Limbaugh's Reign in Ruins

One of my first introductions to politics was reading Al Franken's wonderful book "Rush Limbaugh is a Big Fat Idiot." Written in 1996, the book illustrates the hypocritical, and outright despicable nature of several conservative luminaries. The book illustrates how little the times have changed. Franken's two favorite targets are Newt Gingrich and Rush Limbaugh, two men who are clearly a major part of the conservative discussion to this day. Franken's work is particularly prescient, he spends a good deal of time talking about limbaugh's problematic relationship with women and Gingrich's grandiosity. Flash forward 16 years, Franken is a U.S. Senator, Gingrich is a flailing and failing Presidential Candidate, and Rush Limbaugh is still the signature shock jock of the hysterical right.

However, it seems like Rush Limbaugh's horrible comments have done the unthinkable. They've finally knocked him down from his exalted position within the Republican Party. For years, Rush has been the kingmaker, the de facto boss, and unofficial spokesman of the party, but now it seems his goose may be cooked. Advertisers are leaving his show in droves, a couple stations have pulled him, and most significantly it seems his exalted, untouchable, position amongst conservatives has been shaken. Rush will still have a healthy career, be it on satellite or terrestrial radio, but Republicans won't be forced to kiss his ring, as they have in the past.

Rush has built a career on being a bully, but in this instance it seems he went a step too far. Why has this incident resonated, whereas his other attacks were greeted with applause? It's not merely because he attacked a young, defenseless woman. After all he referred to Chelsea Clinton as the "White House dog" during Clinton's term, and was met with mostly chuckles from his base. I think it's because there's a large segment of Rush Limbaugh's audience with adolescent to young adult daughters, who are on birth control. Limbaugh wasn't merely taking a shot at this young woman but all young women. Limbaugh has become a conservative icon because he's willing to push the envelope. He's been able to entertainingly articulate the conservative message, and often that's involved taking cheap shots. He's consistently railed against women, feminists became "feminazis", but in attacking birth control he transcended politics. A quick online search seems to show that 99% of women have used some form of contraception. Rush screwed up and it seems his reign, spanning 2 decades, may be over.