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Rush Limbaugh is a douche.
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{{Infobox Celebrity
|name =Rush Limbaugh
|image =Rush Limbaugh cropped.JPG
|caption =Rush Limbaugh addressing the 2009 Conservative Political Action Committee.
|birth_date ={{birth date and age|mf=yes|1951|1|12}}
|birth_place =[[Cape Girardeau, Missouri]]
|death_date =
|death_place =
|occupation =[[Talk show]] host, [[political commentator]], [[author]], and [[television personality]]
|spouse =Roxy Maxine McNeely (1977–1980,&nbsp;div.)<br />Michelle Sixta (1983–1990,&nbsp;div.)<br />Marta Fitzgerald (1994–2004,&nbsp;div.)
|children =
|Web site =[http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/ rushlimbaugh.com]
|footnotes =
|salary = $33 million (2007)<ref>{{Citation
|url=http://www.forbes.com/lists/2007/53/07celebrities_Rush-Limbaugh_YNXQ.html
|networth= $300 million
|title=Rush Limbaugh
|publisher=Forbes.com
|year=2007
|accessdate=2008-05-08}}</ref>
}}
'''Rush Hudson Limbaugh III''' (born January 12, 1951) is an [[United States|American]] [[radio personality|radio host]] and [[Conservatism in the United States|conservative]] [[political commentator]]. His [[radio syndication|nationally syndicated]] [[talk radio|talk show]], ''[[The Rush Limbaugh Show]]'', airs throughout the United States on [[Premiere Radio Networks]]. He has been credited with reviving [[AM radio]] in the United States,<ref> Hot Air: All Talk, All the Time , By Howard Kurtz, Published by Basic Books, 1997 ISBN 0465030742, 9780465030743 432 pages page 231</ref>
and is also considered to have been a "national [[precinct captain]]" for the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party's]] [[Republican Revolution|Congressional victories]] in 1994.<ref>Toner, Robin. "[http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F10813FA3B5D0C708EDDAB0894DE494D81&n=Top%2fReference%2fTimes%20Topics%2fPeople%2fL%2fLimbaugh%2c%20Rush POLITICS: ON THE AIR; Radio Talk Show Host Fears For True Conservatism's Fate]." ''[[New York Times]].'' February 23, 1996. Retrieved on October 13, 2006.</ref> The ''[[National Review]]'' magazine, in a 1993 cover story, called him "The Leader of Conservative Principles" during the [[Clinton administration]].<ref>"The Leader of the Opposition, political commentator Rush Limbaugh", National Review cover story of 6 SEP 1993 by James Bowman [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1282/is_n17_v45/ai_14293009] accessed 2 MAY 2008</ref>

==Early life==
Limbaugh was born in [[Cape Girardeau, Missouri]], the son of Mildred Carolyn "Millie" ([[married and maiden names|née]] Armstrong), originally from [[Searcy, Arkansas]], and Rush Hudson Limbaugh, Jr. His father is of [[Germans|German]] descent and his mother is of [[Scots|Scottish]] descent.{{Fact|date=March 2009}} His father was a lawyer and a [[World War II]] fighter pilot who served in the [[China]]-[[Burma]]-[[India]] theater. The name "Rush" was chosen for his grandfather to honor the maiden name of family member Edna Rush.<ref name="Colford">Paul D. Colford. ''The Rush Limbaugh story: talent on loan from God: an unauthorized biography.'' New York. St. Martin’s Press, 1993. ISBN 0-312-09906-1.</ref> His family is filled with a number of lawyers including his grandfather, father and his brother [[David Limbaugh|David]]. His uncle, [[Stephen N. Limbaugh, Sr.]] is a [[Ronald Reagan]] appointed federal judge in the [[United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri]] and his cousin, [[Stephen N. Limbaugh, Jr.]], is Judge on the [[Supreme Court of Missouri]]. [[Rush Limbaugh, Sr.]], Limbaugh's grandfather, was a [[Missouri]] prosecutor, judge, special commissioner and served on Missouri's state House of Representatives from 1930 to 1932.<ref>St. Louis Post-Dispatch. ''The loudest limb on the family tree, radio's Rush Limbaugh is the 'big mouth'; branch of a solid old Cape Girardeau family.'' September 27, 1992.</ref> Limbaugh's grandfather was very well respected as one of the "patriarchs" of the Cape Girardeau community, and longtime president of the [[Missouri Historical Society]]. Rush, Sr., died at age 104, and was still a practicing attorney at the time of his death. The Federal Courthouse in Cape Girardeau is named for Limbaugh's grandfather. Limbaugh began his career in radio as a teenager in 1967<ref>{{cite news | title= Rush Limbaugh Gives Sean a Rare Interview | date=October 19, 2005 | publisher= [[Fox News Channel]]|url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,172675,00.html }}</ref> in his hometown of Cape Girardeau, using the name Rusty Sharpe.<ref name="Colford"/>

=== Education ===
Limbaugh graduated from Cape Central High School, in 1969. His father and mother wanted him to attend college, so he enrolled at [[Southeast Missouri State University]]. He dropped out after two semesters and one summer; according to his mother, "he flunked everything", even a modern [[ballroom dancing]] class.<ref name="Colford"/> As she told a reporter in 1992, "He just didn't seem interested in anything except radio."<ref>"Rush is Always Right." USA Weekend, 24-January 26, 1992, p. 7</ref>

===Draft status===
Limbaugh's birthdate was ranked as 175 in the [[Vietnam War]] [[conscription|draft]] lottery. No one was drafted above 125. He was classified as "[[Selective Service System#Classifications|1-Y]]" (later reclassified "[[4F (military conscription)|4-F]]") due to either a football knee injury or a diagnosis of [[Pilonidal cyst|Pilonidal disease]].<ref>Mikkelson, Barbara; Mikkelson, David P. "[http://www.snopes.com/military/limbaugh.htm Draft Notice]." ''[[Snopes]].'' December 16, 2002. Retrieved on October 13, 2006.</ref><ref name="Colford"/>

==Professional career and rise to fame==
===1970s===
After dropping out of college, Limbaugh moved to [[McKeesport, Pennsylvania]]. There he became a [[Top 40]] music radio [[disc jockey]] on station [[WPTT|WIXZ]], a station that covered the [[Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|Pittsburgh]] area. In October 1972, he broadcast over Pittsburgh station [[KQV]] under the name "Jeff Christie".

For the rest of the decade Limbaugh moved around to several radio stations before settling in [[Kansas City, Missouri]]. In 1979, after several years in [[music radio]], he took a break from radio and accepted a position as director of promotions with the [[Kansas City Royals]] [[baseball]] team.<ref name="Colford"/> Retired [[Kansas City Royals]] star [[George Brett (baseball)|George Brett]] is one of his best friends.<ref>http://books.google.com/books?id=l1xauXzmbvkC&pg=PA164&lpg=PA164&dq=rush+limbaugh+george+brett&source=bl&ots=SS7vV4x39T&sig=W_eZnjbQz3lkFomDc0Ufm3iRz8Q</ref>

===1980s===
In 1984, Limbaugh returned to radio as a talk show host at [[KFBK]] in [[Sacramento, California]], where he replaced [[Morton Downey, Jr.]]<ref name="Colford"/> The repeal of the [[Fairness Doctrine]] &mdash; which had required that stations provide free air time for responses to any controversial opinions that were broadcast &mdash; by the [[Federal Communications Commission|FCC]] in 1987 meant stations could broadcast editorial commentary without having to present opposing views. Daniel Henninger wrote, in a ''[[Wall Street Journal]]'' editorial, "Ronald Reagan tore down this wall (the Fairness Doctrine) in 1987...and Rush Limbaugh was the first man to proclaim himself liberated from the [[East Germany]] of [[liberal media]] domination." <ref>Henninger, Daniel (April 29, 2005) [http://www.opinionjournal.com/columnists/dhenninger/?id=110006626 "Rush to Victory"]. ''Wall Street Journal''. </ref>

On August 1, 1988, after achieving success in Sacramento and drawing the attention of a former president of [[ABC Radio]], Edward F. McLaughlin, Limbaugh moved to [[New York City]] and began his national radio show. His show debuted just weeks after the [[1988 Democratic National Convention|Democratic National Convention]], and just weeks before the [[1988 Republican National Convention|Republican National Convention]]. Limbaugh's radio home in New York City was the talk-format station [[WABC (AM)|WABC]], 770 AM, and continues to this day as his [[Flagship (radio)|flagship station]].<ref name="Colford"/>

===1990s===
The program gained in popularity and moved to stations with larger audiences eventually growing to over 650 radio stations nationwide. When the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]] [[Republican Revolution|won control of Congress in 1994]], one of the first acts by many freshmen (calling themselves the "Dittohead Caucus") was to award Limbaugh the title of "honorary member of Congress" in recognition of his support of their efforts during this period.<ref>{{cite news | first=Margaret | last=Carlson | title= [http://205.188.238.109/time/magazine/article/0,9171,163548,00.html Public Eye - ''My Dinner With Rush''] | date=December 26, 1994 | publisher= Time}}</ref>

Humor columnist and journalist Lewis Grossberger acknowledged that Limbaugh had "more listeners than any other talk show host" and described Limbaugh's style as "bouncing between earnest [[lecturer]] and political [[Vaudeville|vaudevillian]]".<ref>{{cite news | first=Lewis | last=Grossberger | pages=SM58 | title= The Rush Hours |date=December 16, 1990 | publisher= New York Times | page=SM58}}</ref>

===The Rush Limbaugh Show===
{{main|The Rush Limbaugh Show}}
Limbaugh's radio show airs weekdays for three hours daily, beginning at 12 noon Eastern time in the U.S. It also is carried worldwide over the Armed Forces Radio Network, and in some markets is carried on FM stations.

Radio broadcasting shifted from [[AM broadcasting|AM]] to [[FM]] in the late '70s because of the opportunity to broadcast music in stereo in FM, with better range and musical fidelity. Limbaugh's show was first nationally syndicated in August 1988, in a later stage of AM's decline. Limbaugh's popularity paved the way for other conservative talk radio programming to become commonplace on the AM radio. {{As of|2006}}, [[Arbitron]] ratings indicated that ''The Rush Limbaugh Show'' had a minimum weekly audience of 13.5 million listeners, making it the largest radio talk show audience in the United States. In March 2006, [[WBAL]] in [[Baltimore, MD]] became the first radio station in the country to drop Limbaugh's nationally syndicated radio program <ref>http://www.redorbit.com/news/technology/427188/wbal_radio_cancels_rush_limbaugh_station_is_first_to_drop/index.html</ref>. In 2007, ''[[Talkers]]'' magazine again named him #1 in its "Heavy Hundred" most important talk show hosts. Limbaugh frequently mentions the EIB (Excellence In Broadcasting) network, but this is a mythic construction, as he told the ''[[New York Times]]'' in 1990.<ref>Lewis Grossberger, "The Rush Hours", New York Times, December 16, 1990, section 6, p. 58</ref> In reality, his show was co-owned and first syndicated by [[Edward F. McLaughlin]], former president of [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] who founded EFM Media in 1988, with Limbaugh's show as his first product. In 1997, McLaughlin sold EFM to [[Jacor Communications]], which was ultimately bought up by [[Clear Channel Communications]]. Today, Limbaugh owns a majority of the show, which is syndicated by the [[Premiere Radio Networks]].

According to a 2001 article in ''[[U.S. News & World Report]]'', Limbaugh had an eight-year contract, at the rate of $31.25 million a year.<ref>"Vital Statistics", U.S. News & World Report, July 30, 2001, p. 7</ref> On July 2, 2008, [[Matt Drudge]] reported that Limbaugh signed a contract extension through 2016 that is worth over $400 million, breaking records for any broadcast medium &mdash; television or radio.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://drudgereport.com/flashrl.htm |title=LIMBAUGH SIGNS THROUGH 2016; $400 MILLION DEAL SHATTERS BROADCAST RECORDS |publisher=Drudgereport.com |date=July 02 2008 |accessdate=2008-11-09}}</ref>

====Controversies====
=====Michael J. Fox incident=====
On the October 23, 2006 edition of his radio show, Limbaugh imitated on the "DittoCam" (the webcam for website subscribers to see him on the air) the physical symptoms of actor [[Michael J. Fox]], who has [[Parkinson's disease]] and has appeared in political campaign ads for candidates who support a form of embryonic [[stem cell research|stem-cell research]],<ref> [http://www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?DR_ID=26480 Election 2004 | Pa. Sen. Specter Focuses on Stem Cell Support To Attract Moderate Voters, Distances Himself From Bush in Re-Election Campaign] Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation</ref><ref> [http://www.abcnews.go.com/ThisWeek/story?id=2613377&page=1 Michael J. Fox Fires Back at Critics] ABC News</ref>. Limbaugh imitated Fox's Parkinson's symptoms as displayed on the commercial, stating that "(Fox) is exaggerating the effects of the disease. He's moving all around and shaking and it's purely an act.... This is really shameless of Michael J. Fox. Either he didn't take his medication or he's acting."<ref name="ontheoffensive">[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/24/AR2006102400691.html "Rush Limbaugh On the Offensive Against Ad With Michael J. Fox"], Washington ''Post'', accessed on November 1, 2006</ref>

Fox was offended, as were people on both sides of the political spectrum who felt Limbaugh's parody of Fox was unfair or in poor taste. The possibility of a reasoned and civil discussion of stem-cell research was quickly overshadowed by dueling website and blog attacks. Proponents of stem-cell research immediately used this incident to raise funds for several Democratic candidates running for Congress, while detractors accused Fox of being just another partisan of Democratic candidates. Fox himself appeared on numerous news programs to explain his condition and to defend his advocacy for stem-cell research.

Michael J. Fox later appeared on CBS with Katie Couric and stated that he was actually [[Dyskinesia|dyskinesic]] at the time, a condition that results from overmedication.<ref> [http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/10/26/eveningnews/main2128188.shtml] "Fox: I Was Over-Medicated In Stem Cell Ad", CBS News, accessed on August 26, 2008.</ref> The National Institute of Neurological Disorders states that dyskinesia results from overmedication and the first step to reduce those effects is to stop or reduce medication <ref> [http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/tardive/tardive.htm] "NINDS Tardive Dyskinesia Information Page"</ref>

=====Phony soldiers controversy=====
{{main|Phony soldiers controversy}}
Another controversy occurred during the September 26, 2007 broadcast of Limbaugh's radio show, when he used the term "phony soldiers", allegedly referencing a September 21 [[Associated Press]] story about individuals falsely claiming to be veterans in order to receive benefits.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.komotv.com/news/9926872.html |title=Phony soldiers cost VA, tarnished medals |publisher=Associated Press |date=September 21, 2007 |location=Seattle, Washington |accessdate=2008-11-09}}</ref> A caller, after saying he was currently serving in the Army and has been in 14 years, said, "They never talk to real soldiers. They like to pull these soldiers that come up out of the blue and spout to the media." Limbaugh interrupted, "The phony soldiers." The caller continued, "The phony soldiers. If you talk to a real soldier, they are proud to serve. They want to be over in [[Iraq]]. They understand their sacrifice, and they're willing to sacrifice for their country."<ref>[The Rush Limbaugh Show, Transcript]</ref> Several minutes later, after the caller had hung-up, Limbaugh read from the AP story describing the story of [[Jesse Macbeth]].<ref>[http://mediamatters.org/items/200709280010 Limbaugh falsely recasts "phony soldiers" smear] [[Media Matters for America|Media Matters]] September 28, 2007</ref> Macbeth joined the Army but did not complete basic training, yet claimed in [[alternative media]] interviews that he and his unit routinely committed [[war crimes]] in Iraq.<ref name="peacefilms">http://www.peacefilms.org/index.html "Jessie Macbeth: Former Army Ranger and Iraq War Veteran" video, peacefilms.org, retrieved May 23, 2006 (inactive as of May 24, 2006)</ref><ref name="socialist">{{cite web|url=http://www.socialistalternative.org/news/article13.php?id=261 |title=Statement on Jesse MacBeth interview in Justice |alttitle=<!-- seriously WTF -->"The War the Media is Not Reporting — An Iraqi Veteran Speaks Out" by Justice, '&#39;SocialistAlternative.org'&#39;, April 26, 2006, retrieved May 23, 2006 (replaced with statement rejecting false statements ) |publisher=Socialist Alternative |date=May 26, 2006 |accessdate=2008-11-09}}</ref> On June 7, 2007, Macbeth [[guilty plea|pleaded guilty]] to one count of [[making false statements]] to the [[U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs]] and was sentenced to five months in jail and three years [[probation]].<ref>''Seattle Times'' -
[http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003739269_fakeranger08m0.html Man who lied about actions in Iraq admits faking forms]</ref><ref>''Seattle Post Intellegencer'' -
[http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/332642_fakevet22.html Poster soldier for anti-war movement was a fake]</ref> [[Media Matters for America|Media Matters]] noted Limbaugh's use of the term "phony soldiers" in an article on their website. The article suggested that Limbaugh was saying that all soldiers who disagree with the Iraq War were "phony soldiers",<ref>[http://mediamatters.org/items/200709270010?f=h_top Limbaugh: Service members who support U.S. withdrawal are "phony soldiers" ] [[Media Matters]] September 27, 2007</ref> and their article received substantial press coverage after it was discussed in speeches by Presidential candidates [[John Edwards]] and [[Chris Dodd]].<ref>[http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5h-vRIhBhuAYqV3XCsSzY3_sWyFWgD8RUQJB80 Dems Criticize Limbaugh's Comments] [[Associated Press|AP]] September 28, 2007</ref> Limbaugh argued that, when he had made the comment about "phony soldiers", he had been speaking only of Macbeth and others like him who claim to be soldiers and are not, and that "Media Matters takes things out of context all the time".<ref>[http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_092807/content/01125106.guest.html "Phony Soldiers" is a Phony Story] Rush Limbaugh Show Transcript, September 28, 2007</ref>
Media Matters disputed the accuracy of Limbaugh's claim and defended its story.<ref>[http://mediamatters.org/items/200709280009?f=h_top Limbaugh selectively edited "phony soldiers" clip] [[Media Matters]] September 28, 2007</ref>

Among Limbaugh's detractors were members of [[VoteVets.org]] who produced a series of ads that ran on their website and on YouTube taking Limbaugh to task for insulting veterans who opposed the war.Several of these ads can be seen here:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=drnQ5Pvc6nE |title=YouTube - VoteVets.org Ad on Rush Limbaugh |publisher=Youtube.com |date= |accessdate=2008-11-09}}</ref>
and here: <ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kKM_NsTswco]</ref> The members of VoteVets, a number of whom asserted they were conservative politically, told reporters that protesting the current war policy should not be a partisan issue, but most of the support they received after the Limbaugh controversy came from congressional Democrats.<ref>The Washington Post article "Veterans' Group Speaks Out on War," written on February 8, 2007, is here: [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/07/AR2007020702317.html]</ref>

On October 19, 2007, Limbaugh announced the winning bid in an [[E-bay|eBay]] auction of [[Phony soldiers controversy|a letter]] sent to Clear Channel Communications Chief Executive Officer Mark Mays by [[Party leaders of the United States Senate|U.S. Senate Majority Leader]] [[Harry Reid]]. "We call on you to publicly repudiate these [phony soldier] comments," the letter said, ". . . and to ask Mr. Limbaugh to apologize for his comments."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://members.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewUserPage&userid=rush-letter-for-charity |title=Rush auctions off the "smear letter" |publisher=Ebay |date= |accessdate=2008-11-09}}</ref> The auction's high bid of $2,100,100 by [[Betty Casey]] of the [[Eugene B. Casey Foundation]] set a new eBay record for largest charity bid.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,303569,00.html |title=Limbaugh Letter Fetches $2.1 Million on eBay |publisher=FOXNews.com |date=October 21, 2007 |accessdate=2008-11-09}}</ref> Shortly before the auction closed, Senator Reid addressed the Senate, saying,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.breitbart.tv/html/6938.html |title="Reid Retreat? Senator Thanks Rush for 'Smear Letter' Auction" |publisher=Breitbart.tv |date= |accessdate=2008-11-09}}</ref> "I don't know what we could do more important than helping to ensure that children of our fallen soldiers and police officers who have fallen in the line of duty have the opportunity for their children to have a good education." In his radio broadcast later in the day, Limbaugh was critical of Reid's speech, saying Reid had tried "to horn in and act like he's part of this whole thing, folks." Limbaugh also said, "Senator Reid, you did not mention that I am matching whatever the final total is." Matching funds from Limbaugh would increase the total donation to the charity benefiting children of Marines and law enforcement personnel killed in the line of duty to $4,200,200.

===== Operation Chaos =====
Limbaugh has stated that there is nothing wrong with Republicans voting in the Democratic [[primary election|primary]], as Democrats voted for [[John McCain]] in [[Vermont]], [[New Hampshire]], [[Florida]], and other states. "This is getting absurd. If it weren't for independents and Democrats [[crossover voting|crossing over]], Senator McCain would not be our nominee!"<ref>''The Rush Limbaugh Show'' March 10, 2008 http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_031008/content/01125106.member.html</ref>

In an attempt to sow chaos and disunity among Democrats during a divisive primary battle, Limbaugh encouraged his listeners to vote for whoever was behind in the vote, an effort he dubbed "Operation Chaos".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_101207/content/01125106.guest.html |title=Rush to Excellence Speech for WPHT-AM Philadelphia |publisher=RushLimbaugh.com |date=October 11, 2007 |work=Transcript |accessdate=2008-11-09}}</ref> Limbaugh then began to advocate that his Republican listeners vote for Clinton, something the rules of the [[Texas]] primary permitted. According to a county volunteer, one voter declared "Rush Limbaugh sent me", another "I am voting for [[Hillary Clinton]] but I want to see the Democrats implode," and a great many others mentioning Limbaugh.<ref>http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2008/03/10/wuspols310.xml] [http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2008/03/06/the-limbaugh-effect-on-clintons-texas-win/]</ref>

In [[Ohio]], Limbaugh similarly encouraged his listeners to re-register as Democrats and vote for Clinton. Although Ohio does not use an open primary, voters who change their registration must attest that they support the principles of the party to which they switch. About sixteen thousand Ohio Republicans switched parties for the election. The Cuyahoga County Board of Elections announced that, at the urging of Democrat Sandy McNair, the cross-overs would be investigated.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wkyc.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=85451 |title=Cuyahoga County: Elections board to probe GOP crossover voting in primary |publisher=WKYC News |date= |accessdate=2008-11-09}}</ref> Later, the Ohio Attorney General's office stated that it would be hard to prosecute anyone for falsifying a change of registration, because of the difficulty of proving a voter's fraudulent intent.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2008/03/28/JAIL_RUSH.ART_ART_03-28-08_A8_HV9P3PM.html?type=rss&cat=&sid=101 |title=The Columbus Dispatch - Limbaugh safe from voter-fraud charges |publisher=Dispatch.com Mark Niquette |date=March 28, 2008 |accessdate=2008-11-09}}</ref>

Limbaugh has said that "The dream end of this [of Operation Chaos] is that this keeps up to the Convention, and that we have a recreation of [[1968 Democratic National Convention|Chicago 1968]] with burning cars, protests, fire, and literal [[riots]] and all of that, that is the objective here."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_042308/content/01125109.guest.html |title=Why It's Called Operation ''Chaos'' |publisher=RushLimbaugh.com |work=Transcript |date=April 23, 2008 |accessdate=2008-11-09}}</ref>

===== "Magic Negro" comments =====
{{main|Barack the Magic Negro}}
On March 19, 2007 Limbaugh referred to Barack Obama as a "[[magical negro|magic negro]]," citing an L.A. Times editorial by [[David Ehrenstein]] which claimed that Obama was filling the role of the [[magic negro]], and that this explained his appeal to voters.<ref>http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oe-ehrenstein19mar19,0,5335087.story?coll=la-opinion-center</ref> Limbaugh then later played a song by [[Paul Shanklin]], "Barack the Magic Negro," sung to the tune of [[Puff the Magic Dragon]].<ref name="BBC">http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6642029.stm</ref> Limbaugh had previously referred to Obama as "Halfrican American", a term which he also applied to actress [[Halle Berry]]. Limbaugh cited the Ehrenstein editorial, and said that the point of the comment was to highlight "race-obsessed Democrats", who had questioned whether Obama was black enough.<ref name=BBC/>

====="I hope Obama fails"=====
On January 16, 2009 Limbaugh read a letter on his radio show that he had received a request from a national print outlet:... "If you could send us 400 words on your hope for the Obama presidency, we need it by Monday night, that would be ideal." He responded, "I don't need 400 words, I need four: I hope he fails." He explained that he didn't want "absorption of as much of the private sector by the US government as possible, from the banking business, to the mortgage industry, the automobile business, to health care. I do not want the government in charge of all of these things. I don't want this to work." He continued, "what is unfair about my saying I hope liberalism fails? Liberalism is our problem. Liberalism is what's gotten us dangerously close to the precipice here."
<ref>http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_011609/content/01125113.guest.html</ref>

He also remarked that Obama's status as the first black U.S. President was part of the reason why there was pressure to accept his policies.<ref name=LATblog>[http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2009/01/obama-and-limba.html Obama and Limbaugh, the last laugh], Johanna Neuman, ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'', January 26, 2009.</ref>

Limbaugh later stated that it is President Obama's policies that he wants to see fail, not the man himself. Speaking of Obama, Limbaugh said, "He's my president, he's a human being, and his ideas and policies are what count for me."<ref>http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_011609/content/01125113.guest.html</ref>

On January 27, 2009, the [[Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee]] (DCCC) created an [[online]] [[petition]] to express outrage at Rush Limbaugh for his comment, "he wanted President Obama to fail".<ref>http://www.foxnews.com/politics/first100days/2009/01/27/dems-launch-online-petition-rush-limbaugh/</ref>

On January 29, 2009, he followed-up his commentary with an [[op-ed]] in the ''[[Wall Street Journal]]'' expressing concern about the [[Obama]] Administration's government intervention, proposing the "[[Obama]]-[[Limbaugh]] [[Stimulus Plan of 2009]]". <ref>http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123318906638926749.html</ref>

On February 28, 2009, in a speech to [[CPAC]], broadcast live on [[CNN]] and [[FOX NEWS]], he clarified the controversy for a national audience.<ref>http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_030209/content/01125106.guest.html</ref>

====="Leader of Republican Party"=====
On March 1, 2009 [[CBS]]'s "[[Face the Nation]]" asked chief-of-Staff, [[Rahm Emanuel]]: Who represented the Republican Party? He answered, it was Limbaugh. <ref name="CQ_0301">[http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=news-000003063742 Transcript: Rahm Emanuel on CBS’s ‘Face the Nation’], [[CQ Politics]], March 1, 2009</ref><ref name="fox0301">[http://www.foxnews.com/politics/first100days/2009/03/01/limbaugh-leader-obama-chief-staff-calls-talk-host-barrier-progress/ Limbaugh the Leader? Obama Chief of Staff Calls Talk Show Host a Barrier to Progress], [[FOX News]], March 1, 2009</ref><ref name="ap0301">[http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jhQnx0JN9g6173fjFDB8sGtd4T0wD96LB4E80 White House aide casts Limbaugh as top GOP voice], [[Associated Press]], March 1, 2009</ref>

In remarks aired by CNN on March 1, 2009, Republican Party Chairman [[Michael Steele]] said that Limbaugh, is "an entertainer".<ref>ref name=CNN_0302">[http://edition.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/03/02/gop.steele.limbaugh/ RNC chief Steele: Limbaugh is more a performer than GOP leader], [[CNN]], March 2, 2009</ref>

On his March 2, 2009 radio show, Limbaugh responded that Steele is not fit to lead the Republican Party.<ref>http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_030209/content/01125111.guest.html</ref><ref name="CNN_0302">[http://edition.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/03/02/gop.steele.limbaugh/ RNC chief Steele: Limbaugh is more a performer than GOP leader], [[CNN]], March 2, 2009</ref> {{Dubious|date=March 2009}} Steele later telephoned Limbaugh and apologized. Limbaugh stated he would not want to run the RNC in its "sad sack state"

On March 4, 2009, Limbaugh asked President [[Barack Obama]] to debate him on Limbaugh's radio show, and offered to pay the full cost of Obama's travel and security. <ref>[http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_030409/content/01125106.guest.html Rush to the President: Debate Me], Rush Limbaugh transcript, March 4, 2009</ref>

====Television show====
Limbaugh had a [[television syndication|syndicated]] half-hour television show from 1992 through 1996, produced by [[Roger Ailes]]. The show discussed many of the topics on his radio show, and was taped in front of a live audience.

===Other media appearances===
Limbaugh's first television hosting experience came March 30, 1990, as a guest host on [[Pat Sajak]]'s [[CBS]] late-night talk show, ''[[The Pat Sajak Show]]''. [[AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power|ACT UP]] activists in the audience<ref>{{cite news|first=Richard|last=Gehr|title=Mouth At Work|work=Newsday| publisher=|page=4|date=1990-10-08|accessdate=}}</ref> [[heckled]] Limbaugh repeatedly; ultimately the entire studio audience was cleared. In 2001 Sajak said the incident was "legendary around CBS".<ref>{{cite video|people=Sajak, Pat|title=CNN Larry King Live|medium=TV series|publisher=CNN|date=2001-05-03}}</ref>

On December 17, 1993, Limbaugh appeared on ''[[The Late Show with David Letterman]]''.<ref>{{cite news|first=Tom |last=Maurstad|title=Stern, Limbaugh meet their match; Hosts Leno, Letterman hold their own in war|work=The Dallas Morning News|publisher=|page=1C|date=1993-12-20|accessdate=}}</ref> Limbaugh also guest-starred (as himself) on a 1994 episode of ''[[Hearts Afire]]''. He appeared in the 1995 [[Billy Crystal]] film ''[[Forget Paris]]'', and in 1998 on an episode of the ''[[The Drew Carey Show]]''.

Most recently, in 2007, Limbaugh has made cameo appearances on [[Fox News Channel]]'s short lived ''[[The 1/2 Hour News Hour]]'' in a series of [[parody|parodies]] portraying him as the future [[President of the United States]]. In the parodies, his [[Vice President of the United States|vice president]] is fellow conservative pundit [[Ann Coulter]]. He also made a cameo in the ''[[Family Guy]]'' episode "[[Blue Harvest (Family Guy)|Blue Harvest]]". In the episode, a parody of ''[[Star Wars]]'', Limbaugh can be heard on the radio claiming that, among other things, the "intergalactic liberal space media" was lying about climate change on the planet [[Hoth]], and that [[Lando Calrissian]]'s administrative position on [[Cloud City]] was a result of [[affirmative action]].

His persona has often been utilized as a template for a stereotypical conservative talk show host on TV shows and in movies, including an episode of ''[[The Simpsons]]'' (as a conservative talk radio host named [[Birch Barlow]]), as "Gus Baker" on an episode of ''[[Beavis and Butt-head]]'', as "Lash Rambo" (host of "Perfection in Broadcasting") on an episode of ''[[The New WKRP in Cincinnati]]'', and as "Fielding Chase" in the [[Columbo]] Mystery Movie ''Butterfly in Shades of Grey'' (played by [[William Shatner]]).

As a result of his television program, Limbaugh became known for wearing distinctive [[neckties]]. In response to viewer interest, Limbaugh launched a series of ties<ref>{{cite news|first=Penny|last=Parker|pages=C-1|title=Ties loud, just like Limbaugh.|date=1996-03-20|publisher=Denver Post}}</ref> designed primarily by his then-wife Marta.<ref>{{cite news| first=Thomas|last=Vinciguera|page=43|title=No Talk Show, But a Loud Tie|date=1996-08-04|publisher=New York Times}}</ref> Sales of the ties reached over US$5 million in their initial sales year, but were later discontinued.

== Pro football ==
Limbaugh has long been a fan of [[American football]], specifically the [[National Football League|NFL]]. During Limbaugh's time in Pittsburgh in the early 1970s, the [[Pittsburgh Steelers]] began to rise to dominance in the NFL in football-hungry [[Western Pennsylvania]], where they would become "[[dynasty (sports)|Team of the 1970's]]" and win four [[Super Bowl]]s by the end of the decade, with Limbaugh becoming a fan of the team during this time. Limbaugh has remained a [[Steeler Nation|Steelers fan]] since<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pittsburghsteelersonline.net/ |title=Pittsburgh Steelers News - a Pittsburgh Steelers Aggregation Site |publisher=Pittsburghsteelersonline.net |date= |accessdate=2008-11-09}}</ref>, and has often mentioned the team's praise on his radio show.

In 2000, ABC considered adding Limbaugh to their ''[[Monday Night Football]]'' broadcast team before deciding on comedian [[Dennis Miller]] instead.<ref>{{cite news | title = Dennis Miller Live: Comedian among four added to 'MNF' broadcast | publisher = [[CNN Sports Illustrated]] | date = June 22, 2000 | url = http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/nfl/news/2000/06/22/mnf_crew_ap/ }}</ref>

In July 2008, Limbaugh mentioned in an interview with the ''[[St. Louis Business Journal]]'' that he would like to buy his hometown [[St. Louis Rams]] and keep the team in [[St. Louis, Missouri|St. Louis]] as opposed to the team [[History of National Football League in Los Angeles|possibly moving back]] to [[Los Angeles, California|Los Angeles]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://stlouis.bizjournals.com/stlouis/stories/2008/07/28/tidbits3.html?jst=pn_pn_lk |title=Hey Rams, Rush is interested|publisher=St. Louis Business Journal |date=July 25, 2008 |first=Greg |last=Edwards|accessdate=2008-11-09}}</ref>

=== ''Sunday NFL Countdown'' controversy ===
On July 14, 2003, [[ESPN]] announced that Limbaugh would be joining [[ESPN]]'s ''[[Sunday NFL Countdown]]'' show as a weekly analyst when it premiered on September 7. Limbaugh would provide the "voice of the fan" and was supposed to spark debate on the show.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://static.expn.go.com/nfl/news/2003/0714/1580436.html | title= Limbaugh will be voice of fan on ESPN NFL show | publisher= [[ESPN]]|date=July 14, 2003}}</ref> On the September 28 episode of ''Countdown'', Limbaugh commented about [[Philadelphia Eagles]] [[quarterback]] [[Donovan McNabb]]'s role in his team's 0-2<ref>{{cite news| url=http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/recap?gid=20030914021|title=New England 31, Philadelphia 10|publisher=[[Yahoo! Sports]]|date=September 14, 2003}}</ref> start to the season, as well as the media's coverage of McNabb:

{{cquote|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.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://sports.static.expn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=1627887 | title= Limbaugh's comments touch off controversy | publisher= [[ESPN]]|date=October 1, 2003}}</ref>}}

On October 1, 2003, Limbaugh resigned from ESPN with the statement:

{{cquote|My comments this past Sunday were directed at the media and were not racially motivated. I offered an opinion. This opinion has caused discomfort to the crew, which I regret. I love ''Sunday NFL Countdown'' and do not want to be a distraction to the great work done by all who work on it. Therefore, I have decided to resign. I appreciate the opportunity to be a part of the show and wish all the best to those who make it happen.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://static.expn.go.com/gen/news/2003/1001/1628537.html | title= Limbaugh resigns from NFL show | publisher= [[ESPN]]|date=October 2, 2003}}</ref>}}

== Views ==
{{wikiquote}}
=== Defining the conservative movement ===
Limbaugh wrote in an [[op-ed]] piece in ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]'' in 2005:
<blockquote>
*I love being a conservative. We conservatives are proud of our philosophy. Unlike our liberal friends, who are constantly looking for new words to conceal their true beliefs and are in a perpetual state of reinvention, we conservatives are unapologetic about our ideals.
* We are confident in our principles and energetic about openly advancing them. We believe in individual liberty, [[small government|limited government]], [[capitalism]], the rule of law, [[religion|faith]], a [[Color blindness (race)|color-blind]] society and [[national security]].
* We support [[school choice]], [[enterprise zone]]s, tax cuts, [[welfare reform]], [[faith-based initiative]]s, political speech, homeowner rights and the [[War on Terrorism]].
* And at our core we embrace and celebrate the most magnificent governing document ever ratified by any nation &mdash; the [[U.S. Constitution]]. Along with the [[United States Declaration of Independence|Declaration of Independence]], which recognizes our [[God]]-given natural right to be free, it is the foundation on which our government is built and has enabled us to flourish as a people.
* We conservatives are never stronger than when we are advancing our principles.<ref>{{cite news|last=Limbaugh|first=Rush| title=Holding Court: There's a crackdown over Miers, not a "crackup."|publisher=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|date=[[2005-10-17]]| url=http://www.opinionjournal.com/ac/?id=110007417|accessdate=2006-10-25}}</ref></blockquote>

=== Balance and point of view ===

In his first bestseller, Limbaugh explicitly describes himself as conservative, and is sharply critical of broadcasters in many media outlets for claiming to be [[objectivity|objective]]. He has loudly criticized political centrists, independents, and even moderate conservatives, claiming they are responsible for Democrat [[Barack Obama]]'s victory over Republican [[John McCain]] in the [[2008 U.S. Presidential Election]] and inviting them to leave the Republican party altogether, while calling for the sincere and serious adoption of core conservative philosophies in order to ensure the survival of the Republican party.<ref name="Your Conservative Rock">{{cite web|url=http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_110508/content/01125100.guest.html |title=Wednesday Quotes: Your Conservative Rock |publisher=RushLimbaugh.com |work= |date=November 5, 2008|accessdate=2008-11-09}}</ref><ref name="Get Off the Ledge, Conservatives! We Have Two Battles on Our Hands">{{cite web|url=http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_110608/content/01125108.guest.html |title=Get Off the Ledge, Conservatives! We Have Two Battles on Our Hands |publisher=Rushlimbaugh.com |date=November 6, 2008 |accessdate=2008-11-09}}</ref><ref name="Unconscionable: McCain Staffers Attempting to Destroy Sarah Palin">{{cite web|url=http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_110608/content/01125106.guest.html |title=Unconscionable: McCain Staffers Attempting to Destroy Sarah Palin |publisher=RushLimbaugh.com |date=November 6, 2008 |accessdate=2008-11-09}}</ref>

Limbaugh is highly critical of [[environmentalism]] and [[climate science]]. He has disputed [[anthropogenic]] [[global warming]], and the relationship between [[CFCs]] and depletion of the [[ozone layer]], claiming the scientific evidence does not support them.<ref name = "ontheissues-rush">On the Issues.org. [http://ontheissues.org/Rush_Limbaugh.htm Rush Limbaugh].</ref> Limbaugh has argued against the [[scientific opinion on climate change#Scientific consensus|scientific opinion on climate change]] by stating that the alleged [[scientific consensus]] "is just a bunch of scientists organized around a political proposition. You can't have consensus in [[science]]... they think [[consensus]] is the way to sell it because, 'Oh, but all these wonderful people agree.'"<ref>RushLimbaugh.com. [http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_020107/content/stop_the_tape.guest.html Transcript]</ref> Limbaugh has often used the term "environmentalist wacko" as a reference to left-leaning environmental advocates.<ref>See, for instance, {{cite web|url=http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/estack/idiot_bird_extinct.guest.html.html|title=Idiot Bird Extinct, Future of World at Risk (Transcript)|date=December 1, 2004|publisher=The Rush Limbaugh Show}}</ref> As a rhetorical device, he has also used the term to refer to more mainstream climate scientists and other environmental scientists and advocates with whom he disagrees.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ontheissues.org/Celeb/Rush_Limbaugh_Energy_+_Oil.htm|title=Rush Limbaugh on energy & oil|date=January 24, 2001|author=Rush Limbaugh, Wednesday Morning Update}}</ref>

Limbaugh is sharply critical of [[feminism]], saying that "Feminism was established so as to allow unattractive women easier access to the mainstream of society."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,976829,00.html|title=An Interview with Rush Limbaugh|publisher=''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' magazine|author=Margaret Carlson|date=October 26, 1992}}</ref> He also popularized the term "[[feminazi]]", referring to radical feminists "to whom the most important thing in life is ensuring that as many abortions as possible occur."<ref name="TheWayp296">Rush H. Limbaugh, ''The Way Things Ought to Be'', Pocket Books, 1992 [http://books.google.com/books?id=XDVMk6q_pm4C&q=%22a+Feminazi+is+a+feminist+to+whom%22&pgis=1 p.296]
:''“Feminazi: Widely misunderstood by most to simply mean ‘feminist’. Not so, boobala [sic]. A Feminazi is a feminist to whom the most important thing in life is ensuring that as many abortions as possible occur. There are fewer than twenty-five known Feminazis in the United States…”''</ref> He credited his friend [[Tom Hazlett]], a professor of law and [[economics]] at [[George Mason University]], with coining the term.<ref name="TheWayp193">Rush H. Limbaugh, ''The Way Things Ought to Be'', Pocket Books, 1992 [http://books.google.com/books?id=XDVMk6q_pm4C&q=%22Tom+Hazlett%22+%22coined+the+term%22&pgis=1%20 p.193]
:''“I prefer to call the most obnoxious feminists what they really are: feminazis. Tom Hazlett, a good friend who is an esteemed and highly regarded professor of economics at the University of California at Davis, coined the term to describe any female who is intolerant of any point of view that challenges militant feminism. I often use it to describe women who are obsessed with perpetuating a modern-day holocaust: abortion. There are 1.5 million abortions a year...”''</ref>

Limbaugh has always taken a hard-line stance on illegal immigration.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/eibessential/immigration/morning_update.html|title=<The Limbaugh Laws|date=April 6, 2006|publisher=Rush's Morning Update}}</ref>

Limbaugh supports [[capital punishment]], having said "the only thing cruel about the death penalty is last-minute stays."<ref name = "ontheissues-rush"/>

On the [[Abu Ghraib torture and prisoner abuse]] scandal, Limbaugh said, "This is no different than what happens at the [[Skull and Bones]] initiation... And we're going to ruin people's lives over it and we're going to hamper our military effort, and then we are going to really hammer them because they had a good time. You know, these people are being fired at every day [referring to the U.S. Military service members]. I'm talking about people having a good time, these people, you ever heard of emotional release?"<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/23/magazine/23PRISONS.html?pagewanted=3&ei=5007&en=a2cb6ea6bd297c8f&ex=1400644800&partner=USERLAND | title=Regarding the Torture of Others}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/05/06/opinion/meyer/main616021.shtml |title=Rush: MPs Just 'Blowing Off Steam', Limbaugh: Abuse Story 'Media-Generated': CBS' Meyer Says Beware |publisher=CBS News |date= |accessdate=2008-11-09}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://mediamatters.org/items/200405050003 |title=Limbaugh on torture of Iraqis: U.S. guards were "having a good time," "blow[ing&#93; some steam off" |publisher=Media Matters |date=May 5, 2004 |author=A.S. |coauthors=G.W.|accessdate=2008-11-09}}</ref>

Limbaugh has asserted that African-Americans, in contrast with other minority groups, are "left behind" socially because they have been systematically trained from a young age to hate America through a widespread movement headed by figures such as [[Jeremiah Wright]], [[William Ayers]], and Barack Obama.<ref name="October 14, 2008 transcript">{{cite web|url=http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_101408/content/01125113.guest.html |title=October 14, 2008 transcript |publisher=RushLimbaugh.com |date= |accessdate=2008-11-09}}</ref>

=== Entertainment props ===
Limbaugh utilizes [[Theatrical property|props]] to introduce his [[monologue]]s on various topics. On his radio show, news about the [[homeless]] has often been preceded with the [[Clarence Frogman Henry|Clarence "Frogman" Henry]] song "Ain't Got No Home."<ref name = "Grossberger-p58">{{cite news |first=Lewis |last=Grossberger |authorlink= |author= |coauthors= |title=The Rush Hours |url= |format= |work=The New York Times| publisher= |pages= |page=58 | date=1990-12-16 | accessdate= | language= }}</ref> For a time, [[Dionne Warwick]]'s song "I Know I'll Never Love This Way Again" preceded reports about people with [[AIDS]].<ref>{{cite news |first=David |last=Remnick |authorlink= |author= |coauthors= |title=Day of the Dittohead |url= |format= |work=The Washington Post| publisher= |pages= |page=C1 | date=1990-12-16 | accessdate= | language= }}</ref> These later became "condom updates" preceded by [[Fifth Dimension]]'s song, "Up, Up and Away (in My Beautiful Balloon)."<ref name = "Grossberger-p58"/> In 1989, on his Sacramento radio show, Limbaugh performed "caller abortions" where he would end a call suddenly to the sounds of a [[vacuum cleaner]] and a scream, after which he would deny there was ever a caller, explaining that the call had been "aborted". This gag has never been used on his nationally syndicated show. According to his book ''The Way Things Ought To Be'' he used it to illustrate "the tragedy of abortion".<ref>{{cite news|first=Rush |last=Limbaugh|author=|title=The Way things Ought To Be|publisher=Simon and Schuster|pages=62-66 |page= |date=1990-12-16|accessdate=}}</ref>

=== Alleged inaccuracy ===
{{POV-section|date=January 2009}}
Some groups and individuals have criticized Limbaugh's accuracy. The July/August 1994 issue of ''Extra!'', a publication of the [[Progressivism in the United States|progressive]] group [[Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting]] (FAIR), alleges 50 different inaccuracies and distortions in Limbaugh's commentary.<ref>[http://www.fair.org/index.php?page=1895 The Way Things Aren't] ''Extra!'', July/August 1994</ref><ref>''The Way Things Aren't: Rush Limbaugh's Reign of Error : Over 100 Outrageously False and Foolish Statements from America's Most Powerful Radio and TV commentator'', Rendall, Steve; Naureckas, Jim; and Cohen, Jeff; W.W. Norton and Company, 1995</ref> Others have since joined FAIR in questioning Limbaugh's facts. [[Al Franken]], a liberal comedian-turned-politician, wrote a satirical book (''[[Rush Limbaugh is a Big Fat Idiot and Other Observations]]'') in which he criticized Limbaugh's accuracy.<ref>[[Al Franken|Franken, Al]], ''[[Rush Limbaugh is a Big Fat Idiot and Other Observations]]'', Delacorte Press, 1996</ref> [[Media Matters for America]], a not-for-profit [[political progressivism|progressive]] media watchdog group, has also been critical.<ref> [http://mediamatters.org/issues_topics/search_results?qstring=rush+limbaugh&start_month=&start_day=&start_year=&end_month=&end_day=&end_year=&issue=&subissue=&topic=&person=&show=&outlet= Rush Limbaugh overview and search results] Media Matters for America</ref>

Limbaugh has also been criticized for inaccuracies by the [[Environmental Defense Fund]]. A defense fund report authored by [[Princeton University]] endowed [[geoscience]]s professor [[Michael Oppenheimer]] and [[Princeton University]] professor of [[biology]] [[David Wilcove]] lists 14 significant scientific facts which, the authors allege, Limbaugh misrepresented in his book ''[[The Way Things Ought to Be]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.environmentaldefense.org/documents/2432_WayThingsReallyAre.pdf|title=The way things really are|publisher=Environmental Defense Fund|year=1994|format=PDF}}</ref> The authors conclude that "Rush Limbaugh ... allows his political bias to distort the truth about a whole range of important scientific issues."

James Rainey of the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' quoted Limbaugh as saying after the 2008 election of [[Barack Obama]] as the 44th [[President of the United States]] that the Democrats will "take your [[401(k)]], put it in the [[Social Security]] trust fund." <ref>[http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/asection/la-na-onthemedia9-2008nov09,0,800478.story Right-wing media feeds its post-election anger], James Rainey, ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'', November 9, 2008; accessed November 9, 2008.</ref> MSNBC claimed there is no Democratic plan to do so.<ref>[http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27487450/ Hearing on 401(k) plan grows to urban legend], John W. Schoen, MSNBC.com, November 3, 2008; accessed November 10, 2008.</ref>

Typically, in the face of such criticism, Limbaugh openly mocks it on his show, claiming that his statements are routinely audited by [[Thomas M. Sullivan|The Sullivan Group]], and are accurate some varying high percentage of the time.

==Charitable work==
===Leukemia and lymphoma telethon===
Limbaugh holds an annual [[fundraising]] [[telethon]] called the "EIB Cure-a-Thon"<ref>{{cite web|title=EIB Cure-a-Thon|work= Rush Limbaugh|publisher=RushLimbaugh.com|url= http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_042806/content/eib_cure_a_thon.member.html | accessdate= 2006-08-04}}</ref> for the [[Leukemia & Lymphoma Society]].<ref>{{cite web | title= Leukemia and Lymphoma Society | work= 501(c) | publisher = Leukemia and Lymphoma Society | url= http://www.leukemia-lymphoma.org | accessdate= 2006-08-04}}</ref> In 2006 the EIB Cure-a-Thon conducted its 16th annual telethon, raising $1.7 million;<ref>{{cite web | title= EIB Cure-a-Thon | work= Rush Limbaugh | publisher = RushLimbaugh.com | url= http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/menu/rushwire/the_operative_words_are_not_guilty.guest.html | accessdate= 2006-11-15}}</ref> totaling over $15 million since the first cure-a-thon.<ref>Newsweek. [http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12555181/site/newsweek/ Rehabbing Rush]. 2006.</ref> According to Leukemia and Lymphoma Society annual reports, Limbaugh personally contributed between $100,000 and $499,999, or 0.2% to 1% of his yearly income, from 2000&ndash;2005 and 2007,<ref name="autogenerated2">Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. [http://www.leukemia-lymphoma.org/all_page?item_id=9556 Annual reports].</ref> and Limbaugh claims to have contributed around $250,000 in 2003, 2004 and 2005.<ref>Rush Limbaugh Show. [http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/rush_photos_main/the_american_dream_is_no_myth.guest.html Transcript]. April 28, 2005.</ref> NewsMax reported Limbaugh donated $250,000 in 2006,<ref>[[NewsMax Media]]. [http://www.newsmax.com/archives/ic/2006/4/29/110359.shtml?s=ic Rush Limbaugh Donates $250K for Cancer Cure] April 29, 2006.</ref> but the Society's 2006 annual report placed him in the $500,000 to $999,999 category.<ref name="autogenerated2" /> Limbaugh donated $320,000 during the 2007 Cure-a-Thon<ref>{{cite web | title= Rush Limbaugh Donates $320,000 to Kick Off 2007 Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Cure-A-Thon | work= Rush Limbaugh | publisher = RushLimbaugh.com | url= http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_042007/content/01125106.guest.html | accessdate= 2007-04-20}}</ref> which the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society reported had raised $3.1 million.<ref>Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. [http://lls.org/all_news_detail.adp?item_id=472343&cat_id=140 Rush Limbaugh Cure-A-Thon Raises $3.1 Million for Society Mission]. May 1, 2007.</ref> On his radio program April 18, 2008, Limbaugh claimed to pledge $400,000 to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society after being challenged by two listeners to increase his initial pledge of $300,000.<ref>{{cite web | title= Rush Donates $400,000 to Kick Off Annual Blood Cancer Cure-A-Thon | work= Rush Limbaugh | publisher = RushLimbaugh.com | url= http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_041808/content/01125106.guest.html | accessdate= 2008-04-18}}</ref>

===Rush 24/7 Adopt-A-Soldier Program===
Limbaugh's website maintains a page where American soldiers can register for a free subscription to Limbaugh's online premium service, ''Rush 24/7'', through memberships purchased by donors who buy a subscription (at a reduced price) as a gift.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/rush_24_7_adopt_a_soldier.member.html |title=Rush 24/7 Adopt-A-Soldier Program |publisher=RushLimbaugh.com |date= |format=Registration required |accessdate=2008-11-09}}</ref>

=== Marine Corps-Law Enforcement Foundation ===
Limbaugh conducts an annual drive to help the Marine Corps-Law Enforcement Foundation collect contributions to provide scholarships for children of Marines and law enforcement officers/agents who have died in the line of duty.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/eib15th/leuk_award.member.html |title=Marine Corps-Law Enforcement Foundation Marine Corps-Law Enforcement charity article |publisher=RushLimbaugh.com |date= |format=Registration required |accessdate=2008-11-09}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mc-lef.org/Home.aspx |title=Marine Corps-Law Enforcement Foundation Home Page |publisher=Mc-lef.org |date= |accessdate=2008-11-09}}</ref> The foundation was the beneficiary of a record $2.1 million eBay auction in October 2007 after Limbaugh listed for sale a letter critical of him signed by 41 Democratic senators and pledged to match the selling price.<ref>[http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSN1930617020071019 "Reid-Limbaugh spat raises $2.1 million for children"], ''[[Reuters]]'', October 19, 2007</ref>

===Charity golf tournaments===
Limbaugh attends charity golf tournaments from time to time for various causes.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kathieleegifford.com/lamb04/charity/pastcotm31.php |title=The Cody Unser First Step Foundation |publisher=KathieLeeGifford.com |date=September 28, 2000 |location=NEW YORK CITY |accessdate=2008-11-09}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.garyplayerinvitational.com/miami/latestnews.html |title=Gary Player Invitational |publisher=Garyplayerinvitational.com |date= |accessdate=2008-11-09}}</ref>

==Personal life==
===Relationships===
Limbaugh was first married on September 24, 1977 to Roxy Maxine McNeely, a sales secretary at radio station [[WHB]] in [[Kansas City, Missouri]]. They were married at the Centenary United Methodist Church in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. In March 1980, McNeely filed for divorce, citing "incompatibility." They were formally divorced on July 10, 1980.<ref name="Colford"/>

In 1983, Limbaugh married Michelle Sixta, a college student and usherette at the [[Kansas City Royals]] Stadium Club. They were divorced in 1990, and she remarried the following year.<ref name="Colford"/>

On May 27, 1994, Limbaugh married Marta Fitzgerald, a 35-year-old aerobics instructor. They were married at the house of [[U.S. Supreme Court]] Justice [[Clarence Thomas]], who officiated. They were separated on June 11, 2004.<ref>{{cite news
| first=Scott
| last=McCabe
| title=Limbaugh, third wife parting after 10 years
| url=http://www.palmbeachpost.com/localnews/content/news/limbaugh/c1a_rush_0612.html
| publisher=[[Palm Beach Post]].
|date=June 12, 2004
| accessdate=2006-11-04}}</ref> Limbaugh announced on the air, "Marta has consented to my request for a divorce, and we have mutually agreed to seek an amicable separation.<!-- this platitude seems completely irrelevant: As I said, it's a personal matter and I want to keep it that way. I don't intend to say any more about this on the air.-->" The divorce was finalized in December 2004.<ref>Herald Staff. "Rush's divorce final" ''[[The Miami Herald]].'' February 19, 2005. Pg. 4A</ref>

=== Prescription drug addiction ===
On October 3, 2003 the ''[[National Enquirer]]'' reported that Limbaugh was being investigated for illegally obtaining the prescription drugs [[oxycodone]] and [[hydrocodone]]. Other news outlets quickly confirmed the investigation.<ref>{{cite news|last=Candiotti|first=Susan|title=Limbaugh mostly mum on reports of drug probe|publisher=CNN|date=2003-10-03|url= http://www.cnn.com/2003/SHOWBIZ/News/10/03/rush.drugs/}}</ref> He admitted to listeners on his radio show on October 10 that he was addicted to prescription painkillers and stated that he would enter inpatient treatment for 30 days, immediately after the broadcast.<ref>{{cite news|author= George Bennett & John Pacenti|url=http://www.palmbeachpost.com/localnews/content/news/limbaugh/101103_limbaugh.html|title= Talk host Limbaugh to enter drug rehab|publisher=[[Palm Beach Post]]|page=1A|date=2003-10-11}}</ref> Limbaugh stated his addiction to painkillers resulted from several years of severe back pain heightened by a botched surgery intended to correct those problems.

A subsequent investigation into whether Limbaugh had violated Florida's [[doctor shopping]] laws was launched by the [[Palm Beach County|Palm Beach]] [[State Attorney]], which raised privacy issues when investigators seized Limbaugh's private medical records looking for evidence of crimes. On November 9, 2005, following two years of investigations, Assistant State Attorney James L. Martz requested the court to set aside Limbaugh's doctor-patient [[confidentiality]] rights and allow the state to question his physicians, stating it was necessary because "I have no idea if Mr. Limbaugh has completed the elements of any offense yet."<ref>{{cite news | date= November 9, 2005 | title= Prosecutors Push to Speak with Limbaugh Doctors | publisher= The Palm Beach Post | pages=3B}}</ref> Limbaugh's attorney opposed the prosecutor's efforts to interview his doctors on the basis of patient privacy rights, and argued that the prosecutor had violated Limbaugh's [[Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution|Fourth Amendment]] rights by illegally seizing his medical records. The [[ACLU]] issued a statement in agreement and filed an [[amicus curiae]] brief in support of Limbaugh.<ref>{{cite news | date= January 13, 2004 | title= Improbable ally joins Limbaugh privacy fight | publisher= The St. Petersburg Times | pages=1B}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aclufl.org/news_events/?action=viewRelease&emailAlertID=41 |title=Palm Beach Appeals Court to Hear Argument in Limbaugh Medical Records Case |publisher=Aclufl.org |date=April 7, 2004 |location=WEST PALM BEACH |accessdate=2008-11-09}}</ref> On December 12, 2005, [[Judge]] David F. Crow delivered a ruling prohibiting the State of Florida from questioning Limbaugh's physicians about "the medical condition of the patient and any information disclosed to the health care practitioner by the patient in the course of the care and treatment of the patient."<ref>{{cite news | date= December 13, 2005| title= Judge Limits Limbaugh Inquiry|publisher= The Palm Beach Daily News|page=1}}</ref>

On April 28, 2006, Limbaugh and his attorney, Roy Black, went to the Palm Beach County Jail to surrender after a warrant was issued for his arrest on the charge of [[doctor shopping]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mediamatters.org/items/200605010011 |title=Lowry, Newsweek attacked media for reporting that Limbaugh was "arrested" |publisher=Media Matters |date=May 1, 2006 |accessdate=2008-11-09}}</ref> According to Teri Barbera, spokeswoman for the Sheriff, during his arrest, Limbaugh was [[Booking|booked]], photographed, and fingerprinted, but not handcuffed. He was then released after about an hour on $3,000 [[bail]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/04/28/national/main1561324.shtml |title=Rush Limbaugh Arrested On Drug Charges, Conservative Radio Commentator Turns Himself In But Claims Innocence |publisher=CBS News |date= |accessdate=2008-11-09}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0604/28/ldt.01.html |title=LOU DOBBS TONIGHT|work=LOU DOBBS TONIGHT |format=Transcript |publisher=CNN.com |date=April 28, 2006 |accessdate=2008-11-09}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2006/LAW/04/28/limbaugh.booked/index.html |title=Rehab, $30,000 to keep Limbaugh out of court|publisher=CNN.com |date=April 29, 2006 |accessdate=2008-11-09}}</ref> After his surrender, he filed a "not guilty" plea to the charge. Prosecutors agreed to drop the charge if Limbaugh paid $30,000 to defray the cost of the investigation and completed an 18-month therapy regimen with his physician.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/menu/rushwire/settlement_agreement_ends_state_investigation_of_rush_limbaugh.guest.html | date= April 28, 2006 | title= Settlement Agreement Ends State Investigation of Rush Limbaugh | publisher= RushLimbaugh.com}}</ref>

Limbaugh asserted that the state's settlement agreement resulted from a lack of evidence supporting the charge of "doctor shopping." Under the terms of the agreement, Limbaugh may not own a firearm for eighteen months and must continue to submit to random drug testing, which he acknowledges having undergone since 2003.<ref>{{cite news|first=Brian|last=Skoloff| url=http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/limbaugh_painkillers;_ylt=AoXk6dXtazOH3nAUdJKIsQys0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTA2Z2szazkxBHNlYwN0bQ--|date=2006-05-01 | publisher= Associated Press | title= Limbaugh Facing Drug Tests Under Deal}}</ref>

The deal contrasts the fact that Limbaugh has, throughout the years, condemned illegal drug use on his radio broadcast and has stated that those convicted of drug crimes should be sent to jail.<ref>http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/04/28/national/main1561324.shtml</ref><ref>http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12536446/</ref>

[[Roy Black (attorney)|Roy Black]], one of Limbaugh's attorneys, stated that "Rush Limbaugh was singled out for prosecution because of who he is. We believe the state attorney's office is applying a double standard."<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.sptimes.com/2004/01/04/State/Limbaugh_may_face_a_r.shtml | date=2004-01-04 | publisher= [[Associated Press]] | title= Limbaugh may face a rarely used charge}}</ref>

In June 2006, Limbaugh was detained by drug enforcement agents at [[Palm Beach International Airport]] shortly after cutting the deal on the painkiller charges in April. Customs officials confiscated [[Viagra]] from Limbaugh's luggage as he was returning from the [[Dominican Republic]]. The prescription was not in Limbaugh's name. After he was released with no charges filed, Limbaugh joked on his radio show, "I had a great time in the Dominican Republic. Wish I could tell you about it."<ref>{{cite web|title=Rush Limbaugh Detained With Viagra|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/06/27/national/main1753947.shtml|date=2006-06-27|accessdate=2008-09-30|publisher=[[CBS News]]}}</ref>

===Deafness===
Rush Limbaugh has described himself as being "100%, totally [[deaf]]".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_101207/content/01125106.guest.html |title=Rush to Excellence Speech for WPHT-AM Philadelphia |publisher=RushLimbaugh.com |date=October 11, 2007 |work=Transcript |accessdate=2008-11-09}}</ref> In 2001, he was diagnosed with a rare [[Autoimmune inner ear disease]] (AIED), which, in the span of three months, left his right ear completely deaf and left ear severely deaf. On December 19, 2001, doctors at the [[House Ear Clinic]] in [[Los Angeles]] were able to successfully restore a measure of his hearing through a surgical procedure known as a [[cochlear implant]] surgery. Limbaugh received a Clarion CII Bionic Ear.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1571/is_3_18/ai_82554117 |title=Limbaugh learning to listen again: Rush Limbaugh lost most of his hearing because of a rare disease, but the conservative icon says he has not lost his ability to communicate with his audience |publisher=Insight on the News |date=January 28, 2002 |first=Timothy W. |last=Maier |accessdate=2008-11-09}}</ref> In 2005, Limbaugh was forced to undergo "tuning" due to an "eye twitch", an apparent side-effect of [[cochlear implants]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.4hearingloss.com/archives/2005/04/rush_to_get_bio.html |title=Rush to get bionic tune up |publisher=4 Hearing Loss |date=April 28, 2005 |work=Transcript |accessdate=2008-11-09}}</ref>

===Cigar aficionado===
In the early 1990s, when the [[cigar]] boom was gaining momentum, Limbaugh was seen frequently with a cigar in hand and by the end of the 1990s, cigars had become Limbaugh's staple in many public appearances. Often starting segments of his show with the phrase, "Amid billowing clouds of fragrant and aromatic first, second, and sometimes third hand premium cigar smoke" as well as mentioning a story print-out in his "formerly [[nicotine]]-stained fingers", cigars became a common topic of discussion. In the spring of 1994, Limbaugh appeared on the cover of the popular magazine ''[[Cigar Aficionado]]'' and shared the story of his conversion to cigars. He has since been a frequent participant in many events such as "The Big Smoke", hosted throughout the year by the magazine. Limbaugh has participated in many charity cigar auctions hosted by the magazine, and is known to talk frequently with his listeners about his and their cigar interests, preferences and recommendations. "I think cigars are just a tremendous addition to the enjoyment of life."<ref>{{cite news|first=Mervyn| last=Rothstein|title=Rush's Judgment|url=http://www.cigaraficionado.com/Cigar/CA_Profiles/People_Profile/0,2540,18,00.html| publisher=[[Cigar Aficionado]]|accessdate=2006-11-04}}</ref>

==Awards and recognition==
A month after [[Bill Clinton]]'s defeat of [[George H.W. Bush]] in 1992, [[Ronald Reagan]] sent Limbaugh a letter in which he thanked him "for all you're doing to promote Republican and conservative principles... [and] you have become the Number One voice for conservatism in our Country."<ref>Letter from Ronald Reagan, quoted in National Review Cover story [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1282/is_n17_v45/ai_14293009] accessed 2 MAY 2008</ref>

Limbaugh was the 1992, 1995, 2000 and 2005 recipient of the [[NAB Marconi Radio Awards|Marconi Radio Award]] for [[radio syndication|Syndicated]] Radio Personality of the Year (given by the [[National Association of Broadcasters]]), joining the syndicated ''[[The BOB & TOM Show|Bob & Tom Show]]'' as the only other four-time winners of a Marconi award. He was inducted into the [[Radio Hall of Fame]] in 1993.

In 2002, ''[[Talkers magazine]]'' ranked him as the greatest radio talk show host of all time.<ref>{{cite journal | title= The 25 Greatest Radio Talk Show Hosts of All Time | journal=[[Talkers magazine]] | month= September | year= 2002 | url=http://www.talkers.com/greatest/ }}</ref> Limbaugh is the highest-paid syndicated radio host.<ref>Weil, Dan. "Source: Limbaugh's New Radio Contract Worth $285 Million", ''The Palm Beach Post'', July 20, 2001, pp.1D</ref>

On March 29, 2007, Limbaugh was awarded the inaugural [[William F. Buckley, Jr.]] Award for Media Excellence, by the [[Media Research Center]], a conservative media analysis group.<ref>[[Media Research Center]]. [http://www.mediaresearch.org/press/2007/press20070320.asp Rush Limbaugh to accept media excellence award at MRC 20th anniversary gala]. March 20, 2007.</ref>

On January 5, 2008, the conservative magazine ''[[Human Events]]'' announced Limbaugh as their 2007 Man of the Year.<ref>Levin, Mark. ''Man of the Year: Rush Limbaugh'' January 7, 2007 http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=24305</ref>

On December 1. 2008, [[TV Guide]] reported that Limbaugh has been selected as one of America’s top ten most fascinating people of 2008 for a [[Barbara Walters]] [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] special that aired on December 4, 2008.<ref>[http://www.tvguide.com/News/Barbara-Walters-Special-1000398.aspx Barbara Walters Gets Up Close with 2008's Most Fascinating People]" ''[[TV Guide]]''. December 1, 2008. Retrieved on December 3, 2008.</ref>

On February 28, 2009, following his self-described "first address to the Nation", lasting 90 minutes, carried live, on [[CNN]] and [[FOX NEWS]], and recorded for [[CSPAN]], he received [[CPAC]]'s "Defender of the Constitution Award", a document originally signed by [[Benjamin Franklin]], given to someone "who has stood up for the [[First Amendment]]...Rush Limbaugh is for America, exactly what Benjamin Franklin did for the [[Founding Fathers]]...the only way we will be successful is if we listen to Rush Limbaugh".
<ref>http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_030209/content/01125106.guest.html</ref>

==Public perceptions==
{{Expand|date=November 2008}}
Since 1991, Limbaugh has had the most-listened-to radio show in the United States, with over 14 million listeners a week as of December 2008.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Top Talk Radio Audiences|url=http://www.talkers.com/main/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=17&Itemid=34|work=Talkers|month=December|year=2008}}</ref> In 2003, he peaked with an audience of nearly 20 million a week.<ref>{{cite news|last=Bauder|first=David|title=Rush Limbaugh Returns From Rehab|url=http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/news/wire/sns-ap-rush-limbaugh-returns,0,7583221.story|work=Newsday|publisher=Associated Press|accessdate=2008-04-26}}</ref> However, public polls have shown that a majority of Americans have an unfavorable opinion of Limbaugh. For example, in a March 2007 [[Rasmussen Reports]] poll, 62% of those surveyed had an unfavorable opinion of Limbaugh, while only 33% had a favorable opinion, a nearly 2 to 1 ratio that was, by far, the worst among the 18 journalists and media personalities included in the poll. <ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite web|url=http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/current_events/general_current_events/media/politicians_earn_higher_favorable_ratings_than_journalists|title=Politicians Earn Higher Favorable Ratings Than Journalists|publisher=Rasmussen Reports|month=March | year=2007|accessdate=2008-12-31}} [http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/favorables/journalist_favorables Poll data]</ref>

==Books by Rush Limbaugh==
*''The Way Things Ought to Be'' (1992) Pocket Books ISBN 067175145X
*''See, I Told You So'' (1993) Pocket Books ISBN 067187120X

In 1992, Limbaugh published his first book, ''The Way Things Ought To Be'', followed by ''See, I Told You So'' in 1993.<ref>{{cite book|title=See, I Told You So|author=Limbaugh, Rush|year=1993|location=New York|publisher=Atria|isbn=0-671-87120-X}}</ref> Both became number one on the [[New York Times Best Seller list]], ''The Way Things Ought to Be'' remaining there for 24 weeks.<ref>{{cite news |last=Gregory |first=Ted |url= |title=Right and wrong; Rush Limbaugh critics want to set the facts straight, but it's not easy|publisher=Chicago Tribune|date=1995-08-18 |}}</ref> Limbaugh acknowledges in the text of the first book that he taped the book and it was transcribed and edited by ''[[Wall Street Journal]]'' writer [[John Fund]]. In the second book, [[Joseph Farah]] of ''[[WorldNetDaily]]'' is named as his collaborator.<ref>{{cite web|title=Joseph Farah|work= Speakers and Talk Show Guests|publisher=WorldNetDaily.com|url= http://www.worldnetdaily.com/speakers/jfarah.asp|accessdate= 2006-07-19}}</ref>

==Bibliography==
*{{cite book|author=Arkush, Michael|title=Rush!|publisher=New York: Avon Books, 1993|isbn=0380775395}}
*{{cite book|title=The Rush Limbaugh Story: Talent on Loan from God an Unauthorized Biography|author=Colford, Paul D.|year= 1995|publisher= St. Martin's|isbn=0312952724}}
*{{cite book|author=Davis, J. Bradford|title=The Rise of Rush Limbaugh Toward the Presidency|publisher=Norcross, Ga.:MacArthur Pub. Group, c1994.|isbn=0964261901}}
*{{cite book|author=Derych, Jim|title=Confessions of a Former Dittohead|publisher=Brooklyn, N.Y. : Ig Pub., c2006.|isbn=0975251783 (pbk.)}}
*{{cite book|author=Evearitt, Daniel J.|year=1993|title=Rush Limbaugh and the Bible|publisher=Camp Hill, Pa.: Horizon House Publishers, c1993.|isbn=0889651043}}
*{{cite book|title=[[Rush Limbaugh Is a Big Fat Idiot and Other Observations]]|author=[[Al Franken]]|year=1996|location=New York|publisher=Random House| isbn=978-0141018416}}
*{{cite book|author=Jacobs, Donald Trent|title=The Bum's Rush: The Selling of Environmental Backlash : phrases and fallacies of Rush Limbaugh|publisher=Boise, Idaho : Legendary Pub., c1994.|id=ISBN 096250405X}}
*{{cite book|author=Keliher, Brian|title=Flush rush|publisher=Berkeley, Calif.: Ten Speed Press, c1994.|isbn=0898156106}}
*{{cite book|author=Kelly, Charles M|title=The Great Limbaugh Con: And Other Right-Wing Assaults on Common Sense|publisher= Fithian Press, 1994.|isbn=1564741028}}
*{{cite book|author=King, D. Howard|title=Rush to Us|publisher=Windsor Pub., c1994.|isbn=0786000821}}
*{{cite book|author=Layne, Tom|title=The Assassination of Rush Limbaugh|publisher=Red Ginger Publishing Co., Inc|isbn=0976851504}}
*{{cite book|author=Mahurin, Cecil|title=A Public Rebuttal to Rush Limbaugh|publisher=Vantage Press, 1993.|isbn=0533107660}}
*{{cite book|title=Logic and Mr. Limbaugh: A Dittohead's Guide to Fallacious Reasoning|author=Perkins, Ray, Jr.|year=1995| publisher=Open Court Publishing|isbn=0812692942}}
*{{cite book|author=Rahman, Michael|title=Why Rush Limbaugh is Wrong, or, The Demise of Traditionalism and The Rise of Progressive Sensibility as Perceived|publisher=Mighty Pen Pub., 1995.|id=LCCN 95077891}}
*{{cite book|title=The Way Things Aren't: Rush Limbaugh's Reign of Error : Over 100 Outrageously False and Foolish Statements from America's Most Powerful Radio and TV Commentator|author= Rendall, Steve, [[Jim Naureckas]], [[Jeff Cohen (media critic)|Cohen, Jeff]]|others=Written for [[Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting|FAIR]]|year=1995|location=New York|publisher=W.W. Norton|isbn=1-56584-260-X}}
*{{cite book|title=Rush Hour: Talk Radio, Politics, and the Rise of Rush Limbaugh|author=Seib, Philip M.|year=1993|publisher= Summit Group, 1993.|isbn=1565301005}}
*{{cite book|author=Tucker, R. K.|year=1997|title=The Rules According to Rush : the American people vs. Rush Limbaugh
|publisher= Bowling Green, Ohio : OptimAmerica ; Chapel Hill, NC : Professional Press, 1997.|isbn=1570873399}}
*{{cite book|author=Varon, Charles|title=Rush Limbaugh In Night School|publisher=Dramatists Play Service, c1997.|isbn=0822215349}}

==See also==
*[[Jargon of The Rush Limbaugh Show]]

==References==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}<!-- Please leave in single-column format for readability at screen resolutions of 1024x768 and lower -->

==External links==
{{sisterlinks|Rush Limbaugh}}
*[http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/ ''The Rush Limbaugh Show'' official site]
*{{imdb name|id=0510754|name=Rush Limbaugh}}
*[http://www.nndb.com/people/428/000022362/ Rush Limbaugh at the NNDB]
*[http://mediamatters.org/issues_topics/people/rushlimbaugh Rush Limbaugh profiled] by [[Media Matters for America]]
*[http://www.snopes.com/military/limbaugh.asp Urban Legends, RE: disqualification for Vietnam draft]
*[http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/06/magazine/06Limbaugh-t.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&hp Times Magazine]
*[http://www.thesmokinggun.com/mugshots/limbaughmug1.html Rush Limbaugh's Arrest Report at The Smoking Gun]

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|DATE OF BIRTH=January 12, 1951
|PLACE OF BIRTH=[[Cape Girardeau, Missouri]], USA
|DATE OF DEATH=
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[[Category:People from Palm Beach County, Florida]]
[[Category:Criticism of feminism]]
[[Category:Environmental skepticism]]
[[Category:Deaf people]]
[[Category:People from Cape Girardeau, Missouri]]
[[Category:People from Kansas City]]
[[Category:People from Missouri]]
[[Category:German-Americans]]
[[Category:Scottish-Americans]]
[[Category:The Rush Limbaugh Show]]
[[Category:United Methodist Christians]]
[[Category:American anti-illegal immigration activists]]

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Revision as of 16:03, 5 March 2009

Rush Limbaugh is a douche.

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