Of course Barbara Walters Thinks Rush Limbaugh Is "Fascinating"

And that's why ABC is including the right-wing hate talker in a primetime special of the year's most fascinating people.

Because naturally, in a year when the country turned blue ABC should definitely celebrate the success of right-wing radio radio, right?

Of course this is how the how media elites have treated Limbaugh for years; he's not a hate merchant, he's an engaging entertainer. He's not hack, he's influential. Y'know, the way he was able to rally conservatives last winter to reject John McCain as their party's nominee and the way Limbaugh's non-stop attacks on Barack Obama were able to turn the tide of the general election.

Okay, those were complete failures and only highlighted Limbaugh's growing political irrelevance. But for celebrity journalists like Walters, the Limbaugh script was written long ago--he's fascinating. Anxious for his right-wing seal of approval (and spooked by his liberal bias charges), the mainstream press corps has for years treated Limbaugh with undeserved respect, worked to soften his radical edges, and presented him as simply a partisan pundit.

That's why Time's Mark Halperin has labeled Limbaugh an "American iconic" figure, while NBC News anchor Brian Williams fretted that Limbaugh doesn't "get the credit he is due" as a broadcaster.

Do you think there was any other reason the New York Times showered Limbaugh with attention this summer, with a laudatory Sunday magazine cover story (penned by a professional dittohead) that painted him as the brains of the GOP; "a polemicist and public intellectual."

To the 'liberal' New York Times, Limbaugh's a "funny," "public intellectual" who produces "fluent, often clever political talk" and who also "instructs" and "teaches."

And now Babs agrees.

Here's a friendly wager. I'll donate $5 (hey, we're in an economic crisis) to Walters' charity of choice for each of the following questions shes asks Limbaugh in primetime:

*Do you still think that' "what's good for Al Qaeda is good for the Democratic Party in this country today"?

*Can you explain how Obama "loathes America"?

*Do Democrats really "hate this country"?

*What makes you think "Democrats will bend over, grab the ankles, and say, 'Have your way with me' " to African-Americans and gays"?

*What makes you think philanthropist George Soros is a "self-hating Jew"?

*Why did you call Sen. Tom Daschle "an Al Qaeda sympathizer"?

*Are you gong to continue to refer to president Obama as a "Halfrican American"? Or the "little black man child"?

*Do you still think Obama is "not black" and that "he's Arab"?

*Were you able to find any proof that "Islamofascists are actually campaigning for the election of Democrats"?

If Walters ever got up the nerve to confront Limbaugh about his hate speech, now that would be fascinating.

Crossposted at County Fair, a Media Matters for America blog.

Comments

[Warthog]

I was once fascinated by a report, I think from George Carlin, that the human body is able to grow it's own cheese (between one's toes). That doesn't mean the subject would merit prime time, (unless it was Carlin conducting the interview).

[strawberryjulius]

Let's reserve judgement until we see the interview. I would not be surprised if she is tough on Limbaugh. How quickly you forget John McCain's interview on the View. Barbara Walters asked McCain tough questions and she didn't let him off the hook when he tried to evade them.

Walters questioned Palin, "The greatest vice-presidential candidate. That's not a little strong?"

"You have been in Washington, senator, for 22 years as a congressman and a senator. The republicans have been in power for the last 8 years. And I can understand why the Democrats talk about reform. But who is it that Governor Palin is going to reform? You? The Senate? The Congress? The Republican Party?"

[JoshuaF]

Eric,

I agree. You should be the one interviewing Limbaugh. Quick, someone distract Barbara Walters with mirror and some soft focus lighting and let's shove Eric in her place. Then it could rise to being a Pay Per View event. And throw Hannity on the undercard. Knock out broadcast.

[Geoffrey Dunn - Huffpost Blogger]

Thank you. All excellent questions. And, why, ultimately, Barbara Wahwah is a complete and utter disgrace to American journalism. If someone from the left ever spewed such hatred and such duplicity, there would never be any time for them on mainstream corporate television. Limbaugh can spew all the racism he wants, and Wahwah sucks it up.

[skibiketrash]

Boycott ABC and their sponsors. They continue to run these old worn out news stories in hopes that the country will forget about the important things like the market meltdown, wars in Iraq and Afganistan, and their own pathetic ratings. Just say no!!!!!!

[ZimboChick]

Please remember Barbra is from 'the old school'. Yes I know he had a fling with a black man but she is still ......

[Krankil]

2 more questions:

1/ If you believe that we shouldn't care what the rest of the world thinks (in the run up to the war he keptt saying we're not gonna outsource our national security to the UN and who cares what the European think of our invasion and our foreign policies.. promoting Bush he kept saying the same thing).. if you believe that Mr Limbaugh why do you get all upset and reserve a full program of "Advanced Conservative Studies" to trash Gore or Albright for making a statement to a world body critical of Bush's policies?

2/ You open you show by saying "Welcome to the EIB networkd for advanced conservative studies", but you spend 3 hours a day talking only about liberals (Obama, Clinton, Kerry, Daschle, Reid, Pelosi, Gephardt etc.. depnding on who's in command of the Dems at the time). How is that teaching conservatism?

[Phillyska]

I'll double your $5 for every question.

[momoluvsu]

Barbara Walters is losing credibility on a daily basis. She equates ratings to quality programming. I find it "fascinating" that Jerry Springer knew he was in it for the money while Barbara is enamoured with her "ratings", and the diversity of listening to people yell at each other. I think she is exploiting Hasselback also, she likes the controversy that circles Hasselback all the while "pretending to chastise her" when Lizzy is mid tirade. Barbara prides herself on her objectivity, but perhaps she is only a phony.

[lighthorseharry]

The mass media are biased. They advertise for the rabid right at their worst.

[IRS4u]

Rush Limbaugh belongs in the Co Co Co house

THe man is a law into itself - a mockery of a human being

and his supporters are responsible for this thing

to be paid millions to a t t a c k innocent people's character

it is a debt with G O D

[eva belle]

Obviously Babs has lost her bearings..­.hasn't she?

[HughBriss]

Barbara Walters has an odd history of attempting to ingratiate herself with greasy right-wing hypocrites: she was great friends with Roy Cohn and pretended to be romantically involved with him, so that he could stay in the closet.

[BoulderSue]

I really can't afford-"Obama's Recession" has been a litte tough lately- but I'll match you with $2 for each of your $5

[nellie]

To the 'liberal' New York Times, Limbaugh's a "funny," "public intellectual" who produces "fluent, often clever political talk" and who also "instructs" and "teaches."

----------­----------­---------

A bankrupt opinion from a bankrupt media.

Sad.

[Krankil]

That was the mouth piece of the Bush administration during the run up to the Iraq war. A liberal media writing an Op-ed everyday to make Bush's case to the american public and lying about WMD in every article they wrote