Limbaugh dreams of DNC riot
The radio host angers many with his comments on the August convention in Denver.
By Joey Bunch The Denver Post
Rush Limbaugh says he is not calling for a riot in Denver during the Democratic National Convention — he only “dreams” of it, to the tune of “White Christmas.”
The conservative talker discussed the possibility of Mile High unrest in August on his national radio show for a second day in a row Thursday.
“Now, I am not inspiring or inciting riots. I’m dreaming, I’m dreaming of riots in Denver,” he said mimicking the holiday tune.
He explained on air: “Riots in Denver at the Democrat convention would see to it we don’t elect Democrats. And that’s the best damn thing (that) could happen for this country as far as anything I can think.”
Glenn Spagnuolo, an organizer with the protest group Re-create 68, called Limbaugh “a fool.” “We don’t need another 5,000 illiterate Limbaugh listeners coming to Colorado,” he said, mocking a comment this week by state Rep. Douglas Bruce, R-Colorado Springs, who called migrant workers “illiterate peasants” as he debated a bill to accommodate up to 5,000 guest workers in the state. …
Limbaugh is heard by more than 14 million listeners a week.
Limbaugh’s Denver affiliate, 850 KOA, issued a statement Thursday saying its marquee talker “was not advocating violence in Denver.” …
On Wednesday, Limbaugh had been discussing comments by the Rev. Al Sharpton, who had warned of “trouble” at the convention if the nomination was wrested away from Barack Obama by superdelegates.
Local conservative talk show host and GOP activist John Andrews said he thinks he knows what Limbaugh was getting at. “Look, nobody seriously wants violence and civil disobedience at the Denver convention,” he said. “Rush is just saying, ‘Make our day’; if, in fact, the Re-create 68 hooligans or the Al Sharpton street toughs or anybody else wants to disrupt the convention, they’re going to hurt Democrats’ chances in the fall.”
Responding to a caller, Limbaugh held his ground but softened his tone. “Who wishes for riots?” he said to the caller, according to a transcript. “I didn’t get the ball rolling. It is Democrats like Al Sharpton who have warned that there will be.”
Denver City Councilman Charlie Brown, a Democrat and occasional Limbaugh listener, was outraged. Brown was a teacher in Illinois during the Democratic National Convention in Chicago in 1968. He recalled the injuries, chaos, lingering tear gas and disgrace for Chicago as a result. “What an insult,” Brown said of Limbaugh’s flippancy. “Regardless of political labels, for any radio announcer to wish a riot on a city so his party could win, that’s disgraceful and it’s absurd.”
He said he has found Limbaugh to be a “great entertainer, but he’s really gone too far. It’s almost juvenile.”
Brown said he did not think Limbaugh was speaking for Republicans when he made the comment. “I don’t believe there is a Republican in this state that would agree with his comment,” he said.
The station’s listeners had mixed reviews, according to the 850 KOA online discussion forum.
“The man is first and foremost an entertainer, selling radio spots at exorbitant rates,” one listener wrote. “He does however have the best interests of the country at heart. The idea that he is somehow trying to foster riots at the DNC is the typical left-wing dodge resorted to when confronted with the consequences of their own actions.”
Another said, “I am aware that it is all for show, but that fact that many Americans hang their hats on his every word is quite disturbing. They can’t think for themselves. They can’t see that he is all about self gain.”
I have one question for Limbaugh. He claims that his “Operation Chaos” is producing delegates to the convention under his control. What will be his “marching orders” to them in the event there are protests?
