today in black history

April 18, 2024

Hampton University (Institute) was founded on this date in 1868 in Virginia to educate newly emancipated Blacks.

Bum Rush

POSTED: October 15, 2009, 12:00 am

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Rush Limbaugh is a blow-hard; a buffoon who has mastered the art of nonsensical rhetoric aimed at the lowest common denominator of our nation’s politically ignorant and socially inept cave dwellers. Yet, for all his buffoonery, Rush Limbaugh has cashed in over the years and become a very wealthy on-air personality. Having conquered the studio microphone it appears Limbaugh is now looking for other frontiers to keep entertained. It looks like he found something to keep him amused – a National Football League franchise.

No sooner had word got out that the conservative commentator was part of an investment group preparing to bid on the NFL’s St. Louis Rams franchise, did word come down that he had been excised from the group after criticism arose over him being an owner. Even NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell expressed reservation over having the right-wing mouthpiece among franchise owners, and rightly so. The owner of the Indianapolis Colts, Jim Irsay, indicated he would vote against allowing Limbaugh to become a franchise owner. Given Limbaugh’s tendency to espouse thinly veiled racist vitriol over the airwaves, the commissioner was right to express reservations about having the round mound of babble in the owners’ box. Six years ago, Limbaugh was forced to leave ESPN’s Sunday Night Football after implying that Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb was a “token.” Limbaugh said, “I think what we've had here is a little social concern in the NFL. The media has been very desirous that a black quarterback do well.”

In a league where Blacks have distinguished themselves and the larger community, the last thing the NFL needs during its 50th anniversary is one of the nation’s most divisive personalities to command the field. Given his offensive, on-air remarks, it would have been a train wreck to have him included as part of the NFL’s ownership group. Once it was clear that his ownership of the Rams, even as a “minority” owner, was drawing heat, Limbaugh managed to turn the rejection into a call to arms. He is quoted in an Associated Press article, saying “This is about the ongoing effort by the left in this country, wherever you find them, in the media, the Democrat Party, or wherever, to destroy conservatism, to prevent the mainstreaming of anyone who is prominent as a conservative. Therefore, this is about the future of the United States of America and what kind of country we're going to have.”

To that, we say - get a life Rush. Never has one faux journalist overstated his importance. We have grown accustomed to talking heads talking but Limbaugh is actually taking himself seriously, as do his listeners. At best, he is an entertainer, the equivalent of a bad Vegas lounge act that is too loud, too inebriated and frustrated that no one sees the talent of his off-key vocals. Just like the lounge lizard, Limbaugh has yet to realize that his act has grown tired.

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