Limbaugh is Distasteful and Alice Walker is Delightful

Is Limbaugh the kind of man you'd want at your dinner table? What an ass! But, of my, what a delight is the lovely and quiet Alice Walker and I would invite her to our family table any time. I would love her to meet our wonderful daughters.
by Charlie Leck

Yesterday I wrote about the utter disdain I have for Rush Limbaugh – an ugly sort of human being who claims to be a super-patriot when, if fact, he spills the worst possible venom across the nation with his hate broadcasting.

The Washington Post published a story by Alec MacGillis and Peter Slevin (8 May 2008) that looks at Limbaugh's messing with the Democratic Party's primary in Indiana. From his broadcast booth Limbaugh urger "Chaos Votes" and called for Republicans to cross over and mess with the Democratic Party's process of choosing a candidate. What a patriot!

The story asks: Did Rush Limbaugh Tilt Result in Indiana? You could read the entire story; however, I can tell you that the conclusion they reach is that he probably did not.

Even as Barack Obama's campaign celebrated Tuesday's primary results, aides charged yesterday that they would have had an even stronger showing were it not for meddling by an unlikely booster of Hillary Rodham Clinton: the popular conservative radio host and longtime Clinton family nemesis Rush Limbaugh.

The impact of Limbaugh's "Operation Chaos" emerged as an intriguing point of debate, particularly in Indiana, where registered voters could participate in either party's primary, and where Clinton won by a mere 14,000 votes. As he had before several recent primaries, Limbaugh encouraged listeners to vote for Clinton to "bloody up Obama politically" and prolong the Democratic fight….

…Those looking for evidence of Limbaugh's influence pointed to Clinton's edge among Republicans in Indiana and North Carolina. In Indiana, 10 percent of Democratic primary voters described themselves as Republicans, a higher rate than in any state but Mississippi, and they went for Clinton by eight percentage points, according to exit polls. In North Carolina, they were 5 percent of the electorate, and went for her by 29 points.

…Edward Carmines, a political scientist at Indiana University, said that he concluded from the data that while Operation Chaos "existed to some extent, I don't think it was a major factor."

Limbaugh's ego is so enormous that he claims to have had an effect in Indiana when, in truth, that effect was probably miniscule.

The issue here, it seems to me, is that the FCC should have rules that prohibit broadcasters from "messing" with elections. Stating an opinion is one thing. Urging organized strategies to influence an election is quite another.

Limbaugh, however, is an enormous idiot and he won't consider the ethical distinctions here. He is one of those debaters who wins his points with loud, obnoxious babble that never ceases. Al Franken called him "a big, fat liar" in his book. I call him unbearable and self consumed – a low-down rat of a person. Rush Limbaugh doesn't care about America. He cares about Rush Limbaugh and the big bucks his vile mouth can make for himself.

Now, on the other hand,
as Tevia liked to say, we have the beautiful, kind and quiet woman, Alice Walker, who is the author of the internationally acclaimed novel, The Color Purple. Oh my, what a wonderful book. She has recently and very forcefully endorsed Barack Obama for President of the United States. Listen to her quiet, reasoned explanation for her endorsement in this You Tube statement.

Among the reasons she says that he will do well is this: "And then, he has those two daughters. When we have daughters we have to make sure the world is safe for them." As a man with four of those lovely creatures, I like that.

She's not worried about experience. She say's Obama has experience in what really matters and that is being helpful and compassionate toward people.

"We need to have leadership that is strong and compassionate. Compassionate leadership actually is strong… Weak people get us into nightmares because they lack self-confidence. He knows he has what it takes. I know he has what it takes."

Should you have the time, I suggest you read the powerful Open Letter written by Alice Walker, in which she explains her rationale for lining up with Barack Obama's supporters. It was published on the web site, The Root. Here are a few little snippets from her letter.

"I am a supporter of Obama because I believe he is the right person to lead the country at this time. He offers a rare opportunity for the country and the world to start over, and to do better."

"Imagine, if he wins the presidency we will have not one but three black women in the White House; one tall, two somewhat shorter; none of them carrying the washing in and out of the back door. The bottom line for most of us is: With whom do we have a better chance of surviving the madness and fear we are presently enduring, and with whom do we wish to set off on a journey of new possibility? In other words, as the Hopi elders would say: Who do we want in the boat with us as we head for the rapids? Who is likely to know how best to share the meager garden produce and water? We are advised by the Hopi elders to celebrate this time, whatever its adversities."

"Enjoy the miracle we are witnessing. Do not stress over its outcome. Even if Obama becomes president, our country is in such ruin it may well be beyond his power to lead us toward rehabilitation. If he is elected however, we must, individually and collectively, as citizens of the planet, insist on helping him do the best job that can be done; more, we must insist that he demand this of us. It is a blessing that our mothers taught us not to fear hard work. Know, as the Hopi elders declare: The river has its destination. And remember, as poet June Jordan and Sweet Honey in the Rock never tired of telling us: We are the ones we have been waiting for.

Indeed!