»» Columnists

Reactions to Rush: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

by Tommy Christopher | 1:07 pm, December 31st, 2009

» 12 comments

The age maddow of Twitter has spawned new rituals, among them the watchdogging of reactions to the deaths or illnesses of polarizing figures. Rush Limbaugh‘s chest-pains scare from last night was no exception. Almost immediately, conservatives began to catalog the good, the bad, and the ugly in online reaction to Rush’s peril, and some others were eager to hang the ugliness on the collective left.

We’ve got a sampling of each for you, including some very good behavior by the left’s most visible media figure.

Rachel Maddow, arguably the current media face of the left, displayed the humane perspective that one would expect from any decent person when someone’s survival is in doubt, saying “All best wishes to Mr. Limbaugh tonight, for a full and speedy recovery,” while Mediaite’s own Rachel (Sklar) urged restraint, saying “No stooping to wishing him ill, people! (Karma.)”

Hot Air’s Ed Morrissey also places things in perspective on his blog, noting that callous reactions such as these are “a common problem on both sides of the political divide, and we all know it.” He goes on to tell a story that illustrates Limbaugh’s human side that might not make you feel the warm fuzzies, but might at least quell the giddy anticipation of his sudden death felt by some of his detractors.

There were also immediate attempts to conflate the comments of trolls at TMZ with the larger online left, and similarly to assign the death wishes of tweeple emboldened by anonymity to “liberals.” Ugly, to be sure, but hardly empirical.

On the other hand, there were very identifiable liberals who couldn’t muster a good thought, or even silence, for Rush. Blogger Oliver Willis lit into Rush with relish, pointing out the radio host’s track record, cracking jokes about his drug use, and vowing to gloat if Rush died. Progressive blog Buzzflash joked about Limbaugh’s illness, and compared him to Stalin and Goebbels.

White House reporter David Corn tried to strike a balance, urging restraint while pointing out the lack of the same that Limbaugh displayed as Ted Kennedy fought for his life.

Everyone has to draw their own line where these things are concerned. I believe that, when someone has died, or their fate is in doubt, it is best to either wish well or remain silent. The Oxy jokes will keep for a day or two. But we should all be able to agree that celebrating, or wishing for, the death of another human being should be reserved for the very worst of villains if it is to be done at all. In this world, Rush Limbaugh doesn’t meet that bar.

GreyWolf

Good God!! Do we deserved politicial parties or career politicians who wish death on each other? We deserve better in America. Rush’s family sure doesn deserve to hear others wishing him to die.

Finally, someone did just write a great book about Americans standing up to federal tyranny, career & corrupt politicians & ends up starting the 2nd American Revolution. Great read & could show us our destiny in history again should we have to take back America. I recommend it cause it shows what’s coming in the nxt 3 years.
http://www.booksbyoliver.com
Jim R

There’s much more compassion for others on the left than the right, so Rachel’s Tweet will be typical.

It’s not like Michael J. Fox will go on TV and make believe he’s having a heart attack or anything.
dhg

Anyone on any side that wishes death to someone over politics is a complete utter jerk and deserves boycott and condemnation.Same goes for suffering and pain.We are still human beings regardless of the very trivial detail of ideology.Humane has it’s origin in the word human.If you can’t act like it you don’t deserve anyone’s attention.Limbaugh is a flawed man with deep rooted beliefs but who amomg us all is not flawed and does not have deep rooted beliefs?Yes,he who casts stones…

I only wish for him health and happiness,as to everyone.Happy New Year and many more.
LNSmithee

I’m not surprised about Maddow’s good wishes — she’s smarmy, but not vicious. Neither am I surprised by Oliver Willis’ venomous responses, which are in perfect accord with the lack of character required to blame Glenn Beck for the killing of Pittsburgh police officers by a neo-Nazi.
LNSmithee

Jim R wrote:

It’s not like Michael J. Fox will go on TV and make believe he’s having a heart attack or anything.

Get your facts straight, Jim R. As a Canadian neurologist wrote in the National Post October 31, 2006:

[A] few days after his political ad came out, Mr. Fox appeared at a Democratic event in Chicago with his movements under control, a situation he called “ironic.” Strangely, however, he seemed unable to appear controlled for a pre-taped TV ad a few days earlier, when the appropriate timing should have been easier, given the possibility of multiple “takes.” Lest this all sound too cynical, consider that Mr. Fox admitted in his 2002 autobiography to going off his medication to appear more disabled before a 1999 Senate subcommittee appearance.

Democratic party manipulation appears to go much further. In offering Mr. Fox as a spokesman, they have clearly hoped he would cut a sympathetic figure immune from criticism, and the faux outrage at Mr. Limbaugh’s comments seems to confirm this…
tigerprez

Anybody who thinks the left is always more compassionate should look at the open sewer in the comments section of the Daily Kos or Politico.

You can’t make this stuff up:

“Let me act like I care!!! He is one of the biggest racist in the world and HELL is awaiting his arrival. Hopefully, the devil will welcome one of his favorite sons home tonight. I have no sympathy for someone who has done nothing but bring discourse and lies to the political and social landscape of this country. It’s my fervant hope he will suffer before he lands in the lake of fire!!!!!!!!”

“HOSPITAL reported that DOCTORS performed EMERGENCY SURGERY on the EVIL FAT NAZI JUNKIE RUSH LIMPBALLS to SAVE HIS USELESS MISERABLE EXISTENCE … DOCTORS said THEY had to surgically remove 30 lbs of USELESS wasteful FAT ,,, IMMEDIATELY ,,,,,, SO THEY DECIDED to CUT off HIS FAT ,,HEAD LMAO ROF”

“I HOPE HE FAILS,

to recover”

There are literally hundreds of these at Politico. Whatever you think of Limbaugh (and I wouldn’t give him the time of day) that kind of hatred is astounding. Makes me ashamed to be an American.
BJL411

.

Roger Kimball:

“Edward M. Kennedy,”…“Liar, cheat, drunk, philanderer, and — let’s not forget — inadvertent murderer.” The tsunami of sentimental pap about Kennedy is already churning, gushing, rushing to inundate the public with a nauseating and untruthful fairy tale about the “Lion of the Senate.” The Lyin’ in the Senate is more like it.

Right Wing Nuthouse:

No doubt Kennedy the man was a despicable cad, a notorious roue, and, until late in life, a certified drunk

RedState:

It is traditional, upon the passing of an important and famous person – however controversial – to find some good words to say. This is not an easy task in the case of Ted Kennedy, a man whose personal life ranged from alcoholism to debauchery to sexual harrassment to (sadly, uncharged) second-degree murder.

The Anchoress:

It’s entirely possible that what Kennedy’s death will really do is bring into stark relief the fact that under Obamacare, this overweight 77 year-old man with liking for the drink would probably have faced treatment rationing and an offer for “physician aid-in-dying”.

Dan Riehl:

Given word of his passing, the Senate, as predicted by Rush Limbaugh, is considering re-naming the health care bill in Ted “The Liberal Liar Lion of the Senate” Kennedy’s honor

Roger L. Simon:

Kennedy left the scene of a fatal accident for which he was at least partly responsible. Then he used his extraordinary power to get off, spending the rest of his career in pseudo-remorse, playing the most liberal of Senators. It was always an act to me, even when I agreed with him politically. This was not a life well lived.

On his radio show Friday, Rush Limbaugh suggested that Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA) would be dead by the time health care reform legislation passes HuffPo

9/1/09 Days after Kennedy died his name is booed at a town hall mtg
http://thinkprogress.org/2009/09/01/schakowsky-kennedy/

RedState- (samples)

Buried face down
benrush Saturday, September 12th at 7:12AM EDT
Good ole Ted Kennedy. One word: Chappaquiddick

Tbone Wednesday, August 26th at 12:45PM EDT (link)
The only character the man ever displayed was bad. It is good riddance that he is gone.
Envisioning when all that is Left is the Right

Why Didn’t Ted Kennedy Just Get a “Pain Pill” ?
Ausonius Wednesday, August 26th at 12:28PM EDT (link)
Will the MSM ask this question in the next days as they push their agenda and a “tragic” view of this “hero” ?
Why did he get brain surgery
And what good was his last few years anyway?
Paging Dr. Obama!

gazill Wednesday, August 26th at 11:23AM EDT (link)
during this mournful time, I cannot help feeling that the United States just became stronger (even if for a short period of time). With his passing, Kerry, an ineffective drone, is now the Senior Senator of Mass

ltcochran Wednesday, August 26th at 10:35AM EDT (link)
Sorry, don’t feel a thing. POS!!! Bye! Future Mary Jo’s are safe.

Craigslist World Political Forum- (samples)

sfo God killed Ted Kennedy, spared Rush § 2009-12-31 12:18:26

nyc for the record 2009-12-30 05:34:31
I’M GLAD TED KENNEDY IS DEAD.

sfo Hey, Ted Kennedy has been sober 3 months! 2009-12-30 22:50:59

tpa MAN, I’M PSYCHED THAT TED KENNEDY DIED § 2009-12-30 20:47:36

sfo So, Ted Kennedy wasn’t a drunk? § 2009-10-30 12:56:11

lax Ted Kennedy still dead. 2009-12-30 19:42:57
Not dead drunk

htf Ted Kennedy-DRUNK ,MURDERER,FRAUD!!!!! § 2009-10-29 11:38:29
http://www.nukethefridge.com MartiniShark

Soooo . . . we all know what BJL was doing on his day off . . .
Fidoohki

“Well they are doing it!” Is not a reason to do it as well. I learned that when I
was 8.

This is a sad thing and it needs to be condemned.
eigerly

Very sad. Let’s all just agree to drive off that bridge when we get to it.
Nachi

Lotsa sick “Murcuhns” here today. Ignorance & hatred never take a day off. Angry, weak, cowardly Little People. Expressing atrocities of the mind. GOP – trained. Yup.
ImNotBlue

Nachi says:
January 1, 2010 at 5:38 pm

Ummm… aren’t you here too? Doesn’t that make you a “Murcuhn” too?

Oh, and congrats! That’s the first, “still not a word” of the year! Nice job! I was wondering how long it would take you.