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.