http://www.lp.org/press/archive.php?function=view&record=652

Libertarian Party Press Releases

E-MAIL THIS STORY PRINTABLE VERSION
October 16, 2003

America owes talk host Rush Limbaugh a debt of gratitude, Libertarians
say

WASHINGTON, DC -- The entire nation owes radio broadcaster Rush
Limbaugh a debt of gratitude, Libertarians say, because his ordeal has
exposed every drug warrior in America as a rank hypocrite.

"One thing we don't hear from American politicians very often is
silence," said Joe Seehusen, Libertarian Party executive director. "By
refusing to criticize Rush Limbaugh, every drug warrior has just been
exposed as a shameless, despicable hypocrite.

"And that's good news, because the next time they do speak up,
there'll be no reason for anyone to listen."

The revelation that Limbaugh had become addicted to painkillers --
drugs he is accused of procuring illegally from his Palm Beach
housekeeper -- has caused a media sensation ever since the megastar's
shocking, on-air confession last week.

As the Limbaugh saga continues, here's an important question for
Americans to ask, Libertarians say: Why are all the drug warriors
suddenly so silent?

"Republican and Democratic politicians have written laws that have
condemned more than 400,000 Americans to prison for committing the
same 'crime' as Rush Limbaugh," Seehusen pointed out. "If this
pill-popping pontificator deserves a get-out-of-jail-free card, these
drug warriors had better explain why."

Given their longstanding support for the Drug War, it's fair to ask:

Why haven't President George Bush or his tough-on-crime attorney
general, John Ashcroft, uttered a word criticizing Limbaugh's
law-breaking?

Why aren't drug czar John P. Walters or his predecessor, Barry
McCaffrey, lambasting Limbaugh as a menace to society and a threat to
"our children?"

Why aren't federal DEA agents storming Limbaugh's $30 million Florida
mansion in a frantic search for criminal evidence?

Why haven't federal, state, and local police agencies seized the
celebrity's homes and luxury cars under asset-forfeiture laws?

Finally, why aren't bloviating blabbermouths like William Bennett
publicly explaining how America would be better off if Limbaugh were
prosecuted, locked in a steel cage and forced to abandon his wife, his
friends, and his career?

The answer is obvious, Seehusen said: "America's drug warriors are
shameless hypocrites who believe in one standard of justice for
ordinary Americans and another for themselves, their families and
their political allies.

"That alone should completely discredit them."

But there's an even more disturbing possibility, Seehusen said: that
the people who are prosecuting the Drug War don't even believe in its
central premise -- which is that public safety requires that drug
users be jailed.

"The Bushes and Ashcrofts and McCaffreys of the world may believe,
correctly, that individuals fighting a drug addiction deserve medical,
not criminal treatment," he said. "That would explain why they're not
demanding that Limbaugh be jailed.

"But if that's the case, these politicians have spent decades tearing
apart American families for their own political gain. And that's an
unforgivable crime."

http://www.lp.org/press/archive.php?function=view&record=652

Libertarian Party Press Releases

E-MAIL THIS STORY PRINTABLE VERSION
October 16, 2003

America owes talk host Rush Limbaugh a debt of gratitude, Libertarians say

WASHINGTON, DC -- The entire nation owes radio broadcaster Rush Limbaugh a
debt of gratitude, Libertarians say, because his ordeal has exposed every
drug warrior in America as a rank hypocrite.

"One thing we don't hear from American politicians very often is silence,"
said Joe Seehusen, Libertarian Party executive director. "By refusing to
criticize Rush Limbaugh, every drug warrior has just been exposed as a
shameless, despicable hypocrite.

"And that's good news, because the next time they do speak up, there'll be
no reason for anyone to listen."

The revelation that Limbaugh had become addicted to painkillers -- drugs
he is accused of procuring illegally from his Palm Beach housekeeper --
has caused a media sensation ever since the megastar's shocking, on-air
confession last week.

As the Limbaugh saga continues, here's an important question for Americans
to ask, Libertarians say: Why are all the drug warriors suddenly so
silent?

"Republican and Democratic politicians have written laws that have
condemned more than 400,000 Americans to prison for committing the same
'crime' as Rush Limbaugh," Seehusen pointed out. "If this pill-popping
pontificator deserves a get-out-of-jail-free card, these drug warriors had
better explain why."

Given their longstanding support for the Drug War, it's fair to ask:

Why haven't President George Bush or his tough-on-crime attorney general,
John Ashcroft, uttered a word criticizing Limbaugh's law-breaking?

Why aren't drug czar John P. Walters or his predecessor, Barry McCaffrey,
lambasting Limbaugh as a menace to society and a threat to "our children?"

Why aren't federal DEA agents storming Limbaugh's $30 million Florida
mansion in a frantic search for criminal evidence?

Why haven't federal, state, and local police agencies seized the
celebrity's homes and luxury cars under asset-forfeiture laws?

Finally, why aren't bloviating blabbermouths like William Bennett publicly
explaining how America would be better off if Limbaugh were prosecuted,
locked in a steel cage and forced to abandon his wife, his friends, and
his career?

The answer is obvious, Seehusen said: "America's drug warriors are
shameless hypocrites who believe in one standard of justice for ordinary
Americans and another for themselves, their families and their political
allies.

"That alone should completely discredit them."

But there's an even more disturbing possibility, Seehusen said: that the
people who are prosecuting the Drug War don't even believe in its central
premise -- which is that public safety requires that drug users be jailed.

"The Bushes and Ashcrofts and McCaffreys of the world may believe,
correctly, that individuals fighting a drug addiction deserve medical, not
criminal treatment," he said. "That would explain why they're not
demanding that Limbaugh be jailed.

"But if that's the case, these politicians have spent decades tearing
apart American families for their own political gain. And that's an
unforgivable crime."




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Yang