Editorial: THE MEDIA: Rush Week

National Review, Oct 27, 2003

Rush limbaugh has had better weeks. His troubles began with his latest triumph-an ESPN gig, commenting on the NFL. One Sunday, he suggested that Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb was overrated.

"I think what we've had here is a little social concern in the NFL," Rush said. "I think the media has been very desirous that a black quarterback do well.

We're interested in black coaches and black quarterbacks doing well. I think there's a little hope invested in McNabb and [therefore] he got a lot of credit for the performance of his team that he really didn't deserve."

For days they were banging on pots and shooting off muskets to exorcise the ghost. Jesse Jackson weighed in, cartoonists fitted Limbaugh with a pointed Klan hood, ESPN issued a hima culpa (Latin for "It was his fault"). Maybe Limbaugh was wrong about McNabb. Eagles fans may discuss among themselves. But he was not wrong to identify the race- consciousness of the NFL. The Detroit Lions have been fined $200,000 for not interviewing black candidates for head coach. McNabb's agent raised race as an issue in a contract negotiation with the Eagles a few years ago. When conservatives identify policies that divide people by race, they become "racially divisive."

All this paled when the National Enquirer revealed, and other media outlets confirmed, that Limbaugh had fallen into the purview of an investigation into a massive drug ring. A former housekeeper told the Enquirer that she had supplied her boss with prescription painkillers for four years, to which he had become addicted.

Limbaugh will have his side to the story, which he has not yet, at press time, told. What can be said is that painkillers are enormously seductive, especially for people in high-stress jobs (witness JFK). Rush will afford his many admirers the candor that is typical of him. They will listen to his words with charity and justice, and pray that he will continue to thrive.