(CNN) – Conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh is dismissing Democratic campaigns to paint him as the man steering the Republican Party, and media frenzies over his most controversial comments.
"The media didn't make me, and they can't break me," he said in a portion of an NBC interview that aired Monday.
"I am not the leader of the Republican Party. Don't want to be the leader of the Republican Party," said Limbaugh. "It's silly for them to keep talking about how I'm the leader of anything, it's just creating more curiosity about me. It's 21 years, more popular than ever. Lord, thank you for my enemies."
In interview excerpts released by the network, Limbaugh said he had been moved by the election of the nation's first black president - "but I got over it pretty quickly."
Obama's election has heightened racial discord, he said. "I predicted to you it was going to exacerbate racial problems, and it has," said Limbaugh. "There's a race industry in the country. They make money off it. They have fame and fortune off of it. And I predicted exactly what's happened.
"Any criticism of President Obama is going to be said to be oriented in racism. And if you don't like his health care bill, it's racist. If you don't like his cap and trade, it's racist."
Limbaugh also said grateful for the prescription drug addiction that forced him into treatment six years ago.
"I actually thank God for my addiction," he said. "I learned more about myself in rehab than I would have ever learned otherwise."
Follow Rebecca Sinderbrand on Twitter: @sinderbrandrcnn
From CNN Politics
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Way to go DNC. You keep the focus on Rush or Palin and away from healthcare, bailouts, czars, deficits, congresssional pay raises, trips to Denmark, Rangel tax returns, Dodd corruption charges, Pelosi accusations, Obama's incopetence.
The democrats have NOTHING to offer. So they just make personal attacks. The Chicago way.
Vote all dems out in 2010 and 2012.
You are just loud. You have zero substance, you have been nothing more then a chubby child with a microphone, you add nothing of substance to any discussion or challenge and for this you get paid 100 million + on your contract.
Oh,,,and one other thing....I dont think you have nearly the fan base or market behind you as you claim.
In short...your an entirely overated freakshow.
If this guy is not the leader of the Republican party then why are some Republican politicians afraid to say certain things about him for fear of retribution? Most or all of his listening audience are Republican. Limbaugh is a bigot. He was one way before Obama even came into office. I've been listening on and off since 1996 and he has always been a nitwit. He's a know at all who doesn't know much about anything. I'll debate him anytime.
Read this before you blast Rush.
Leviticus 19:17
'Do not hate your brother in your heart. Rebuke your neighbor frankly so you will not share in his guilt.
Rush is not always right, but he is not always wrong either.
GO RUSH! Keep up the good work.
I don't see anything substantive in this article to refute anything Rush suggests. Why? Because most of what Rush says is substantively irrefutable. This is why Rush has gained the following he has – this is why he has been successful for so long. This is why Liberals hate him. In any open arena – an open political debate where ideas flow evenly back and forth – liberalism loses every time.
Give them Heck Rush! At least someone has the guts.
Arrogance at its best. He will say something more outrageous that he has so far, that will bring him down.. You can only keep this type of crap for so long, before you go way overboard, his ego will bring him down. It is if he thinks he is too big to fail. His mouth and his ego will bring him down..Well, we can all hope this happens.
For once, Laimbaugh is right... Yes media cannot break you. You are already more than broken. Look in the mirror, you will find a big fat broken substance.
For him not to wanna be the leader of the Republican Party, he sure does speak alot on their behalf. Rush Limbaugh could never come to my neck of the woods. He wouldn't make it out with the skin on his back. He is the prime example of a racist and what is wrong with this country.
like him or hate him..... this man is extremely smart and has it all figured out....
you don't become #1 in all ratings by mistake.......
Oh shoot, what am I doing? The idiot's not worth a comment.
He should know about any race industry in the country. He's part of it. He's one o f those making money, fame, and fortune off of it. He and Glen Beck are profiting off the hate, fear and lies they spread.
Rush is the very best thing that can happen to the Democrat Party. On behalf of all its members, "Thank you."
Of course he is the "Dear Leader" of the GOP. Every time a republican politician disagrees with him they have to apologize the very next day... even the most "powerful" (supposedly) republican Michael Steele had to apologize to ELRUSHBO for calling him an entertainer who can be "ugly", "incendiary".
The day he dies I will personally go to the funeral, and make sure they bury his fat racist behind for good. The good ones always die, while the evil live forever.
I'm wondering how this disc jockey every gained the ear of his listening audience. What a hack and a nut job. C'mon people! He's not an expert in anything. He's a freakin' disc jockey that decided to stop spinning records.
Big Macs made Boss Limbaugh, and Big Macs will break Boss Limbaugh.
I just bust in laughter! Who can take Limbaugh's talk seriously???? The world is changing upside-down, I reckon!
The media may not break you but heart disease, diabetes and addiction will.
Most liberals are immediately turned off by Limbaugh because he comes across arrogant, upperty, and insensitive. The fact that he seldom retracts his words is admirable. He is passionate, and the passionate will hold on to this Republic as long as possible.
Government, stay the H... out of our lives.
Yes, the true heart and soul of the Repbulican party. Deny your role, deny your bias, deny your racial prejudice, deny what made you famous. The big lye. Perfected by the GOP. He's a bigoted, drug addicted, uneducated, loud mouthed, hate monger. In other words, a perfect representative of the GOP. Let's hear it for OxiRuch!
Someone should tell Rush that he IS in the Media. The Media DID make him (a 60 MINUTES report about him years ago really put him on the national map), so he can't use that argument. As to breaking him? Appears he's sweating, because the media has exposed more about his inability to articulate actual content beyond screaming about people he doesn't like. His racism charge also rings hollow considering the number of incidents in his past where he has made racial comments, which have been reported numerous times over the years as well. Moreso, his argument boils down to one thing: if you disagree with Obama you can't be racist. How's about arguing why you don't like it instead of bringing up racism in the first place? Oh, that's right, because you don't have anything to grasp to except the whole"I'm okay, but those Obama people are racists!" Nice one, Rush.
I do not believe that God is the right one for Rush to be calling on. Lies and hatred are not part of his teachings.
Just another Republican blurting out crap before he even thinks....maybe he can't think. Snort, snort, snort.