Limbaugh: "Riot In Denver!"

Radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh called for Democrats to riot in Denver at the Democratic National Convention in August. Local news outlets were understandably appalled.

I can't imagine the media firestorm if an Obama supporter advocated violence at a political convention or at any other gathering. Fox News would be playing that nonstop, Hannity would have a field day.

So, should we start holding all politicians and media blowhards to the same standard?

I want to know whether John McCain or any of his people are regular Rush Limbaugh listeners. I want to ask the people in his campaign: "How could you sit and listen to that show for 20 years, knowing that these were the types of views that Mr. Limbaugh subscribed to?"

Limbaugh will of course get a pass because he's conservative and he's white. He can incite violence and use emotional or shock rhetoric to make his point and the country either gives him a pass or pats him on the back and asks him onto the Sunday news shows to expand on his "ideas."

Meantime, the media waits for another gotcha story on Obama or Hillary.

***

The alarmed Denver ABC affiliate reported on the story Thursday morning:

[Limbaugh] said the riots would ensure a Democrat is not elected as president, and his listeners have a responsibility to make sure the riots happen. "Riots in Denver, at the Democrat Convention, would see to it that we don't elect Democrats," Limbaugh said during Wednesday's radio broadcast. He then went on to say that's the best thing that could happen to the country. Limbaugh cited Al Sharpton, saying the Barack Obama supporter threatened to superdelegates that "there's going to be trouble" if the presidency is taken from Obama."

But neither Sharpton, nor any Democrat, has advocated violence.

Limbaugh later backpedaled from his statements when callers to his show complained. "I'm not inspiring or inciting," he said, "I am dreaming of riots in Denver."

He also then tried to foist his idea of rioting at the convention onto Democrats. "There won't be riots at our [Republican] convention," he said. "We [Republicans] don't riot. We don't burn our cars. We don't burn down our houses. We don't kill our children. We don't do half the things the American left does."

Comments

[CrankyCurmudgeon]

As used by Rush, the colloquialism "I'm dreaming of . . . " means "I'm hoping for or encouraging . . .". Is that not tantamount to calling for something to happen, especially when it dribbles out of mouth like his?

[260Parkway]

I believe Rush Limbaugh is still POPPING PILLS from his ILLEGAL MEXICAN maid. I don't know why we allow people of his ILK on the radio. He and people like him speak and appeal to lowest common denominator of mankind. All that airtime they dedicate to bashing the Democratic candidates they could spend promoting their candidate. If prosecutors in Florida had done their job we wouldn't have had to worry about him because he'd be in JAIL with all the other DRUGGIES / DOPE DEALERS he loves to BESMIRCH!

[jowilli]

so true. why hasn't someone explored his sexcapades in hondoras with those brown-skinned people he loves to hate?

someone needs to grow a pair and sue this guy in to oblivion like was done to the klan.
rush limbaugh is no idiot but the power is getting to him, he's a dangerous man.

[Luigi53102]

Agreed. Plus I have to give you props for using "ilk" and "besmirch" all in the same post.

Hopefully the Denver DA's office will store away a copy of that tape so they can charge this comedian with inciting to riot if anything were to happen.

[Pyrum]

Hey Rush: "We don't do HALF the things the American left does"? Interesting choice of wording. It implies the right DOES do half of what you're accusing the left of doing. Like calling for a riot in the first place...

[littlequeenie]

Right. Republicans have killed more than 4,000 Americans, who knows how many Iraqi civilians, including children, maimed hundreds of thousands, made hundreds of thousands refugees.
They have also hid the information that nearly a THOUSAND American soldiers have attempted suicide each month; their funding for mental health care for veterans is a pathetic joke.
Bush and his cronies have supported tax cuts and have cut spending everywhere, leaving many Americans in need of health care and social services. Food banks have more and more working people now going to them because these people cannot afford food and their other expenses.
I could just go on but it makes me sick.Yeah, God bless the republicans.

And BTW - isn't encouraging a riot some sort of crime? I believe in freedom of speech but this piece of crap is so HATEFUL. And proudly working to get republicans to vote democrat to make HRC the nominee because she would be easier to beat than Obama.

What a piece of crap this guy is - definitely in the running today for WORST PERSON IN THE WORLD.

[suzukimom]

Sorry to have to burst your bubble on food banks, but actually Bill Clinton's welfare to work program is responsible for that one. Bill Moyers did a report on the fact that Portland, OR has one of the highest rates of hunger in America. The activists who were working to help people get services made the direct connection to increased demand for services correlating to decrease in help from the federal government. The graphics showed this correlation very clearly. The interviewer commented to one activist that Bill Clinton said he would end "welfare as we know it." To which she responded that Bill Clinton had created "poverty as I see it." Many Democrats who support Clinton don't know what the actual impact of the Clinton presidency has been, or they would realize that much of what Clinton did hurt progressive causes. That is one reason so many progressives oppose Hillary for the office. I suppose you could blame the Republicans for working in concert with Bill Clinton, but they alone are not responsible.

[CrankyCurmudgeon]

He's absolutely correct. Republicans (at least ones like him) don't do half the things the American left does: Like care for their fellow Americans who are not as fortunate as they; like oppose racism and bigotry; like support justice (civil, criminal, and economic) for all citizens; like respect other cultures and faiths; like act as though they are adults, as opposed to forever whining, testosterone-laden juveniles looking to prove their manhood. Yes, Rush . . . you and your kind are to be much admired for your taciturn reserve and careful judgment. Let's hear it now for the philosophical leadership of our once-great country, the old, fat, white boys still clinging to control by their now-brittle fingernails.

[kroses98]

I would like to see what Media Matters does about Rush. He is 1000% worse than Imus was!!! Aren't they supposed to get him off the air as well? This guy is a pathetic, addicted LOSER, who has done nothing positive with his life but shoot off his big fat mouth (much like Karl Rove and Bill O'Reilley)!!! Has he ever helped anyone in need, faught in a war, put out a fire, done anything good at all? All these "Big Mouths" are good for is making trouble for people who are the positive "DOERS" in life and collecting their BIG FAT PAYCHECKS!!! It's time for him to go!!!

[youngharry]

Why wait for Media Matters? Pick up the phone now and call the FCC toll free and complain--­-888-225-5­322.

or fax a letter to Chairman Martin fax free at 866-418-0232.

[aznurse]

I did call just now. They were very nice. It's Friday so hurry to call before the offices closes.

[Trittydi]

Limp-baugh's fans are perfect for this too - mindless, testosterone pumped white christian male thugs incapable of independent thought. Terrified because they're about to become a permanent minority.

All they need is for Limp-baugh to say "jumP" and they squeal "yes fearless leader" - grab their joystick with both hands, and jump.
*

[imajoebob]

Hello? Secret Service? If making a joke about harming a politician is reason to run someone in for questioning, isn't trying to incite violence (real or not) at a national political convention as bad, or worse?

I'm sure the Treasury Secretary will have the agents at Limbaugh's doorstep this evening...

[ideasmatter]

Limbaugh is a sad excuse for a human being, but even sadder are the millions that listen to his hysteria. Quote: "We don't do half the things the American left does." Quite right, such as: paying our taxes, treating other people with different skin color, religion and sexual preference as human, leaving behind the country and the world in a better state for our children, taking care of our combat veterans, calling our leaders on their lies, not judging others as if they were God, and, in the end, loving one's country, for you can't love your country if you hate more than half of the people in it and don't protect the land and God's creatures on it.

And they say the Rev. Wright is a hater?

[GaiasChild]

It will be interesting to learn whether the new $10 million for Clinton and the new poll bonuses are coming from Limbaughland or rather Republicans keeping her as a placeholder. It was widely suggested that many of the PA voters were doing that. That this is not her 'surge' but one using her to confound Obama.

I am beginning to think Obama is too good for the job. That his meaning in our lives is going to be somehow more than that. That the life might not be good for his family. With people listening to and heeding voices like Limbaugh's, Karl Rove's and the Clintons, who could nurture any integrity or heart and be our president?

Who could do that?

[littlequeenie]

I agree. Sometimes I don't think we deserve him.

I look at Limbaugh, Rove, Hannity, the Clintons, Bush & Co - maybe we get the government and leadership we deserve. It really saddens me.

[kroses98]

She's $15 million in debt!!!! She hasn't a chance in hell of getting out of it either. Her main "money man" just defected to Obama! Everyone knows she's a "LOSER!"

[jvarga]

"We [Republicans] don't riot. We don't burn our cars. We don't burn down our houses. We don't kill our children. We don't do half the things the American left does."

Yeah republicans don't kill their own children, their children don't enlist. They kill everyone else's children by sending them off to stupid ass wars.

[Trittydi]

They turn into the ugly crowd when they need to intimidate (florida recount 2000) and (perhaps) "Riots for Rush" in Denver ~~

When they want to kill they find more creative ways. Katrina, no healthcare for kids (or anyone else for that matter), the medicare "donut hole", oil and gas prices so high that old people on fixed incomes are having their heat shut off, letting the FDA poison of the general population as a result of deregulation, ignoring national security concerns (9/11), thousands of dead soldiers in their countless and endless wars . . . .
*

[JulieSA]

"Yeah republicans don't kill their own children, their children don't enlist."

Really? So everyone in the military is a Democrat? That's a new one on me.

[kroses98]

You learn something "new" every day! At least, you're supposed to!!!

[Kiku]

Limbaugh is right, the right is nothing like the left. They just start iligitimate wars costing a billion dollars a month that feeds no-bid contracts to the president's adiministration's companies.

They just pass tax breaks to companies that ship our jobs over seas.

Yup, the right is nothing like the left. TG!

[edva]

Butt I guess he can say whatever he wants and still stay on the public airwaves (we do own the airwaves, though one couldn't tell) as long as it doesn't involve nappy, ho's, or the invocation of national damnation.

[Nevervotesrepublican]

ABC has a responsibility to take this whack job off the air.


How about it ABC.... What are you going to do... The next thing you know, he will be calling for riots in Disney World.

[edva]

No, few in the "left" are as wanton, hypocritical, hubristic, destructive, greedy, and without conscience as theol' pill-poppin' lard bard.