Limbaugh Defends AIG From "Lynch Mob ... Ginned Up By Obama"

Anger at American International Group knows no party lines. But one top Republican isn't joining in. On Monday and Tuesday, Rush Limbaugh defended the insurance giant and their bonus payouts:

"A lynch mob is expanding: the peasants with their pitchforks surrounding the corporate headquarters of AIG, demanding heads. Death threats are pouring in. All of this being ginned up by the Obama administration."

When one of his own callers said he agreed with President Obama on this one, Limbaugh replied: "Let me ask you a question. ... You have a company -- let's take AIG out of this 'cause they're so emotionally charged. Let's say that the company being bailed out is the XYZ Widget Company. ... We need them to manufacture widgets and sell widgets and so forth. So why in the world -- or how do you get to the point where you're going to bail out the company, but you don't want the employees to get paid?"

The caller protested that the AIG employees were already getting paid plenty, and Limbaugh responded that the only thing stopping him from making just as much was himself:

LIMBAUGH: Do you know what? And I mean this from the bottom of my heart, Nathan -- the only person stopping you is you. There's 250 -- he hung up. Damn it, he hung up. Right?

Nathan, if you're -- there's $250,000 out there for you, Nathan. If you really want it, you really want to earn that kind of money, it's out there. Now, it's going to -- and don't -- I'm not being insulting -- it's going to take hard work.

Read the full transcript at Media Matters.

The AIG defense led MSNBC's Keith Olbermann to name Limbaugh, not for the first time, his "Worst Person In The World" Tuesday night. Watch:

Comments

[abirish]

Let's see how many Repugs agree with Rushbo on this subject.

[KathyIndiana]

Rush also has a ton of insurance with AIG; my guess is he's more worried about what will happen to his rates if AIG goes under than anything else.

[ColoradoDan]

It is funny ... now he is insulting his OWN audience.

Some are too dense to get it. Some love the hate he projects. Some are bigots ... so Limbaugh will always have some kinda of audience.

But ones with IQs above 90 must be hearing what he is now saying ... and finally waking up.

Screw ALL except the selected wealthy.

Rush fooled them for so long ... gotta hand him that.

[Paul]

Face it Rush, you are totally outclassed by the Chicago crowd now running the White House.

First they put you up as head of the GOP - and you took the bait.

Now you are defending AIG against the very Democrats who somehow let the bonus money slip into the legislation. But instead of hanging the Democrats with it you wind up defending corporate greed.

You are on the wrong side of the issue, Rush. And you were completely out manuvered.

[Tenley]

Yes, actually, it has occurred to me that they've studied him and his ego and deliberately baited him with the ultimate end goal of goading him into his final "Let them eat cake!" moment.

[blooddoc]

Actually, it's not so hard to outmaneuver a right wingnut like Rush. All you do is bait them using their ideology, their bigotry, or their greed, and they'll make a fool out of themselves every time. Why it took Democrats so long to figure this out is an unknown.

[Justeesh]

Sorry Rush, false analogy. AIG didn't sell widgets. They sold snake oil.

[wietog]

The idea that we just have to "work harder'" to make that kind of money is beyond reprehensible.

It's not "working harder". It's:

- Having a supportive family that doesn't need anything FROM you, but rather gives TO you.
- Growing up around success or being very well supported in your succes (with RARE exception).
- Being connected to the wealthy and feeling comfortable around them.
- Nepotism.
- Having enough money to work at unpaid internships at lucrative companies in your youth.
- Being able to live with yourself when your company is unethical.
- Being grandiose and entitled.
- Going to an expensive school.
- Joining a fraterntity.
- Being smart and able to manage relationships well.
- Knowing how to "play the game" and being likeable by those with money.
- Not standing out in any way other than promoting the goals of the company.
- Being able to dress the part.
- Feeling confident enough to negotiate super high salaries and bonuses without the fear of losing your job.
- Knowing how to step on people to get ahead.
- Delegating any real "work" so you can schmooze.
- Being a man (mostly).
- Joining the Old Boy's Club.
- Being completely self-centered and not caring about the disparity.

[biskitdaddy]

Getting rich and getting ahead is simple: it's not what you know but WHO you know. As long as you fit in when it comes to golfing and going out after work, i.e. 'rubbing elbows', this is what gets you ahead. Along with a little a$$ kissing thrown in for good measure.

[Cinnamonape]

Get money from a right wing newspaper publisher to produce a "local" conservative paper...plagiarising articles used elsewhere under your by-line. Get practice calling other students and faculty members "Marxists", "Communists", "Moochers" (all while attending a State School on taxpayer money).

Make sure that you have evidence of some sort of physical disability that prevents one from serving in the military...or make sure you join a National Gaurd unit at a time of peace...short stint.

Start going to church...even if you can't swallow all that love your neighbor stuff. Be "Eddie Haskell" swarmy and conspicuous.

Take out student loans...invest in the stock market! Or buy an impressive car and suit. You wouldn't want to look like a moocher. Or a poor, starving student!

[mckinley]

Several - but not all - could apply to Rush himself.

He originally failed as a disc jockey, then spent his early 20's moping around his parents' house --
But... his father was a judge, a very influential man in their town's good ole' boy network, who threw his weight around and forced a radio station to take him on, and bear with him...

Would we all could be so lucky...

[doxpin]

That's the mentality of someone who sees every excuse to NOT work harder, and blames anything outside of themselves.

Stop being self-centered. Those bullet points may not describe your life, but are not the only avenues to success.

[Cinnamonape]

Throw in being a "legacy" at that good college.

Pay a "smart kid" to write your papers or take your tests

Being "smart" means using an on-line term-paper service, paying $100 a page.

Find a girlfriend who works to get you through school, then dumping her to "marry money" (see John McCain).

Divorce wives that get sick or aren't pretty enough to bring to cocktail parties as a "human bauble".

Run for campus political offices but doing nothing of significance in them other than to use other peoples work to embellish your resume for law school, or to climb to higher office (i.e. never take on the Directorship of an actual Student Service...always go for the Student Council).

Gain practice cutting the budgets of useful student groups that have high volunteer or participation levels, meanwhile shuttling that money to entertainment for frats-sororities and athletics. Make sure more student fees go for bigger athletic programs. Jocks are good for later campaign appearances/donations.

Make sure you use student moneys to go to Young Republican and College Republican conferences. Have an Executive Council retreat with your good buddies on the counsel.

[changeme09]

media..please stop reporting what rush says or do. who cares. he's nobody

[Tenley]

he's THISCLOSE to having his "Let them eat cake!" moment, why stop covering him NOW?

[ColoradoDan]

THIS is the NeoCon GOP of today ... Boldly advocating ripping off the taxpayers for failure and then rewarding that failure with millions upon millions for a job well done to a select well placed few.

... All the while, hating the middle and poorer classes.

Rush IS the new GOP.

[JohnnyLee]

It must be hard reaching a new low everyday. But Rush just makes it seem effortless.

[Antacid]

Limbaugh is awesome. I hope he keeps helping Republicans sound out-of-touch.

[biskitdaddy]

His comments lead me to believe he's "Gin-ed up"

[Lane4411]

Limbaugh, is totally out of touch with the average American as is the Republican Party.
Rather than focusing on the AIG, bonus monies, ask HOW DID WE GET HERE!!!

Research:

Phil Gramm
Wendy Gramm
Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act
Commodities Futures Modernization Act-hint - "Enron Loophole" & unregulated "Credit Default Swaps"
Increasing the Debt/capital Ratio to 30/40 to 1; from 12/18 to 1
Enron
Ken Lay

Conclusion should be:

Phil & Wendy should be doing jail time

KEEP TALKING RUSH!!!

[smartenoughforthisforum]

Count on Rush to stand up, always, for the little guy.

Rumor has it that the basement of the Limbaugh home had a firing range, and the targets were posters of JFK (this unsubstantiated but from a friend of a friend of a friend ..... from Missouri.

[MiHi]

Rush Limbaugh: The Fred Phelps of politics

[deepfreezevideo]

OMG that was beautiful...I wish I had said it!

[Shieldmaiden]

Does Rush have a lot of AIG stock?