Mr. Limbaugh, You Need to Apologize to our President

Listening to Rush Limbaugh's radio show made my blood boil. He was complaining about President Obama's declaration that today (9/11/09) is a "National Day of Service and Remembrance" when he gave a speech at the Pentagon. The President was calling on all Americans to be strong, firm, and united to serve the nation while remembering the events of 9/11/01.

This all sounds very inspiring. But not to Rush Limbaugh. He called it an outrage and accused the President of using a solemn occasion (the eighth anniversary of 9/11) to push a socialist agenda by asking citizens to serve the state. (www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_091109/content/01125106.guest.html) I just saw the video of the President's speech and all I can conclude is that Limbaugh is delirious.

How is what Obama has proposed any different than President Kennedy's call to action in his 1961 Inaugural address; "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country"? (www.bartleby.com/124/pres56.html) And how about President George H.W. Bush's call for community volunteerism with his 1988 " a thousand points of light" speech? (www.spansociety.com/2009/05/thousand-points-of-light.html)

Maybe I shouldn't be surprised after Limbaugh remarked that he wished Rep. Joe Wilson had not apologized for his rude heckling of "you lie" during the President's speech on health care to a joint session of Congress even after members of Wilson's own GOP party scolded him. (www.silobreaker.com/heckler-calls-obama-liar-5_2262589770112696325)

And this is also the same radio talk show host who said in regards to Obama's economic prescription for the nation during our deep recession: "I hope he fails." (www.huffingtonpost.com/.../limbaugh-i-hope-obama-fai_n_159397.html ) Not "I suspect he will fail" or "I disagree with his policies", but "I hope he fails." Isn't El Rushbo a great patriot?

Limbaugh has also continually called upon citizens to disrupt health care town hall meetings and protest with Tea parties, claiming these are ordinary Americans asserting their right of free speech while they display photos of Obama looking like Hitler. That is all well and good, the same had been leveled against President George W. Bush, but what of the President's call for civility?

Do we need to be yelling at one another? What will that accomplish? I had a close friend share her views at a recent local town hall meeting on health care. Bringing forward her desire for reform brought boos from the right, but when she mentioned she wanted to know how much this would all cost and how it would be funded, she got screaming from the left. One woman kept yelling "liar" to her and to anyone else who expressed any thoughts different from her own viewpoints.

It seems that this behavior has seeped into the Capitol. I agree with the President that "the time for bickering is over." I was glad to see him so "fired up" and "ready to go" delivering what may be a momentum changing address on this issue.

Last night I watched "Real Time with Bill Maher" that featured an interview with Bill Moyers of PBS that was originally aired on August 29, 2009. (www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gSQ2DWkVE0) Either Moyers is clairvoyant or President Obama watched the show. Moyers called on him to change the "metaphors" and take back the health care conversation from the right wing by expressing it as a moral issue while emphasizing the inadequacies of the present private insurance system.

And that is just what the President did in his eloquent speech. (www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/.../obama.speech/index.html) Perhaps it was the spirit of Sen. Ted Kennedy speaking through his posthumous letter to the President referring to "the great unfinished business of our society" and that "what we face is above all a moral issue; at stake are not just the details of policy, but fundamental principles of social justice and the character of our country" that inspired Obama. Maybe his recent vacation allowed him to recharge his batteries. Whatever it was, he was never more on message or passionate than he was in delivering this televised address.

Maybe Rush Limbaugh senses Obama will gain momentum back on this historic bill and he is grasping for straws. Just as he was when he was critical of Obama's speech to America's school children saying the original intent was "right out of the pages of Kim Jong Il". (www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2334737/post) Yes, asking students to work hard and stay in school is a really Communist notion! He reminds me of a pit bull barking and nipping at the heels of the President. He doesn't want health care reform to pass so that the President will fail and he and his ideological right wing cronies (who have labeled this issue "Obama's Waterloo") can regain power in the next election.

It's up to us to seize this moment, follow the inspiring lead of our President and honor the legacy of Senator Ted Kennedy by urging Congress to pass health care reform this year. Let's end the partisan bickering and finally muzzle annoyances like Rush Limbaugh.

Comments

[Joan E. Dowlin - Huffpost Blogger]

I just want to clear up one thing I wrote in this article. A friend disagreed that anyone should be "muzzled". I was responding to a previous reference I made about Mr. Limbaugh being like a pit bull. I am for free speech. I also believe someone should be called on their opinions if they are off base (according to my opinion), especially if they are in the public arena. This is the essence of democracy.

[jonmonbuckeye]

We need to question why Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck haven't gone to Afghanistan since they "support the troops". My nephew who just came back from his second tour was telling me about the disdain the troops have for Fox News, Mr. Beck, and Rush Limbaugh in particular. His sgt evidently has a saying "pull your head out of your Limbaugh!" to convey when he is ticked off.

[hischagal]

Yes, "lets end bipartisan bickering" and get this thing done. But let's just go ahead without these loony tunes. We don't need them to pass the bill and I think Obama should abandon any plan to include the republicans any further.. They had their chance and blew it, big time.

So, Rush Limbaugh, you guys lost the election, now get over it! If you don't, who cares? We don't need you, AT ALL.

[elizlucinda]

The Rush formula: Tell a lie or stretch the truth....R­ant and rave on the radio when you tell the lie.....De­ny all responsibility if your lie causes a problem...­Whine, weep and wail if anyone criticizes you for lying..

[jimrs6]

At least you admit you are a Rush listener.

[Joan E. Dowlin - Huffpost Blogger]

I only listen to see what the opposition is up to.

[3fingerbrown]

The president will have to wait in line. Limbaugh owes an apology to every living American. If he began apologizing today in alphabetical order, he wouldn't get to the O's until 2029.

[amyhasopinions]

This made me LAUGH! fanned. :-)

[Motik70]

Rush Limbaugh is a work of fiction, so turning to him for political makes sense as asking Sherlock Holmes for political advice. Rush is laughing at his listeners all the way to the bank. Rush's life is lived in direct opposition to his political beliefs.

[mollymac]

Rush is a type A personality. Even though he lost weight, he still huffs and puffs and rants and raves. Also extremely mean spirited. Hearts are severely affected by this kind of behavior; he should watch himself and relax. His pervasive anger is bad for his wellbeing.

[tbonehead]

Pride, Pride, Pride will do him in and he won't recognize it till it's toooooooooooooooo late! Pride is just measuring how much rope it will take to carry the weight.

[PDinCA]

"Do we need to be yelling at one another? What will that accomplish?"

This is what Rush does for a living, and he gets paid millions to do it.

[democracy7]

Rush will never apologise, we expect this of adults but he is clearly not in that category. Helping others is well within every persons ability, it is both humane and human. i'm not sure that is within his ability either,. Peace.

[asl3676]

Why does anyone pay attention to Limbaugh, It's like watching pro wrestling. Limbaugh's statements are outrageous because it attracts an audience of disaffected, scared , older white people.

How many Obama voters listen to Limbaugh?

[bigeking]

While I am not a Limbaugh listener, I have heard a few of his shows, and if you truly think that his audience is all older white people, then maybe you should listen!
I do not like extremists on either side, but if more people had paid more attention to some of the things he was saying, we might not be in the mess we are in right now.
Extremists have plugs in their ears and they do not want to know or hear about what you or I think. This is what is wrong in Washington now, all the politicians say they know what is best for us, but they will not listen to what we have to say! We know what you need and what is best for you, seems to be the attitude on both sides.

[tnkeating]

No Joan President Obama needs to apologize to the people, 9-11 is not about serving America, its about remembering the victims who parished and honoring the dead, I lost family in the towers and I remember seeing people holding hands as they jumped from the floors up above the fire, some of us were changed forever, some of us don't want to remember, some even think insane ideas about that day, we were all changed in some way, but it will never be about serving America at least not in the sense our President was talking about. I don't even listen to Rush Limbaugh but I know what I heard in the speech, we must understand words differently, but it depends on what your definition of the word is,is.

[billhodges]

Very well said, and I am sorry for your loss and that you had to even see such an atrocity. Some just don't get it and will spend their life full of hate rather than trying to understand the total picture.

Thank You

[WryAwry]

How terrible your loss. Indeed, how terrible the losses sustained by good Americans since the inception of our country, and the beginning of "The Great Experiment". The names of those that have suffered the ultimate sacrifice to pursue and protect the American Dream will ever be etched in marble, as those names should ever be etched in our conciousness.

The values of our country, as the values of our fallen, should never be compromised upon. However, the ideals of equality for all, and the belief in our freedoms, so hard won, to pursue life, liberty, and happiness, have been so cheapened and so bastardized as to appear untenable. This endless internecine bickering about who has moral ascendency tarnishes every American.

We belittle our dreams and our common goals to the point where they are buried under the weight of hurled invective. We would do well to remember our history, i.e., the Civil War was anything but ....

We honor our dead by remembrance. Any call to service in honor of our fallen heros is the highest recognition of their incalculable sacrifices.

[democracy7]

Well written. What is so wrong about helping others? People who have experienced loss all have the right to grieve in their own way. The atrocity can never be forgotten.
I prefer a day of service than wasted life that can never be replaced. Peace.

[SpoxLogic]

tnkeating, sorry for your loss. But you are wrong. Those that lost loved ones can go to rememberances ceremonies, etc. Unfortunately, as time goes on, those of us that didn't will only see it as a day as time goes on; for example, how do you react when you hear about Pearl Harbor?

If we get the regular folks involved in doing something, just like how everyone was involved for a few months after 9-11, it would be a wonderful way to remember those victims.

BTW, how is helping folks by volunteering on 9-11 not remembering or honoring the victims when the whole idea is based on that terrible day?

[MoodIndigo]

The brave firemen charging up the stairs of the twin towers to save other Americans were serving America, our solders fighting wars overseas this very moment are serving America, and we can honor all these brave individuals by also serving America.

God Bless America and our President Barack Obama.

[cinesimon]

So: up individualism, and let's DESTROY our communities once and for all, is that it?
Who cares about thy neighbor?
Who cares about the welfare of others, of those in our nation and those less fortunate around the world?
Let's just think only of ourselves, and our misery.

Sounds very patriotic to me.

Grow up.

[Joan E. Dowlin - Huffpost Blogger]

tnkeating, I am sorry for your loss.

President Obama declared it the first "National Day of Service and Remembranc­e." It is about remembering that a lot of innocent people lost their lives and many perished by trying to rescue them. That is true service and that is what America is about or should be.

What did you hear differently from that in the speech? I really want to know so I can understand.
Thanks.

[trisha08]

In this piece about Limbaugh, it's interesting to read the comments..­..well, actually scary. You can spot the Limbaugh, Rush, Fox loyalists in a snap. They all use the same rhetoric and repeat Limbaugh's talking points like a good parrots. Too bad they gave up their brains and the ability to fact check and read multible sources.

Their followers seem to have forgotten that these people are paid entertainers who are getting rich off the idiots who tune them in to hear "real news".

[zanzig]

Clearly Limbaugh believes that the Kennedy call to serve was also a "fascist/socialist" one; in fact I'd lay oath that Limbaugh believes that the only call to serve that is permitted is GW Bush's call to "go shopping".