In A Rush To 'Swift-Boat' Fox

The Nation: Limbaugh Ignores Fact, Crusades Against Ailing Actor

(The Nation) 
So why are Limbaugh and other readers of Republican talking points continuing to accuse Fox of "acting" sick, and of lying his own disease and about the role that stem-cell research may play in the search for treatments and a cure? Why devote so much time and energy to attacking one ailing actor and one set of commercials? It has a lot to do with the powerful lobby that is opposing serious stem-cell research.

Unspoken in much of the debate over this issue is the real reason why candidates such as U.S. Senator Jim Talent, the embattled Republican incumbent who is the target of Fox's criticism in Missouri, and U.S. Representative Mark Green, the Republican gubernatorial candidate who is mentioned in Fox's ads in Wisconsin, so vehemently oppose embryonic stem-cell research.

It is not because they think the research is unnecessary — no one who has heard from top scientists and groups advocating on behalf of the sick and suffering, as both Talent and Green have, would take such a stand. Rather, it is because Talent, Green and other politicians who are campaigning not just against their Democratic opponents but against scientific inquiry want to maintain the support of the groups that oppose serious stem-cell research: the powerful and influential anti-choice political action committees that in each election cycle spend millions of dollars in questionable cash to support candidates who are willing to echo their faith-based opposition to research that could identify treatments and perhaps even cures for life-threatening illnesses such as Parkinson's disease, Lou Gehrig's disease, Type I or Juvenile Diabetes, Duchenne Dystrophy, and spinal cord injuries.

Groups that oppose reproductive rights are central players in our politics because they have established networks that serve as some of the most effective hidden conduits for special-interest money that is used to pay for crude attack campaigns against mainstream candidates.

They also mobilize voters on behalf of contenders who cynically embrace the ugliest forms of anti-scientific dogma to make the rounds since the evolution deniers ginned up the Scopes trial. For this reason, the anti-abortion machine gets what it wants when it wants it.

Politicians who align themselves with anti-choice groups are willing to attack anyone who challenges them — and for good reason. In states across the country, so-called "Right-to-Life" and "Pro-Life" groups spend freely on behalf of the candidates they back. And much of that spending goes essentially undetected, as the groups often do not give money directly to candidates but instead run "issue ads" and mount independent-expenditure campaigns.

Republican politicians like Talent and Green fully understand that, without the behind-the-scenes work of antiabortion groups — most of which flies under the radar of the media and campaign-finance regulators — they could not possibly win. And Limbaugh, whose stated goal is to maintain Republican hegemony, is perhaps even more aware of the fact than the candidates he is working so feverishly to elect. That's why the radio personality is on a personal crusade against Fox. That's also why Limbaugh has been willing to stick to his outlandish claims about the actor, even while acknowledging that he's gotten the facts wrong.

Like the Republican politicians who are scrambling to smear Fox, Limbaugh is doing the bidding of one of the most powerful behind-the-scenes political forces in America — a force that is essential to Republican prospects. And he is not going to let a little thing like the truth make him back off.

Politics is a cynical game. But, sometimes, the cynicism becomes so extreme that the word "unconscionable" doesn't quite seem to capture the ugliness of it all.

[bluestardad]

Dictators is that a Washington Dish that Republican Mark Foley was covertly serving the Congressional pages, Or Is that a Texas Style potato dish that the Bush administration has been feeding the American people for the last few years?

[thgdriver]

How come CBS did not report John Kerry's latest intelligence assesment of our fighting men and woman in Iraq. While speaking at a "college" yesterday he said.

I Quote him "If you study hard, do your homework, try and learn as much as you can, you will be allright, otherwise you will end up in Iraq".

That's your Democratic leaders for you !! Trashing our men and women in harms way. Trashing the men and women that are dead and gave him the freedom to say---- What a bunch of dummies or words to that effect.

[connapa]

Unfortunately, the First Amendment allows Rush to say whatever he wants. On the plus side, it also allows the medical community to publish FACT based articles.
it's unfortunate that most people listen to the "Shock Jocks" than to the FACT based media for their information. Pwerhaps, someday, this will change.

[bmirarck]

Rash Limbaugh! What a draft dodging, oxy-contin addicted, scumsucking pig you are.

[ryindy]

Adjectives:
sanctimonious, pompous, opinionated blowhard.
So what else is a Rush Limbaugh? And, why does anyone even care what his opinion is? Stop for a moment and think people. Use the God given talent of thought to make up your own mind of what is right and wrong in this world then tell Mr. Limbaugh to start writing dime novels.

Who cares what that clown thinks?

[adventurepa]

I liked Rush better when he was hooked on drugs.
He used to shake just like fox when he was going into withdrawl.

[jpow3]

Limbaugh's estate is worth $25 Million. This is all show biz and it works for him. He's trash Bush if there were a buck in it.

[luvny-2009]

Wouldn't it be interesting if Nancy Reagan went on national TV to promote Stem Cell which she is 100% for. What would that scumbag Rush say about her? He wouldn't dare open his moron mouth. People like him don't just voice their opinion they have this inner anger and need to control. He and Bush & Co are all alike.

[forabluefla]

Limbaugh is an idiot...but the bigger idiots are the ones who believe anything he says..I guess all those moronic NEOCON commentators that call themselves journalists are terrified of being outsourced after the regime change and will do or say anything to rile their base of mindless followers into screaming for liberal blood to keep their jobs safe...kind of like at the circus...ever see the elephant act...they grab the tail of the one in front and blindly follow until the master cracks the whip...but I could be wrong on that..maybe Rush is more in tune with the pachyderm waste left on the floor?...

[randolf44]

Rush Limbaugh is to politics what Howard Stern is to filth. He's a hypocrite and a hate monger who makes his living spreading rumor, inuendo, and accusations, right or wrong. He's part of the problem in this country rather than the solution. It took Republicans forever to attain power and now he is only one of many who will go to any length to retain it. Absolute power corrputs absolutely and it's time for a change.