Video: The obligatory “Today interviews Rush Limbaugh” clip
posted at 4:10 pm on October 12, 2009 by Allahpundit
A surprisingly warm chat from an otherwise pedestrian profile. Hopefully tomorrow’s segment, where he sounds off on Beck and Palin among others, will have more fireworks. It’s 12 minutes long but worth watching for his answer to what he likes about Obama and his admission, at 6:00 and 10:15, about how he jerks the media around with satire and deliberate provocation. No one who’s listened to the show for 10 minutes will find that revelatory, but I don’t think I’ve ever heard him acknowledge the degree of manipulation as candidly as he does here. (Money quote: “Would you ask anybody who writes for Saturday Night Live these questions?”) Listening to this, his approach sounds like the opposite of Jon Stewart’s. Whereas JS dons the clown nose, attacks the right, and then retreats into his “lighten up, I’m a comedian” shtick when they hit back, Limbaugh holds his clown nose behind his back where only his fans can see it and comes at the left as a serious commentator, going over the top to piss them off and then having a laugh when the inevitable liberal freakout comes. Like Althouse says, “I love the way Rush revels in that sort of thing.”
Speaking of liberal freakouts, this NFL thing’s going to end up not happening, isn’t it?
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A very good interview. I look forward to part two.
mesquito on October 12, 2009 at 4:13 PM
The type of chain-yanking you describe is common in Texan humor, at least as I’ve seen it.
exception on October 12, 2009 at 4:16 PM
When you are regular listener it is easy to know when he is jerking around the media and liberals, but it is funny watching\hearing the media\liberals react to it thinking he was serious (e.g., feed his mom [or was it grandma] dog food).
WashJeff on October 12, 2009 at 4:17 PM
The NFL thing? I’ve never seen such blatant discrimination against someone wanting to be a part owner of a team. And they espouse that Rush is racist? Yeesh!
The left is using racism far to often, for it to even be relevant, or viable. When true racism happens, no one will listen. It’s the boy who cried wolf syndrome.
capejasmine on October 12, 2009 at 4:18 PM
It could, I just don’t think it’ll be that many black athletes on the team…but it could happen, lol.
Rush is the gift that keeps on giving. I love when he does these interviews, it amuses me; but that’s what he gets paid the big bucks for, to amuse me. He’s doing a heckuva job! Keep it up Rush!
StoneKrab on October 12, 2009 at 4:20 PM
Anyone who listens to him already knows most of what he says in this interview(at least Part 1). It’s amazing to me how the media is either so ignorant that they still don’t get it after 21 years or they’re intentionally trying to mislead those who don’t tune into his show.
I hope he really piles on Obama and the media for what they did to Palin in Part 2.
Doughboy on October 12, 2009 at 4:20 PM
Rush is fearless. I think that’s why he scares the left — and particularly a small, weak, perpetually frightened leftist like Barack Obama. In this world, it’s always refreshing to find someone who genuinely does not give a sh*t if you think he’s politically incorrect or somehow failing to bow down low enough at the altar of multiculturalism. Honestly, think about how often in daily life most of us keep our mouths shut because we know some leftist in the room will start throwing around accusations of racism, homophobia, etc. But not Rush. He just is not afraid of the hateful, intolerant, bigoted left. They are vicious bullies — and they’ve done a damn fine job of bullying most of the country into submission — but they can’t get Rush to submit. It drives them crazy, and it’s fun to watch.
Rational Thought on October 12, 2009 at 4:21 PM
I would give anything to communicate my ideas with the same speed, coherence, and unwavering confidence that he has. I love the life story too.
Jussi on October 12, 2009 at 4:21 PM
The Godfather speaks!
Mr. Joe on October 12, 2009 at 4:22 PM
Works pretty well, too. It’s easy to outrage the perpetually outraged.
TheUnrepentantGeek on October 12, 2009 at 4:22 PM
Rush and the MSM have a weird relationship that appears to be adversarial but it really symbiotic. Rush gets that. His critics do not.
Mr. Joe on October 12, 2009 at 4:23 PM
He knows how to yank their chaing, and like a fool, they fall for it every time.
SuperManGreenLantern on October 12, 2009 at 4:23 PM
you want a whineburger with those french cries? j/k. I couldn’t resist. I hear your argument all too often.
StoneKrab on October 12, 2009 at 4:23 PM
Rush did a fantastic job. I am SHOCKED that the interviewer seemed enamored… or at least not pissed that she had to conduct the interview unlike KC or ML.
txag92 on October 12, 2009 at 4:24 PM
I won’t listen to a man who ran over a cardboard likeness of a former Nobel prize winner. He’s a confessed fake murderer.
strosfan on October 12, 2009 at 4:25 PM
If your a frequent listener, he is also very funny. Once saying that there is nothing to fear about HRC, she puts her pants on one leg at a time just like us men. Very funny.
rjoco1 on October 12, 2009 at 4:26 PM
Twice.
Doughboy on October 12, 2009 at 4:26 PM
Really, you walk around scared to speak? You should do something about that.
StoneKrab on October 12, 2009 at 4:26 PM
Whether it happens or not won’t depend on Sharpton. If anything, Sharpton’s entry into the fray probably hurts the opposition.
There are up to six different groups in the bidding, and I’m thinking they’ll have more to say about whether it happens for the Checketts/Limbaugh group than anything uttered by Sharpton.
thirteen28 on October 12, 2009 at 4:27 PM
You’re still playing the red kazoo on the sidwalk, Allah.
Percy_Peabody on October 12, 2009 at 4:27 PM
Yeah, part 2 should be pretty awesome.
therightscoop on October 12, 2009 at 4:28 PM
Anyone who has listened to Rush Limbaugh for a lengthy period of time can tell when he’s being a serious commentator, and when he’s completely full of satire.
It’s the liberals and the media who stop in now and then to listen who can’t tell and then blow things out of proportion.
Enoxo on October 12, 2009 at 4:28 PM
Isn’t that the unvarnished truth.
fourdeucer on October 12, 2009 at 4:29 PM
Really, really great stuff. Liberals don’t “get” Rush, which is why they despise him so much. They take everything he ever says at face value, and really don’t understand the satire and the irreverence – illustrating absurdity by being absurd.
Red Cloud on October 12, 2009 at 4:29 PM
Great interview, but as a listener of Rush, I didn’t learn anything new.
Rush rocks.
bridgetown on October 12, 2009 at 4:29 PM
Worst ‘analysis’ of Limbaugh I’ve ever read.
Dr. Carlo Lombardi on October 12, 2009 at 4:31 PM
Amazingly, a pretty good interview from NBC.
Of course they would never ask many of those questions of a Democrat, but Rush handles them very well.
RJL on October 12, 2009 at 4:33 PM
I only listen to him about 1/2 hour a week, traveling to a meeting…but for years he is number one, and the Republicans that run for office still can’t figure it out.
All of us get it…but the Republican status quo doesn’t.
right2bright on October 12, 2009 at 4:33 PM
I’m not a die-hard Rush listener. Quite frankly if there’s nothing much going on, his schtick is not all that great; but that’s more a function of having to fill up 3 hours bereft of really meaty material to chew on.
However, when there IS something going on, he’s the best.
PackerBronco on October 12, 2009 at 4:34 PM
Stupid comment from ESPN (liberal bastion)… (paraphrase)… “I can’t wait until Rush has to interview black coaches as part of the Rooney Rule!”
Sheez… such ignorance… as though Rush never met a black man… they then trotted out the “slavery had its merits” quote…
Alinsky 101.
mankai on October 12, 2009 at 4:35 PM
IMHO, Rush attracts intelligent listeners. Those who don’t listen? Well…’nuf said.
publiuspen on October 12, 2009 at 4:35 PM
Good for Rush to go on things like this, let people see who he is. The left pretty successfully paints him as the devil, so that (in my experience) liberals who do take the time to listen to his show are usually quite pleasantly surprised.
kc8ukw on October 12, 2009 at 4:35 PM
Allah, where do you hold your clown nose?
faraway on October 12, 2009 at 4:37 PM
Rush yanks their chains, and like the rabid dogs they are, they take the bait hook line and sinker.
jainphx on October 12, 2009 at 4:37 PM
Scoop Jackson defended Limbaugh to a point on 1st and 10 this morning, while Skip Bayless loved the outcry from the players. Mike Wilbon said, “I don’t know if Rush Limbaugh is a bigot or if he just plays one on radio.” Just a recap of sorts.
V15J on October 12, 2009 at 4:38 PM
I don’t listen to Rush, but if his opponents are successful in blocking his ownership of a football team then I’m done with the NFL.
Jim R. on October 12, 2009 at 4:38 PM
I started listening a little over a year ago,during the campaign,I like the fact that everything can be backed up by either a soundbite or a transcript and that he knows libs better than they know themselves. He is simply the best at what he does.
ohiobabe on October 12, 2009 at 4:38 PM
Marvelous interview, and surprisingly fair questions from the interviewer.
Maybe if the left could get someone as charismatic and classy as he is, they’d have a hit show, too.
MadisonConservative on October 12, 2009 at 4:40 PM
Great interview Rush.. Like he said, do you ever ask THEM these questions??? N O…
reshas1 on October 12, 2009 at 4:40 PM
he’s bleached his teeth recently
jp on October 12, 2009 at 4:41 PM
Between my knees.
Allahpundit on October 12, 2009 at 4:42 PM
I stopped at “our interview with controversial radio host Rush …”
You could plug in any conservative’s name after this
faraway on October 12, 2009 at 4:42 PM
I ♥ Rush. I mean, seriously. Reminds me of childhood.
*rush baby*
Diane on October 12, 2009 at 4:43 PM
At least you named it. That’s nice.
lorien1973 on October 12, 2009 at 4:43 PM
Stupid comment from ESPN (liberal bastion)… (paraphrase)… “I can’t wait until Rush has to interview black coaches as part of the Rooney Rule!”Sheez… such ignorance… as though Rush never met a black man… they then trotted out the “slavery had its merits” quote…
Alinsky 101.
mankai on October 12, 2009 at 4:35 PM
How stupid. They must not know that Rush had Tony Dungy on his radio show when Dungy’s book came out.
deidre on October 12, 2009 at 4:44 PM
If you hear someone criticize Rush, ask them if they listen to his show, now or ever. 99 out of 100, the answer is no.
uknowmorethanme on October 12, 2009 at 4:44 PM
Can you ride a Clown Czar?
faraway on October 12, 2009 at 4:46 PM
Of course it is; Rush is honest.
Cylor on October 12, 2009 at 4:46 PM
the current talking point is “his comments”
on local sports talk radio today, they had a sports writer from west coast on, and asked him about this. He went off, thought it was great players were trying to stop the sale to Rush and would never play for him, etc. Kept saying, “this has nothing to do with politics but when you are a pill popping loudmouth who makes crazy comments for a long period of time…”(paraphrasing).
it was ridiculous
jp on October 12, 2009 at 4:47 PM
I don’t understand how they could possibly block Rush from buying the Rams. No one said a word when J.Lo and hubby bought the Dolphins. Why is this a big deal? Oh that’s right, it’s Rush. He’s an evil monger, racist, conservative, drug-addicted, fat, pig! Oh the tolerance!
JAM on October 12, 2009 at 4:48 PM
Of course they would never ask many of those questions of a Democrat
///
Conservatives don’t have to worry about obama breathing down their neck.
ohiobabe on October 12, 2009 at 4:49 PM
Are professional sports players REALLY so mistreated and overworked that they need a union??!!!!
WTF!!!???
erakis on October 12, 2009 at 4:49 PM
You really must want someone to post this.
thirteen28 on October 12, 2009 at 4:50 PM
Has Sharpton ever apologized to those Duke lacrosse players?
JAM on October 12, 2009 at 4:52 PM
Rush is a wonderful ‘exposer’. He repeats what liberals say as satire. He baffles folks like the host of Today. It is rather funny.
clorensen on October 12, 2009 at 4:52 PM
I do love Rush, Beck, and Palin. Tomorrow should be the meaty stuff.
cubachi on October 12, 2009 at 4:53 PM
I’ve said it before and I will say it again. I became a conservative because of Rush. I am not ashamed of it one bit.
kahall on October 12, 2009 at 4:55 PM
With Stephen A. Smith on Rush’s side, Al Sharpton is nothing but a blip on the radar screen.
cubachi on October 12, 2009 at 4:55 PM
Rush is extremely entertaining, and although I am not a regular listener, every time that I have listened I agree with him and he makes me laugh. He is probably just a big teddy bear of a guy. He just calls it like he sees it and that kind of brutal honesty scares people that have something to hide.
ReneePA on October 12, 2009 at 5:00 PM
Not sure why Rush would want to waste money on a loser franchise and catch years of grief from belligerently Marxist sportswriters.
spmat on October 12, 2009 at 5:01 PM
Rush is ruining the Repub party??? Rush repels women?? On what planet? Smart women and conservatives LOVE him. Rush rules!
indypat on October 12, 2009 at 5:01 PM
Severeal studies by the Left-leaning PEW organization confirm your statement.
Del Dolemonte on October 12, 2009 at 5:04 PM
Entertainment investment is a good idea, but I think it would be a better use of COnservative Resources to finance Conservative themed movies, tv shows, etc. We have to take back the culture, dialogue, etc. to really ever have a chance at limited govt.
jp on October 12, 2009 at 5:09 PM
No. Being a race-card-waving minority-community “leader” means never having to apologize for anything.
RBMN on October 12, 2009 at 5:14 PM
Smart women and conservatives LOVE him. Rush rules!
indypat on October 12, 2009 at 5:01 PM
///
Yes and we don’t change our principles depending on what crowd is watching.
ohiobabe on October 12, 2009 at 5:17 PM
As far as the ‘NFL thing’: as Stephen A Smith said, it’s all about the green. You want to compare Rush Limbaugh to Al Davis?
red131 on October 12, 2009 at 5:18 PM
Not sure why Rush would want to waste money on a loser franchise and catch years of grief from belligerently Marxist sportswriters.
spmat on October 12, 2009 at 5:01 PM
//
To hopefully improve it and give players chances to be the best they can be.
ohiobabe on October 12, 2009 at 5:19 PM
Great interview Jamie, says Matt Lauer.
Seems to me the whole interview was, “Your critics say…”
“Your critics say….”, Your critics say…” He was right to yawn after she kept going on and on with that garbage.
Christian Conservative on October 12, 2009 at 5:24 PM
They hate him and are jealous of him at the same time!
JellyToast on October 12, 2009 at 5:25 PM
Rush Limbaugh….Liberty and Freedom CZAR!
hawkman on October 12, 2009 at 5:25 PM
+100. Amen Mr. Joe
Dire Straits on October 12, 2009 at 5:26 PM
Rush saved A.M. Radio. He perfected a programming format. The Liberals still cannot touch him.
kingsjester on October 12, 2009 at 5:28 PM
Which begs the question, where or where do you keep your horn?
TXUS on October 12, 2009 at 5:35 PM
It’s absolutely true, though. I pretty much tune out anyone who begins to cry racism.
jimmy2shoes on October 12, 2009 at 5:43 PM
They’re obsessed with him, though they’ll never admit it. He brings color and excitement to their overwhelmingly boring PC orthodoxy.
Nichevo on October 12, 2009 at 5:47 PM
I agree it was a good interview. I was impressed with Jamie’s fairness. Not what I was braced for. I’m sure she’ll get negative crap from her colleagues for saying that off camera Rush is polite and courteous. They’ll accuse her of selling out. No, thought she was fair and balanced, mostly. Looking forward to tomorrow’s segment. Hope a downloadable clip will be available from someone.
Also thought Jamie is a very good looking lady. Great legs! Yeah, that makes me a chauvinist, I guess. For appreciating beauty. We as a society are screw up…can’t even compliment someone anymore without the PC/Thought Police going ballistic.
Roger Brown on October 12, 2009 at 5:51 PM
Ok, this is totally shallow…but I’m watching Vince Flynn on Glenn Beck’s show. We totally have the hottest guys. Besides looking good, their values and ideals are totally smokin’.
/just saying.
hoosiermama on October 12, 2009 at 5:51 PM
Bo Snerdly (?sp) is the official Obama criticizer precisely because he is black. Man that Rush is such a bigot.
What is even better is the way Rush puts out the disclaimer that he is about to yank liberal’s chains, yanks there chain, and then liberals bite on it. But you clearly see that liberals are the smart ones.
jukin on October 12, 2009 at 5:52 PM
hooisermilf. Never noticed, sorry.
/
faraway on October 12, 2009 at 5:53 PM
That’s unfortunate, sounds like a personal problem to me.
Treat every situation differently my friend, that’s all I can tell you.
StoneKrab on October 12, 2009 at 6:10 PM
Racism is the tree the liberals hide behind…they planted it, nurtured it, and now it gives them cover.
The only time I have heard racism raised, race discussed, is when a liberal brings it up…when a liberal makes an accusation…when a liberal embraces it.
right2bright on October 12, 2009 at 6:27 PM
What’s really galling to the liberals is, there they sit, with their fancy college degrees, some even from fancy Ivy League schools, and Rush just signed a contract for $400 million…LOLOLOL
Jeff from WI on October 12, 2009 at 6:30 PM
There will be just as many black players as there are on any other team…perhaps more. He’s not interested in skin tone, just talent. I listen to him often, not every day. I have never heard him issue a racist utterance. “Bo Snerdly” is his program monitor and he’s black. He has other black employees, as well. You don’t hear them going to the media with stories about his “racism”. Surely, over a 21 year period, ONE of his black employees would “out” him, IF he was really a racist. Don’t you think so?
Jarhead68 on October 12, 2009 at 6:40 PM
Care to retract that factually inaccurate statement? I can provide you a few links from your side, since you claim that the only time you hear race being brought up is from the left. You must not pay much attention to what’s coming out of the right?
StoneKrab on October 12, 2009 at 6:40 PM
I don’t think you understood…the black athletes that are on the team now, won’t play for him…the other stuff you said just confused me.
StoneKrab on October 12, 2009 at 6:43 PM
LOL..They don’t play? They’re under contract…LOLOL…they’ll play for Satan if he held their contracts.
Jeff from WI on October 12, 2009 at 6:46 PM
Uh-oh, can an FCC satire-labeling rule be far behind? Clearly, a “moment” is not sufficient notice for fact checking purposes.
Barnestormer on October 12, 2009 at 6:47 PM
wow…just wow, lol. We are now ridiculing people whom managed to obtain good educations for not getting paid as much as people who don’t? What??? That’s conservativism????
StoneKrab on October 12, 2009 at 6:50 PM
It’s almost like the MSM is afriad of him, kinda funny too. I’ve listened to Rush on and off for at least 15 years now and can say with ease that he is right, everyday is better than the one before. His show gets funnier and more intersting by the day.
HotAirExpert on October 12, 2009 at 6:50 PM
It’s almost like the MSM is afriad of him, kinda funny too. I’ve listened to Rush on and off for at least 15 years now and can say with ease that he is right, everyday is better than the one before. His show gets funnier and more interesting by the day.
HotAirExpert on October 12, 2009 at 6:50 PM
Yeah, won’t play as in…throw the game so his team doesn’t win games, which ultimately defeats the purpose of owning a team.
StoneKrab on October 12, 2009 at 6:53 PM
No CONSERVATISM is that he’s found a way to be justly compensated for the profit he makes his employer. Another words, he’s worth MUCH MORE as an employee than most of the elitists out there with their smug attitude.
Jeff from WI on October 12, 2009 at 6:55 PM
Throw a game??!! Are you kidding? These selfish athletes are wiling to possibly jeopardize their entire career because they don’t like the owners politics?? ROFL
Jeff from WI on October 12, 2009 at 6:58 PM
StoneKrab the race baiter and professional victim is back… hahaha. Why the hell do you come on here? Do you not think that the readers here can see right through your BS?
ReneePA on October 12, 2009 at 7:00 PM
Lauer: “He’s fascinating”
That’s the polite way of saying “I hate his guts, but I can’t say that on the air.”
Mallard T. Drake on October 12, 2009 at 7:03 PM
Stop with the projection. Dude, paychecks and the chance to play the sport they love at the elite level far, far outweigh feelings about politics. And as owner, if Rush gets those players to the Superbowl, they won’t say a word negative about him.
Join the real world.
Mallard T. Drake on October 12, 2009 at 7:05 PM
This doesn’t make any sense at all. I thought a lot of these players had incentives in their contracts so that if they play well during the season they will get extra compensation at the end. They get paid extra for getting to the playoffs, winning the playoff, and winning the Super Bowl.
cjs1943 on October 12, 2009 at 7:06 PM
Barney Frank as “the Banking Queen” gets me every time…
I am sure the bat phone at NBC is ringing off the hook from the White House…
Seven Percent Solution on October 12, 2009 at 7:08 PM
Here’s another email from reality. If Rush were the owner of the team, he could take each and every player, sit them down, and talk with them man-to-man about his views and how accurately those views are presented in the media. Once his players got to know him personally, there wouldn’t be any question about playing for his team.
Mallard T. Drake on October 12, 2009 at 7:09 PM
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