<div>It makes no difference now, but the all "news outlets" are now retracting the made up quotes attributed to Rush.
Here's an article by Jason Whitlock that touches on that issue, but also shows how utterly clueless Whitlock really is about racial and political matters.
Let me first apologize to Rush Limbaugh.</div>
Last week in explaining why NFL commissioner Roger Goodell needed to
put an end to Limbaugh's latest publicity stunt, I attributed racially
insensitive quotes to Limbaugh that I read in two Missouri newspapers,
saw on CNN and confirmed through a Google search. Prior to posting the
article, I never found a denial of these quotes by Limbaugh, and had no
reason to believe those statements were not true.
It
was unfair to Limbaugh. And I regret that. I've commented on some of
his earlier controversies. I've long been an admirer of his
broadcasting skills.
For the most part, I've never taken his
political commentary all that seriously. There are virtually no
modern-day political figures that I take seriously. Politics and
politicians are too dishonest and too controlled by financial
influences for my taste. I've never participated in American politics.
I've never voted.
<a href="http://images.video.msn.com/js/ch/channels.css" target="_blank">I am not right wing or left wing, Democrat or
Republican, liberal or conservative. I'm not beholden to any political
agenda. An examination of my work at FOXSports.com, the Kansas City
Star and/or any of the places I've worked previously would reveal a
free-thinking, hardcore independent. </a>
I dislike and distrust everybody equally.
<a href="http://images.video.msn.com/js/ch/channels.css" target="_blank">The
proof is in my work. As sports columnist, I went down to Jena,
Louisiana on my own dime because I wanted to understand the Jena Six
controversy. The way the "mainstream" media and Al Sharpton told the
story made little sense to me. My suspicions were confirmed after
visiting Jena. I wrote a long column for the Kansas City Star
explaining how a little-known white minister -- Alan Bean -- crafted
the Jena Six narrative, spoon-fed it to specific, liberal-leaning media
members/outlets and watched from the sidelines as his totally
one-sided, inaccurate narrative became accepted as fact by virtually
all major media organizations.</a>
<a href="http://images.video.msn.com/js/ch/channels.css" target="_blank">I pay a price for my independence.
I know what it feels like to be unfairly called a racist. It happens to
me almost every week after one of my columns. Depending on the topic or
the conclusion I reach, black and white people take turns arguing that
I hate black or white people.</a>
<a href="http://images.video.msn.com/js/ch/channels.css" target="_blank">My point is some days I'm
sympathetic to Limbaugh's plight. He's a push-the-envelope entertainer.
His parody song "Barack The Magic Negro" is one of the funniest things
I've ever heard on radio. It's not racist. It's genius.</a>
But on most days I see Limbaugh for exactly what he is: America's most successful race hustler.
<a href="http://images.video.msn.com/js/ch/channels.css" target="_blank">He
delights in labeling Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton as "race hustlers,"
but not surprisingly Limbaugh fails to inform his massive radio
audience that he hustles the same game as Jesse and Al, just on the
white side of the fence.</a>
<a href="http://images.video.msn.com/js/ch/channels.css" target="_blank">Limbaugh's radio empire is built on the foundation of
convincing white America that the country our forefathers stole from
Native Americans is being stolen by blacks and Mexicans. Barack Obama's
election to the presidency breathed new life into Rush's radio shtick.</a>
<a href="http://images.video.msn.com/js/ch/channels.css" target="_blank">Again,
I find much of Limbaugh's satire hilarious and appropriate. But there
are major strands of it predicated on preying on the biased fears of
white America. </a>
<a href="http://images.video.msn.com/js/ch/channels.css" target="_blank">Limbaugh's "Obama's America" spiel about two
black kids beating up a white kid on a school bus while other kids
cheered is the exact kind of irresponsible and evil race-baiting that
Limbaugh rails against when belittling Sharpton or Jackson. </a>
I've listened to the audio and read the transcript at RushLimbaugh.com of Limbaugh's "Obama's America" monologue.
The
point of Limbaugh's rant/satire is to divide, scare and breed contempt.
It's the equivalent of Sharpton's Tawana Brawley charade.
Limbaugh
has convinced his sycophants that he is some sort of "victim" in his
failed bid to own a piece of the St. Louis Rams. It's comical listening
to a man worth a half billion dollars claim victim status, especially a
commentator who rips poor minorities for claiming victimhood.
Since
my column last week, I've been inundated by Dittoheads who seriously
believe Limbaugh is some sort of freedom fighter standing up to the
establishment and injustice.
Freedom fighters don't get $100-million contracts. They get coffins and jail cells. Ask the Kennedys, King and Mandela.
What really irritates me about my column last week is that I certainly didn't need the quotes to make my point.
Limbaugh got involved with an effort to buy the Rams and commented on his involvement as a publicity stunt. In the
misleading and whiny editorial
he penned for the Wall Street Journal, Limbaugh acknowledged in his
opening paragraph that he anticipated public resistance and
controversy.
I'd write the exact same column if Sharpton and Jackson tried to buy a piece of the Chicago Bears.
It
doesn't matter that many of the owners enjoy Limbaugh's hustle or agree
with his politics. They earned or inherited their money legitimately,
and they don't spend three hours a day on the radio trying to stir up
racial animosity.
If that's not clear enough, think of it this
way: Steve Hirsch, the founder of Vivid Entertainment, is wealthy
enough to buy a piece of an NFL franchise. Porn is legal, enjoyed by
many football fans and probably a few owners. No one would think twice
if the NFL declined to associate its brand with Hirsch. No one would
think it unusual or unfair if feminists and sportswriters objected to
Hirsch purchasing an NFL franchise.
Nothing remotely un-American transpired with Limbaugh's ownership bid.
I truly regret undermining my message with these quotes.
You can e-mail Jason at BallState0@aol.com or find him on Facebook at facebook.com/jasonwhitlock.
Edited by: Colonel_Reb 
