Rush Limbaugh, Rush Limbaugh, Rush Limbaugh

IT'S RUSH-BASH 2006!

For Mainstream Media, Unhinged Anger Exposed





Like drunks crashing a frat party just as the first kegs arrive, wire service reporters and cable news anchors had a blast tearing talk host Rush Limbaugh to shreds Friday evening. Disregarding any remaining journalistic standards in their partisan newsrooms, details of Limbaugh's plea deal with Florida prosecutors were savagely twisted to serve their political purposes.

While early AP reports focused primarily on Limbaugh's "arrest", later versions were changed to more closely follow what had really taken place.

Same reporter, wildly different copy throughout the evening.

What happened? Did a managing editor later show up to read Brian Skoloff the riot act?


From the first version (Palm Beach Post):

Rush Limbaugh surrenders on prescription drug charge


By BRIAN SKOLOFF
Associated Press Writer

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Rush Limbaugh was arrested Friday on a prescription fraud charge after reaching a deal with prosecutors that will see the single count dismissed if he continues treatment and doesn't violate the law, Limbaugh's attorney said.

The subject of a three-year investigation, Limbaugh surrendered to authorities on a warrant charging him with fraud to conceal information to obtain prescriptions, said Teri Barbera, a spokeswoman for the Palm Beach Sheriff's Office.

The 55-year-old conservative radio commentator came into the jail at about 4 p.m. with his attorney Roy Black and left an hour later after being photographed and fingerprinted. He posted $3,000 bail, Barbera said.

"He just kind of came in and he left," Barbera said.

Second version (Seattle Times):

Limbaugh reaches settlement in drug case

By BRIAN SKOLOFF
Associated Press Writer

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Rush Limbaugh reached a settlement with prosecutors Friday in a fraud case involving prescription painkillers, though the conservative radio commentator maintains his innocence.

Limbaugh turned himself in to authorities about 4 p.m. on a warrant for fraud to conceal information to obtain a prescription, the first charge in the nearly 3-year-old case, said Teri Barbera, a spokeswoman for the state attorney. He was released an hour later on $3,000 bail.

Limbaugh's attorney, Roy Black, said his client and prosecutors reached a settlement on a charge of doctor shopping.

Under the deal, Limbaugh would eventually see the charge dismissed in 18 months if he continues treatment for drug addiction, Black said.

And look at the differences in this third version (Fort Worth Startle-gram):

Deal in Limbaugh's case lets him avoid guilty plea

By BRIAN SKOLOFF
Associated Press Writer

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Conservative radio commentator Rush Limbaugh and prosecutors in the long-running prescription fraud case against him have reached a deal calling for the only charge against him to be dropped without a guilty plea if he continues treatment, his attorney said Friday.

Limbaugh turned himself in to authorities on a warrant filed Friday charging him with fraud to conceal information to obtain prescriptions, said Teri Barbera, a spokeswoman for the Palm Beach County Jail. He and his attorney Roy Black left about an hour later, after Limbaugh was photographed and fingerprinted and he posted $3,000 (?2,390) bail, Barbera said.

Prosecutors' three-year investigation of Limbaugh began after he publicly acknowledged being addicted to pain medication and entered a rehabilitation program. They accused Limbaugh of "doctor shopping," or illegally deceiving multiple doctors to receive overlapping prescriptions, after learning that he received about 2,000 painkillers, prescribed by four doctors in six months, at a pharmacy near his Palm Beach mansion.

Note: despite the time stamps on these pieces, as best as I can tell, they are in the correct chronological order.


Meanwhile, pro-terrorist news agency Reuters was up to its usual dirty tricks, even bringing unrelated racism allegations into the story (excerpted here):

Limbaugh charged in Florida drug fraud probe
Fri Apr 28, 2006 7:48pm ET165


MIAMI (Reuters) - Conservative radio commentator Rush Limbaugh turned himself in to police in Florida on Friday and was charged with prescription drug fraud as part of a probe that began more than two years ago, authorities said.

Limbaugh, best known as a brash and often moralistic talk show host, admitted an addiction to prescription painkillers in October 2003 after reports he was facing an investigation for allegedly using a housekeeper to illegally obtain drugs.

He was released on $3,000 bail after being held about one hour at the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office.

The investigation came to light in October 2003 while Limbaugh was embroiled in a controversy that forced him to quit his job as a television football commentator.

The controversy stemmed from comments some people saw as racist. Limbaugh said the media wanted Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb to succeed because he is black.

What in the world did Limbaugh's McNabb comments have to do with this case?


On the telly, Newsbusters and Expose The Left cover especially outrageous cable and broadcast news coverage, where "Rush arrested" was instantly plastered on screens.

Some of the unhinged graphics they captured from CNN and MSNBC are featured in this post. In addition, we've thrown in some kooky Air America anti-Rush propaganda just for kicks.

On MSNBC, Keith Olbermann seemed to react with particular glee at the thought of having a Limbaugh "mugshot". On one side of the screen, CNN also used that word.


Meanwhile, some liberal bloggers couldn't seem to decide whether they were thrilled ("Limbaugh arrested") or depressed ("Limbaugh gets off easy"). In reviewing sites, you'll find examples of each.

Don't expect this issue to soon go away.

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