October, 14 2009, 03:30pm EDT
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Jess Levin (202)
772-8162
Limbaugh Fumbles for Response to Accusations of Racial Insensitivity
Radio host's "colorblind" claim at odds with long history of racially charged comments
WASHINGTON
Today, after conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh responded to critics of his bid to purchase the St.
Louis Rams who have stated that he is "insensitive"
about race by claiming that he is "colorblind" and "treat[s]
everyone equally," Media Matters for
America released research documenting more than two dozen examples
of Limbaugh making racially charged
or race-baiting remarks.
"Rush Limbaugh's claim that he is colorblind is clearly contradicted by his
long history of offensive, racially charged statements," said
Eric Burns, President of Media Matters.
"If he is blind to anything, it's his own record."
BACKGROUND:
Since was reported that Limbaugh was
seeking to buy the NFL's St. Louis Rams, the NFL
Commissioner, the executive
director of the NFL
players' union, and a host of NFL players
and sports journalists
have come forward
to criticize Limbaugh's
bid, citing his history of "divisive comments" and "flat-out
racist" statements.
On
October 12, Limbaugh responded to critics by claiming that he is
"colorblind," "treat[s] everybody equally" and that he
"doesn't see [President Obama] as black," but rather as
"president of the United
States." As Media Matters' research documents, there are at least
28 examples of Limbaugh making racially charged remarks, including:
- "We are being told that we
have to hope [Obama] succeeds, that we have to bend over, grab the ankles ...
because his father was black." - "I do believe" Obama
is an "angry black guy." - "[I]n Obama's America,
the white kids now get beat up with the black kids cheering." - "Obama's entire economic
program is reparations." - Obama is "more African in
his roots than he is American" and is "behaving like an African
colonial despot." - Obama is
"Halfrican-American." - "Obama has disowned his
white half ... he's decided he's got to go all in on the black side." - Sotomayor
"a reverse racist" appointed by Obama, "the greatest living
example of a reverse racist." - Obama "wants
us to have the same health care and plan that he had in Kenya" and
"wants to be the black FDR." - Latching onto LA Times op-ed, Limbaugh sings
"Barack, The Magic Negro."
- Limbaugh: "The media has been very desirous
that a black quarterback do well." - Limbaugh says "NFL all
too often looks like a game between the Bloods and the Crips."
- Limbaugh declares basketball "the favorite
sport of gangs." - Limbaugh invented "racial component"
to Hackett's decision to withdraw from Ohio primary race. - Limbaugh on
Survivor series: "African-American tribe" worst
swimmers, Hispanics "will do things other people won't do." - Limbaugh suggested Colin Powell only supported
Obama because of race. - Limbaugh: Gates is an "angry racist."
- Limbaugh called illegal immigrants an
"invasive species." - Limbaugh repeatedly calls Native Americans
"Injuns." - Limbaugh says Democrats' interest in Darfur is
securing black "voting bloc." - Limbaugh says that if "feminazis" had
remembered to oppose "affirmative action for black guys ... they
wouldn't face the situation they face today."
For more
information, please see: https://mediamatters.org/research/200910130049
Media Matters for America is a Web-based, not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) progressive research and information center dedicated to comprehensively monitoring, analyzing, and correcting conservative misinformation in the U.S. media.
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One legal expert called the report "huge news" indicating that an indictment of the former president is "imminent."
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Former U.S. President Donald Trump may soon face criminal charges in connection with the payment of hush money to the adult entertainer Stormy Daniels, The New York Times reported Thursday, citing four unnamed "people with knowledge of the matter."
According to the Times, prosecutors with the Manhattan district attorney's office extended an offer for Trump to testify next week before a grand jury considering the evidence in the prospective case against the twice-impeached ex-president, who is seeking the Republican nomination for 2024.
As Times reporters William K. Rashbaum, Ben Protess, and Jonah E. Bromwich noted:
Such offers almost always indicate an indictment is close; it would be unusual for the district attorney, Alvin L. Bragg, to notify a potential defendant without ultimately seeking charges against him.
In New York, potential defendants have the right to answer questions in the grand jury before they are indicted, but they rarely testify, and Mr. Trump is likely to decline the offer. His lawyers could also meet privately with the prosecutors in hopes of fending off criminal charges.
Any case would mark the first indictment of a former American president, and could upend the 2024 presidential race. It would also elevate Mr. Bragg to the national stage, though not without risk.
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"As we put the facts together, many of us came to believe that we had enough evidence to convict him, and we could present a solid case in court that would lead to a guilty verdict," Pomerantz related.
He continued:
I believe that Donald Trump is guilty of numerous felony violations of the penal law in connection with the preparation and use of his annual statements of financial condition. His financial statements were false, and he has a long history of fabricating information relating to his personal finances and lying about his assets to banks, the national media, counterparties, and many others, including the American people.
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