Rush LimbaughRush Limbaugh

Daniel CorkDaniel Cork

History of JournalismHistory of Journalism

3 May 20073 May 2007

Rush Hudson Limbaugh Rush Hudson Limbaugh IIIIII

Born January 12Born January 12thth 1951.1951.

Cape Girardeau Cape Girardeau MissouriMissouri

Born into a family of Born into a family of lawyers.lawyers.

Uncle Stephen N. Uncle Stephen N. Limbaugh, Jr. is a Limbaugh, Jr. is a judge of the judge of the Supreme Court of Supreme Court of Missouri.Missouri.

Early YearsEarly Years First job in radio in First job in radio in

1967 as ‘Rusty 1967 as ‘Rusty Sharpe.’Sharpe.’

Attends Southeast Attends Southeast Missouri State Missouri State University.University.

Gets a ‘D’ in speech.Gets a ‘D’ in speech. Does poorly and Does poorly and

drops out after a year. drops out after a year. Exempt from the draft Exempt from the draft

due to pilonidal cyst.due to pilonidal cyst.

Early Career MovesEarly Career Moves Works as a DJ for Works as a DJ for

WIXZ and KQV in WIXZ and KQV in Pittsburgh.Pittsburgh.

Does the top 40 Does the top 40 hits as ‘Jeff hits as ‘Jeff Christie.’Christie.’

Repeatedly fired.Repeatedly fired. Promotional work Promotional work

for the KC Royals.for the KC Royals. 1983 – KMBZ.1983 – KMBZ.

Talk Show HostTalk Show Host 1984 – Rush moves to 1984 – Rush moves to

Sacramento CA.Sacramento CA. Works successfully as Works successfully as

a talk show host for a talk show host for KFKB.KFKB.

Gets the attention of Gets the attention of ABC Radio.ABC Radio.

1988 – Goes to New 1988 – Goes to New York City and works York City and works for WABC – AM as for WABC – AM as nationally syndicated nationally syndicated talk show host. talk show host.

SuccessSuccess Rush’s three hour shows get Rush’s three hour shows get

put out on over 600 stations put out on over 600 stations and reaches 20 million and reaches 20 million listeners.listeners.

Turns a lot of the public Turns a lot of the public against the Clinton against the Clinton administration.administration.

GOP wins control of GOP wins control of Congress, citing Limbaugh Congress, citing Limbaugh as instrumental in this as instrumental in this victory.victory.

Proud of being called “Most Proud of being called “Most Dangerous Man in America.”Dangerous Man in America.”

His books His books The Way Things The Way Things Ought to Be Ought to Be and and See I Told See I Told You So You So both become New both become New York Times bestsellers.York Times bestsellers.

Rush-ismsRush-isms

‘‘Dittoheads’ – Fans of Dittoheads’ – Fans of Limbaugh. Often call and say Limbaugh. Often call and say “ditto Rush,” or “mega-“ditto Rush,” or “mega-dittos.”dittos.”

‘‘Feminazis’ – feminists that Feminazis’ – feminists that Rush believes are extreme or Rush believes are extreme or militant in their beliefs.militant in their beliefs.

‘‘Environmentalist Wacko’ – Environmentalist Wacko’ – someone Rush considers someone Rush considers overly concerned about the overly concerned about the environment, global environment, global warming etc.warming etc.

‘‘Halfrican American’ – Used Halfrican American’ – Used recently to describe bi-racial recently to describe bi-racial candidate Barack Obama. candidate Barack Obama.

Not as big a hit on TV Not as big a hit on TV Rush is given a TV Rush is given a TV

show in 1992. show in 1992. Produced by Roger Produced by Roger Ailes of Fox News Ailes of Fox News success.success.

Cancelled in 1996.Cancelled in 1996. In 2003 he joins the In 2003 he joins the

ESPN staff.ESPN staff. Resigns after his Resigns after his

comments regarding a comments regarding a black quarterback black quarterback cause controversy. cause controversy.

Rush’s TV ShowRush’s TV Show

Rush on TVRush on TV

Courts Controversy Courts Controversy RegularlyRegularly

Impersonates Impersonates Michael J Fox.Michael J Fox.

Arrested for illegal Arrested for illegal use of prescription use of prescription drugs.drugs.

Makes the Makes the following comment following comment to a caller to a caller regarding the Abu regarding the Abu Ghraib scandal:Ghraib scandal:

Influence and LegacyInfluence and Legacy Has won four Marconi Has won four Marconi

Awards for Radio Awards for Radio Personality of the Year.Personality of the Year.

Lowest listening numbers Lowest listening numbers are as high as 13 million.are as high as 13 million.

Both of the Bush Both of the Bush Presidents have been Presidents have been guests on his show.guests on his show.

Paved the way for Paved the way for conservative AM talk conservative AM talk shows and controversial shows and controversial right wing speakers right wing speakers including Sean Hannity, including Sean Hannity, Ann Coulter, Bill O’Reilly Ann Coulter, Bill O’Reilly and Gordon Liddy.and Gordon Liddy.

Works CitedWorks Cited Deitz, Corey. Deitz, Corey. Radio Talk-Show Host Rush Limbaugh's Addiction On Newsweek Radio Talk-Show Host Rush Limbaugh's Addiction On Newsweek

CoverCover. Retrieved May 7, . Retrieved May 7, 2007 from 2007 from http://radio.about.com/cs/latestradionews/a/rushnewsweek.htmlhttp://radio.about.com/cs/latestradionews/a/rushnewsweek.html

ESPN. ESPN. Limbaugh Resigns from NFL ShowLimbaugh Resigns from NFL Show. Retrieved May 7, 2007 from . Retrieved May 7, 2007 from http://espn.go.com/gen/news/2003/1001/1628537.htmlhttp://espn.go.com/gen/news/2003/1001/1628537.html

Limbaugh on Obama: “Halfrican American” Limbaugh on Obama: “Halfrican American” Retrieved May 7, 2007 from Retrieved May 7, 2007 from http://mediamatters.org/items/200701240010http://mediamatters.org/items/200701240010

Limbaugh on torture of Iraqis: U.S. guards were "having a good time," "blow[ing] Limbaugh on torture of Iraqis: U.S. guards were "having a good time," "blow[ing] some steam off“ some steam off“ Audio clip. Audio clip. Retrieved May 7, 2007 from Retrieved May 7, 2007 from http://mediamatters.org/items/200405050003http://mediamatters.org/items/200405050003

Limbaugh, Rush. Personal interview. Limbaugh, Rush. Personal interview. Rush Limbaugh Gives Sean a Rare InterviewRush Limbaugh Gives Sean a Rare Interview. . Retrieved May 7, Retrieved May 7, 2007 from 2007 from http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,172675,00.htmlhttp://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,172675,00.html

Perkins, Jr, Ray. Perkins, Jr, Ray. Logic and Mr. Limbaugh. Logic and Mr. Limbaugh. Chicago: Open Court 1995. (xiii).Chicago: Open Court 1995. (xiii). ““Rush Limbaugh.” Rush Limbaugh.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved May 7, 2007 from Retrieved May 7, 2007 from

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rush_Limbaugh#_note-Colford ““Rush Limbaugh”Rush Limbaugh” Clintoons Clintoons. Retrieved May 7, 2007 from . Retrieved May 7, 2007 from

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3187769797723187377&q=rush+lihttp://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3187769797723187377&q=rush+limbaugh+clintoons&hl=enmbaugh+clintoons&hl=en

““The Rush Limbaugh Show.” The Rush Limbaugh Show.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved May 7, Retrieved May 7, 2007 from 2007 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Rush_Limbaugh_Show

Works CitedWorks Cited ““Jargon of the Rush Limbaugh Show.” Jargon of the Rush Limbaugh Show.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia.

Retrieved May 7, 2007 Retrieved May 7, 2007 from from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jargon_of_The_Rush_Limbaugh_Show. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jargon_of_The_Rush_Limbaugh_Show.