This hour of the Limbaugh Wire brought to you by ABC “whoring itself out” to the White House
By Greg Lewis

The third hour of Mark Davis -- and the final hour before Rush makes his return tomorrow -- began with Davis expressing his approval that the new Cowboys Stadium will be named Cowboys Stadium, and won't be named with a corporate sponsorship -- even though he has “no problem” with the practice.

Then Davis moved on the health care and how ABC was “whoring itself out to this White House.” After detailing his personal feelings on various ABC News personalities -- saying that he liked Charlie Gibson, but didn't care about Diane Sawyer -- Davis complained about the upcoming health care special on ABC, singling out some of the language used in ABC's advertising for the program and falsely claiming that the special will “banish the opposing view.” Davis was also upset that ABC wouldn't allow an advocacy ad that was critical of Obama's health care plan to air during the special.

Also, there must be something in the EIB water, as Davis echoed Mark Steyn yesterday and Rush last week in claiming that there is no health care crisis, explaining that “there are people for whom health care is not important enough to even have it.”

Before the break, Davis teased an exchange between Chuck Todd and President Obama at today's presser in which, as Davis described, Todd tried to repeatedly ask Obama a question, but Obama essentially told Todd that he “doesn't appreciate his insubordination.” After the commercial, Davis aired the clip for us, in which Todd asked the president what the consequences would be for an international community that just stands idly by and doesn't criticize the Iranian oppression of protestors. Obama declined to enumerate those consequences, saying “we don't know how this is going to play out.” “Good job, Chuck,” exclaimed Davis. Davis continued to comment on the Obama-Todd exchange, attacking Obama for his “blanket statement,” saying that we don't need to wait because we already know how this has “played out”; it's played out to a sufficient degree where it's “time to do something,” he said.

But do what? Davis allowed that he wasn't talking about sending troops into Iran, but “rhetoric from an American president,” he said, can do “something.” Again we ask: do what? What can it do? And what rhetoric, beyond what Obama is saying, can do that magical “something”? Once again, there's never any explanation, just exhortations that Obama do that magical “something,” which will somehow empower the Iranian people to topple the theocracy and allow freedom and liberty to rain down on the streets of Tehran. And don't concern yourself with what that “something” actually is, just focus on the fact that Obama is “weak” for not doing it. Also, please note the irony of Davis saying Obama should “do something” as a riposte to Obama's “blanket statement” on Iran.

Then Davis took a caller who said the bumper stickers reading, “I support the troops but I don't support the mission,” are a lot like the polls with Obama: “I support Obama but I don't support his policies.” Davis said that was exactly what's going on here.

After the next break, Davis revisited Hall of Fame running back Jim Brown's comments on an upcoming episode of HBO's Real Sports that Tiger Woods is “terrible” as “an individual for social change.” Davis devoted a hefty chunk of time to this subject, pondering what black sports stars' obligations are to their communities. The answer to that question, Davis said, was that while there may have been some obligations in Jackie Robinson's time, there are “none” now. He explained this further, pondering such topics as whether we are in a “post racial” society. Anyway, after some rambling about Oprah, Davis concluded that if he had to choose between Brown and Tiger Woods for who has given back more to their community, he'd pick Tiger.

Then Davis took a quick caller who brought the subject back to Iran, saying that Obama is wrong to invite Iranian diplomats to Fourth of July celebrations. Davis agreed, saying that this is not “speaking truth to evil.” There's that phrase again -- that gauzy, idealized course of action that Obama should take, but doesn't include inviting Iranian diplomats to Independence Day celebrations. We have to assume that not inviting the Iranians over does qualify as “speaking truth to evil,” but that's a bit confusing, because that means you're ignoring them. Wait! We think we get it! You can't speak truth to Iranian diplomats by talking to them -- the only effective way to speak to them is to not speak to them at all.

After another commercial break, we found ourselves this much closer to not having to listen to Davis again for at least a few more weeks. He began by noting that Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX) said of the Waxman-Markey climate change legislation: "[Democrats] like to call it ACES but I call it C.R.A.P. -- continue ruining America's prosperity." Har har har, raucous laughter.

Davis took a few more callers to close things out. The first caller talked about the Jim Brown-Tiger Woods story, saying that he thought Tiger gave back to the community by being a great role model. Davis agreed. The other caller made some comments about the Iranian hostage crisis under President Carter, and said that if it happened under Reagan or anyone else, it would have been an act of war.

That's it for three consecutive shows of Marks (Davis-Steyn-Davis). El RushBo returns to the EIB microphone tomorrow. Until then, please peruse our Limbaugh Wire archives -- especially if you plan on hiking the Appalachian Trail, like some of us here at the Wire might have done recently.

Simon Maloy, Lauryn Bruck, and Zachary Pleat contributed to this edition of the Limbaugh Wire.

Highlights from Hour 3

Outrageous comments

DAVIS: I mean, there are people for whom health care is not important enough to even have it, willfully. They don't have it. “I'm 25. I'm healthy. Guess what? I got - you know, I need beer money.” Whatever logic leads you to that.

[...]

DAVIS: There will be no Republican voice to say," Yeah, Mr. President, lovely answer, except here's why socialized medicine is bad." “Yeah, Mr. President, lovely glib answer, but here's why the ridiculous amount of spending to do this is reckless and irresponsible.”

No one -- no one -- will be there to say that, because this is ABC, whoring itself out to this White House. It is as disgusting as anything.

America's Truth Rejector

Davis falsely claimed ABC's health care special would “banish the opposing view”:

DAVIS: But, this, on a key issue, for it to banish the opposing view, not just in the content of the show, but in advertising -- wouldn't even take ads from a group that wanted to run commercial spots that said, “Hey, here you are, watching the Obama view of the health care. You might want to think about these three or four things.” No! Wouldn't take it.