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An Analysis of Political Entertainer Rush Limbaugh

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An Analysis of Political Entertainer Rush Limbaugh The Rush Effect: An Analysis of Political Entertainer Rush Limbaugh By Helene Megaard A Thesis Presented to the Department of Literature, Area Studies and European Languages University of Oslo in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the MA degree September 2012 1 Acknowledgments First, I would like to thank my amazing parents, John Kristian Megaard and Ratka Blagojevic Megaard, for their continuing love and support, and for teaching me to think outside the box and influencing me with their good sense of humor. Second, I wish to thank my aunt Sissel Megaard for being a pillar of sense in a chaotic world, and for her love and support over the years. Finally, I would like to thank my advisor, Associate Professor Deborah L. Kitchen-Døderlein for giving good advice, and reading and commenting on my thesis in progress. 2 Table of Contents Acknowledgments ................................................................................................................................... 2 Chapter One: Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 5 Chapter Outline ................................................................................................................................... 7 Review of Literature ............................................................................................................................ 9 Primary Sources ................................................................................................................................ 16 Other Sources .................................................................................................................................... 20 Chapter Two: “Telling It like It Is” – The Rise of Southern Populism in American Politics .................... 21 An Altered Political Landscape .......................................................................................................... 21 George Wallace: The Most Important Loser in Twentieth Century American Politics......................... 23 “The Amazing Success Story of ‘Spiro Who?’” ................................................................................. 38 Conclusion ........................................................................................................................................ 50 Chapter Three: The Life of Rush Limbaugh ........................................................................................... 54 Family Background ........................................................................................................................... 54 Creating His Radio Persona ............................................................................................................... 58 Success .............................................................................................................................................. 65 The Male Equivalent to Oprah ........................................................................................................... 70 “The Magic Bullet” ........................................................................................................................... 74 Conclusion ........................................................................................................................................ 76 Chapter Four: The Rush Limbaugh Show .............................................................................................. 78 Developments in American Broadcasting ........................................................................................... 78 The Rush Limbaugh Show .................................................................................................................. 80 “Show Prep” ...................................................................................................................................... 84 The Listeners ..................................................................................................................................... 87 Conclusion ........................................................................................................................................ 90 Chapter Five: Political Activism ............................................................................................................ 92 Political Influence .............................................................................................................................. 92 The Clinton Years ............................................................................................................................. 97 The Rush Effect ............................................................................................................................... 104 “Turning the Tables” ....................................................................................................................... 112 “The Magic Negro” and “Feminazis” ............................................................................................... 114 3 Conclusion ...................................................................................................................................... 126 Chapter Six: Conclusion ...................................................................................................................... 129 Bibliography ....................................................................................................................................... 132 Primary Sources: ............................................................................................................................. 132 Books: ............................................................................................................................................. 133 Articles:........................................................................................................................................... 135 Other Sources: ................................................................................................................................. 140 4 Chapter One: Introduction There is an Arabian proverb that posits that a man who has powerful enemies is a powerful man - meaning that a person’s opponents reflect his or her standing in society. During his twenty-four years on the national airwaves, two presidents and many others have tried to silence conservative radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh. None have been successful. Former President Bill Clinton complained during his presidency that Limbaugh had a three hour daily radio show through which he could spread his populist message, whereas President Barack Obama tried to pit Limbaugh up against his own, the Republican Party, during his first week in office. Limbaugh thrived on the controversies that have followed him. While he at times appears to be his own worst enemy, Limbaugh always seems to come out on top.1 Other politicians have been more welcoming. Late President Ronald Reagan sent him two letters in the first half of the nineties, saying “keep up the good work,” and former Presidents Bush Sr. and Bush Jr. have both made appearances on Limbaugh’s radio show.2 For nearly the last quarter of a century Rush Limbaugh has been the most listened to radio host in America. Broadcasting media have continued to develop in a fast pace with the introduction of Internet - competitors have come and gone - but nothing or no one has yet to rock Limbaugh’s position. There has been no lack of scandal surrounding him, but as long as he keeps the crowds laughing, they stick with him. Media scholar Jeff Land asked in his essay “Sitting in Limbaugh” if it was possible to puncture Limbaugh’s balloon by measuring him by his own 1Roger Smith, “After 24 Years, Limbaugh’s Influence Continues to Grow,” Los Angeles Times, August 4, 2012, accessed August 5, 2012. http://articles.latimes.com/2012/aug/04/news/la-pn-after-24-years-limbaughs-influence- continues-to-grow-20120803 2 Paul D. Colford, The Rush Limbaugh Story: Talent on Loan from God, (New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1993), 170; Andrew Seifter, “President Bush Was a Guest on His ‘Good Friend’ Rush Limbaugh’s Show,” Mediamatters.org, August 31, 2004, accessed September 6, 2012. http://mediamatters.org/research/2004/08/31/president-bush-was-a- guest-on-his-good-friend-r/131765 5 ethical standards? 3 Well, neither the admission of long term drug use, nor a criminal investigation hurt Limbaugh’s listenership. On the contrary, it strengthened his status as his followers’ empathetic counselor. Rush Limbaugh is part of a Republican clan seated in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Many of his family members hold prominent social positions. Limbaugh echoes his family’s political doctrines, and rhetorically sounds like the rest of the Limbaughs. Both his grandfather and his father were lawyers. Limbaugh was expected to follow the same route, but much to the dismay of his family, Limbaugh dropped out of college after one year to pursue a career as a disc jockey. Limbaugh spent a decade getting fired from different radio stations, until he, according to himself, was finally allowed to be himself in the mid-1980s. He became nationally syndicated in 1988, and has after that, by all accounts, been very successful.4 Rush Limbaugh dominated the cultural and political landscape of the mid-1990s. For a while, Limbaugh was everywhere with a high profile radio show, a nightly cable network television show, two bestselling books, a monthly
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