is obviously a miserable person with an agenda to make himself more miserable. Is it possible that he's trying to get more attention by faking it? Some people attack others with accusations that would apply to themselves. Classic.

[Austrian School]

President Obama should force Rush to visit all the 57 states he did, and make him personally apologize.

[justitia]

At least he was not accusing someone over the number of states. You GOPhers have to find more serious lapses to compare with the one that know-ti-all LImbo committed.

[heartsick]

Your name tells us where you are. Get over being a hat er.

[LeftRight]

Tell you what, as soon as Obama comes out in a speech complaining that Rush doesn't understand how many states there are, then this will be a valid argument!

[NewArtz]

I looked up demagogue in the dictionary. There was a picture of Rush.

[NelsonBig]

Why is this guy still in the news? (FYI: I don't read ANY article with him in it) This is what he wants!! That's why him and Ms. Coutler blab all day long on things that will get a rise. They probably don't even believe half the things they say. They just know it'll get them screen time. PLEASE ALL. IGNORE THESE FOOLS SO THEY CAN GO AWAY!

[Keith52]

"...that we are all endowed by our creator with certain inalienable rights, among them life. [Applause] Liberty, Freedom. [Applause] And the pursuit of happiness."

Except for those of you in the middle class and certainly not you people who are starving, homeless... right Rush baby?

[RageCage]

"Now, the reason that they're under assault -- by the way, I misspoke. It was a rhetorical error. That's obviously from the preamble to the Declaration of Independence."

From Rush's radio program following the CPAC speech. He realized his error. He didn't mean anything sinister by it. Obama has made bigger speaking errrors.

[evaesthetic]

Well, it WASN'T a rhetorical error, it was a FACTUAL error. And it's not about Rush "mis-speaking", it's about him wailing about how Obama is trying to destroy the Constitution without, seemingly, knowing exactly what was IN the constitution.

[Char59]

AMEN!!!!!

[nickdoyle]

JUST SAYING!!!!!!!!!

[Keith52]

We all know there is nothing sinister. It's just ironic that he is bloviating about the subject and makes this error. He's a gas bag.

[booboo111]

Is it just me or has his head grown so large, it looks like it's ready to explode? That's not going to be a pretty sight.

[parkerfly38]

But how does that gel with his always right 99.9% of the time claim?

[LeftRight]

The difference being that when Obama made HIS speaking errors they weren't in a speech where he was insulting someone else for making THOSE SAME SPEAKING ERRORS!!

In addition, he not only was NOT quoting the Constitution, he was MISquoting the Declaration, since the word "freedom" does not appear ANYWHERE in the text!!!

[whalerpilot]

Dear Rush "Defender of the Constitution" there seems to be some confusion as to the Preamble
Insure domestic Tranquility? Is this what you do?
Provide for the common defense. Socialism?
Provide for the common welfare. Socialism? Health Care?
What is your platform? What is your ideology? Please explain these truths to be self evident to "We the People"

[msblkwidow]

Finally, someone has hit the nail on the head...the constitution... and what it really means. I don't think some people understand the true meaning of the words in the U.S. constitution...especially people like Rush Limbaugh. Our President Obama does...he taught the constitution. Anytime a small group feels they are being uncovered as cheats and slimebags, they go beserk...especially people like Rush Limbaugh.

Most Americans refuse to hear what Limbaugh has to say. Right now, he's a part o a news circus. And he's pretty funny too.

[nickdoyle]

LOL. HOW CAN YOU KNOW THE TRUE MEANING OF THE WORDS IF YOU DON'T KNOW THE WORDS

[whalerpilot]

Oops! Dear Rush, rhetorical mistake! My bad. Not provide for the common welfare but "promote the general welfare" Is that what you do? Next point concerning the analogy to a football game and your wishing a team (political party) or a team's policies (play book) to fail. In any competative sporting event there is one common entity that ensures a fair game its called the refferees or officials ,(Socialism) or governing force to ensure rules and provide for a fair competative game. Is this what you preach to your followers? Lets suppose that an uncontroled free market was allowed to flourish without rules or oversight. What type of society would that create that embodies the concepts of the Constitution. Have you not studied the causes of the French Revolution, or the American Revolution for that matter, which is the right of free men to liberty and the will to oppose oppression (special interest) . Competition is the engine of our greatness and capitolism is the tool of freedom, but just as the abuses of our past has shown us, Monopolies and greed create and unfair playing field and certainly do not encourage competition. It stagnates an economy and oppresses the general citizenry.

[rascalofearth]

You people miss the point. Rush did not make an error. He knows very well the words that make up both documents. The Declaration is not part of our law, but, rather angry letter to a god/self appointed king. It is no more legally relavent then the Olive Branch Petition, it just announces the clear break and was well written by the 3 men who authored it. It is hugely important and correctly revered.

The Constitution is an actual founding legal document. But the Constitution doesn't mention god or the word 'lif' which has become code for the anti choice movement.

Since the Declaration has no goveroning wait Pbama can't really destroy it. So Rush must make it that Obama is destroying the Constitution. But since the Consitution left god out and CPAC is a pro theorcracy organization rush has to get his appaluse lines about god and life into the speech. The easiest way is to just combine the 2 documents....then he can make the case that Obama is attacking all 3 core beliefs of god's own party.

[tokenconservative]

I think I'll forgive the guy for an extemporaneous portion of a 1.5 hour-long speech where he mistook Locke's original wording with the Constitution's.

[Hank10303]

The neo- conservative, like Rush, do hate America. As it is, America is over 90% of what they hate. The majority of its people are not what the conservative base would term - good American's or Christians. They hate and turn their backs on any that don't agree with them. They slander any that question them and lie whenever its convenient to make a point. They are our extremists and yes they carry guns.

[parkerfly38]

See, this is unhelpful. Every age has its critical voices whether they are correct or legitimate.

I get to work with a large swath of conservatives in the military. They might have guns, but they are not extremists. They're reasonable people that believe different things than we do.

Politicians and their supporters often lie or ignore the facts. Our side does it, too. I guess what is really frightening is that the GOP might as well appoint Limbaugh into some kind of paid leadership position. With his ascendancy, what I fear is the lack of capability for balance from the right. Not everything the Democratic party will do is good...but the GOP will expend its usefulness if it harkens to Limbaugh.

[mwoman]

good catch!

[lesterbud]

Rush is correct - it is the Constitution that is wrong!

Change it now!

[nickdoyle]

YOU SHOULD BE ON STAGE, YOU'RE GOOD. LOL

[GREYDOG]

Why does Rush Limbaugh and the republican party hate America?