Limbaugh being investigated for purchasing drugs illegally

Here's an interesting story about a pompous moralizing pig who, it appears, got caught with his hand in the cookie jar.

Rush Limbaugh investigated for illegal drug purchases, paper reports

Shocking allegation surfaces after commentator resigns from ESPN in racial flap

Conservative commentator Rush Limbaugh is being investigated for allegedly buying thousands of prescription painkillers from a black-market drug ring, the New York Daily News reported today.

The newspaper said Limbaugh has been implicated by his former housekeeper, who says she was Limbaugh's pill supplier for four years.

Wilma Cline, 42, was quoted by the newspaper as saying Limbaugh was hooked on the potent prescription drugs OxyContin, Lorcet and hydrocodone, and went through drug rehabilitation twice.

"There were times when I worried," Cline told the National Enquirer, which also carried the story in an edition being published today. "All these pills are enough to kill an elephant -- never mind a man."

Cline could not be reached for further comment, but her lawyer, Ed Shohat of Miami, said his client "stands behind the story."

Cline told the Enquirer she went to prosecutors with information about Limbaugh and others after four years of drug deals that included clandestine handoffs in a Denny's parking lot.

In one e-mail, Limbaugh urged Cline to get more "little blues," the street name for the powerful narcotic OxyContin, she said.

"You know how this stuff works ... the more you get used to, the more it takes," the May 2002 e-mail read. "But I will try and cut down to help out."

The Enquirer reported that Cline became Limbaugh's drug connection in 1998, nine months after taking a housekeeping job at his Palm Beach, Fla., mansion.

The Palm Beach County state attorney's office, which is in charge of the investigation, said it could not confirm or deny the allegations.

Limbaugh's lawyers, Jerry Fox and Dan Zachary, refused to comment on the accusations.

They said Limbaugh, who resigned early today from ESPN's "NFL Sunday Countdown" amid criticism of racial comments about Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb, was traveling and had no comment

My goodness, how quickly the house of cards falls when it's built on a foundation of hot air. You can bet though that if Rush addresses this on air, it will be something like this:

"I told you people this would happen. After 10 years of trying to bring the Clintons to justice, they've finally succeeded in their long standing vendetta to get even with me. They planted the housekeeper. They planted the pills. They will stop at nothing to get even with me."

RE: Limbaugh Said Drugs Destroying Country

From ABC.com:

If the allegations prove true, the talk show host will undoubtedly need to address some of his past comments about drug abuse.

Back in 1995, Limbaugh told his audience on the syndicated Rush Limbaugh, The Television Show that people who are obtaining drugs illegally should be held responsible.

"Drug use, some might say, is destroying this country. And so if people are violating the law by doing drugs, they ought to be accused and they ought to be convicted and they ought to be sent up," he said to his audience during the broadcast.

Media Columnist Michael Wolff says Limbaugh's career might not be able to survive a drug charge.

"It would be labeled as an instance of incredible hypocrisy … Mr. Family values, Mr. Tough on Crime," Wolff said.

At risk for Limbaugh, not just his credibility, but a media empire that has earned his networks and stations more than a billion dollars since 1988.

"If this is a felony we're talking about here, than this is the end of Rush Limbaugh. That's it," Wolff said.

Limbaugh gave up his job as an ESPN sports analyst late Wednesday, three days after saying on the sports network's Sunday NFL Countdown that Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb was overrated because the media wanted to see a black quarterback succeed.

RE: Limbaugh Said Drugs Destroying Country

>At risk for Limbaugh, not just his credibility, but a media

>empire that has earned his networks and stations more than a

>billion dollars since 1988.

>

>"If this is a felony we're talking about here, than this is

>the end of Rush Limbaugh. That's it," Wolff said.

Wow, I don't know who blew whom to improve the progressives' lot so, but keep it UP! 6 months ago BushCo could decapitate kittens with a chain saw on the White House lawn and the 'liberal media' wouldn't cover it.

Arnold tripped up over being an ass; the CIA operative treason in the White House keeps being talked about; Rush is proven, again, to be a big fat liar... Things are going well. Too well? Will these still be topics of discussion in the mainstream news come next week?

Limbaugh admits to being an addict

NEW YORK — Radio talk show host and political commentator Rush Limbaugh (search) stunned listeners Friday when he admitted that he is addicted to painkillers.

"You know I have always tried to be honest with you and open about my life," Limbaugh said on his program. "So I need to tell you today that part of what you have heard and read is correct. I am addicted to prescription pain medication."

Limbaugh said he began taking the medication "some years ago" when his doctor prescribed it after spinal surgery, to treat post-operation pain.

But the operation was unsuccessful and the back pain stemming from the surgery persisted, so Limbaugh said he started taking pills without knowing how addictive they were. He became hooked.

He said he's tried to break his dependence on the painkiller and twice checked himself into medical facilities for treatment.

Limbaugh promised listeners he would once again enter rehab for the next 30 days, immediately following Friday's broadcast, "to once and for all break the hold this highly addictive medication has on me."

He didn't mention what specific painkiller he was hooked on.

The radio host had already been cited as a possible target of a criminal probe into the sale and use of illegal drugs.

One media analyst said Limbaugh had no choice but to come clean and confess.

"He had painted himself into a corner," said Matthew Felling, media director at the Center for Media and Public Affairs. "You cannot be a public personality demanding accountability of everyone on the face of the earth and hide behind legalese."

As for how the news will be received by Limbaugh's fans, Felling said that remains to be seen.

"Now that his public persona has admitted weakness and personal failing, it will be interesting to see how his red meat audience responds," said Felling. "To humanize him may de-fang him to a certain degree."

Limbaugh, who quit his job as a football analyst for ESPN Oct.1, had multiple sources from whom he could obtain the prescription drugs, namely OxyContin (search) and other painkillers, law enforcement sources said last week.

Reports in the New York Daily News and the National Enquirer alleged Limbaugh got the drugs from his housekeeper, Wilma Cline (search).

"I've spoken with the clients and they are pleased that the publication of this story has possibly had the effect of saving Rush Limbaugh's life," Edward Shohat, attorney for Wilma and David Cline, told Fox News in reaction to Limbaugh's admission. "The exercise of First Amendment rights can have very positive effects."

Last week, sources close to the investigation told Fox News that Limbaugh had other drug suppliers apart from Cline and said the popular conservative personality could face a criminal inquiry by the Palm Beach County (search) state attorney's office.

Limbaugh acknowledged the drug probe on Friday.

"At the present time, the authorities are conducting an investigation, and I have been asked to limit my public comments until this investigation is complete," Limbaugh said on his program, adding that there had been inaccuracies reported and he would clear them up when he was allowed to speak about the investigation.

Friday's admission was the latest development in an ongoing scandal that has surrounded the talk show host, known for his bluntness and controversial political views.

Limbaugh resigned as ESPN's football analyst after outrage spread over his comment that Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb, who is African American, had become a media darling because he is black.

He said on the Sept. 28 edition of ESPN's "Sunday NFL Countdown" that McNabb was overrated because the press wanted to see a black quarterback succeed.

"I think what we've had here is a little social concern in the NFL. The media has been very desirous that a black quarterback do well," Limbaugh said then. "There is a little hope invested in McNabb, and he got a lot of credit for the performance of this team that he didn't deserve. The defense carried this team."

Later he apologized for making people uncomfortable but stood by his comments.

Limbaugh's opponents will likely call him a hypocrite after Friday's confession, since he has criticized crack addicts in the past and said drug offenders should be thrown in jail like any other criminals.

But Felling of the Center for Media and Public Affairs said he doubted Limbaugh's career would tank because of his acknowledgment.

"I'm not willing to write his media obituary yet," said Felling. "He has proven a very durable personality."

When Limbaugh admitted the drug problem on his program, he said he wasn't a victim and didn't want to be portrayed as such.

"I am no role model," the radio commentator said. "I refuse to let anyone think I am doing something great here ... I take full responsibility for my problem."

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,99731,00.html

Rush to Rehab...

This guy is not only a hypocrite, he has made million$ by casting blame on others.

After rehab, I hope the handcuffs are soon behind.

RE: Rush to Rehab...

>This guy is not only a hypocrite, he has made million$ by

>casting blame on others.

>After rehab, I hope the handcuffs are soon behind.

Do you want to see all people who are addicted to perscription drugs imprisoned, or just those whose political views are different than yours?

Imposing greater police action and stiffer penalties against people by virtue of their political views is a defining attribute of a police state.

RE: Rush to Rehab...

It makes absolutly no difference whether the drug is Oxycontyn or heroin,the guy bought them without a script,they are controlled substances,he is as guilty as any CRACK WHORE of illegal drug use.

Now if this guy were a person of color thhere would be no sympathy from certain creatures on this post.But because the man is a big fat WHITE liar then we are supposed to cut him some slack-I do not think so.

And yes,If this promoter of traditional family values has faltered-it SHOULD be broadcast loudly.If the shoe was on the other foot,if a left wing journalist-Molly Ivens-Gore Vidal-Norm Chomsky etc...Had been found out about such a "crime"then they would be using all of their might to denounce that person.

Now of course the spin doctors will want to put a "victim"spin on it.

Mr.Big Fat Lying Hypocryte may say he "does not want to be treated as a victim"but the Jimmy Swaggert tears are just around the corner-just wait.

Hubris is still the "sin"the Gods despise the most.

RE: Rush to Rehab...

That's not what the man said, FFF. If Rush is guilty of illegal purchasing prescription drugs as he has been accused of, he should pay the appropriate penalty. Too often, celebrities get a "Get Out of Jail Free" card due to their fame and it simply isn't fair. If you do the crime, do the time.

RE: Rush to Rehab...

>That's not what the man said, FFF. If Rush is guilty of

>illegal purchasing prescription drugs as he has been accused

>of, he should pay the appropriate penalty. Too often,

>celebrities get a "Get Out of Jail Free" card due to their

>fame and it simply isn't fair. If you do the crime, do the

>time.

Virtually nobody goes to prison for the offense of buying pharmaceutical products for one's personal usage without a prescription. This is particularly true where there is an addiction involved.

I can't even express how frequently I hear people expressing great sympathy for "addicts" - talking about them like they're victims or how they have a "disease" and therefore deserve no punishment. Even more so, I hear and see people falling all over themselves praising those who admit their addiction and then seek help as being some sort of heroes deserving of great praise and admiration.

And yet, now that it's Rush Limbaugh who is the addict in question, I hear exactly the opposite from these same people: a bloodthirsty swoon of pirhans demanding that he be imprisoned and the key thrown away -- all because he obtained some pharmaceuticals to feed his addiction. And one can't help but notice and question this great disparity in tone and reaction.

RE: Rush to Rehab...

>

>And yet, now that it's Rush Limbaugh who is the addict in

>question, I hear exactly the opposite from these same people:

>a bloodthirsty swoon of pirhans demanding that he be

>imprisoned and the key thrown away -- all because he obtained

>some pharmaceuticals to feed his addiction. And one can't

>help but notice and question this great disparity in tone and

>reaction.

Doug/FFF:

Puhleeze!!!!!!!

The issue is one of Pigboy's hypocrisy........him advocating sending drug users right off to jail while engaged in the same illegal behavior.......yet you think he should get a pass because the drugs were "prescription".

I''m no pharmacologist, but knowledgeable folks I know tell me that OxyContin is, chemically speaking, a close equivalent of heroin. We lock up the folks who use one, but give a walk to the white collar types who use the other. Classic hypocrisy Republican style.

RE: Rush to Rehab...

>The issue is one of Pigboy's hypocrisy........him advocating

>sending drug users right off to jail while engaged in the same

>illegal behavior.......yet you think he should get a pass

>because the drugs were "prescription".

I agree Rush is a hypocrite. He is one of the most aggressive advocates of showing no sympathy to addicts; of treating them like criminals; and of giving them punishment rather than treatment. I've always found his preaching on this topic to be vile, and there is some sweet justice in his now being exposed as an addict.

But those who constantly trumpet the need for understanding and leniency for drug addicts - and who urge that they not be imprisoned but given treatment instead - are being just as hypocritical as Rush is if, suddenly now, when the addict in question is someone whose politics they dislike, they abandon their prior calls for leniency and treatment for addicts and demand that he be locked up.

>I''m no pharmacologist, but knowledgeable folks I know tell me

>that OxyContin is, chemically speaking, a close equivalent of

>heroin. We lock up the folks who use one, but give a walk to

>the white collar types who use the other. Classic hypocrisy

>Republican style.

Actually, very few drug users - as opposed to dealers - end up in prison, especially for first-time offenses. This is particularly true of pharmaceutical products, but is also true of street drugs. The vast majority of citizens - black or white, rich or poor - would not spend time in prison for the offense of possessing pharmaceutical products without a perscription. Anyone rooting for Rush to be in a jail cell is, by definition, urging different treatment for him because of who he is.

>Doug/FFF:

Mouthing the ramblings of morons can only make you look moronic. I'll extend the same bet to you or anyone else as I have to the Cunthole of Conspiracy herself, BoN - for as much money as you want, we can bet if I am FFF. He met my offer with silence. And you?

RE: Rush to Rehab...

>

>Mouthing the ramblings of morons can only make you look

>moronic. I'll extend the same bet to you or anyone else as I

>have to the Cunthole of Conspiracy herself, BoN - for as much

>money as you want, we can bet if I am FFF. He met my offer

>with silence. And you?

>

>

Hey Neal and Bucky,

He's not lying about not being FFF. If you think about a while you'll figure out the truth about his identity.

I think doug makes a good point that people's reaction to this news about Rush can pretty much be determined by whether they liked or hated him.

Jeff

RE: Rush to Rehab...

republican or democrat is completely irrelevant.

these attacks by partisan hacks are getting old.

party affiliation has zero bearing on the issue. get over it.

RE: Rush to Rehab...

>Mouthing the ramblings of morons can only make you look

>moronic. I'll extend the same bet to you or anyone else as I

>have to the Cunthole of Conspiracy herself, BoN - for as much

>money as you want, we can bet if I am FFF. He met my offer

>with silence. And you?

You can't prove it. If you can, do it. I'm not going to play games with you.

RE: Rush to Rehab...

>republican or democrat is completely irrelevant.

>these attacks by partisan hacks are getting old.

>party affiliation has zero bearing on the issue. get over it.

In this instance, you're corect. This is about Rush Limbaugh being a big fat drug adicted idiot.

"We're going to let you destroy your life. We're going to make it easy and then all of us who accept the responsibilities of life and don't destroy our lives on drugs, we'll pay for whatever messes you get into."

-- Rush Limbaugh show, Dec. 9, 1993

"I'm appalled at people who simply want to look at all this abhorrent behavior and say people are going to do drugs anyway let's legalize it. It's a dumb idea. It's a rotten idea and those who are for it are purely 100 percent selfish."

-- Rush Limbaugh show, Dec 9, 1993

"If (Surgeon General Jocelyn Elders) wants to legalize drugs, send the people who want to do drugs to London and Zurich, and let's be rid of them.

-- Rush Limbaugh show, Dec 9, 1993

"There's nothing good about drug use. We know it. It destroys individuals. It destroys families. Drug use destroys societies. Drug use, some might say, is destroying this country. And we have laws against selling drugs, pushing drugs, using drugs, importing drugs. And the laws are good because we know what happens to people in societies and neighborhoods which become consumed by them. And so if people are violating the law by doing drugs, they ought to be accused and they ought to be convicted and they ought to be sent up.

"What this says to me is that too many whites are getting away with drug use. Too many whites are getting away with drug sales. Too many whites are getting away with trafficking in this stuff. The answer to this disparity is not to start letting people out of jail because we're not putting others in jail who are breaking the law. The answer is to go out and find the ones who are getting away with it, convict them and send them up the river, too."

-- Rush Limbaugh show, Oct. 5, 1995

RE: Rush to Rehab...

>Actually, very few drug users - as opposed to dealers - end up

>in prison, especially for first-time offenses. This is

>particularly true of pharmaceutical products, but is also true

>of street drugs. The vast majority of citizens - black or

>white, rich or poor - would not spend time in prison for the

>offense of possessing pharmaceutical products without a

>perscription. Anyone rooting for Rush to be in a jail cell

>is, by definition, urging different treatment for him because

>of who he is.

No, we're just following Rush's own advice:

"What this says to me is that too many whites are getting away with drug use. Too many whites are getting away with drug sales. Too many whites are getting away with trafficking in this stuff. The answer to this disparity is not to start letting people out of jail because we're not putting others in jail who are breaking the law. The answer is to go out and find the ones who are getting away with it, convict them and send them up the river, too."

-- Rush Limbaugh show, Oct. 5, 1995

RE: Rush to Rehab...

Well since he is such a great Conservative, I think he should get just what he prescribes!

He even said after Jerry Garcia died "The great drug addict is dead" (or words to that effect).

Now that is true compassionate conservatisim folks.

RE: Rush to Rehab...

>No, we're just following Rush's own advice:

Rush has been exposed as giant hypocrite and a fraud. That’s wonderful and there is sweet irony when someone dies by the same sword they wield so cruelly. But why would you want to jump on the hypocrisy bandwagon by advocating a position that you would not otherwise take?

This is a very valid criticism that conservatives often make of liberals. The most extreme liberals are often the most blood thirsty when it comes to mistakes made by political enemies. I understand the satisfaction that is felt when one of these clowns show their true colors after years of sitting in moral judgment of others, but I don’t understand abandoning your liberal ideals.

I’ll be quite happy if Rush just loses his bully pulpit, but even that probably won’t happen. We all forgive the ones we love, and his legion of fans, who are actually proud of their “ditto” mentality, will be happy to let him say all the things that they think but can't properly articulate.

RE: Rush to Rehab...

>Rush has been exposed as giant hypocrite and a fraud. That’s

>wonderful and there is sweet irony when someone dies by the

>same sword they wield so cruelly. But why would you want to

>jump on the hypocrisy bandwagon by advocating a position that

>you would not otherwise take?

I don't believe I've ever stated that I am a liberal. I believe Libertarian would be a better way to describe me. Secondly, I am only advocating what Rush himself has said we should do with drug addicts. Surely, he will have no objection to people following his advice.

As a human being, I do feel sorry for Rush. I can't imagine the pain has been easy to deal with. However, he is now being cut by the very same sword which he has wielded unmercifully. That's called karma.

>This is a very valid criticism that conservatives often make

>of liberals. The most extreme liberals are often the most

>blood thirsty when it comes to mistakes made by political

>enemies. I understand the satisfaction that is felt when one

>of these clowns show their true colors after years of sitting

>in moral judgment of others, but I don’t understand abandoning

>your liberal ideals.

The same could be said with a few words changed of Ann Coulter.

>I’ll be quite happy if Rush just loses his bully pulpit, but

>even that probably won’t happen. We all forgive the ones we

>love, and his legion of fans, who are actually proud of their

>“ditto” mentality, will be happy to let him say all the things

>that they think but can't properly articulate.

I also think its appropriate that this is all going down in Palm Beach County, one fo the plces where the GOP staged their coup that helped the Supreme Court hand the election to Shrub.

RE: Rush to Rehab...

>I don't believe I've ever stated that I am a liberal.

Apologies if I have mischaracterized you. I don’t have a naturally encyclopedic memory like some of the other posters, and this board is just an enjoyable diversion for me. As such, I really don’t retain much more than general impressions and will never to “homework.”

>I believe Libertarian would be a better way to describe me.

Now I’m really confused. Don’t Libertarians generally believe that people can do whatever they want with there own bodies without government interference?

I’m not trying to pick a fight about this. I sense that much of what you are saying is just wishful thinking anyways. I just believe that it is a valid point that progressive people (liberal, libertarian, whatever) often lose their progressive attitudes when they start talking about one of those much reviled ultra-conservatives. I think that we lose the high ground when that happens and are weakened by it.

>The same could be said with a few words changed of Ann

>Coulter.

I agree completely, but you know what they say about lying down with dogs? The last thing I want is the same fleas as that bitch.

RE: Rush to Rehab...

For the most part, I believe that what people do in the privacy of their own homes is their own business, EXCEPT when it starts negatively impacting others. I don't believe for example that marijuana is anymore harmful than alcohol and that no one should go to jail for smoking a joint. I used to feel the same way about drug use in general until my nephew got hooked on Tina and nearly destroyed his life.

I don't want Rush to go to jail because he got hooked on prescription medicine. I want him to go to jail because he is a self righteous hypocrite who needs to be taken down a notch or three. He himself said that people like him out to be sent to jail. He should insist upon being sent to jail.

http://randyrathbun.org/images/rush-buy-bulk.jpg

RE: Rush to Rehab...

>I don't want Rush to go to jail because he got hooked on

>prescription medicine. I want him to go to jail because he is

>a self righteous hypocrite who needs to be taken down a notch

>or three.

Ahh, don't want that. IF we start doing that almost everyone on this board would qualify for jail one time or another. Rush just found a way to get paid for being a hypocrite.

Jeff

RE: Rush to Rehab...

self-righteous hypocrisy is a crime?

you'd better pack an orange jumper...

RE: Rush to Rehab...

Can anyone else here spell S-C-H-A-D-E-N-F-R-E-U-D-E? Cause I'm certainly experienceing it in this case! :7