Under Fire, Rush Now Faces Drug Allegations

Thursday, October 02, 2003



NEW YORK  — Political commentator Rush Limbaugh put one controversy behind him Wednesday night, resigning from ESPN's "Sunday NFL Countdown" after a firestorm erupted over his comments concerning Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb and the media.

But Limbaugh woke up the next morning facing a new, more serious problem: allegations he illegally obtained and abused prescription painkillers in Florida.

The New York Daily News, without identifying its source, reported in Thursday editions that Limbaugh was being investigated by the Palm Beach County (search) state attorney's office.

The newspaper said it had independently confirmed the allegations, which were first reported by the supermarket tabloid the National Enquirer.

•Video: Rush Under Fire

A spokesman for the Palm Beach County state attorney's office told The Associated Press his office could neither confirm nor deny that an investigation was under way.

Keven Bellows, an executive with the Premiere Radio Networks, which syndicates the politically focused "Rush Limbaugh Show," read a statement from Limbaugh on Thursday morning.

"I am unaware of any investigation by any authority involving me. No government representative has contacted me directly or indirectly. If my assistance is required, I will, of course, cooperate fully," the statement said.

The Enquirer had interviewed Wilma Cline, who said she became Limbaugh's drug connection after working as his maid, according to the Daily News. She said that Limbaugh had abused OxyContin (search) and other painkillers.

OxyContin is a pain reliever that contains a very strong narcotic similar to morphine and is only intended for moderate to severe daily pain, according to the Food and Drug Administration. Daily use of OxyContin can result in physical dependence.

Ed Shohat, a Miami lawyer for the Clines, said Thursday, "The Clines stand by the story." Shohat said neither he nor his clients would comment further. The identity of the second named Cline was unclear.

Limbaugh's lawyers could immediately not be located by The Associated Press for comment.

Limbaugh late Wednesday said he was resigning from his ESPN gig because he regretted causing "discomfort" to his colleagues, but he stood by his statement that McNabb  was overrated because the media wanted to see a black quarterback succeed.

On Sunday, 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 ... There is a little hope invested in McNabb, and he got a lot of credit for the performance of this team that he didn't deserve. The defense carried this team."

Limbaugh was "way off base with that comment," FOX NFL Sunday host James Brown told Fox News. "I've not seen any examples of the media pandering to a quarterback because he is black."

Radio talk-show host and columnist Armstrong Williams told Fox News it was unfortunate that Limbaugh inserted race into the discussion, but said that “If Rush was black he would’ve been saluted for spiking the ratings, he would’ve been given a raise and certainly wouldn’t have resigned. ... The media does go out of its way to celebrate black quarterbacks and coaches.”

Leo Terrell, civil-rights attorney and fellow radio talk-show host, countered that the resignation was necessary.

"He made a racist comment and should resign," Terrell said, adding that pro football is a colorblind activity.

"You think the Philadelphia Eagles are going to put millions of dollars into a player who isn’t performing?" he asked.

Seven black quarterbacks started games last weekend. Two other black quarterbacks who regularly start were out with injuries.

Limbaugh, on his radio program, said people were angry with him because he was correct.

"If I wasn't right, there wouldn't be this cacophony of outrage that has sprung up in the sports writer community,” he said.

During a speech Thursday at the National Association of Broadcasters (search) convention in Philadelphia, the city where McNabb plays, Limbaugh said he’d been making pointed social commentary for years. The problem, he said, was not his.

“It’s not people like me who have put codes on speech and codes on thought, but they [his critics] band together and apparently they can ruffle enough feathers and scare enough people,” Limbaugh said. “On the radio program, none of this affects me.”

Limbaugh's initial comments sparked outrage from politicians, the NAACP and McNabb himself.

Democratic presidential candidates Wesley Clark, Howard Dean and the Rev. Al Sharpton had called for ESPN to fire Limbaugh. Clark, a retired Army general, called the remarks "hateful and ignorant speech." Dean, a former Vermont governor, labeled them "absurd and offensive."

The NAACP called the remarks "bigoted and ignorant," and called for the network to fire Limbaugh or at least provide an opposing point of view on the show.

McNabb had said earlier Wednesday that he didn't mind criticism of his performance, but was upset that Limbaugh made his race an issue and said it was too late for an apology.

"It's somewhat shocking to hear that on national TV from him," McNabb said. "It's not something that I can sit here and say won't bother me."

Chris Berman, who anchors the ESPN show, said he did not believe Limbaugh's tone or intent was malicious.

"As cut and dry as it seems in print, I didn't think so when it went by my ears," Berman said. "I probably should have looked to soften it."

Limbaugh issued a statement on the remarks Wednesday, saying his comments were not racially motivated but instead were directed at the media.

"I offered an opinion. This opinion has caused discomfort to the crew, which I regret,” Limbaugh said. "I love 'NFL Sunday Countdown' and do not want to be a distraction to the great work done by all who work on it. Therefore, I have decided to resign."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

May I reccomend a little Panama Red Rush?

Rush had a substitute host sitting in today. Gosh, I wonder why?

He was giving the keynote speech at the National Association of Broadcasters convention.

That you idiots would believe a tabloid is understandable. You've been weaned on Dumb Chumpski, commondreams, rense, Indymedia, yellowtimes, infoshop, and the like for so long you don't know the difference between super-market garbage and accurate news.

LA Times Article: http://www.latimes.com/features/health/la-091001vicodin.story

Gee, I wonder what the Rush Apologists will make of this?

Nothing. That's what.

It's not secret that liberals are full of rage and hate. That's what drives you. You hate Rush, you wish he would go away, your legislators have tried to pass laws to ban him (Fairness Doctrine), you've claimed for years you're going to have a liberal version of him on the radio, but you just can't win These attacks are nothing new, it shows your desperation.

He said he didn't do it, he has no knowledge of an investigation nor has he been contacted, but if for some reason he is, he'll cooperate fully. In America you still are innocent until proven guilty. I know you liberals hate that law, you'd like to take all your political enemies and have them either executed or placed in concentration camps. But until you drag us all screaming into marxist hell, it'll remain the law.

if you dare to disparrage the Rush Blimba, like green flies to s**t we

will have Bush Admirer defending the smell.

Flies to shit would be the left proping up Dumb Chumpsky and Co., you know, those people you get your marching orders from.

well niether can the green flies. They like the smell too.

If you think nobody notices you changing handles when posting insults....

Your childish "the sky is green because I say so" gives you away every time.

Idiots. BA didn't post that. I did.

I never post under the same name twice. That's my schtick. I used to post under the same name, both here and SF-IMC, but *I* became the issue rather than what I would say. That's par for the course for you liberals. You can't answer the ideological arguments of the right, so you have to turn to insults. By constantly changing nics, I took that away from you. And you Libs are so stupid you haven't figured it out yet. Typical.

If you want the "insluting stuff" to end, then make your own liberal/anarchist comrades stop first. If you don't, I guarantee I can dish it out better than anyone here.

if you are using the same rhetoric as Bush Admirer you get painted with the same moron brush.

As for the insults, you seem to be the one who throws them around.

Chomsky is dumb?

His analysis is backed up by mainstream information. You hate him because he makes the lies of the gangsters in our government apparent.

Dumb Chumpski is a lightweight. The only thing he's done of any value for himself is to tap into a Blame America First group who will pay the big bucks to buy his ramblings. He's playing everyone of you for suckers all the way to the bank. Good capitalist.

Let's look at the postings on this thread to see who's insulting who, shall we.

Original poster >For the Record - Rush is a big supporter of the "War on Drugs". Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha....

1st comment >DumbMasses don't get it.

May I reccomend a little Panama Red Rush?

2nd comment>Rush had a substitute host sitting in today. Gosh, I wonder why?

3rd comment>That you idiots would believe a tabloid is understandable.

So the first 3 left-wing posters all hurled insulting lauguage until the first right-winger did.

So, don't tell me who's throwing the insults. It's obviously the libs, MORON!

so go ahead, enjoy yourself.

Chompsky doesn't hate America, just the infestation that has corrupted its ideals.

I don't hate America, I hate the conflicts of interests and corruption that has used our people for farm stock and the constitution for T P.

Wallowing in the mud. Geez, do something better than that. If you don't recognize you're own comrades in that statement, you are in poor shape.

Chumpdork hates America. But he's learned to take advange of a bunch of maggot infested, dope-smoking, unwashed, unlearned idiots to send him to the rich house. Good for him. Someone needed to take advantage of these people.

Other than that, I disgusted with politicians, too. I'm convinced there's not a single of of them in Washington, D.C. or in the state houses who didn't get where they are by either sleeping with someone or being on the dole.

But you play with the cards you're dealt and you learn to use the system to your advantage, which is what I do. If others want to sit around and complain about it rather than figure out how to use it, that's up to them. If they change the system, I'll adjust to whatever changes and be just fine. That's not even a concern on my part.

Guy, I've been here since around March of this year.

I've made it quite clear why I'm here: 1) To laugh and make fun of them, and 2) the Conspiracy Theories. You can get the Bush bashing stuff on ABC, NBC, CBS, CNBC, MSNBC, CNN, PBS, NPR, NYT, LA Times, Boston Globe, USA Today or any other left-wing rag. That's tuff is 24/7/365 and a dime a dozen. The conspiracy stuff and Dumb Chumpski and Karl Marx worship is uniquely Indymedia.

The best one of late was that FEMA is going to throw us all into interment camps and that the FEMA camps are check-in stations for the invasion from space aliens. Those are going to be hard to top.