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Limbaugh uses attacks on "manufactured crisis" of H1N1 to lead into ad for "far more helpful" Zicam

October 07, 2009 2:35 pm ET

From the October 7 edition of Premiere Radio Network's The Rush Limbaugh Show:

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Previously:

Limbaugh: "Screw you, Miss Sebelius, I am not going to" take H1N1 vaccine "precisely because you're now telling me I must"

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    • Author by wolf kotenberg (October 07, 2009 2:39 pm ET)
      2  
      Since when is Mr Limbaugh an expert on drugs ?
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    • Author by fantagor (October 07, 2009 3:00 pm ET)
      2 1
      To fatty's credit, 36,000 people die of flu EVERY YEAR, and nobody says a thing. But this flu, well, let's get everyone up in arms about it to sell more drugs and shots. So, thanks, Rush, for pointing out the hysteria, but get lost for hypocritically shilling for a product that will profit from the H1N1 rhetoric.

      Yes, I know, this strain is predicted to kill upwards of 90,000 Americans. But I repeat, where was the media attention for the 36,000 deaths per year times 30 years since the last swine flu outbreak?

      Randy
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      • Author by Conchobhar (October 07, 2009 3:15 pm ET)
        2 1
        That 36,000 number is well known, and all the major news outlets cover it each year, with their medical reporters recommending vaccination.


        The "hysteria," as you call it, is due the the fear that this one will be a pandemic, affecting 50% of the population, and killing, as you point out, three times that, and close to twice the number of dead killed in Vietnam. Not an insignificant number.
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        • Author by fantagor (October 07, 2009 5:12 pm ET)
          1  
          Ah, but the 36,000 that died last year WAS insignificant? Using your war analogy, that's 8 times the number of troops who've died in Iraq.

          Implicit in your argument is that we should only care about the flu when the expected death toll exceeds some unrelated threshold, like deaths in this or that war. Heck, in terms of WWII, H1N1 is nothing.

          Here's my problem with the coverage: like it or not, the "regular" flu is a pandemic EVERY YEAR. Take that 36,000 per year in USA and extrapolate it out to the world population. That's 780,000 per YEAR, EVERY year dying of the flu world wide, not counting the impact on less advanced cultures with less access to healthcare. So, possibly, we're talking a MILLION every single year, but of course that's not enough bodies to bother bringing it up. We only wait till a flue with a name shows up, then it's Armageddon.

          Randy
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          • Author by Conchobhar (October 07, 2009 10:42 pm ET)
               
            What I thought was implicit in my argument is that all media markets I know of do cover the flu every year, and do have their experts urge vaccination. What they don't cover, to my knowledge, is the particulars of the people who die. Are they unvaccinated, older, with compromised immune systems, etc.? If you came away thinking I consider 36,000 deaths insignificant I didn't make myself clear, because I certainly don't think that way.

            The fear of the H1N1 strain was that this would be "the one" to mutate into a killer like 1918's flu, with deaths in the tens of millions. It seems to have gone halfway. It's easily transmitted, but not usually deadly. That could still change, though we all hope it doesn't.

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      • Author by bintx (October 07, 2009 3:58 pm ET)
           
        This flu is unusual in that it was being contracted during "non-seasonal" months in GREAT numbers and that the most at risk are children and young people . . . we've had one 6 year old die in our area recently. A good friend's 17 year old asthmatic daughter came down with it last weekend and they had some very scary moments.

        This could be a nightmare scenario.

        Oh, and the media talks about the need for flu shots every flu season and the deaths. Most Americans shut it out because they think of the flu as a 24 hour stomach bug . . . having had influenza twice in my life . . . it ain't no 24 hour stomach bug. My SKIN even hurt! LOL!
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        • Author by fantagor (October 07, 2009 5:21 pm ET)
             
          Any flu bug will go after people with a weak immune system. That means the very young, the very old, the sick, and a fourth class created by doctors, people who habituate antibiotics. If you rely on antibiotics every time you get the sniffles, your immune system is probably weak. Antibiotics kill BACTERIA, not viruses. They also kill GOOD bacteria, such as those in your intestines, which is HALF of your immune system. A student of mine's best friend died of the flu at age 18...LAST YEAR. It was the regular flu, not some super flu, that killed her. I asked if her friend had been sick. No. I asked if her friend took antibiotics frivolously. Yes.

          Death by Big Pharm and Big Medicine.

          Randy
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          • Author by atheist (October 07, 2009 5:31 pm ET)
            1  
            Actually, the elderly are having a relatively easy time with H1N1. I read that it's because the genetics of H1N1 are such that it's a combination of or similar to other flus that have made the rounds already, and the older you are the more likely it is that you've developed at least partial immunity.
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        • Author by atheist (October 07, 2009 5:26 pm ET)
             
          Right on. H1N1 is known to be particularly harsh in young people. I'm not a fan of vaccines, but in this case I think they are warranted for the high risk groups.

          Alas, it's too late for me. I was swined a few weeks ago. It was mild as far as flus go, temp didn't exceed 102, but it was no fun. I felt awful the day it was setting in and was totally out of commission for 5 days after that. I can totally understand how it could get out of hand for someone who has asthma or some other problem. :(
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    • Author by pilotshark (October 07, 2009 3:00 pm ET)
      1  
      So just wear did you get your degree from? and what was your major?

      Oh thats right you dont have one and only major you have is that boil on your face (sorry i mean your azzz)

      but please keep spreading this news to all your dittoheads cause that will mean that the ones who really need it will get it.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by mewi (October 07, 2009 3:01 pm ET)
      1  
      Great the oldest advertising trick in the book... Ethics where art thou? X.X
      Report Abuse
    • Author by snoopy (October 07, 2009 3:05 pm ET)
      1  
      I've said it before, we could have lots of fun jerking the reich around. Just get Obama to order them to cheat on their wives and we'll see a stunning drop in rape and child abuse as they suddenly become moralists.
      Report Abuse
      • Author by Conchobhar (October 07, 2009 3:11 pm ET)
        1  
        That's so crazy it just might work.
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      • Author by all your eyes (October 07, 2009 3:24 pm ET)
        1  
        By that logic, he should go on TV a few days before the next election, and encourage everyone to go out and vote on election day. If the school speech fiasco is any indication, they'd stay home en masse...
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        • Author by NiceguyEddie (October 07, 2009 3:34 pm ET)
             
          Oh my god! Can you imagine?! He should try that leading up to next years mid-terms! His face and name should bewcome synonomous with "getting everyone to vote"! He should be EVERYWHERE, saying "No matter who you vote for, make sure you vote!"

          ---------------------------------------------------------------------
          The Dems would win every single open seat!
          Report Abuse
    • Author by enuf (October 07, 2009 3:24 pm ET)
      2  
      Hey Rush..... God called. She wants to know when you are going to start using the 'talent' she loaned you.
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    • Author by IRONY 101 (October 07, 2009 3:32 pm ET)
      2  
      Let me guess, Rush, you take Zicam by suppository...after grabbing your ankles?
      Report Abuse
      • Author by Conchobhar (October 07, 2009 3:39 pm ET)
        1  
        Thanks. There goes breakfast, lunch, and any hope of getting anything down at dinner.
        Report Abuse
      • Author by juliajayne1 (October 07, 2009 3:43 pm ET)
        2  
        Rush likes to talk ankle grabbing, but he can't do it himself ;-) Methinks he can't see his wee wee wee either.
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      • Author by pete592 (October 07, 2009 3:59 pm ET)
           
        Helps counteract anal poisoning.
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    • Author by pete592 (October 07, 2009 3:59 pm ET)
         
      Someone "manufactured" 2600 suspected cases of H1N1 at Washington State University.
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    • Author by jjamele2880 (October 07, 2009 4:05 pm ET)
         
      Sadly, this is not the only example of organizing your show around the sponsors. Pretty much every radio yakker talks about inflation and the collapse of the American dollar- and then does ads for Goldline International during the breaks in which they talk about "the decline of the dollar" and how gold is "real money." It's disgusting and dishonest and it makes you wonder how much of what they say is designed to please sponsors, rather than to express what they really think.

      And I include Air America and other liberal hosts in this criticism, they are equal opportunity offenders.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by New Frontier (October 07, 2009 4:33 pm ET)
         
      As far as I can tell via google, Sebelius never said anyone "must" get a shot. Limbaugh is lying. Shocking, I know...
      Report Abuse
    • Author by Craig (October 07, 2009 4:47 pm ET)
         
      Colbert's take on Limbaugh's favorite sponsor.
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    • Author by wzwriter (October 07, 2009 4:54 pm ET)
         
      Rush's "reasoning" is simple. He gets paid to promote Zicam - he doesn't get paid to promote the H1N1 vaccine. Capitalism at work....
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    • Author by atheist (October 07, 2009 5:36 pm ET)
         
      I'm thinking about this scenario ....

      Limbaugh fan hears Limbaugh promote Zicam as an H1N1 vaccine alternative, so Limbaugh fan decides to not get his small kids vaccinated. One of the kids falls ill with H1N1 and dies from complications. Limbaugh fan sues Limbaugh for misleading medical advice.

      Possible ?
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      • Author by phredicles (October 07, 2009 7:01 pm ET)
           
        Naah, not possible: Such a Lardbutt fan would find some way to blame President Obama.
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    • Author by canaanxing9025 (October 07, 2009 7:57 pm ET)
         
      I had Zicam in my cabinet: I just tossed it.
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      • Author by MiddleLeft (October 07, 2009 8:49 pm ET)
        1  
        I had Zicam in my cabinet: I just tossed it.

        The humor of this story is that vaccines do actually work, whereas the Zicam is pure quackery. It's homeopathy. "Medicine" where the ingredients are diluted to infinity. Millions of dollars in commerce based on the confusion between holistic and homeopathic.

        Rush attacks the established science of epidemiology while flogging quack medicine for his own profit.
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