In defense of Rush Limbaugh

The sharks are circling.

They sense blood in the water.

And their prey is, perhaps, the biggest fish of all – Rush Limbaugh – a man who single-handedly has changed the political culture of America for the better over the last 15 years.

They've got Rush in their sights on two fronts:

Over what they characterize as a racially insensitive, if not downright racist, comment he made in his new gig as a football commentator for ESPN; and
Over allegations that he abused pain-killing drugs following his cochlear implant surgery.

It's no surprise that the Limbaugh-haters would be ready to pounce on any excuse to attack. The reason? He's effective. He has managed to reshape the political debate in this country. I don't always agree with Rush, but there's no denying he is a powerful spokesman for freedom. His enemies understand if they can neutralize him, dismiss him, destroy him, they will have won a significant victory in the battle of ideas. Others will run scared. Others will fall by the wayside. Others will head for the tall grass.

Let me speak frankly as someone who knows Rush, the public figure, as well as Rush, the private figure.

This guy's for real. He's sincere. He doesn't have a racist bone in his body. Race is simply not an issue with him. And that's precisely why he made the comments he made on ESPN. His comments were not racist – not even racially insensitive. In fact, they were critical of what he detected as racism within the NFL and the media that cover it.

I don't know nearly as much about football as Rush does. But, football commentators are hired to criticize football players. And that's what he did when he challenged conventional wisdom about Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb. He didn't besmirch McNabb's character or even his professionalism. He simply stated that he was overrated. And he suggested that overrating had something to do with the fact that people in the media and the NFL want very badly for a black quarterback to succeed, to star, to become bigger than life.

In other words, he was stating – quite accurately, I believe – that certain elements of the dominant establishment press in this country are race-conscious to a fault. In other words, he was pointing out their racism!

For that he has been vilified and forced to resign from his ESPN commentating job.

That's all right. Rush is a big boy. He won't miss any meals because of this injustice. His radio show is bigger than any radio show in history.

But simultaneously – and I don't believe coincidentally – there is another attack on Rush designed to finish him off. That's the National Enquirer attack.

I don't think I need to remind you who is behind the National Enquirer. I don't think I need to tell you how politically motivated this sensational story about drug abuse is. But I will anyway.

Remember how the National Enquirer rushed to the defense of Bill Clinton when he was accused of rape. Don't forget the tabloid's attorney is none other than David Kendall, Bill Clinton's own legal counsel.

Of course, that doesn't mean there isn't some truth in the allegations about Rush's use of pain-killing drugs.

But is it really so difficult for us as human beings to imagine that someone who has been through the painful experience of a cochlear implant and sudden deafness might misuse painkillers?

Have we lost all sense of compassion and decency in this country that we would condemn a human being who has human failings and shortcomings?

I just wanted to let you know I am standing by Rush Limbaugh. I want to be a blessing to him during the trials he's experiencing. I want to give him the benefit of every doubt.