Limbaugh: 'The media didn't make me, and they can't break me'
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/03/25/art.getty.rush.limbaugh.jpg caption="Limbaugh told an interviewer the media couldn't 'break' him."]
(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
- Harris faces painful Black history in emotional slave outpost visit
- 10 Cards Charging 0% Interest Until 2024
- Kentucky law aimed at increasing parental oversight in education takes effect
- New York grand jury won't hear Trump case again this week
- Defense secretary defends abortion policies at center of Senate nomination hold-up
- Justice Department moves to end consent decree with Seattle Police Department
The fact that this guy shamelessly admits to saying everything for ratings, yet his ilk still blindly follow him, knowing full well that they can't trust what he says.
Must be some good stuff he's on these days.
The fact that the Republican Party doesn 't listen to Rush explains why they keep nominating losers like McCain.
Rush is popular because he states what most of us think.
The Republican Party does NOT!
The liberal media makes independents and moderate republicans want to hear Rush and to hear both sides of the commentary!
Mr. Limbaugh is a semi-literate professional agitator and provocateur who claims "knowledge" through reading Encyclopedias! His vocabulary is limited to a few dozen words charged with criticism and hate-mongering. He has many a time (in his embarassing intonation) claimed that "m o n ey" is the "guiding light" of his activities. This individual like his other fire-spitting "photo-copies" (Weimer-Savage, Beck, Hannity, Boortz) has never worn the honorable uniform of a soldier, nor seen the entrance of a University, (excepting Boortz...Dr.! Weimer has studied herbalism! while the rest have undergone courses in rapid-talk and disdain for the masses) now speaks about war strategies, economics, politics, physics, chemistry, mathematics and sociology. None of his sentences carry any academic weight.
Mehr Kalami
Actually, Limbaugh is mistaken....He is both a product of and darling of "the media". He does not claim to be a public policy expert, nor does he aspire to be a political leader. Instead, throughout his career. he has masked his mongering in the guise of "entertainment". So, the worst that could happen to him is that the media simply ignored him.
Rush, you are a national treasure and a national hero. YOU SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE. You were more worthy and deserving. May God bless you.
I can not stand Rush Limbaugh, he makes me sick. He is the biggest hate and war monger, racist. It is as simple as that. Thank you
This man mentions "God" a few times. What kind of god does he believe in I wonder ?
Rush is great. For someone who is so "irrelevant" according to the Left-wing Lilliputians, he sure commands their constant attention and fretting. Don't fret – learn to love Rush !
Who cares. ... I don't
this guy needs to learn something
stop lying ! everyone knows he controls the republican party . and will probly become the nexg chairman of it
so rush do us a favor stop being a raciest and stop lying
– rob of new york city
I find it interesting that Limbaugh, Beck and Hannity all yearn for an America that doesn't exist anymore.
While I will admit that liberal activism has sicken me as of late this guy takes the cake! If the GOP was smart they would shut this guy up! He will only hurt their chances in 2010 and 2012. I voted for Obama but I didnt expect him to turn into Obama-hood, free giveaways to the least deserving. Mr. Obama was elected on the premise he would help out the middle class tax paying worker, not make it harder on them and pander to all the lestist liberal groups! He has only sealed the democrates chances in 2010 and 2012! Good Luck liberals, you blew it for your party!
Limbaugh is an idiot!!! He is just fueling the fire of racism and hatred towards Obama, and YES, he is part of the media.....
Here is a man that has never had a wrong opinion. He likes to blurt out his ideas and philosophies, but wants to take no responsibility on his own, except to keep his ratings going. If he truly has all the answers and is a true patriot, why would he not run for the presidency and help our country. In his opinion Liberals have not come up with 1 good idea in the last 100 years. How could one side be so right all the time and the other side wrong all the time?? Not Rush, he is right all the time, never made a mistake, just like George Bush said when asked if he had ever made a mistake when he was running for president. His reply was, "Not any I can think of". Enough said
Although I’ve considered myself a republican for over a decade, I have never, ever, even for a moment, considered paying any attention to Limbaugh- until CNN, ABC, and MSNBC started ripping on him.
I wonder how much money Limbaugh makes every time one of the networks mentions his name. The sooner you stop talking about him the sooner this nut job becomes irrelevant.
However, although, in my opinion, he is absolutely nuts- the dude does make some valid points. And as long as democrats and the state run media pretend that that is not so- they will continue to alienate their viewers, and turn independents into right leaning flip-floppers. (I can say it- I do it all the time 🙂
No but as a ex avaid listener to your program we can change our channels. I used to love to listen to his progran, but not for the content but for his calming voice. However that all changed going into and out of the past election. There seemed to be more hate and dislike coming from him and that changed my listening habits. Instead of listening to reg talk radio I tune more into sports talk. Less polotical views pushing THEIR opinion. Rush stop your rants, weren't you the one that attacked the DEMs for being "un-american or unpatriotic" when then objected to Bush ? Guess he can't stand being a sore loser like most GOP members. Unlike me i took the loss and am looking to build it for the next election and back this president like I have backe EVERY other one. We are Americans, plural not individuals, singular !!!!!! stop the hate
why does this guy remind me of Larry Flynt?
Rush,
You're right, the "Media" can't break what's already broken.
Forced to deal with only documented truth and without a dump Button, you could NEVER win a debate, even with any HALF educated adversary.
Feel free to thank CNN as well
. . . "The devil is a liar, you must not listen to Him". – THE EXORCIST.
What walk like a pig, talk like a pig, LOOKS like a pig, smell like a pig...you right on the money... Rush Limbaugh!!!
Conservative Retired Navy Veteran Dittos! Right on Rush! I have been a charter ditto head since 1988; keep on exposing the enemies of my country, both foreign and domestic, for what they are! I and tens of millions of American Citizens are WITH you!
You have closed the dumb thing