In the video above we addressed a lot of the substance of Rush's comments. You can argue that there was no need to because the comments are so stupid and offensive that there is no sense in responding to them. But what does need to be addressed and what we emphasized on the live show (but what you didn't see in the clip above as much) was the Nelson Mandela comments.
Who criticizes Nelson Mandela? Who still calls him a communist? But much more importantly, who argues that we should not have helped to replace the white government of South Africa? Only a racist like Limbaugh. The transcript is right here:
LIMBAUGH: Yeah. This is -- you're not going to believe this, but it's very simple. And the sooner you believe it, and the sooner you let this truth permeate the boundaries you have that tell you this is just simply not possible, the better you will understand Democrats in everything. You are right. They want to get us out of Iraq, but they can't wait to get us into Darfur.
CALLER: Right.
LIMBAUGH: There are two reasons. What color is the skin of the people in Darfur?
CALLER: Uh, yeah.
LIMBAUGH: It's black. And who do the Democrats really need to keep voting for them? If they lose a significant percentage of this voting bloc, they're in trouble.
CALLER: Yes. Yes. The black population.
LIMBAUGH: Right. So you go into Darfur and you go into South Africa, you get rid of the white government there. You put sanctions on them. You stand behind Nelson Mandela -- who was bankrolled by communists for a time, had the support of certain communist leaders. You go to Ethiopia. You do the same thing.
When I was a Republican, I thought Nelson Mandela was a living legend. He helped transform South Africa into a functioning democracy where everyone was equal without any bloodshed. Look at what has happened in the Palestinian territories and all over the world when you have ineffective leaders who choose violence instead of the path that Mandela took to get to justice. But now I see that I was in the wrong room, with the wrong people. The rest of the people in my party apparently paid lip-service to what I was saying and actually believed what Rush was saying. Did anyone of them ever care about Mandela or the injustice in South Africa at all?
How can anyone say they are a proud Republican anymore? I guess if you disavow all of the people like Limbaugh (and the torturers, and the ones who support wars of aggression and the people who violate the constitution, etc.), then you might be able to begin to rebuild the Republican Party. But what you can't do is claim you support Rush Limbaugh and still pretend not to be a racist.
Remember, Rush earlier in his career also told an African-American caller to "take that bone out of your nose." Let alone his nonsensical comments about how people in the media rooted for Donovan McNabb because he's black and rooted against Rex Grossman because he is white.
None of that matters now, because now Rush's racism is irrefutable. He argued against replacing the white government of South Africa. I guess if he still had it his way, the black citizens of that country -- and maybe our country as well -- would still be under the thumb of white people. I guess just like Rush dreams about.
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Reader Comments ( Page 6 of 16)
76. 71. ""Rush is factually right. what I find interesting is the people who say if you agree with Rush you are a racist a while male and brain dead. Well......I'm none of the above and find those comments to be made by the hateful in this country. Anyone that doesn't agree with you must have something wrong with them get real.You never argue on the substance or present a valid argument to support your views you just name call. Pretty low stuff.""
an american at 3:24PM on Aug 26th 2007---------------Many RACISTS never CONSIDER themselves RACIST.And many racists OFTEN find that the TRUTH about them seems "hateful".Of course,we know that the TRUTH often is HARSH,right, ""american"?
Mark Ajamu at 3:45PM on Aug 26th 2007
77. Rush is right.
I understand that liberalism is a disease, but tune into Rush's show once in awhile and you just might be cured....
bern at 3:50PM on Aug 26th 2007
78. Rush Limpballs steps in it again. We are needed in Darfur. We were not needed in Iraq.
justme at 4:57PM on Aug 26th 2007
79. Rush may say what he believes in a way that may offend people nowadays, that is only because people have become so weak due to the Liberal political correctness agenda. No on in this country can speak their mind without offending some minority or group of people. Liberals hate the majority, they hate capitalism, they hate us as a Democratic Republic nation. You Young Turks try and just call this crazy and play a clip of something Rush said and make it into, RUsh is a racist. You turn things the way you want, so that you can attract readers. No one would even read this blog if not for how insane a comment YOU made. The comment about oil absoluetly blows my mind, I can't believe that even educated adults with the responsiblity of saneness on air would say the President put the future of his legacy riding on Iraq because he wanted oil. Thats so absurd. Bush had some balls and he put himself out there, if this Iraq thing succeeds, it will alter the world. It will change history, it will be the first time that a Democracy was put into the Middle East, but all you want to talk about is joking around with your buddy about how Bush only goes in for oil. I would at least respect you if you had somewhat of a reasonable argument, but its just so insanely not true. I don't use INSANELY for just trying to prove my point but when a rational person sits down and actually thinks about it, they will think its insane. It really is insane that you still believe that. You keep going on the path your going and I predict you won't last the year. Air America won't be able to afford your minimum wage salary.
Patrick at 9:48PM on Aug 26th 2007
80. In no way do I want to come across as supporting Rush but on Darfor he is right for the wrong reasons. Getting involved in a war on the continent of Africa would be almost as stupid as a war in Iraq is. When you enter a war you have to pick sides, and in Africa there really is no good sides. If we want to help Darfor then we need to completely cut off the flow of arms into the region, a fact nobody can argue with is without bullets you cannot shot each other and it is rather more difficult to commit genocide with a spear.
I do not think any of the Dem canidates for President is in a rush to get us involved in Darfor, for all thier faults they do realize before they can send our troops anywhere they need get them out of Iraq first, we have no extra troops sitting around waiting for a crisis they are all committed to Haliburtons war.
matt at 5:37PM on Aug 26th 2007
81. I believe that Rush said that Mandela was bankrolled at one time by the communist, not as you say that Mandela was a communist. Maybe a little spin of your own eh?
Rick at 5:37PM on Aug 26th 2007
82. What a bunch of liberal hypocrits!! All of you that are slamming Rush for his "Racial Slurs" and want to brand him as a low life racist yet also have to throw in that he is a "Oxycontin Head" implying that anyone that takes this med or other opiods are low lifes themselves. Unfortunately I have to deal with the same sterotype and discrimination. I have been taking opiods for 10 years, have 3 fused vertebrae, a back full of titanium and most recently an implantable spinal stimulator to help reduce the amount of meds I have to take. I still work a full time job and earn my keep rather than depend on govt. asst. The only way that is possible is by taking opiods daily for pain. Let some one know you take meds daily and you get sterotyped just like you shallow headed Libs are unknowingly doing tying to prove that someone is a Racist. You obviously dont know jack crap about medicine or mgmt of chronic pain!
rbcrisp at 9:04PM on Aug 26th 2007
83. It is quite obvious that this guy is after not only Limbaugh but all conservatives and anyone who is not prone to vote Democrate. One thing for sure, I won't be voting D. You can start with Hilary and then go to Obama and you have the very two best reasons not to vote Democrat.
I most certainly agree with the comments of Ron Miller. How interesting, the profiles of the Clinton's and the Mandela's. Yes, each did some very good things and then WHAM they undid everything and more with their evilcriminal actions - and not only the males but the wives have done in some cases much, much worse. And, never been charged or prosecuted - never will. That's Head's of State for you!!!!!!
Floyd at 5:54PM on Aug 26th 2007
84.
To be honeest, I am not sure I see the racism here, other than the fact that obviously Rush did not want democratic rule by Blacks in Africa under Mandela. But Rush is giving a reason for the Democrats wanting to go into Darfur. The totally wrong reason, but then, when has Rush ever been right about anything? I take that back, he was right about the recemt comprehensive "full job halls with cheap labor for employers" immigration bill.
For those of you objecting to international interference in USA affaires, if you want to really get mad, google " North American Union" and " SPP". It seems Bush has given up USA sovereigny, we are to have open borders as of 2010, and be rule by a unelected three man committee. There is not a lot of detail, lots of people are keeping this very quiet. And I don't think it has been ratified by Cognress. The latest leak is in a SPP document where Bush says " He better not tell the American people about this". We don't know what it is. Some members of Congress got a hold of it and are asking questions.
Everyone should be phoning, faxing and emailing their Sentars and Congressman daily until the American people are give the real facts.
cdnbirch at 6:05PM on Aug 26th 2007
85. AS A CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICAN, I FIND RUSH LIMBAUGH RIDICULOUS AND HE IN NO WAY INFLUENCES ME. THAT BEING SAID, I FIND YOU YOUNG TURKS RIDICULOUS TOO. THE MINUTE YOU CALLED LIMBAUGH A RACIST, YOU LOST ME. RACIST IS THE MOST OVERUSED WORD IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND THE MOST TIRESOME. I DON'T RESPOND TO IT AND I DON'T LABEL OTHER PEOPLE WITH IT. IT IS USUALLY AN EXCUSE FOR POOR PERFORMANCE OR RIDICULOUS BEHAVIOR, AND IT IS INVARIABLY IRRELEVANT.
IRONBLUEEYES at 6:07PM on Aug 26th 2007
86. Compassion and Humanity my ass you illiberal Turkeys!
"the extreme right wing- the extra-chromosome right wing." Al Gore (Gore comparing conservatives to those who suffer Down's syndrome due to their being born with an extra chromosome)
You "liberals" kill unborn babies and you "hate" people who don't share your beliefs; open-minded, liberal and tolerant as you are, what is your animosity with kids who are born with birth defects and usually die before adulthood that you must compare them to your most hated political foes- Republicans!? You are illiberal hypocrites!
Go Home! at 6:17PM on Aug 26th 2007
87. I never used an expletive on you nice liberals, but you blocked my posts- because you like to suppress opinions which don't support your own intolerant views. Keep it up- the truth always comes out, you are socialist bastards!
Go Home! at 6:23PM on Aug 26th 2007
88. air america and aol!!!! Enough said!!!
liberal asses!!!
carey at 6:24PM on Aug 26th 2007
89. I was born and raised in a communist country.
Nelson Mandela is a communist like his
fellow comrade, the jew Joe Slovo (an east
european, like any other communist).
Communists are responsible of the worst
genocides ever committed by human kind. Jews
like Joe Slovo (the south african communist
leader, a comrade of Nelson Mandela) are
the only ones guilty.
Stefan at 6:25PM on Aug 26th 2007
90. This is mainly for Steve. It is somehow easy for you to see how Mandela was perhaps in with communists.....oooooh! What is more obvious to me is how he stood up for the rights of the people he represented and did significant time because of his principles. It's interesting what you hardcore Republicans can say and justify when the very person you're trying to protect has undertaken a visionquest to further polarize race relations. To sum it up, if we as Americans want to go to a country to provide humanitarian aid, that is an admirable thing. On the other hand, when a Republican administration capitalizes on a terrorist attack to have us go to war with a country that had nothing to do with it, lied more than once to maintain public support for this action, abused the administration's power to give government contracts worth billions to friends and acquaintances with no outside competition in a notable and obvious way, it becomes pretty clear that this is a plan. Those that say this wasn't planned out are kidding themselves. This is an attempt (as I believe Viet Nam was) to further separate the gap between rich and poor, between the common man and the elite. Also, how many kids from wealthy families are going to the war zones? Now compare this with the number of inner city youth and rural poor folks. Combine this with the Katrina debacle and the inadequate follow-up. This isn't about black and white, it's about the haves and the have nots and the haves are in power and assuring that it stay that way through using their power and manipulation. Since it's off the topic, I will not bring up the "the jury on global warming is out" statement by our president but briefly. Scientists nearly across the board state that placing millions of years worth of carbon-based fuel sources back into the upper atmosphere in the realm of a century and a half will raise the median temperature substantially, but Bush, being the meteorologic expert he is, says "the jury is still out". This is so his "homies" to coin a phrase can benefit from the dismantling of the clean air act which would cause billions of dollars in expenses to the companies who would have to add scrub stations to their factories. The modern Republican agenda is conservative in the pure sense of the word: Lets keep things like they are. Those who are rich will get more rich, those who are poor will stay that way, with the notable exceptions of the Pro sports and entertainment arenas. This is quite convenient for those in power.
I've voted Republican in the past; I tend to read up on the platforms and make my decisions based on careful consideration, but mark my words, in a 30 year time frame, perhaps before, George W. Bush's administration will stand as an all-time low point in the American political landscape.
Back to Rush, his statements are deplorable. Having been addicted to medications does not make me dislike him; his completely biased viewpoints and lack of overview make me dislike him. He's a smart man, though, he walks the tightrope well, but his agenda is to further and actualize the process of wealthy white male dominance which has been going on for many, many years. He has defined the black vs white playing field as those before him did. He doesn't see humanity, he sees his team's agenda at any cost and by all means necessary. I ask you Steve, sir, who does that define as a Nazi?
Ron VII at 6:33PM on Aug 26th 2007