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Limbaugh Slams Mediaite After Misreading Story About Burning Of Koran And Bible (UPDATED)

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by Tommy Christopher | 1:46 pm, April 4th, 2011

» 92 comments

On Sunday, Mediaite published an article in which I was critical of Time Magazine World Editor Bobby Ghosh for statements that he made on Friday’s edition of Hardball. Ghosh explained why burning the Qu’ran was “much more inflammatory” than burning a Bible. Conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh took issue with Ghosh’s remarks on his Monday morning show, then slammed Mediaite by pointing out… exactly the same thing we pointed out in our commentary.

Limbaugh seems to have barely skimmed the article he’s referencing, as he attributes Ghosh’s sentiment to Mediaite’s writer (me). To catch you up, here’s what Ghosh said:

GHOSH: The thing to keep in mind that`s very important here is that the Koran to Muslims, it is not — it is not the same as the Bible to Christians.

The Bible is a book written by men. It is acknowledged by Christians that it is written by men. It`s the story of Jesus.

TODD: Yes.

GHOSH: But the Koran, if you are a believer, if you`re a Muslim, the Koran is directly the word of God, not written by man. It is transcribed, is directly the word of God.

That makes it sacred in a way that it`s hard to understand if you`re not Muslim. So the act of burning a Koran is much more — potentially much, much more inflammatory than –

TODD: Directly attacking — directly attacking God.

GHOSH: — than if you were to burn a — burn a Bible.

TODD: Directly attacking God.

And here’s some of what Mediaite’s writer (me) said:

Ghosh’s statement is not only based on a faulty understanding of Christian beliefs, but its very premise is patently offensive. Both the Qu’ran and the Bible were physically written by men, and are believed, by their adherents, to be the divinely inspired word of God. I don’t really have a dog in this fight, I’d be much more upset if someone burned a copy of Slaughterhouse Five, but I know enough about Christianity to be offended for them.

Somehow, Rush got all confused, and thought he was disagreeing with me. I know, I never expected it to happen either, but I can still comprehend english, be it spoken or written. For example, he says “Whoever wrote this obviously hasn’t ever gone to Sunday school.”

If only Rush had some way of verifying that. Like this:

Personally, I believe in an America where the freedom to burn its flag is the surest sign that she can survive anything, but especially some loser’s Zippo lighter. As an atheist-leaning agnostic who was raised in an Evangelical church, I’m sure that my former Brethren have the same faith in the Bible’s ability to withstand such an immolation. The same can probably be said of the vast majority of Muslims, as well, regarding the Qu’ran.

Remarkably, in his unjust lashing out, Limbaugh actually made another great point, that Islamic terrorists have burned many more Qu’rans, by bombing mosques in sectarian conflicts, than Pastor Terry Jones could even make a dent in:

To his credit, Limbaugh did get our name right this time.

To add insult to injury, Limbaugh brings up the story of the US Army burning Bibles in Afghanistan in 2009, and guess who else was against that?

Still, did they have to burn them?I mean, it’s not like with flags, is it? There doesn’t seem to be a right way to destroy a Bible.

Brody’s point is well taken. Couldn’t the Army have sold the Bibles to a local bookstore?

While I am firmly in the camp that says religion has intruded too far into government (as evidenced by the brouhaha surrounding the President’s speech at a merely tangentially religious institution), I also think religious texts ought to be respected, even if their owners don’t always extend that respect to others.

Normally, this is the place where an indignant writer will demand an apology, and a correction, but I wasn’t even sure I wanted to point this out. Getting slammed by Rush Limbaugh is every good liberal’s dream, and I’m a little annoyed that I don’t get to enjoy it this time. As such, I demand that Limbaugh select 5 of my stories at random, and completely take them apart. But whatever happens, Rush, please don’t apologize. It’ll ruin me.

Update: Rush Limbaugh apologizes…sort of.

Afghanistan, Bobby Ghosh, Chris Matthews, Chuck Todd, Hardball, jim zogby, Koran, Koran Burning, Pastor Jones, Pastor Terry Jones, Qur'an, Rush Limbaugh, Slaughterhouse Five, Terry Jones, Time magazine, U.N. Killings

skyfet

You can’t blame the slob, he can’t read properly after using those Oxycotins.
WCinWI

Haha Tommy just gave Rush the biggest boost by legitimizing Rush’s radio program. Nice job Tommy!
WCinWI

skyfet said:
You can’t blame the slob, he can’t read properly after using those Oxycotins.

Nor can you write properly with so many spelling mistakes. At least learn to spell before calling someone else a slob. Sheesh!
http://www.facebook.com/people/Dronetek-Bulk-Vanderhuge/100000918732763 Dronetek

You should be singing Rush’s praises for getting you guys so much attention.
skyfet

By the way, why the hell are you referring to yourself in the third person and still using the “(me)”, attribute, it’s annoying. You either use mediaite writer or directly refer it to yourself.
fallenchicken

Queuing Teabloggers in 1,2, FUCK IT they’re already here.
Rusty Shackelford

Wow, Tommy writes a posting without mention of Keith Olbermann.Impressive.
Emma

Religion and their fantasist followers offer nothing but hate, war and cruelty. We would be a far better society, if we relied upon our inner spiritual strength instead of relying upon egregious fictional narratives, who invoke genocide at every other page.
skyfet

WCinWI said:
Nor can you write properly with so many spelling mistakes. At least learn to spell before calling someone else a slob. Sheesh!

I don’t think you can count, “oxycontin” was the only one that was wrong. You need to learn how to count, Limbaugh devotee.
cjd ohio 1

attributes ghosh’s sentiment to me, but doesnt say for sure tommy, so he is of the hook there
notsofast

skyfet said:
You can’t blame the slob, he can’t read properly after using those Oxycotins.

No, he got some cocaine from John Kerry’s daughter.
skyfet

Kids, this is why you should stay away from drugs. You are likely to come to work, after losing your mind (hungover), and your boss will definitely not be impress. Unfortunately, Limbaugh is his own Boss (you might not be that lucky). All he needs to do is throw in some red meat to his followers, and his paycheck is guaranteed.
George C

skyfet said:
I don’t think you can count, “oxycontin” was the only one that was wrong. You need to learn how to count, Limbaugh devotee.

Capich? You are writting joker while wobbling whilst in emotion . ahhhhhhh
skyfet

notsofast said:
No, he got some cocaine from John Kerry’s daughter.

You were the paper boy in the middle, that is how you got the inside info. Well done, I hope your folks are happy with your achievement.
http://TheDividedStatesBlog.com Publius219

WCinWI said:
Nor can you write properly with so many spelling mistakes. At least learn to spell before calling someone else a slob. Sheesh!

I count a singular mistake of a proper noun. Most people don’t know exactly how to spell prescription drugs. Moron. Killyourself.
Sprocket

Rusty Shackelford said:
Wow, Tommy writes a posting without mention of Keith Olbermann.Impressive.

You managed to do that all by yourself. Give yourself a gold star.
BadGenome

At least he refrained from racially charged hate speech like “basketball”.
Lustreking

This is news anymore? Morbidly obese, thrice divorced, draft dodging junkie says something stupid.. that’s his entire show fer crissakes.
BadGenome

Publius219 said:
I count a singular mistake of a proper noun. Most people don’t know exactly how to spell prescription drugs. Moron. Killyourself.

Most people can post a comment without wishing for someone’s death, though.
Jaurez

When did God tell Muslims to chop peoples heads off and post it on the internet? I’ve read the Koran and I must have missed that part.
THE REAL ROYAL KING

Lard Limbaugh has never been much concerned with truth and accuracy. This ought not to have surprised anyone.
skyfet

BadGenome said:
Most people can post a comment without wishing for someone’s death, though.

Who has done that? Limbaugh forced the drugs down his own throat, no one forced them nor wished them on him.
Jaurez

THE REAL ROYAL KING said:
Lard Limbaugh has never been much concerned with truth and accuracy. This ought not to have surprised anyone.

What’s funny is you probably weigh twice what he does. ;)
http://www.facebook.com/people/Ellen-Carey-Rowe/683757018 Ellen Carey Rowe

Reading comprehension is not the right-wings strong suit.
notsofast

skyfet said:
skyfet says:
April 4, 2011 at 1:57 pm skyfet(Quote)

Son, you started at the bottom — and it’s been downhill ever since.
notsofast

Ellen Carey Rowe said:
Reading comprehension is not the right-wings strong suit.

And comprehension and telling the true are not lib strong suits.
cjd ohio 1

Ellen Carey Rowe said:
Reading comprehension is not the right-wings strong suit.

and thinking isn’t yours
justanotherconservative

skyfet said:
By the way, why the hell are you referring to yourself in the third person and still using the “(me)”, attribute, it’s annoying. You either use mediaite writer or directly refer it to yourself.

By the way, when are you going to learn how to write a sentence?
http://www.facebook.com/people/Ellen-Carey-Rowe/683757018 Ellen Carey Rowe

George C said:
Capich? You are writting joker while wobbling whilst in emotion . ahhhhhhh

huh?
http://www.facebook.com/people/Ellen-Carey-Rowe/683757018 Ellen Carey Rowe

cjd ohio 1 said:
and thinking isn’t yours

wow just way to clever for me.
BadGenome

skyfet said:
Who has done that? Limbaugh forced the drugs down his own throat, no one forced them nor wished them on him.

What does “Killyourself” mean to you?

Publius has a history of expressing his wishes for the demise Limbaugh and other pundits (including the especially tasteless wish that Larry Kudlow would be sent to a gas chamber), but this is the first time I’m aware of him wishing death on another poster. He must be a sad, impotently wrathful little man.
BadGenome

*demise of

Mediaite: Edit. Button. NOW.
cjd ohio 1

Ellen Carey Rowe said:
wow just way to clever for me.

please dont respond, remember , you dont want to engage me
George C

Ellen Carey Rowe said:
huh?

It’s an old joke , surprised you didn’t get it .
skyfet

notsofast said:
And comprehension and telling the true.

What the hell do you mean by that? is that some code language you use in the barn?
http://www.facebook.com/people/Ellen-Carey-Rowe/683757018 Ellen Carey Rowe

cjd ohio 1 said:
please dont respond, remember , you dont want to engage me

Thanks for the reminder. I have a hard time remembering which tools to ignore, there are so many of you. Please remind me again should I forget. :)
cjd ohio 1

Ellen Carey Rowe said:
Thanks for the reminder. I have a hard time remembering which tools to ignore, there are so many of you. Please remind me again should I forget. :)

i will, i know you are old and losing you ability to think, no problem
http://www.facebook.com/people/Ellen-Carey-Rowe/683757018 Ellen Carey Rowe

George C said:
It’s an old joke , surprised you didn’t get it .

Was it written in English?
notsofast

skyfet said:
skyfet says:
April 4, 2011 at 2:17 pm skyfet(Quote)

Son,some day you will find yourself — and wish that you hadn’t.

When you go to the mind reader, do you get 75% off?
George C

Ellen Carey Rowe said:
Was it written in English?

You’ll have to ask skyfet.
Jaurez

George C said:
You’ll have to ask skyfet.

LOL!
RyGuy

Rush said that someone on Chris Matthews’ Show OR on Mediaite made the claim that Koran burning is worse than Bible burning, as in he couldn’t remember who said what. It wasn’t a direct slam at Mediaite since Rush obviously didn’t take much time to read the article since he was arguing the principle of the argument, not who said what.

He didn’t directly attribute Tommy to saying this … I think Tommy is just happy he got mentioned by one of “The Big 3″ Liberal obsessions – that being Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck, and Bill O’Reilly
Tommy Christopher

cjd ohio 1 said:
attributes ghosh’s sentiment to me, but doesnt say for sure tommy, so he is of the hook there

Well, no, he isn’t. Later in the clip, he accuses me of never having attended Sunday school, and therefore not knowing that Christians believe the Bible is the inspired word of God. He says that for sure.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Bobby-Levit/1048771827 Bobby Levit

We should burn Koran everyday
cjd ohio 1

Tommy Christopher said:
Well, no, he isn’t. Later in the clip, he accuses me of never having attended Sunday school, and therefore not knowing that Christians believe the Bible is the inspired word of God. He says that for sure.

sunday school and ghoshs sentiment are two different things, so rush is only guilty of saying you didnt attend sunday school
notsofast

OT:

Did ya hear that after all his sanctimony and preaching, Barry has decided to try the terrorists at Gitmo?

Yes, that was announced today.

But how can they do that? Didn’t Gitmo close a year after Barry signed that much touted Executive Order in Jan. 2009?

What? It’s still open?

LOL
Tommy Christopher

RyGuy said:
Rush said that someone on Chris Matthews’ Show OR on Mediaite made the claim that Koran burning is worse than Bible burning, as in he couldn’t remember who said what. It wasn’t a direct slam at Mediaite since Rush obviously didn’t take much time to read the article since he was arguing the principle of the argument, not who said what.

He didn’t directly attribute Tommy to saying this … I think Tommy is just happy he got mentioned by one of “The Big 3″ Liberal obsessions – that being Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck, and Bill O’Reilly

Um, read the whole thing/listen to the whole clip. He slams me specifically for not knowing that Christians believe the Bible is the word of God, which I actually did point out. Y’know, I was pretty gracious about Limbaugh’s mistake, you should take a lesson. He was wrong, deal with it.
Jaurez

Tommy, did you go to Sunday School?
Tommy Christopher

cjd ohio 1 said:
sunday school and ghoshs sentiment are two different things, so rush is only guilty of saying you didnt attend sunday school

I don’t understand your point. He was only wrong one and a half times?
Tommy Christopher

Jaurez said:
Tommy, did you go to Sunday School?

Yes. For many years.
notsofast

Jaurez said:
Tommy, did you go to Sunday School?

Yes, he attended it on Thursdays.
Jaurez

Tommy Christopher said:
Yes. For many years.

Good to know.
skyfet

George C said:
You’ll have to ask skyfet.

That is how you explain your failure, I bet you also blame the dog for not doing your hw. lol
skyfet

notsofast said:
Son,some day you will find yourself — and wish that you hadn’t.

When you go to the mind reader, do you get 75% off?

I think I may have touched a freaking nerve!
cjd ohio 1

Tommy Christopher said:
I don’t understand your point. He was only wrong one and a half times?

no tommy, the only fact that is sunday school, the rest is his opinion, now did he imply statements and opinions to you, you can judge, but you only deal in facts and what was EXACTLY said.
justanotherconservative

oh just cut his head off already. that’s what shariah law would call for. and we are headed that way, aren’t we? i mean, aren’t we?
skyfet

justanotherconservative said:
oh just cut his head off already. that’s what shariah law would call for. and we are headed that way, aren’t we? i mean, aren’t we?

When are you going to learn how to start a sentence with capitalization? it’s embarrassing, did you not learn anything in school?
notsofast

skyfet said:
I think I may have touched a freaking nerve!

Yes, son, YOURS!

LOL

I hope your mom doesn’t catch you at it!
Cisco

Most of you cretins sit on bean bag chairs in your mother’s basement watching soap operas, eating Cheetos, whacking off, and trying to figure out how to keep mom from finding out your dick is colored orange.
AIO_7

Rush, I know that you are going to read these comments, you vain slob.
Oh boo friken hoo. now you’re crying because the NFL didn’t want you; and by the way, you said everything and more than that you were/are accused of.

You, sir, are a lying flatulent sack o’ sh*t. (At least Marta said you were)
RyGuy

Tommy Christopher said:
Um, read the whole thing/listen to the whole clip. He slams me specifically for not knowing that Christians believe the Bible is the word of God, which I actually did point out. Y’know, I was pretty gracious about Limbaugh’s mistake, you should take a lesson. He was wrong, deal with it.

At the beginning of Rush’s analysis he directly states that he didn’t know if it was the guest on The Chris Matthews Show OR Mediaite (you) who made these claims about the Koran, Bible, and word of God. You can say Rush was mistaken, but you can’t say he was lying or purposefully wrong.

Simply, I think you’re creating drama where there is none.
WCinWI

Publius219 said:
I count a singular mistake of a proper noun. Most people don’t know exactly how to spell prescription drugs. Moron. Killyourself.

Bannable offense.
George C

skyfet said:
When are you going to learn how to start a sentence with capitalization? it’s embarrassing, did you not learn anything in school?

Ironic , no ?
The Tea Weasel®

WCinWI said:
Bannable offense.

Quick, call him a racist and refuse to talk to him.
Dsiscokid

Tommy Christopher said:
Yes. For many years.

What happened, if you don’t mind me asking……
WCinWI

skyfet said:
When are you going to learn how to start a sentence with capitalization? it’s embarrassing, did you not learn anything in school?

It’s really embarrassing when you make the same offense with which you wish to impugn another. :)
http://TheDividedStatesBlog.com Publius219

WCinWI said:
Bannable offense.

What’s with your hatred of the Constitution? I can’t make suggestions?
sponge bob

Tommy , I think you are a far left shill but thought you wrote a fair story on the Koran burning. I did not read what Rush said about it but if he blamed you he was wrong.

Having said that , your analogy of the gun to a boy’s head was one of the dumbest I have ever read.
WCinWI

After listening to the clip, Rush wasn’t even talking about Tommy. He was talking about Chuck Todd and his guest.
WCinWI

Publius219 said:
What’s with your hatred of the Constitution? I can’t make suggestions?

Bannable offense.
kvon

notsofast said:
No, he got some cocaine from John Kerry’s daughter.

Good point, because the Democratic leadership listens to John Kerry’s daughter on the radio everyday.
Tommy Christopher

Dsiscokid said:
What happened, if you don’t mind me asking……

Well, that’s a long story, but basically, I realized that my faith would never overcome my skepticism, even if I really wanted it to. (and I did)
Barack Must Go

Hey, ow lucky are you ? This is better than winning the lottery for you guys.
Tommy Christopher

Barack Must Go said:
Hey, ow lucky are you ? This is better than winning the lottery for you guys.

Being trashed by Limbaugh is pretty cool, but the practical impact is negligible.
Latin2

Once again the situation points out that Islam is not capable if being in a modern society.

1. When the Muhammad cartoons were published in a European newspaper Muslims went wild, rioted and people died.

2. When U.S. MSM published false reports of our soldiers flushing Quran’s Muslims went wild, rioted and killed people.

3. When Molly Norris, a cartoonist, started the Draw Muhammad Day as a civil protest for a Muslim group threatening to kill the creators of South Park Muslims rioted, burned buildings and censors Facebook and Youtube for a week in certain Muslim countries. After that Molly Norris had to go into hiding.

Proving that Islam is not ready for the modern world.

…and of course many Liberals took the side of Islamofacists over freedom of speech and expression instead of blaming them.
Dsiscokid

Tommy Christopher said:
Well, that’s a long story, but basically, I realized that my faith would never overcome my skepticism, even if I really wanted it to. (and I did)

Never say never. God’s grace is greater than our skepticism.
“And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.” (Matt. 17:20)

“All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” (John 6:37)
Garth

Latin2 said:
Once again the situation points out that Islam is not capable if being in a modern society.

1. When the Muhammad cartoons were published in a European newspaper Muslims went wild, rioted and people died.

2. When U.S. MSM published false reports of our soldiers flushing Quran’s Muslims went wild, rioted and killed people.

3. When Molly Norris, a cartoonist, started the Draw Muhammad Day as a civil protest for a Muslim group threatening to kill the creators of South Park Muslims rioted, burned buildings and censors Facebook and Youtube for a week in certain Muslim countries. After that Molly Norris had to go into hiding.

Proving that Islam is not ready for the modern world.

…and of course many Liberals took the side of Islamofacists over freedom of speech and expression instead of blaming them.

You don’t consider the US a modern society? Okay then.
http://www.zazzle.com/talkingpoints NORBIT Jr.

Remember the lessons of “The Peaceful Religion”, and their reaction to the Koran burning, the next time you see crucifixes thrust into vaginas or bibles being burned at the San Fransisco Parade!

Not a PEEP from the Democratic Party of Christian-Haters over that!

NEVER VOTE FOR A DEMOCRAT!
Garth

NORBIT Jr. said:
Remember the lessons of “The Peaceful Religion”, and their reaction to the Koran burning, the next time you see crucifixes thrust into vaginas or bibles being burned at the San Fransisco Parade!

Not a PEEP from the Democratic Party of Christian-Haters over that!

NEVER VOTE FOR A DEMOCRAT!

Unlike that peace loving Christian religion? Never trust a tea-bagging moron.
Latin2

Garth said:
Unlike that peace loving Christian religion? Never trust a tea-bagging moron.

Really?

You mean never trust Rev. Martin Luther King?

Now tell me which major Islamic leader was behind a major peace movement.
Latin2

The people who were behind the abolishment of slavery were hard core Christians, some even gave up their lives to abolish slavery.
Latin2

…meanwhile hard core Islamists believe IN slavery.
Latin2

Garth said:
You don’t consider the US a modern society? Okay then.

lol…I guess you don’t know that Islam is not the major religion in the USA….even though Liberals would have it that way in the future.
Dem4Ever

Tommy, don’t be dismayed by Rush’s alleged disagreement with you. Beause as you admitted, you and he are in complete agreement.
Latin2

Christian stops slavery in Ghana;

http://dspace.nitle.org/handle/10090/9438

Hard core Muslims still practice slavery TODAY;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CK3iYBxgQI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Ytd6GUM7Xg
http://www.zazzle.com/talkingpoints NORBIT Jr.

Garth said:
Unlike that peace loving Christian religion? Never trust a tea-bagging moron.

Oh, is there an ongoing movement in the Christian religion that has initiated worldwide jihaad, and is responsible for tens-of-thousands of deaths of innocent people?

Please, at least try to redact some of these trite auto-responses so as to look original, and feign substance.
notsofast

kvon said:
Good point, because the Democratic leadership listens to John Kerry’s daughter on the radio everyday.

She has a face for radio, son!
Lustreking

NORBIT Jr. said:
Remember the lessons of “The Peaceful Religion”, and their reaction to the Koran burning, the next time you see crucifixes thrust into vaginas or bibles being burned at the San Fransisco Parade!

So, maybe you should stop going to the masturbate-with-crucifixes-while-dancing-around-the-bible-bonfire-parade in SF.
They have one like, every week. Just, go to yoga class instead. I mean, honestly you’ve seen one masturbate-with-crucifixes-while-dancing-around-the-bible-bonfire-parade you’ve seen them all.
jrcmi

notsofast said:
She has a face for radio, son!

And YOU have a brain that could be kept in a thimble. Maybe it already is.

How shallow – and typical – of you to judge a person on her appearance (assuming you ever actually SAW her) rather than make the actual effort to LISTEN to what she has to say and judge her on merit. You’re pathetic and, sadly, far from unique.

NORBIT Jr. said:
is there an ongoing movement in the Christian religion that has initiated worldwide jihaad, and is responsible for tens-of-thousands of deaths of innocent people?

There WAS one a while back. It was known as the Crusades.

Many so-called Christians ARE involved in a “jihad,” seeking to revoke the legal rights of women, forcing “creationism” into our schools and declaring Christianity the de facto national religion. Both Christ AND the Founders would be appalled.
Biscuit

haha! Poor fat stupid Nazi Rush can’t get anything right.
Biscuit

notsofast says:
April 4, 2011 at 7:20 pm notsofast(Quote)
2 3
kvon said:
Good point, because the Democratic leadership listens to John Kerry’s daughter on the radio everyday.

She has a face for radio, son!

Dateless, nothing to write home abou,t conservative male, honey?
Biscuit

NORBIT Jr. says:
April 4, 2011 at 5:27 pm NORBIT Jr.(Quote)
5 1
Remember the lessons of “The Peaceful Religion”, and their reaction to the Koran burning, the next time you see crucifixes thrust into vaginas or bibles being burned at the San Fransisco Parade!

Not a PEEP from the Democratic Party of Christian-Haters over that!

NEVER VOTE FOR A DEMOCRAT!

NEVER A PEEP ABOUT REAL CHRISTIANITY FROM THOSE “CHRISTIAN” HYPOCRITES ON THE RIGHT.
GOD SEES EVERYTHING, RIGHT-WINGERS.