Summary Wed 11/18/92
John Switzer
for Wednesday, November 18, 1992
by John Switzer
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This unofficial summary is copyright (c) 1992 by John Switzer.
All Rights Reserved. These summaries are distributed on
CompuServe, GEnie, and the Internet, and archived on GEnie (NPC
Roundtable) and Internet (cathouse.aiss.uiuc.edu). Distribution
to other electronic forums and bulletin boards is highly
encouraged. Spelling and other corrections gratefully received.
Please read the standard disclaimer which was included with the
first summary for this month. In particular, please note that
this summary is not approved or sanctioned by Rush Limbaugh or
the EIB network, nor do I have any connection with them other as
a daily listener.
******************************************************************
November 18, 1992
NEWS
o David Broder's column in today's Los Angeles Times
reports on some amazing similarities between the situation in
Washington that awaits President-elect Clinton, and what
President John F. Kennedy had to face in 1960. Broder quotes from
Theodore Sorensen's book on Kennedy; Sorensen, senior White House
aide at the time, recalled a 1962 conversation he had with
Kennedy in which the President explained why he had been unable
to fulfill many of his campaign promises:
"Most of the Democrats on Capitol Hill had never served in
Congress with their own party in the White House. . . . What's
more, some of them figure they can make more news by opposing me
than by going along. Party loyalty or responsibility means damn
little. They've got to take care of themselves first. . . . Some
of them aren't as important as they were under Eisenhower,
especially in the Senate. A lot of the spotlight has shifted down
here now and they get damn little credit for their part."
Broder warns that Clinton faces many of the same challenges that
JFK had to deal with. Clinton's 43% plurality is less than JFK's
50% figure in 1960, although Clinton did receive a larger number
of electoral votes. Also, less than half of the Democrats in
Congress will have served under the last Democratic President,
Jimmy Carter, and "personal and institutional jealousies remain."
In addition, the Democratic majority in the next Congress has 3
fewer Democrats in the House and 8 fewer in the Senate than
Kennedy's Congress had.
Broder admits that Clinton's situation is not exactly the same as
Kennedy's, but he warns that Clinton "has another campaign to
run." Clinton will have to continue to sell his programs to the
voters so that he can claim a mandate that will push his
proposals through Congress. "But make no mistake," Broder warns,
"the challenge is just as big as the one he just completed."
MORNING UPDATE
The "General Election Project" was a document written during the
primaries by Clinton campaign officials as a blueprint for
changing public opinion about Clinton and his family. Back in
April the campaign noticed that 40% of the electorate didn't like
Clinton whom they perceived as a fast-talking, wishy-washy, lying
career politician. The people liked Hillary even less because of
her appearance as a woman who was in the race only for the power
she'd get as the next President's wife.
Thus, James Carville and other staffers devised what they called
a "blueprint of and behavior modification and media
manipulation." This detailed memo had 14 single-spaced pages and
called for Clinton to appear on TV talk shows, play the sax, and
make fun of his own statements that he "didn't inhale"; for Bill
and Hillary to "go on dates with the American people"; for Bill
and Chelsea to "surprise" Hillary, in full view of the media, on
Mother's Day; and for Hillary to be seen with "close friends
where Hillary can laugh and do her mimicry."
Rush is amazed at this memo, and asks "and these people called
Ronald Reagan `the packaged President?' Charming, isn't it."
FIRST HOUR
Items
o Rush was personally invited by Ann Margaret and her
husband Roger Smith to attend the opening of her show in Long
Island last night. Rush had never seen Margaret perform live on
stage, and "it was an hour and ten minutes of pure, clean class
entertainment."
Rush is not surprised that Bo Snerdley is smirking at this remark
about Margaret's class; Rush's date last night expressed similar
feelings that being classy is somehow old-fashioned. Rush,
though, was amazed at Margaret's ability to put on a great show
without one reference to anything remotely blue or lurid.
Margaret's act is a throwback to the days when people didn't have
to remove their clothes just so that they would get some
attention. Rush is not a prude, but he does appreciate Margaret's
true talent.
Rush points out that what Margaret does is similar to what he
does on his radio show - while some talk show hosts make a habit
out of hanging up on callers and then insulting them, Rush has
always eschewed this easy way of getting noticed. Similarly,
Margaret has avoided the "easy" ways of entertaining.
The theater Margaret was performing in was a theater-in-the-
round, which requires 110% out of any performer since this style
of theater tends to inhibit audiences. The comedian who was
Margaret's opening act had a hard time getting a response from
the audience since everybody can see everyone else; thus, when
the comedian asked if anyone was on a date, only one person
clapped. To succeed in this sort of theater is a real challenge
for any performer.
The performance ended at 11 p.m., and Rush and his date hadn't
had a chance to eat dinner before the show. Rush called Patsy's
who told Rush that they had already closed the kitchen, but they
reopened it for Rush and his date. The EIB staff asks if Rush's
date was impressed, and Rush says that not only was his date not
impressed, she has come to expect this sort of thing when she is
with him.
He had to laugh, though, because when he called Patsy's he was
told that it would be no problem to open the kitchen because
there were still people in the restaurant. However, when he
arrived he found the doors locked; when the staff let him in, he
was feeling somewhat embarrassed that he was the sole reason that
the restaurant's staff would have to stay late.
Rush asked why he wasn't told the truth when he called, and he
received the reply, "Look, we've got a new administration - we
can lie now." Rush had to admit that this was true.
o The EIB staff asks Rush if he is planning on seeing Spike
Lee's movie on Malcolm X, and Rush asks why should he need to see
the movie since every critic in the world has commented on it.
Granted this movie could be the greatest movie ever, but Rush
noticed that Spike Lee on Monday claimed that he never urged kids
to skip school to see the movie; Lee stated that all he ever said
was that "black families" should go to the movie together.
Rush and his staff ran a search on the Nexus databases, however,
and found that Lee was quoted in the Los Angeles Times as saying
that kids should skip school because seeing this movie would be a
better education for them than anything else they are getting in
the classroom.
Rush pointed this out in his TV show last night, as well as that
this movie cost $35 million; Spike Lee needed to get dozens of
investors, not to mention outright gifts from people like Bill
Cosby, in order to make it. Lee is thus claiming that this movie
must be a success so that Hollywood will no longer be able to
justify its political bias against making movies about black
leaders.
Rush points out that Hollywood is like anyone else - if movies
about black leaders will make money, Hollywood will make movies
about black leaders. Lee certainly wants his movie to make money,
but he isn't going to come out and say this because it would be
counter to the liberal creed which says that liberals are
motivated only by goodness and caring. Rush doesn't mind that
this movie was made or that people are going to see it, but the
fact remains that money is driving this movie just like it drives
any other movie.
Today's USA Today quotes a number of celebrities about the movie.
Susan Sarandon said that she was "shattered" when she saw the
movie, and she urged "every suburban high school kid to skip
school to see this movie." Rush points out that kids don't need
to skip school in order to see the movie since the movie is shown
at night and on weekends.
o Today's NY Times has the headline "Increasingly Reporters
Identify As Democrats." Rush has to laugh that anyone would think
this is news, yet he is glad the story came out since it has
cold, hard facts which prove the liberal tilt of the media.
o Clinton has changed his mind on Haitian immigration, and
Rush suspects that his show is responsible for this about-face.
o The woman out in Grand Forks, ND who was planning to file
child abuse charges against Rush for making disparaging remarks
about Chelsea Clinton has decided not to file the charges after
all. Rush issues a sigh of relief explaining "we were really
sweating that here."
o John Leo's column in this week's Newsweek has an
interesting list of all the "victims" that exist in today's
society, and Rush promises more on this later.
*BREAK*
Rush received a letter on CompuServe from a Boston Lake, NY man
who just talked on the phone with his partner, a woman who is
livid about Rush's comments on "hitting and spanking children."
Rush points out that he never said anything about hitting
children.
The letter writer continues on to complain that with all of the
problems America has with child abuse, "it is difficult to
understand your condoning of such idiotic behavior. Hundreds of
thousands of people listen to you, Rush. They trust in you, they
believe in you. Unfortunately, a lot of them aren't dealing with
a full deck, and tonight some kids are going to get the hell beat
of them because you gave the go-ahead signal to whack away. If
Rush says it is okay, it's okay."
Rush knows that this man and his partner have to be liberals
because 1) they are blaming Rush for child abuse, instead of
blaming those actually responsible for the abuse, and 2) they
have the typical liberal attitude that although they, the
liberals, understand how to deal with the dangers of Rush's radio
show, many people in America don't. According to these liberals,
Rush's listeners "aren't dealing with a full deck, your elevator
doesn't go to the top floor, you're a cup and saucer short of a
full place setting. You are idiots!"
At least this is what liberals think. Rush is amazed that
liberals can think that so many people are so stupid that they
can't see the dangers of child abuse. The letter writer says that
he and his partner are a song-writing team and recently wrote a
song titled "I'm Just a Little Kid." The writer hopes that these
lyrics "strike a chord" with Rush so that he doesn't "again
condone physical abuse of little kids."
Rush points out that he has never condoned physical abuse of
children, although he does condone spanking and discipline mainly
because discipline works. Rush will decide over the break whether
the letter writer's lyrics are worth sharing with his audience.
*BREAK*
Rush read the song lyrics to his staff, and everyone agreed Rush
should read them. Thus, Rush will recite the lyrics but first
wants to make sure that people don't think he is trying to make
fun of or ridicule the song. He mentions an associate of his who
is inundated on a daily basis about cruel and malicious things
Rush has supposedly said about mutual colleagues. None of these
are true, but this gossip just continues to spread. Therefore,
Rush wants to make it clear that he is simply trying to share the
lyrics with his audience.
"I'm Just A Little Kid" by two liberals
You hurt me when you hit me
I just don't understand.
Sometimes you say you love me with hugs and kisses
And suddenly you're angry.
What was it that I did?
I'm afraid, please don't hit me.
I'm just a little kid.
You hurt me when you hit me,
I really want to cry.
I hold my tears inside me,
And then I wonder why.
Don't you love me anymore?
What was it that I did?
I'm afraid, don't hit me.
I'm just a little kid.
I know I make you angry,
But what do you expect?
I'm just a little kid
And God's not finished with me yet.
Love me, don't hit me.
Tell me what you need.
Talk to me, I'll listen.
All I ask is please find another way.
We'll both be glad you did.
Please love me, don't hit me.
I'm just a little kid.
Rush tries to imagine Axl Rose's kids trying this approach, and
on second thought bets that they did, which is why Axl turned out
the way he did.
Phone Valerie from Orlando, FL
Valerie refers to the woman who was claiming Rush was guilty of
child abuse against Chelsea Clinton, and she points out that on
the fourth night of the Democratic Convention Tom Brokaw referred
to Chelsea as "a homely child." Valerie notes that the definition
of "homely" is not a flattering one.
Rush didn't know this about Brokaw, and wants to make sure that
Brokaw didn't actually say "comely." Valerie says that she
herself heard him say "homely." Rush adds that the whole
situation with the Grand Forks woman is absurd to begin with. He
didn't say anything negative about Chelsea - what happened was
that when Rush mentioned Chelsea's name, the picture of Millie
the dog was shown. Rush apologized that same night as well as on
the following night, explaining that this was just a technical
glitch.
Rush, though, promises to investigate Brokaw's comment, and
Valerie says it was when he was talking with John Chancellor.
Phone Christine from Columbia, SC
Christine just finished reading Rush's book and loved it. Rush
comments that his editor Judith Regan called him this morning to
tell him that sales and reorders are once again going through the
roof, and thus Simon and Schuster will have to do another
reprinting. Rush points out that this is happening after the
election, when he is supposed to be fading away into irrelevancy.
He adds that his book is also a big seller at many religious and
Christian stores.
Christine read in the paper about how Clinton is planning to
visit a poor section of the Washington, DC area, but buried near
the end of the story was a comment that Clinton will be flying on
a private plane and staying at an expensive private hotel. Rush
promises to explain this bit of hypocrisy on Clinton's part after
the break.
*BREAK*
Rush gives the facts for Clinton's trip to Washington, DC. The
first reports about Clinton's trip publicized how the Clinton
transition team rejected an offer by the Bush administration to
allow Clinton to use a military jet for the trip. President Bush
also offered Clinton the use of Blair House, the official State
residence.
Dee Dee Myers of the Clinton team put out a press release saying
that the Clinton transition team rejected Bush's offer because
they wanted to save the taxpayers some money. Myers said "thanks,
but no thanks. It's expensive to cover the cost of staying at
Blair House, and the jet would strain the $3.5 million transition
budget."
Marlin Fitzwater, however, said that he resents the Clinton press
release since it implies that the Bush administration was
offering overly luxurious accommodations, and Fitzwater noted
that the Clinton team asked for these things in the first place.
The White House released a November 9th letter from Warren
Christopher who requested government aircraft for both Clinton
and Gore. Christopher also wrote "I further request that
President Bush make Blair House available to Governor Clinton
when the Governor is in Washington during the transition period."
Thus, Clinton's people asked for all this and then turned it down
in a ridiculous and meaningless display. In reality, it will cost
more for Clinton to stay at the private hotel than it would at
Blair House since the only charge at Blair House is for
incidentals such as food. The suites which Clinton will be using
at the Hay-Adams Hotel range from $495 to $1200 a night. The
Secret Service and other staff costs also have to figured in.
The military jet would cost $26,000 per trip, and chartered jets
do cost less, but the point here is that Clinton is giving the
people a perfect example of what the exploitation of class envy
is all about. Clinton and his fellow liberal Democrats try as
hard as they can to convince the voters that they are just normal
working stiffs like everyone else. In truth, there are more rich
Democrats than Republicans in Congress.
It is thus incredibly brazen for the Clinton people to reject the
Bush administration's offer because they "want to save taxpayers'
money" in the full knowledge that they requested these things
themselves.
Rush recalls how Jimmy Carter would carry his own garment bag,
and people took this as a sign that Carter was just a normal
person like everyone else. In truth, the garment bag was empty -
it was nothing more than a prop. Carter couldn't carry his own
bags for a number of reasons - security, logistical, and so
forth.
Yet Democrats love to fool the people with little tricks like
these, even though they are so obviously transparent. Rush has to
marvel at how predictable Clinton is becoming; even though all
the talk during the campaign was about change, things seem to be
more the same than ever.
*BREAK*
Phone Bill from Sausalito, CA
Bill thinks Rush is missing the point about Spike Lee, and Bill
in fact thinks Lee and Rush are "on the same page." Bill says
that Lee's "Do the Right Thing" was clearly saying that blacks
have to take the initiative and stop expecting handouts. He
recalls how three blacks in the movie were complaining about how
the Koreans opened up a grocery store, but the three men never
did any work themselves.
Rush asks Bill to hang on over the break so that they can
continue this talk.
*BREAK*
SECOND HOUR
Phone Bill from Sausalito, CA (continued)
Rush asks Bill to explain what he means when he says he and Lee
"are on the same page." Bill says that Lee's movies are telling
blacks that they have to rebuild their communities from within
and stop expecting government handouts.
Rush has heard this before, that this is what both Malcolm X and
Louis Farrakhan were and are all about, but Rush asks how Lee can
believe this if he is a Democrat and liberal. Rush has to wonder
how much Lee is talking about separatism as opposed to true
self-reliance and integration.
Bill thinks the most important message of "Do the Right Thing" is
that blacks have to start shooting for the entry-level jobs and
work their way up; having a few highly-paid black celebrities
really doesn't do anything for most blacks. Bill recalls how Pete
Rose a few years back remarked on a controversy about how many
Major League Baseball managers should be black.
While one sociologist after another said that there must be black
managers because baseball has so many black players, Rose pointed
out that there are only 26 of these jobs in the entire world.
Rose asked if people really wanted this issue to be the emphasis
and focus of their efforts to help the black community.
Rush says that in much of the civil rights movement symbolism is
regarded as true achievement; symbolic victories, such as Al
Campanis' firing, are considered to be real gains for the
minority community. Getting rid of Campanis may have been the
right thing to do, but how did this help the black community at
large? Similarly, how does having two or three black managers
help other blacks?
This symbolism doesn't help the black community, but the civil
rights leadership tries to make their constituents believe that
they are real victories. Rush mentions Harry Edwards of Berkeley
who is the only "race coach" in the NFL; Edwards is on the
sidelines of every San Francisco 49ers game, and his job is to
help the black players deal with "the inherent unfairness of the
game." It's as if the black players on the 49ers aren't able to
help themselves should they fumble the ball; they need Edwards'
help to recover their self-esteem.
Bill says that in "Do the Right Thing" there is a good example of
symbolism. At the end the pizza parlor was burned down, which
meant that the only black guy in the movie who had a job (Spike
Lee) was out of work. Furthermore, this business no longer
existed to service the community, and as a result the entire
community suffered. Thus, Bill thinks that the uprising which was
supposedly against prejudice instead demonstrated the futility of
such violence.
Rush wants to return the Lee's motivation and whether he is
motivated by separatism. Bill thinks everyone arriving in this
country started out as separatists; immigrants first formed their
own communities, then over a few generations melded into the
general population. Thus, Bill thinks Lee may be saying that
blacks first have to coalesce together, form their own groups for
strength, and then later integrate into the American mainstream.
Rush recalls that Malcolm X was assassinated when he was only 14,
but he remembers how Malcolm X said many of the same things that
Mohammed Ali did. Both men railed against abuses within the black
community, such as how black men treated black women.
If Lee is really saying that the black community has to take care
of its own first, then Rush supports him. However, if Lee is
encouraging separatism, then his efforts are doomed to failure.
Blacks certainly have to depend on themselves, but this attitude
should not become so hate-filled that it becomes a "get even"
mentality.
Rush returns to the subject of Harry Edwards, who when some white
women were raped by some black football players blamed the women
for not knowing that the black guys wanted sex. Edwards said that
the women should have realized that by agreeing to go back to the
players' dorms that they were consenting to sex.
This, of course, is ridiculous, and is another example of
excusing excessive and unlawful behavior. Certainly whites are
not perfect, but getting one's house in order is a two way
street, and both blacks and whites need to apply themselves to
this end.
*BREAK*
Phone Kelley from Charleston, WV
Kelley is a 17-year-old who loves Rush, and she would like to
tell adults to stop giving kids mixed messages - adults tell kids
not to have sex, but then give them condoms. Rush says that he's
not hearing adults telling kids not to have sex; instead, he's
hearing people say that kids are going to have sex anyway, and
thus they should be given condoms.
Kelley says that her health teacher in junior high school has
been telling his students that they should not have sex. Rush is
incredulous that a teacher is actually saying that, and he bets
that the teacher will soon be fired. After all, in Jacksonville,
FL the idea of teaching abstinence was called a "trick."
Kelley also says that if Spike Lee really wants to educate
America's youth, he should send free copies of his movie to all
the high schools across the country. Furthermore, he should be
issuing calls for white people to go out and see this movie, too.
Whites definitely have a greater need to be educated about black
history than blacks do.
Rush admits that although he has mentioned the idea of free
movies, he hadn't thought about the need of whites to see this
movie. The fact that Lee isn't letting people into the movie for
free or sending free copies to high schools also shows that money
is a driving force in his desire to get blacks to see the movie.
For Lee to ignore this seems a bit hypocritical.
Rush praises Kelley for bringing up the point that whites in many
respects need to see the movie about Malcolm X more than blacks
do. Having only blacks in the audience is a lot like preaching to
the choir, which although is a fine thing to do, falls short of
what Lee has said his real goal is, i.e. changing attitudes in
America.
Kelley, however, would like to know why Rush never supports women
politicians, and Rush holds her over the break.
*BREAK*
Phone Kelley from Charleston, WV
Kelley says that she has never heard Rush support any women, but
she admits that she doesn't regularly listen to Rush because
she's at school. She asks if Rush would ever support any women
politicians. Rush sighs, and says that there are countless women
in politics whom he supports and admires. Rush is curious why
Kelley would feel a need to ask such a seemingly ridiculous
question.
Kelley says that her friends have been attacking her for
listening to Rush because Rush "never supports" women or for that
matter blacks. Thus, she just wanted Rush to state this on the
air so that she would have some proof for her rebuttal to her
friends.
Rush thanks Kelley for having the insight to realize that charges
that he hates women are ridiculous ones, even though this sort of
thing is often levelled at Republicans. He points out that the
Bush administration has more female appointees in high office
than any Democratic President, not to mention that the Bush
campaign had more highly-placed women than the Clinton campaign.
In particular, Rush wishes people like Mary Matalin had been even
more influential since this might have secured Bush's re-
election.
Rush, though, says that what he opposes is not women but
liberalism. He believes in rugged individualism and the pursuit
of excellence, two concepts which are anathema to liberals. Thus,
Rush opposes liberalism wherever he finds it, whether the source
be male, female, or whatever.
Phone Ron from De Pere, WI
Ron wants to talk about Spike Lee's intention to speak only to
black reporters, and Rush says that Lee is denying that he ever
said this, too. Ron thinks that Lee is an example of
multiculturalism and moral relativism, and he wishes Rush would
talk more about this.
Rush says that whenever anyone talks about culture and the
culture war going on in America now, the liberals arch their back
and start hurling accusations of "nazi" and "fascist." He recalls
the 1960, 1964, and 1968 Presidential campaigns, and the issues
were very much political and foreign affair types of issues;
cultural issues weren't the focus of those campaigns.
Now, however, condoms, gays in the military, multiculturalism,
the National Endowment for the Arts, and so forth are the major
issues for political campaigns. American society right now is
engaging in arguments about what the limits on people's behavior
should be and who should set those limits. This battle is between
those who want almost no restrictions whatsoever and those who
want a strong, moral fiber that descends from the Judeo-Christian
and western traditions.
Those who are defined as abnormal by these traditions, however,
are refusing to accept these types of definitions, and this is
the source of the culture war. Rush recalls how his mom and dad
thought that the Beatles would be bad for society because their
hair was too long. However, there's clearly no comparison between
the lyrics of the songs the Beatles sang and what is being done
today by people such as Axl Rose, Ice-T, and so forth.
Moral relativism states that morality can shift and fit whatever
is trendy at the moment; moral relativism wants to eliminate
standards, leaving morality up to individual choice. Others,
though, correctly point out that an orderly society requires its
citizens to have discipline and to follow the rules of society.
The battle between these two groups is going to go on for a long
time.
*BREAK*
Phone Bill from Raleigh, NC
Bill and his wife were watching Tom Brokaw last night, and he
mentioned "Clinton's advisory team" which will be picking
Clinton's cabinet; it should come as no surprise to any Rush
listener that Hillary Clinton has a prominent place on the team.
Bill tells Rush "you were right again, pal. You were right again.
You said it before the election. You said it during the election.
You said it after the election." Rush points out that he's saying
it even now. Bill doesn't know why more people don't listen to
Rush.
Rush asks Bill if he is bothered that Hillary is one of
President-elect Clinton's primary advisers, and Bill replies that
he is troubled by this. "I don't feel she has the background,"
Bill explains, "to be able to pick the right people to advise him
as to the policies that are going to become law across the
fruited plain."
Rush says that he had an argument last night with his date about
how much influence Hillary will have on the Clinton
administration. Rush's date wasn't bothered at all that Hillary
would be setting policy because "she's an educated woman." Rush
pointed out that she may be brilliant but she was not elected to
any office; in fact, when Hillary was a visible part of the
Clinton campaign, the campaign shunted her off to a backroom
until after the election.
Of course, Hillary did say "if you elect him, you get me," and
thus it's too late for people to complain about Hillary. "You
were warned," Rush states.
*BREAK*
Phone Steve from Clinton, NY
Steve was watching Spike Lee on Arsenio Hall last night, and Lee
denied that he had encouraged kids to skip school. He then said
that the people didn't need the government to tell them when they
could take a holiday to honor people like Martin Luther King, Jr.
or Malcolm X; the people could make that decision to skip school
and work themselves.
Steve felt that this was an anarchist view, and Rush agrees. Rush
points out that Lee has all of a sudden become an expert on
things just because he directs movies. Lee isn't getting
challenged about his statements, but Rush's show last night found
the quote where Lee did indeed encourage kids to skip school.
Steve also has been talking to a liberal feminist about the gays
in the military issue, and the feminist refused to believe that
there were any cases of sexual harassment, rape, and assault by
gays in the military. Rush says that this isn't true, and will
discuss it later.
*BREAK*
THIRD HOUR
Items
o EIB has 536 affiliates.
o Rush recalls how during Ronald Reagan's second term, the
most reviled person in Washington, DC was Nancy Reagan. The
media, feminists, and other liberals openly hated Nancy, and Rush
at the time asked why - wasn't Nancy what feminists said women
should be, a woman who is not a passive partner in her husband's
life, but rather someone who has an active role?
The problem, of course, was that Nancy Reagan was a conservative.
This resulted in all sorts of criticisms about how Nancy was
involving herself with administration policy, deciding who got
hired and fired, etc. Now that Hillary is waiting in the wings,
though, nobody seems to be concerned about having her involve
herself in her husband's administration. Hillary has even been
proclaimed by her husband as more of an expert on some matters
than members of Congress, but liberals don't care because Hillary
is a good liberal, after all.
Rush bets that the country will never know just how deeply
involved Hillary will be in President Clinton's decision. It's no
accident that there's a fund-raiser tonight for the Children's
Defense Fund, which is one of Hillary's activist causes. Rush has
no problems with the fund-raiser, but he does want to point out
just who is behind all these things.
Hillary is a strong, committed, and intelligent woman who is
extremely assertive, and Rush is certain that her silence during
the Presidential campaign was bought with the promise of a prize.
Being a traditional First Lady would not satisfy Hillary, and
Rush doesn't mind this, but he does want to point out another
inconsistency among liberals.
o The NY Times reported on a survey released yesterday that
indicates that the claims that the media is biased towards
Democrats may be more correct than anyone previously thought. In
1971, 35.5% of journalists identified themselves as Democrats,
while in 1983 this figure was 36.5%. However, in 1992 44.4% said
that they were Democrats. The number of reporters who said they
were Republicans was 25.7% in 1971, 18.6% in 1983, and 16.3% in
1992. The number of independents today is 34.4%, while the
nation's 122,000 working journalists claim a Democratic
affiliation at a rate 5 to 10% higher than the general public at
large.
The survey was done by the School of Journalism at Indiana
University, and the Times quotes L. Brent Bozell as saying that
the media is "becoming a safe haven for the left in this
country." Mary Matalin added that "the press has attitudes of
political correctness toward Democratic policies, and attitudes
of political incorrectness toward Republican policies. They are
`hip and groovy' and myopic in their policy thinking."
Rush points out that media bias occurs not only in what is
reported and how, but also in what is not reported. He recalls
that a former editor of the New Republic was astonished to find
three-fourths of the reporters covering the New Hampshire
primaries identified themselves as liberals.
Rush remembers how when he accepted an invitation to the White
House, he was assailed on all sides as having lost all his
credibility. Rush, of course, never has hid his political
affiliations. He would like to compare this to what will happen
during the Clinton administration, and he bets that many famous
journalists will also be seen at all of the Democratic parties
being held during the next four years.
All sorts of people are coming back into the Washington social
scene, and a huge party is being held tomorrow night for Clinton
and the new administration. The media guest list for this party
includes Tim Russert, Jim Lehrer, David Brinkley, and many more.
Rush doesn't want to criticize these reporters for attending, but
he does find it interesting that all of these reporters can
attend liberal social functions without anyone questioning their
credibility.
Rush adds that Tim Russert has been very supportive of his own
career and accomplishments, and thus Rush doesn't want to appear
to be criticizing him; however, the following comment by Russert
is illuminating:
"Newspeople live off of sources. We'll go almost anywhere to find
a source, and most times it's a lot less enjoyable than a
Georgetown dinner party. When it's the President-elect, though,
you make exceptions."
Rush points out that this is exactly right - when President Bush
called him, Rush asked his critics if they would be able to turn
the President down. Rush has to laugh, though, how the Washington
Post is printing stories about how those in the DC social circles
are glad that the Democrats are back since they throw much better
(and expensive) parties. Yet, it is still the Republicans who are
attacked as the party of the rich.
*BREAK*
Rush plays a tape of calls made from the EIB caller comment line
(900-884-RUSH, 99 cents a minute):
o An Oregon caller relates that the December issue of
Organic Gardening magazine has a helpful hint for gardeners. To
get rid of varmints and critters, tune a radio to Rush's show,
put it in a plastic bag, and set the bag in the garden. This is
guaranteed to keep those pests away.
o Another caller points out that Rush shouldn't make fun of
Al and Tipper Gore getting lost in a forest, since it's not
unusual for a Democrat "to get lost in the woods with a pretty
blond lady, and somehow avoid the Secret Service for a couple of
hours." What amazes the caller, though, is that this may be the
first time the Democrat got lost in the woods with his own wife.
o A Milwaukee listener saw a bumper sticker that says
"Really annoy the media - Quayle/Limbaugh in '96."
o Two Orange County female-type Republicans warn Rush that
they are planning to come to New York and "party with you!"
Phone Michelle from Pittsburgh, PA
Michelle is a married 26-year-old born-and-bred Democrat who
started listening to Rush about a month ago. She stays at home
with her children and disagrees with feminists totally. She does
agree with Rush's views 99.9% of the time, and cares about
politics only for her children's sake. Thus, she wonders why she
is still a Democrat after listening to Rush.
Rush bets that Michelle's father was a member of a union, and
Michelle confirms this. Rush says that many of the offspring of
union workers in the Northeastern US are traditional Democrats;
when unions got started, they always endorsed the Democrats, who
were seen as the best friend of organized labor and union
workers. Rush holds Michelle over the break.
*BREAK*
Phone Michelle from Pittsburgh, PA (continued)
Michelle heard Rush's "chipmunk thing" during the break, and she
is still laughing. Rush promises to play it after her call.
Michelle, though, still doesn't understand why people like her
stay in the Democratic party. Rush says that this is not that
hard to see; when people join unions, which have achieved many
good things in US history, they sacrifice their individuality for
the sake of the group.
Instead of being individual workers, union members support their
leaders who speak for all of them. Because of the union
structure, union workers get paid basically the same wages for
the same job, even if one worker is demonstrably better than
another. The only typical way to get more pay in this situation
is to work more hours, because individual achievement is not
recognized as it might be in a non-union job.
The Democratic party has done the same thing since the time of
FDR - Democrats tell the people that their best hope for the
future is by letting the Democrats take care of them. Liberalism
has always damaged the spirit of the rugged individual, and one
of the reasons union membership is falling fast is because union
workers didn't participate in the prosperity of the 80s. On the
other hand, entrepreneurs and other non-union workers were making
all sorts of gains.
However, since the time of FDR, unions and Democrats have gone
together because of tradition. Michelle, though, says that both
she and her family have all sorts of conservative viewpoints, so
she wonders why they stay Democratic. The only reason she can
think of is the traditional Democratic line that the rich man
doesn't help the poor man because the poor would then become
rich, thereby hurting the rich man.
Rush says that the Democratic tradition is one rooted in class
envy; all of liberalism is about saying how much liberals care,
although they don't do anything to solve problems. Democrats
claim time and time again that they are the ones who "care" about
the little guy, while the evil rich, Republicans don't "care" at
all. This is why many people hold onto being Democrats, because
it implies that they care, although they are not necessarily
doing anything to help the people they "care" about.
Rush thanks Michelle for calling, and plays his commercial for
the Rush Limbaugh Chipmunk Cookbook:
<<Husband, with sound of a roaring fire in the background>> Ah,
hon, don't you love this time of year?
<<Wife>> Oh, yes! Look at all the presents under the tree.
<<Husband, giving present to wife>> Here, open this one first.
<<Wife, unwrapping gift, with scream of delight>> Oh, just what I
wanted! The Rush Limbaugh Chipmunk Cookbook!
<<Husband>> Yeah . . . I wanted to make this Christmas . . .
special.
<<Wife>> Oh, thanks honey.
<<Four part chorus singing>> Chipmunks roasting on an open fire .
. .
<<Death-scream of Alvin-type chipmunk; chipmunk screams continue
through the commercial>>
<<Narrator>> Now, just in time for the holidays - it's the Rush
Limbaugh Chipmunk Cookbook, Volume One. Now for the first time
you and your family can enjoy those old-time favorite Limbaugh
family recipes that have been handed down from generation to
generation.
You'll enjoy Grandma Limbaugh's tasty Chipmunk Chowder, Uncle
Limbaugh's Savory Chipmunk Stew, and Rush Limbaugh's own personal
favorite, that crispy, crunchy Chipmunk Party Fix, a must at
every festive holiday occasion!
The Rush Limbaugh Chipmunk Cookbook, Volume One. Makes the
perfect stocking stuffer! Available at bookstores everywhere.
He follows this up with the ad for Krytel's record for the
holiday season, "Rush Limbaugh Sings Along with Your Favorite
Christmas Carols." Rush is certain that this will be a big
seller. Finally, Rush promos EIB's tradition Christmas offering,
"A Politically Correct Christmas":
<<Announcer>> Coming soon to the Embassy Television Network, a
heart-warming family holiday special, it's "A Politically Correct
Christmas."
<<Wife, as Adeste Fidelis starts playing>> Oh, this song is one
of my favorites!
<<Husband, pulling needle off of record>> Sorry, honey, that
Christmas classic has Christian overtones some may find
offensive!
<<Announcer>> Watch "A Politically Correct Christmas" and you'll
never celebrate the Yuletide the same again.
<<Young Skull of Mush, ripping open present>> Wow! A new
Nintendo! Thanks, Santa!
<<Father>> Santa? Billy, . . .
<<Father and Mother>> We bought you those presents!
<<Announcer>> An all-star cast - Jane Fonda, Martin Sheen, and
outgoing NOW President Molly Yard!
<<Woman singing>> Frosty, the Snowperson, came from a
dysfunctional home. Oh his dad was a jerk and his mother works,
she would've done better alone!
<<Announcer>> And the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals
Dancers!
<<PETA Dancers>> You should be ashamed to eat that turkey!
<<Announcer>> For a down-home, left-wing, radical kind of holiday
program . . .
<<Mother>> Watch this, kids - daddy's cutting down the tree we
spiked!
<<Announcer, over sounds of chainsaw>> Join us this season for "A
Politically Correct Christmas!"
<<PETA Dancers>> Uh, uh, uh!
<<Announcer>> I mean, uh, "A Politically Correct Interpretation
of a Historically Judeo-Christian Event." Coming soon to the
Embassy Network.
*BREAK*
Phone Robin from Vallejo, CA
Robin doesn't know a lot about politics, but she wonders what
effect the trade war between the US and France will have on the
economy; she also asks why this happened two weeks after the
election. Rush says that farm subsidies are the root of this
dispute; nations subsidize their farmers to allow them to compete
on the world market.
The French government's subsidies to its farmers are so heavy
that US farmers can't compete with them on the global market. The
French subsidies also are counter to what the French government
had previously agreed to. Thus, US Trade Representative Carla
Hill decided to slap a 200 to 300% increase on US tariffs on
French white wine; this would greatly increase the cost of the
wine to American consumers, resulting in less product sold, and
French farmers would suffer as a result.
This is what a trade war does, and it doesn't help anybody. Trade
wars ignore the presence of the consumer, who drives everything
in the marketplace. Rush bets that this situation will be
resolved before things really get to an all-out trade war, which
would only end up hurting consumers and thus the US economy.
On the other hand, though, making French wine more expensive does
help domestic producers, and slapping such a steep tariff sends a
strong message to the French, warning them to fulfill their
previously stated agreements. Rush has no doubts, though, that
the situation will be resolved soon.
Phone Pokey from Roanoke, VA
Pokey thinks Rush should let up on the Democrats a bit - "they
got in there, give them a break!" Rush says that this sentiment
is a twist; usually it's when a party loses that people let up on
them. Pokey, though, thinks that Rush should give the Democrats a
chance to show what they are going to do. Rush, however, thinks
it's clear what the Democrats will be doing, although they
themselves don't seem to know what they're doing right now.
Pokey says "they're a good bunch of people," and Rush is not
surprised to learn that Pokey is a Democrat. Pokey likes a lot of
Rush's comments, but he does think Rush is "way out there" on
some matters. Pokey is a retired fireman, and Rush is surprised
to learn Pokey is retired since he's got so much pep and vigor in
his voice. Pokey says that he walks and goes bowling some and
generally keeps his spirits up.
Rush congratulates Pokey for so actively living and enjoying his
life, and promises to consider his suggestion to go easier on the
Democrats.
*BREAK*
Phone Ron from Chicago, IL
Ron hasn't bought Rush's book yet, but he is interested about the
time in Rush's life when things weren't going his way and when he
was broke. Rush says that he has been broke a couple of times -
one time was when he was fired and the other time was when he got
married, bought a house, and then got divorced. Everyone advised
Rush to hold onto the house, even though with his job he could
barely cover the payments. Rush says he will talk more about this
later, should anyone be interested.
--
John Switzer | "Lobbyists are circling Clinton like slugs
| around a saucer of beer."
CompuServe: 74076,1250 | -- Alexander Cockburn, LA Times 11/15/92
Internet: j...@netcom.com | (P.S. Impeach Clinton, support the coup!)