Compassion for Rush on my local news

[Lorien]

Headlining my local news tonight was the Rush junkie confession story. The reporters talked to a local shock jock who said that Rush would come back stronger and more popular than ever. Next the anchors talked about how important Rush's confession was for America's addicts-that it would help thousands of others come forward and seek help. Finally, they interviewed other Oxycontin addicts, the last of which urged others with addictions to "let go, and give in to God." You would think by the tone of the story that a national hero had just died-it was unbelivable. Addictions are horrible, but I can't imagine any Dem ever receiving such compassion.

Is this story headlining the 11pm news elsewhere in the country? (I'm in Florida, BTW.)

[XanaDUer]

1. I'm in FL too!

This is desperation-spin. What are they gonna say?

I figured the only way they can spin it is as a Rush-is-so-brave-to-come-forth-with-his-addiciton kinda thing.

But no matter what, he looks like a fool and a hypocrite. And his followers look like idiots, too.

[Demoiselle]

2. I don't know about local ...but..

I was astonished to watch the story this afternoon, complete with repeated visuals and audio of Rush talking to his radio audience-- on all three cable networks simultaneously. CNN devoted what seemed to be an hour to the story, with grave-faced commentary from some doctor who's written a book about addiction. The formula was sympathetic talk about the terrible power of this addiction and how difficult it was going to be for poor ole Rush...interspersed with endless clips of Rush bloviating on the subject. (Nobly drawing attention to his own honesty and insisting that nobody should think of him as a hero.--which actually hadn't occurred to me.) It was a sort of an a capella rendition of Don't Cry for Me Argentina. And it went on and on and on. I thought that this particular news merited at most little crawl announcement on the bottom of the screen, but instead we got Rush interminably gabbing on three Cable networks. Icky.

[Lorien]

It seems to me tha Rush is being

treated like a national hero; as if he's been a "leader" in America all along, istead of just a petty radio shock jock celebrity. Robert Downey jr. never got this kind of compassion; and he never screamed about despicable drug users, either.

[Catshrink]

3. Give him the same compassion he's shown.

No, wait, that would be more than he deserves.

[morebunk]

4. Everyone's 'local news' will have compassion. They are owned by

Clear Channel, you dolts. That's why Rush has 20 million listeners...he's the only show in town for many many rural areas and he's on at least 4 stations at the same time in other areas. That's what media conglomeration does. It's dumbing down America.

[Lorien]

5. Um..dolts?

Actually, no corporation can own more than 35% of local media outlets-45% if the new FCC rulings go through, so this "dolt" will challege you on the Clear Channel statement. It is true, however, that only six corporations control all major media in this country. Still-how can Rush Limpballs HEADLINE on a LOCAL station? It certainly isn't local news. I'm glad that the media isn't sweeping the story under the rug completely (as it has with so many repug failings, crimes and lies), but this orgy of compassion is downright bizarre.

[quinnox]

6. Not surprised

This is the way celebrity culture works nowadays.

[jame]

7. Amen to that.....

I mean, does anyone really care about the Kobe Bryant case, for example? Is this the only alleged rape so far this year? I just assumed that there may be others, maybe even in a community close to me! The only people I hear talking about it are the talking heads.

[Kurt Remarque]

8. anyone who is more than casually familiar with rush...

knows that this incident exposes his hypocrisy. it's a major blow and there's more to come

[AP]

9. The breadth and depth of the RW media monster is evident when...

...local news choses to lead with the story.

Not only Rush, but the entire RW fascist political-media aparatus needs rehabilitation when something likes this happens.

It's amazing that the local news would step right up to the mound and toss the softball, putting on the friendly spin on it.

What a frightening nexus. However, inevitably, all their credibility must be taking a big hit because of all this, from the drug problem to the spinning. Surely people must be thinking what was all that Clinton shit about if this isn't supposed to be a big deal.