Friday, January 29, 2010

Limbaugh's Legacy

I just read that Rush Limbaugh is going to be one of six judges at this year’s Miss America Pageant. When asked about it, Limbaugh said, “ I feel comfortable judging people.”

Even if you ignore all the poppycock he espouses on his radio program, that statement tells you something about his ultra-conservative demeanor and megalomania posture.

My problem is that Limbaugh and O'Reilly and Beck are publicly sustaining the worst of noble conservative causes only because it increases their ratings and their pocketbook. Your choice in watching their programs puts millions and millions of dollars in their pocket. You may agree with their pontifications and that’s fine, but it does not validate what is true or truth. They have what is called a bully pulpit and as long as we all understand that, their protestations can be accepted or rejected by their listeners. I know they claim not to be a news program, but their actions and statements say otherwise.

I spent over 50 years as a practicing journalist embedded in the tradition of fairness and impartiality. Just the facts, as we knew them, were presented in a story so that you as a responsible citizen might evaluate, assimilate and accept or not. No opinion was proclaimed, portrayed or purveyed.

Every time I read or hear or see these purveyors of opinion portraying themselves as paragons of patriotic truth I am dismayed and disappointed in the American public’s ability to distinguish between opinion and fact. Unfortunately it is still true that people only hear what they want to hear. The cartoon adage is valid: "Don't confuse me with the facts, my mind is made up."

Back to Rush and his judgments. I wonder if he too wants to save the world from hunger as so many of the contestants proclaim. It may also be time to let this contest go by way of the Ford Edsel.

It’s interesting, you won’t find this year’s pageant on NBC or ABC, you’ll find it on The Learning Channel. Let us hope so.

3 comments:

Topher08 said...

Amen. When he first started out, in the late 80s, he was not bad, he was tolerable. However, I guess he has forgotten that he is a just entertainer and now, through self-imposed powers, deems himself worthy of judging people. This gives a great deal of insight to what his core value system is. Thanks for the post.

Anonymous said...

There are also "journalists" who are not impartial on CNN and MSNBC and others. Your list should include democrats who are certainly not objective in their reporting.

Anonymous said...

Yes! Thank you! If only those who have media exposure would use it for 'the good of all'.

 
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