Rush Limbaugh, Al Franken, Golf, Michelle Wie

FORE-GET CIVILITY

Franken, Limbaugh Spar Over Golf Politics





When it comes to politics infiltrating sports, who knew the golfing industry felt left out?

Since partisan lines have been drawn virtually everywhere else these days, why leave out the golf course? For a chance to pounce on the talk show host, some of Rush Limbaugh's non-fans inside the sport have been waiting a long time.

Don't blame us, this one began with El Rushbo's thoughts about teen golf sensation Michelle Wie, to BadGolfer.com:

Q: What's your take on the Michelle Wie phenomenon?

A: It's a triumph of marketing. If she really wants to play with the men, it's fine. Let her try for a tour card. But now it's a marketing tool they're using to build her to up to a level much greater than her actual accomplishments. At some point, she has to get some wins.

I'm not sure if she's not being exploited. She's been put in some situations she's clearly not ready for. Do you think these PGA Tour guys really think she deserves to be a tournament with them?

The political-correctness situation will just not allow them to say it.

Hoping for another Donovan McNabb-level Limbaugh sporting controversy, the golf press jumped on it, revealing the ultraliberal political agenda of some inside the sport. In addition, later in the week, Rush addressed the flap on his program.

Looking for "balance", TravelGolf.com even enlisted the support of Air America's Al Franken:

Heads up, all you Rush Limbaugh critics, those of you who complained that a BadGolfer.com story on him promoted his racist and sexist views: Liberal spokesman Al Franken has responded.

TravelGolf conducted a question-and-answer session with Franken this week, and his responses were both hilarious and illuminating.

And while he admitted frankly that he didn't know enough about Michelle Wie to comment on Limbaugh's opinion of Wie as a marketing invention, he did have a lot of other things to say, about Limbaugh and other topics. From golf, to wrestling to the Civil Rights Act.

Like his comments on Limbaugh's prescription drug abuse. Franken was asked what advice Stuart Smalley (the self-help character Franken has lampooned on Saturday Night live and in movies) would give to Limbaugh?

"Take responsibility for your actions, according to your values," Franken said.

"(Limbaugh) used to say that people who used drugs illegally should be put away. I guess then he should ask to be put away for the longest possible time. (Limbaugh) made it pretty clear all those years what his values were, and that was to imprison anyone who used drugs illegally, which is clear he did. So I guess Stuart would tell him: 'turn yourself in and offer to go to prison for a long time.' "

Since Al hadn't been following Wie's career development, why not take yet another cheap opportunity to bash Limbaugh personally over the addiction issue!

Never mind that Limbaugh sought treatment and confronted his imperfections honestly in front of a national audience.

Are Mr Smalley's Air America Radio co-workers free of drug use? Has one well-known insider sought help? Has Al Franken offered any support, moral or otherwise, for this person?

We doubt it. So how has Al set a positive example?


As for TravelGolf, note the way they presented opinion as fact: Limbaugh is "racist and sexist". Have an example to share?

Didn't think so.

And who designated Franken as a "liberal spokesman"?

As the rest of the Franken interview is published, more on this story later in the week.

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