Limbaugh "kind of like[s]" analogy that Obama "is the Donovan McNabb of the U.S. Senate"
SUMMARY: Rush Limbaugh said he "kind of like[s]" a listener's analogy that Sen. Barack Obama "is the Donovan McNabb of the U.S. Senate."
On February 7, nationally syndicated radio host Rush Limbaugh said he "kind of like[s]" a caller's statement that Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) "is the Donovan McNabb of the U.S. Senate." The exchange followed Limbaugh's discussion of the recent dispute between Obama and Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) over lobbying reform and was an apparent reference to Limbaugh's controversial comments about McNabb, who plays quarterback in the National Football League for the Philadelphia Eagles.
In 2003, Limbaugh resigned from his job as an ESPN commentator after saying about McNabb:
LIMBAUGH: Sorry to say this, I don't think he's been that good from the get-go. 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 frequently discusses the controversy surrounding his 2003 McNabb remarks -- most recently on his February 3 show.
On February 7, a caller told Limbaugh: "Barack Obama is the Donovan McNabb of the Senate. He's overrated, and he's going to get a free pass by the media. If you listen to him talk, nothing comes out of his mouth -- it's spin. He was on a show a couple of weeks ago. He just got back from Iraq. And they put this guy on a pedestal. He says nothing at the end of the day -- nothing at all. And he's the rising star."
Asked by Limbaugh, "Why do you think he's the rising star?," the caller responded: "Oh, they're putting him up because he's well spoken, he's well mannered, he gets in front of the camera, he has a presence, but he says nothing." The caller added: "He looks -- he's like a Bill Clinton, but just a different shade, that's all."
Limbaugh then stated: "I kind of like that analogy that he's the Donavan McNabb of the U.S. Senate ... in the sense that he is being propped up ... because they want to see him do well."
From the February 7 broadcast of The Rush Limbaugh Show:
CALLER: Well, I -- my point was, Barack Obama is the Donovan McNabb of the Senate. He's overrated, and he's going to get a free pass by the media. If you listen to him talk, nothing comes out of his mouth -- it's spin. He was on a show a couple of weeks ago. He just got back from Iraq. And they put this guy on a pedestal. He says nothing at the end of the day -- nothing at all. And he's the rising star.
LIMBAUGH: Well, the reason --
CALLER: And --
LIMBAUGH: Why do you think he's the rising star?
CALLER: Oh, they're putting him up because he's well spoken, he's well mannered, he gets in front of the camera, he has a presence, but he says nothing. He looks -- he's like a Bill Clinton, but just a different shade, that's all. And you know, you were right about [Sen. Joe] Lieberman [D-CT]. In this Connecticut area, there's a groundswell now with some local senators and representatives in his district saying, "Based on his stance on the war, let's not re-elect Joe Lieberman." So, if you're a Democrat, you go against it, so now Lieberman is, by his own party in Connecticut -- the groundswell is starting. But they'll put him -- Barack Obama -- on a pedestal.
LIMBAUGH: Yeah, well, I don't know. I kind of like that analogy that he is the Donavan McNabb of the U.S. Senate --
CALLER: Don't say too much about him, Rush.
LIMBAUGH: -- in the sense that he is being propped up. He's being --
CALLER: Oh, yeah.
LIMBAUGH: Yeah, because they want to see him do well. Well, they've already invested in -- I mean, you just heard [CNN senior political analyst] Bill Schneider. He's the star of the party. He's the star of the Democratic Party.
I told you, the Pubs have declared war on Obama. Moreover , Limbaugh's race baiting again. An AA couldn't have possibly attained success on his own merit. So I guess the people of Illinois were engaging in social engineering when they elected Obama to represent their interests in the Senate. Limbaugh is sickening.
I tend to agree with you here - I don't live in Illinois so I have no clue as to Obama's effectiveness. But what is with all this propping up stuff anyway? Obama should be judged the same as anyone - regardless of his color.
Limbaugh is just Limbaugh.........
Limbaugh's re-invoking of his ESPN disgrace (now Victory?) serves to mind us all of this administration's (and it's advocate's) most overwhelming insult:
ARROGANCE
...Who cares what People think, when we can say (and do) what we want.
It is considered by them nothing less than...
IMMUNITY
...from all legal penalty, and from all Public backlash; as they are the owner's of the Public's...
AIRWAVES
...(or at least the cable outfits) a strange thing to own; but nothing to control.
Public Opinion.
Regarding McNabb, Rush NEVER said anything prejudice about McNabb, nor is he saying anything prejudice about Obama. The point made on both cases is is some of the public and in the media they have such a desire to see these people succeed that there's a lot of hype around them and very little criticism allowed.
I don't think I can add to that.
"Them".
I can't add to that one, either. Funny how one word, one turn-of-phrase, can say a lot.
Talk about taking out of context!!! "These people" being McNabb & Obama. I had already address who I was talking about in the previous sentences. Just like referrring to someone as "him" after addressing who "him" is. Libs aren't happy unless they think anyone with a Conservative viewpoint in somehow prejudice. You sure missed it here!!
You said the media has "such a desire to see these people succeed". You infer it is because "these people" are black, just as Limbaugh did, not because they actually might be good at what they do.
No, I was referring to these people as the people who are the topic of the subject. McNabb and Obama. Again, you take out of it what you chose to see rather than the actual facts.
Sure you were. Be disingenuous if you want, but you know that Limbaugh's point is that they're getting a free ride because they're black. He even said so in the ESPN segment concerning McNabb.
If you lived in the Philadelphia area and checked the media out (such as the case that I do) you would find that McNabb is criticized on a regular basis - so obviously you don't know the whole story here.
Then again they hate it when Bush gets criticized and the case with him is that it is often deserved.
Trust me when I tell you McNabb doesn't get a free ride here - It gets rather ugly, especially on the sports talk radio here, with people often hurling bigoted comments about him.
I'm just surprised we haven't heard more bigoted commentary from the conservative pundits with regards to Sen. Obama..
They show their true colors though, time and time again..
So how much was he criticized back about 2 or 3 years ago when Rush made his comment. It's funny you bring this up because I heard just the other day a sportscaster on ESPN said we need to be less critical & more supportive of black quaterbacks.
As far as Obama is concerned, he really hasn't had anything said much about him because he really has done much (not unlike many Freshman Senators). When is the last time you heard anything about Senator Burr? Should either be looked at any differently ? Give it up people-it's not a race issue!
Having lived in Philly for years, I can tell you that Spintronic is absolutely right. The City of Brotherly Love has probably the toughest fans and sports media anywhere, and color has nothing to do with it. Ray Rhodes got raked over the coals years ago, and he's black; but Rich Kotite before him got it just as bad, if not worse, and he's white.
There were two reasons people laid into Rush back in 2003. First, the notion that McNabb was getting a free pass was not only offensive to McNabb and other black players - it was offensive to the sports press and the fans. True Philly fans and the Philly sports press don't appreciate an interloper like Rush sticking his nose into their business, especially after the critical drubbing Rhodes, Derrick Coleman, Allen Iverson and many others have taken over the years. The notion that anyone was going easy on McNabb because of the color of his skin was a slap in their faces.
Second, Rush's comment was proof that he is completely ignorant about football. McNabb was having a great year - he had an even better year in 2004 (please don't bring up 2005 - it pains me to think about it, although it illustrates again how tough Philly can be on black athletes - right, T.O.?).
When Rush got that ESPN gig, a lot of football fans went nuts, regardless of their politics. Who was this slob to get a dream job when he knew absolutely nothing about the game, never played, never coached, never did anything except make stupid jokes about "Environmentalist Wacko NFL Picks" (quite possibly the lamest bit ever braodcast on radio)?
He was awful at it from Day 1, and it was pretty obvious that he needed to go - ESPN was just looking for an excuse. I guess they thought Rush would be "controversial," like Dennis Miller was on MNF.
The problem is that spouting conservative propaganda gets really boring after a while, unless you are a true believer. Miller and Rush were boring, and no one cared about their politics during a game.
With sports, you get instant feedback - if you make your picks on Thursday morning, and it turns out you got most of them wrong right by the end of Monday night, people aren't going to listen to you.
With politics, it takes longer, and you can spin who really won. So you can blind the gullible into thinking that maybe you know something when you actually don't have a clue.
That's why the right-wing pundits hate MMFA so much. This site actually shows how wrong they are about so many things; MMFA is calling folks like Rush on their percntages. And with a track record as bad as some of these clowns have, after a while, who will listen to anything they have to say?
At a football game I once saw Philly fans boo Sants, now THATS TOUGH
I was at Opening Day once for the Phillies, and Miss Pennsylvania came out to sing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" at the 7th inning stretch. By the time she hit "1,2,3 strikes..." the boos were almost drowning her out.
But, man, I miss the cheesesteaks...
Republicans always deny it, but the race issue is always mixed in with their thoughts on just about anything. Football, black players; abortions, black babies; traditional values, back when blacks couldnt vote. I am turned off by the gangsta culture myself , but I rarely hear people get offended by the mafia wannabe culture (sopranos etc). T he NY Post will have editorials about the decadent rap culture, and also an article written by Victoria Gotti.
I live in Illinois.......I voted for Senator Obama....And yes....he has done a great job for this state to this point!!!
As for Rush and his little ditto-head callers having anything intelligent to say, let alone anything of substance.....
The most dangerous place to be is between Rush Limbough's mouth and the microphone in front of him!!
My guess here is...like every other Democrat.....this right-wing nut-jobs are only ENVY(ious) of Senator Obama because he knows his stuff!! He is young and has many great ideas...
And the neo-con base can't stand it that we have an up and coming star on our side.....that is why they attack him now....
You see....thats how they do it!! Attack before he/she gets to big.....problem is.....with Senator Obama.....its to late!!
I'm also from Illinois and I am proud that we have two fine Senators in Obama and Durbin. The late Paul Simon is probably beaming down from heaven on both of them.
Rush Limbaugh on the other hand makes me wish for the return of the Fairness Doctrine.
"they have such a desire to see these people succeed "...Shannon
So now it's "these people". No prejudice there, eh? Face facts. Lowbrow is simply a lying jerk and closet racist. He wouldn't know a fact if it smacked him in the face... which ain't such a bad idea.
I don't think his racism is all that "closeted." He's practically proud of it. And that makes him that much more despicable.
It looks to me like the right is revving up the attack machine and going all out with their strategy to stay in power. They've got the deck stacked now and it's their deal.
They're even reviving things that got them in trouble a short time ago like Rush's McNabb comments. What other tactics will they dredge up? Dissent is treason. Heros' are cowards, civil rights leaders are racist, they hate us for our freedom, terrorists surveillance wiretaps, It's the Clintons fault, or maybe Jimmy Carter. And there's still that Roosevelt guy and his Social Security plan that we need to trash. .
It's scorched earth with these guys. Thank God none of them had to expend all of their macho bravado in Vietnam. It was good for this country that they saved it up and can unleash it on us now.
I've been reading a lot lately that our first Republican president wrote. (How strange is that, a president actually writing his own speeches.) A few phrases that come to mind that the people in power today should remember. "Better Angels of our natures" , "last full measure of devotion", and especially "..and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."
I think Mr. Lincoln would be weeping today.
made this comment he wasn't wearing that dog's breakfast of a tie he had on when he talked about McNabb. That's why got him fired - and it should have, too! It was Ug Lee!
... because he still thinks the same way about Donovan McNabb. He doesn't learn or change, because he's perfect the way he is. Even when Rush is wrong, he's right, and he loves nothing more than sycophantic callers letting him know they haven't forgotten the ill-considered opining that lost him a job.
Along with France, Rush has become irrelevant.
two things limbaugh is clueless about. limbaugh should have lost his job just for the simple fact that he knows nothing. to think that the eagles were playing him for some sports social program is absurd. after his remarks, mcnabb got them to the super bowl, but he was injured most of this year. all mcnabb would have to do is put himself out there on the market and he would have teams lined up, and for the simple reason that he can play. i'd love to have him for my dolphins. newsflash to rush: coaches live and die on their won loss record. if a guy was green and he can throw, that's who plays.
...that knows nothing about football, appearently. Mc Nabb, in 2003, the year year Rush made his comments, got knocked out of the playoffs by Carolina. Sorry, dude.
that it was it was 2003 that they went to the super bowl. i said it was after rush's comments. but thanks for supporting my argument about rush. how did a guy who's only a social engineering project even get them to the playoffs? got an explanation for that one, dude?
When management finally got a true #1 WR for the offense McNabb had his best season since he's been in the league culminating in a super bowl appearance..
So yeah, not bad for a so-called "social engineering" experiment.
I guess Joe Gibbs was running a social engineering experiment too when he put in Doug Williams, culminating in the Redskins winning a super bowl..
The conservative pundits are truly full of it!
has to put with racism is nothing compared to what Doug Williams put up with in his career.
Rush's remarks weren't racist at all. But he was not supposed to be political on the show.
McNabb has to face the toughest media and fans in Philly, but McNabb also likes to play the race card himself, as he has done in contract negotiations and his complaints that T.O. wanted a QB like Brett Favre.
"I think what we've had here is a little social concern in the NFL,'' Limbaugh said. "The media has been very desirous that a black quarterback do well. They're interested in black coaches and black quarterbacks doing well ... McNabb got a lot of the credit for the performance of the team that he really didn't deserve.''
(Sports Illustrated Article quoting Rush.)
Everyone can decide for his or herself, I guess, whether that's racist.
...of my original post where i said rush knows nothing of football, he must be involved in that conversation. but he is the first one to bring up the issue of racism. i said that after rush's remarks mcnabb went on to go to the super bowl. and yet rush still repeats his same garbage. so leatherhelmet is trying to make the discussion about racism. it wasn't.
This is the famous 2003 quote that resulted in his resignation from ESPN.
"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,'' Limbaugh said. "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."
[link to espn.go.com]
Two key facts about McNabb: He's black and he's a quarterback. The quarterback has special significance in football. He is the on field leader. (See Al Pacino's soliloquy to Jimmie Foxx on the importance of the quarterback in the film "Any Given Sunday")
Third key fact. The percentage of first string black quarterbacks is low in the NFL compared to other positions.
Fourth key fact. The percentage of first string black quarterbacks in the NFL has significantly increased in recent years and several have had extremely successful seasons (McNabb, Vick, McNair, Culpepper immediately come to mind). Based on fact #4, Limbaugh's claim makes absolutely no sense. There is no reason for anybody to artificially prop up any black quarterback. The track records of several speak for themselves.
Limbaugh says, "The media has been very desirous that a black quarterback do well" as if black quarterback had not done well or really can't do well. As if they are not as good as white quarterbacks.
In that Sen Obama is the only Black senator presently. I take it the people of Illinois thought well of him enough to put him there, regardless of color so.
When Limbaugh takes shots at Obama, he's taking shots at the good people of Illinois..
If he gets a free pass from the media (which I don't believe for one minute) will a Republican Senator of color get one as well??
(J.C. Watts, anyone??)
You won't hear Limbaugh or any of the other conservative pundits say anything about free passes for Republican legislators of color. Oh no, not at all - because to them when your a Republican that means you're off of the "Democratic Plantation"..
geez...
Rush and his caller are on to something here. If Barack Obama weren't Black he'd be nothing more than another Freshman Senator. Instead he's given {artificial} rising star status by the Democrats, pandering as usual, helped along by the accommodating liberal media. What has this guy accomplished to deserve so much attention? The answer is nothing special. How about we wait till this guy has a term or two under his belt before we treat him like the second coming?
Obama is getting attention because he is a charismatic speaker and its a little early to be talking about accomplishments his freshman term in the minority party. His remarks about Donovan were pure racism. McNabb is an excellent qarterback, along with several other excellent black QBs. Limbuagh was vilely touting his racist inferrence that if he were not black he wouldnt be considered so good. Its nonsense.
Please show me where the comments made by Rush were in anyway attacking McNabb or showing prejudice. Where is the caller doing it? I honestly don't see it, and personally I think it is only because some people only WANT to see prejudice.
CALLER: Well, I -- my point was, Barack Obama is the Donovan McNabb of the Senate. He's overrated, and he's going to get a free pass by the media. If you listen to him talk, nothing comes out of his mouth -- it's spin. He was on a show a couple of weeks ago. He just got back from Iraq. And they put this guy on a pedestal. He says nothing at the end of the day -- nothing at all. And he's the rising star.
There can be no doubt that this caller knew all about Limbaugh's history with Donovan McNabb - he didn't just pull the name out of a hat.
Rush's point about McNabb was that he was being given credit when it wasn't due, and that was because of his race. This caller is saying the same thing about Obama.
Now, Rush was absolutely wrong about McNabb, for two reasons:
First, McNabb was having a great year in 2003, and he had an even better year in 2004. McNabb deserved all of the credit he was getting.
Second, black athletes, including football players, are regularly excoriated in Philadelphia, and elsewhere. The idea that McNabb was getting a "free ride" is laughable on its face to any Philly sports fan.
So this caller - again, knowing the full history of Rush and McNabb - tried to extend Rush's false statements over to Obama. The implication - no, it's not even implied, it's clearly stated - is clear: Obama, like McNabb, gets treated well by the press solely because he is black.
I find that to be a racist sentiment, because both McNabb and Obama are gifted, successful, and deserve the accolades they have received.
LIMBAUGH: Well, the reason --
CALLER: And --
LIMBAUGH: Why do you think he's the rising star?
CALLER: Oh, they're putting him up because he's well spoken, he's well mannered, he gets in front of the camera, he has a presence, but he says nothing. He looks -- he's like a Bill Clinton, but just a different shade, that's all. And you know, you were right about [Sen. Joe] Lieberman [D-CT]. In this Connecticut area, there's a groundswell now with some local senators and representatives in his district saying, "Based on his stance on the war, let's not re-elect Joe Lieberman." So, if you're a Democrat, you go against it, so now Lieberman is, by his own party in Connecticut -- the groundswell is starting. But they'll put him -- Barack Obama -- on a pedestal.
Here, the caller is refuting himself. It is EXACTLY because Obama is an excellent communicator (funny how Reagan is luaded for that gift, but for Obama and Clinton, it's just con artistry) that he is touted by his party. It is EXACTLY because he presents a positive, progressive message (in contrast to Lieberman) that he is a "rising star."
Obama's talent is praised by his party. Does the fact that he is black help? OF COURSE! People in the Democratic party celebrate minorities who have talent and are successful (as opposed to fearing them).
But would Obama be a rising star if he wasn't talented and successful? Would he be lauded if he wasn't "...well spoken, he's well mannered, he gets in front of the camera, he has a presence..." OF COURSE NOT!
LIMBAUGH: Yeah, well, I don't know. I kind of like that analogy that he is the Donavan McNabb of the U.S. Senate --
CALLER: Don't say too much about him, Rush.
LIMBAUGH: -- in the sense that he is being propped up. He's being --
CALLER: Oh, yeah.
LIMBAUGH: Yeah, because they want to see him do well. Well, they've already invested in -- I mean, you just heard [CNN senior political analyst] Bill Schneider. He's the star of the party. He's the star of the Democratic Party.
So Limbaugh buys into the notion that Obama doesn't have any real political skills. Didn't he see his speech at the 2004 Democratic Convention? If he just got up and mumbled, is Rush saying he would still be a "star"? Really?
Sorry, that's racist. When you ADMIT, as this caller did, that someone has talent, but then say that he is only where he is because of the color of his skin, that's racism.
The caller said that Obama is an excellent communicator but doesn't say anything. It is laughable.
perhaps a return to " see spot run" would be in order for you. mcnabb is "overrated" and he's being "propped up". sounds like an attack to me.
"[Obama] seems to 'fall in line' with the obstructionist ways of the left, which to me is not flattering."
If only the left were obstructionist. During the Clinton years (I apologize for going back in time) 60-ish judges never got a hearing/vote; under Bush about 5 to 10 - and the left was called obstructionist. How many tax cuts for the wealthy ("By far the vast majority of tax cuts will go to those at the lower end of the economic spectrum") were "obstructed?" Seems to me Bush has had it pretty good...
Thank goodness the Social Security plan was obstructed, and we hope the same will be true for those medical savings accounts...
If you listen to him talk, nothing comes out of his mouth -- it's spin.
Is this from Limbaugh, or about Limbaugh?
He was on a show a couple of weeks ago. He just got back from Iraq.
Ah, it must be from Limbaugh. Goodness knows he'd never go to Iraq.
Obama, will probably be a 2012 or 2016 presidental candidate. Rush and his knuckle heads will do anything to make him look bad.
Obama is the real deal!!
Rush is and idiot!!! and his ditto heads are even worse.
that in this country, if you are the member of an organization - whether it is an athletic team, a school class, or a legislative body - and you are the ONLY person in that organization who has a darker shade than the other members, YOU WILL HAVE ATTENTION PAID TO YOU, PARTICULARLY IF YOU ARE SUCCESSFUL IN THAT ORGANIZATION.
There will be those - like Rush - who will say your accomplishments are nothing more than the result of "propping up," and, "a desire to see someone of {insert race/ethnicity/gender here} succeed," as though it is impossible for that person to succeed on his/her own merits.
Thus, when a Barack Obama or a Donovan McNabb DOES succeed, it can't be without some type of detracting qualifiers attached, such as "he just got back from Iraq. And they put this guy on a pedestal."
This refusal to see the accomplishment of somone different from themselves as due to anything other than "social engineering," my friends, is RACISM.
And if Shannon and Leatherhelmet can't understand this simple fact, I suggest you go back to pre-K and start over . . .