Rush Limbaugh as 21st century P.T. Barnum
Full disclosure: I’m no dittohead. I’ve listened to “The Rush Limbaugh Show” on the Excellence in Broadcasting Network (EIB) since the early 1990’s.
I disagree with 99.997% of what Mr. Limbaugh says at any given time. His utter disgust of all things related to the Democratic Party is legendary. I didn’t think it was possible for Mr. Limbaugh to loathe any human beings more than Bill and Hillary Clinton – that is, until Barack and Michelle Obama came along.
What I’m about to say next may baffle some people, but hear me out. I don’t believe that Rush is a racist. I really don’t. In fact, I don’t think he believes half of what he himself says. Rush Limbaugh, you see, is a character. To me, he’s no different from Stephen Colbert or any WWE Wrestler you care to name.
Like them, Rush is a very well-compensated actor. He’s a real person portraying a fictional character who pretends to be a rabble-rouser, a borderline racist, the de facto/ex officio voice of the Republican Party, and relentless defender of the “us” against “them” status quo in America. Rush is the latter-day Archie Bunker. Rush is P.T. Barnum’s intellectual re-incarnation. The latest example of Rush’s foot-in-mouth disease should surprise no one. This is merely what he does. It’s another case of Rush being Rush.
In case you missed it, Rush recently spoke on the topic of actors who he felt could reasonably portray the iconic, fictional character James Bond.
Here are his words on the matter: “James Bond is a total concept put together by Ian Fleming. He was white and Scottish. Period. That is who James Bond is, (and) was… But now [they are] suggesting that the next James Bond should be Idris Elba, a black Briton, rather than a white from Scotland. But that’s not who James Bond is – and I know it’s racist to probably point this out.”
The phrases “rush to judgment”, “bum’s rush”, and “fools rush in” all come to mind. Rush – how you make me laugh. Although I have seen all 23 previously produced James Bond movies, it’s all too easy to expose Rush’s supposition for the babble that it is. Though originally written in the Ian Fleming novels as British, the character of James Bond has been portrayed by: an Australian, George Lazenby; three Brits –Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton and Daniel Craig; an Irishman, Pierce Brosnan; and a Scotsman, Sean Connery, the original Bond actor.
And before Mr. Brosnan assumed the mantle in the early 1990s, MGM Studios contemplated a radical recasting of Bond. Believe it or not, Sharon Stone (American), Mel Gibson (Australian), and even Arnold Schwarzenegger (Austrian) were all seriously considered to be 007. Mr. Brosnan beat them out for the coveted role. Don’t believe me? Look it up.
It is well-known that Mr. Fleming added Scottish aspects to James Bond’s backstory after the blockbuster success of Sean Connery’s Bond in 1962’s “Dr. No” – the first movie adaptation of Fleming’s 007 books.
I think Rush was aware of at least some of these things before he made his comments. He isn’t nearly as boorish and bullying as he seems. He’s very smart and quite forward-thinking. Rush knew his opinion would make global news. He knew that conservatives would cheer and progressives would howl. He knew. Which is precisely why he said what he said.
Rush concluded with this statement: “We had 50 years of white Bonds because Bond is white. Bond was never black. Ian Fleming never created a black Brit to play James Bond. The character was always white. He was always Scottish. He always drank vodka shaken not stirred and all that.” Okey-dokey.
P.T. Barnum – the late entrepreneur and circus magnate – once famously said: “There’s a sucker born every minute.” For Rush, those are words to live by. He’s P.T. Barnum with over 10 million radio listeners weekly, commercial endorsements, an annual salary north of $50 million, and a political party (the GOP) which must dance to his tune. When Rush sneezes, every member of his “mega-ditto” following – including a significant number of conservative Congressmen and Senators – catches his cold.
Here’s the irony. Rush doesn’t care. He isn’t the least bit concerned about the ebola virus, immigration reform, Obamacare, Mr. or Mrs. Obama, Idris Elba, or James Bond. Those things are all a means to his end. Firewood for his furnace.
Rush the man can’t be Rush the character 24 hours a day. Secretly, he’s thrilled that Mr. Obama is President. It’s best for Rush’s business. He’ll never admit that, though.
Mr. Elba is a great actor who could be a great Bond someday.
I see what you’re doing, Mr. Limbaugh. I smell what the Rush is cooking. Your food is burnt, sir. Rush being Rush? Sometimes, I wish Rush would just hush.
