Limbaugh has repeatedly smeared progressives, media by linking them to terrorists
May 11, 2009 4:38 pm ET
SUMMARY: In the fallout over comedian Wanda Sykes' comments about Rush Limbaugh, Media Matters has revisited the numerous instances in which Limbaugh has attacked Democrats, progressives, and the media by linking them to terrorists.
In the fallout over comedian Wanda Sykes' comments about Rush Limbaugh during her May 9 appearance at the annual White House Correspondents' Association dinner, Media Matters for America has revisited the numerous instances over the years in which Limbaugh has attacked Democrats, progressives, and the media by linking them to terrorists.
Examples from Limbaugh's nationally syndicated radio show and elsewhere include:
- June 24, 2008: Limbaugh stated: "I will guaran-damn-tee you there will not be a terrorist attack before the election. And you know why there won't be one? Because they want Obama elected." He later falsely claimed, "Hamas has endorsed Obama. Hamas has endorsed Obama." Limbaugh also asserted that "every time I hear [Iranian President Mahmoud] Ahmadinejad speak, every time I hear a tape from [Al Qaeda leader] Ayman al-Zawahiri or a so-called dispatch from bin Laden, whenever I hear from any of these Middle East Al Qaeda terrorists, I think I'm hearing Democrat [sic] Party talking points."
- April 15, 2008: Limbaugh asserted: "[T]he Islamofascists are actually campaigning for the election of Democrats. Islamofascists from Ahmadinejad to al-Zawahiri ... Osama bin Laden, whoever, are constantly issuing Democrat talking points."
- February 29, 2008: On Fox News' The O'Reilly Factor, guest host Laura Ingraham interviewed Limbaugh, who said, referring to a photograph of then-Sen. Obama dressed in traditional Somali clothing that was posted on the Drudge Report, that Obama "look[ed] like Ayman [al-]Zawahiri."
- September 20, 2007: Limbaugh claimed that Obama and bin Laden were "on the same page" with regard to the deteriorating situation in Pakistan. While discussing a newly released audiotape reported to be from bin Laden in which he calls for Pakistanis to overthrow then-President Pervez Musharraf, Limbaugh asserted: "Well, we've got another tape from -- I get these guys confused -- Osama bin Laden. Another tape says he's going to invade Pakistan and declare war on Pakistan and Musharraf, which, ladies and gentlemen, puts him on the same page with a Democrat presidential candidate -- that would be Barack 'Uss-Obama.' "
- July 2007: For several days in July 2007, a graphic on the front page of Limbaugh's website depicted a screen shot of C-SPAN's Washington Journal doctored to show bin Laden appearing as a guest identified as "Mr. Osama bin Laden, D-Afghanistan."
- October 19, 2006: Limbaugh declared that the recent surge in insurgent violence in Iraq indicated that "terrorists around the world, particularly those in Iraq, are voting Democrat today." Limbaugh maintained that "the terrorists, the Islamofascists, the jihadists" are the "key voters in this year's election," and that "[t]hey are trying to create as much havoc as possible; raise the level of violence in order to affect the midterm elections." He added: "What could be the best outcome for [the terrorists]? Cut and run, right? Whose strategy -- whose policy amounts to cut and run? Democrats."
- August 21, 2006: Limbaugh stated that even though then-President Bush pledged he would purportedly "never" criticize the patriotism of his political opponents, Limbaugh would continue to "challenge the patriotism of people who disagree" with Bush and his plan for Iraq "because the people that disagree with him want to lose." Limbaugh added: "It's about time we do challenge their patriotism. The far-left fringe in this country is actively seeking our defeat. A wacko judge in Michigan [presumably a reference to U.S. District Court Judge Anna Diggs Taylor, who had recently ruled that the Bush administration's warrantless domestic surveillance program was unconstitutional]: actively seeking our defeat. Jimmy Carter: actively seeking our defeat. Bill Clinton, John Kerry, and Al Gore may as well be seeking our defeat. So should [then-Connecticut Democratic Senate candidate] Ned Lamont [whose name Limbaugh pronounced like 'lament']."
- June 27, 2006: Responding to a June 23, 2006, New York Times article describing a secret Bush administration program designed to monitor international financial transactions, Limbaugh asserted: "I think 80 percent of their subscribers have to be jihadists. If you look at The New York Times and the kind of stories they're leaking and running and the information they're getting, it's clear that they're trying to help the terrorists. They're trying to help the jihadists."
- April 26, 2006: Limbaugh remarked that a new videotape released by al-Zarqawi "is an excellent opportunity to remind all of you that it sounds just like the DNC [Democratic National Committee] is writing his scripts now." Limbaugh also claimed that Zarqawi "sounds like Democrats," including "Howard Dean, Al Gore, Jimmy Carter, Harry Reid, Ted Kennedy, John Kerry ... Carl Levin, Nancy Pelosi."
- April 11, 2006: Limbaugh accused the Democratic Party of using the immigration debate as a "vehicle" to gain voters, proclaiming: "[I]f you're Al Qaeda, come on in over the southern border! The Democrats will take your votes as well!"
- April 8, 2004: Limbaugh stated: "Senator Kennedy, a simple question. Does it please you to learn who your friends are? Does it excite you, Senator Kennedy, to learn that the militant, firebrand, murderer of American civilians and military personnel is on your side, Senator Kennedy? Does it encourage you? Does it invigorate you? Does it inspire you, Senator Kennedy, to know that a murdering Al Qaeda-related terrorist has taken up your argument for use against his enemy? How does that make you feel, Senator Kennedy? Does it embarrass you? Because it should. Or does it probably excite you and think you're making headway now. You've got the enemy aligned with you."
Additionally, on the April 27 edition of his radio show, as an example of how "much fun" he and his guests "have when we get together," Limbaugh stated that one of his friends said that terrorists "don't need a second act, Obama is the second terrorist act." Limbaugh continued: "I mean, I had opinions at my house going all over the ballpark, and these are all, in their own right, involved, intelligent people, but somebody actually thought Obama is terrorist attack number 2, Obama is the follow-up to 9-11."
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Randy
But it goes to a deeper problem, and that is the nastiness and vitriolic atmosphere that has poisoned our politics. It was off the hook during the Clinton years, it went off the rails during Bush's term, and now it appears off the charts at Obama. It is sickening. I blame the Limbaughs for much of it, but it has to stop somewhere. It isn't about principled disagreement anymore, it's about crushing your political opponent, where lies and gutter insults drive the debate.
One person can't stop it, or control it. But I won't partake in it. I refuse to stoop to anyone's level.
I'll second Jon Wisby's Bravo!!!
There is no real solution to this because the real solution is for the media to condemn it and that will never happen.
Without the media, it's just like war. You can be anti-war all you want, but if your enemy wages war and you choose not to participate, you lose.
I watched in disgust during the 2000 and 2004 campaigns as Limbaugh and his vast army of small-market wannabees heaped steaming mounds of absolute bullsh*t on Gore and Kerry, with barely a response from either Democratic candidate.
Taking the high road against these Troglodytes might make one feel better, but it is ineffective in today's political climate. Now, maybe we don't have to stoop to their level, but we MUST respond.
As you point out, if the Press would do its job and call out these cockroaches for their lies, they might eventually become irrelevant. Unfortunately, the Media as often as not provide megaphones for these Right Wing liars.
Responding in kind only soils further an already soiled debate.
As you suggest, responding to attacks is a necessity, but it's not necessary to engage in "war", where you have to escalate along with the enemy.
She's a comedian. In my opinion, things were worse under President Reagan and Andrew Dice Clay.
Very well said.
If Republi-cons can somehow manage to regain control, America will look more and more like South Africa before the end of apartheid. Only it won't be about race it will be about ideology. Those who believe in the fear-mongering and lies will be allowed to exist in neighborhoods that look more like refugee camps and the rich will be allowed to plunder what they can.
On the other hand it will be a living hell for those of us who believe in freedom, fairness and the Constitution. If we do not submit to the Republi-con ideology we will be be allowed to work for a few dollars a days and be relocated to cardboard shanty towns or re-education camps where we will be freed from the error of our ways and be indoctrinated in to the mindless wing of the Republi-con party.
If you haven't read the book "1984" in a while this would be a good time to refresh your memory. This is the America the Republi-cons would leave us for generations to come.
On a brighter note, Clear Channel is about broke. I wonder what kind of job Boss Limbaugh will be able to find with a resume that reads - I lie and fear-monger for a living.
Then again, we can only hope...
Until then we will be stuck with snip-its of Limbaugh lying his bum off. Refusing to debate the facts or be questioned in any way. Leading his band of mindless cowards who, like a broken record, repeat his lies over and over again.
Now Rush can't lie as much because he'll be called on it. This is great because Limbaugh was able to severely damage this country with his lies before.
Limbaugh was too afraid to even respond to Sykes today because a million people would have brought up much worse things Limbaugh said. Now everybody knows there's no danger in going after Rush. His reign of terror is falling apart.
Thank you Obama and MMfA.
TRT
www.privacy-web.net.tc
What ... was it a month or two ago where some guy went on a shooting spree because Obama was going to take his guns away? There ARE people out there who are going to take these nuts' lies, conspiracies and impossible rhetoric seriously and act on it.
Take this speech last week where he spoke so elequently about the recession and how it doesn't effect rich white guys like himself and his followers ...