Rush's Rush to Judgment

Loudmouth radio hosts have no business holding politicians at bay.

There is nothing wrong with sharing an opinion, there is nothing wrong with ruffling people's feathers, there is nothing wrong with pointing out the obvious about policies that one distastes or politicians whom one has no respect for.

But to lambaste private citizens with inhumane and overtly sensationalized rhetoric is not becoming of anyone. Free speech permits others to say pretty much whatever one wants to, even if the content is false, misleading, or not pretty.

However, advocates of shock-jock thuggery have no right to cry foul if others attack. Everyone should be grateful to the fourth estate for keeping our public officials accountable. But when advocacy turns into bullying, when our representatives spend more time worrying about what a radio personality will say instead of what state and federal constitutions require, then the voters need to vote with their feet (and their ears) and repudiate such hateful mongering.

Rush Limbaugh went too far. John Boehner did not go far enough in denouncing his comments. Then again, how come we hear so much about what radio hosts have said rather than holding President Obama and his Party accountable for the promises that they presented three years ago? We need to pay attention to what our leaders are saying and doing, not the carping comments from national radio commentators who get paid to flail our elected leaders in effigy with tongue-lashings and nasty quips about their private lives.

To articulate how dysfunctional the power of talk radio can be for states and governance, just look at the California Republicans, who have been shackled to pledges and initiatives from radio personalities up and down the coast. No freedom to compromise in part because if a Republican looks to compromise on core issues, especially fiscal matters, he or she will face a massive recall effort or be forced out of office.

I do not condone imposing fair time on our radio stations. Instead, the proliferation of views on-line and on TV has neutralized the hard-hitting rhetoric, perhaps instigating the cruel comments from radio hosts who fear losing their dominance.

Rush rushed to judgment. Instead of damning him for his damnable comments, we should demand more integrity from our leaders on both sides of the aisle, that they represent the votes and re-present the narrative of sound fiscal policy in the best interests of all.