Rush Limbaugh was slandered by racist charges.

1. The debate is about whether Limbaugh was slandered. The evidence is that multiple quotations were fabricated and then irresponsibly repeated by Limbaugh-hating news outlets and commentators. Con did not question that the quotations were false or that they were maliciously repeated. Moreover, it was those specific quotations that led to his being dropped by investors, not some other stuff that critics dug up later. Con did not dispute that either. Therefore, Limbaugh was indeed slandered and the resolution is affirmed. 2. Con argues that even though Limbaugh was slandered, we shouldn't worry about it because Limbaugh really is a racist. The evidence comprises quotations lifted from left-wing blobs and we sites. Con gives no primary sources: no dates or places, no references to transcripts, recordings, or even people who claimed to have heard them. Since we know that leftist web sites are not above total fabrication in the case of Limbaugh, we don't know which of the quotations are accurate and which are fabricated. The context of quotations is extremely important, and none of Con's references provides any of the context. Because Con is attempting to make a counter case that Limbaugh is a racist, and because we know evidence is often fabricated, Con should provide references to reliable source material, and, most importantly, the context in which the statement was made. I did my best to track down the sources, and in some cases I found relevant material, which I will discuss, but most of the time there is nothing I could find but isolated unreferenced repetition on leftist sites. Turning to con's quotes: Quote [1]. Limbaugh was complaining about excessive violence in the NFL, referring to incidents of players attacking each other between plays. He was trying make the distinction between the controlled violence of the sport and the uncontrolled violence between plays. He sarcastically compared the uncontrolled violence to "Bloods vs. Crips." That's an overwrought comparison, but it has nothing to do with racism. If one wants to make a comparison to street gangs, there are not many choices of gangs having names known to the public. How many people know the racial composition of gangs? I didn't. Looking it up, Wikipedia says that the Bloods are a predominantly black gang, but it doesn't say what the Crips are. Point is, you have to do research and then see the world as being entirely about race to make the association. Liberals do that, Conservatives don't. There is a common joke: "We went to a fight last night, and a hockey game broke out." Most hockey players are white, so is that joke therefore an expression of racial hatred by which white people are being characterized as violent? I think not. But if you have a preconception that everything is about race, you could interpret it that way. Quote [2] I could not find the context of the quote about the NAACP, nor could I verify its truth. In general, Limbaugh has been highly critical of the NAACP for putting liberal ideology ahead of the interests of black people. For example, the school voucher program in Washington was of great benefit to under privileged black citizens, but the NAACP stuck to the liberal agenda of opposing it. Consequently, I am supposing that Limbaugh was providing sarcastic criticism of the NAACP's lack of positive alternatives for black youth. However, if Con will provide the full context, I will be able to better figure out what is going on. Quote [3] It's impossible to analyze this quote without the context. Clearly there are some things related to 12% of the population that we should care about, and other things we should not care about. What was he referring to? Quote [4] The quotation is from 1971, when Limbaugh was 20 years old and doing sports radio. It was 13 years before he started as political commentator. The remark is intemperate and inexcusable. Twenty-year-olds do sometimes say intemperate and inexcusable things -- although,of course, I never did. It doesn't prove he is or was a racist. It proves he was running off at the mouth. Quote [5] The point of the McNabb controversy being ten years ago is that clearly it was know by the invstors group beor ethey invited him to join, so it wasn't the issue. I said the quote was about race, but not racist. Con should respond to that. No, people do not claim that Obama won solely because of race. Similarly, Limbaugh did not say that McNabb was a bad quarterback; Limbaugh only claimed that he got a boost from some commentators. Quote [6] Limbaugh is obviously being sarcastic, but I need the full context to analyze it. "The song mocks David Ehrenstein's assertion in the Los Angeles Times that Barack Obama would serve as a "magical negro" to assuage white guilt" [7] It is not critical of black people at all. It is critical of the white liberal guilt complex. 3. There is ample evidence that Limbaugh is not a racist. A racist is a person who condemns on the grounds of race. A racist is a person who thinks race is more important than almost anything else, and holds race to be the paramount factor in judging an individual. Limbaugh is not in that category. On a talk show, the call screener determines who gets through to talk to the host. Limbaugh's long-time call screener and close friend is James Golden (a.k.a Bo Snerdley), an African-American [1]. One of Limbaugh's most frequent and popular guest hosts is black professor of economics Walter Washington [1,2]. Thomas Sowell, the African-American professor from Stanford, is a frequent guest and much lauded by Limbaugh. Sowell praises Limbaugh. [3] Another close friend of Limbaugh's is the Bishop E.W. Jackson Sr., an African-American, who said "My wife and I have listened to Rush for over two decades, and we have never heard Rush make a racist statement. If we had, we would have stopped listening," Jackson says. "This is strictly about liberal hatred of a conservative commentator." [4] Black columnist and performer Lloyd Marcus [5] said, "I have been a faithful Rush Limbaugh radio show listener for almost 20 years. I have never heard Rush make one racist comment. As a matter of fact, I am a black man who has been inspired and encouraged by Rush on numerous occasions." [6] Limbaugh strongly defended Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas during the confirmation hearings. It is not possible that a person who systematically faults people on grounds of race would show this pattern of friendship, respect, and trust for black people. 4. Con claims "Famous commentators share my sentiments" The *famous* commentators are Dan Lebowitz, Michael Smerconish, and Al Sharpton. At least Sharpton is somewhat famous, but all are left-wing political hacks. Sharpton is completely discredited as a race baiter. [8] Far more relevant are people like Tony Dungy, the highly regarded black football coach, "We don't have any minority ownership in the NFL right now, and I think, you know, that just strikes me as the same thing, because of the way this guy looks, because of the way he sounds, because of his political bent, that he shouldn't be allowed to own a team, .." [9] Dungy correctly perceives that Limbaugh is being slandered because of his political beliefs. The resolution is affirmed. [1] http://en.wikipedia.org... [2] http://economics.gmu.edu... [3] http://jewishworldreview.com... [4] http://www.jenniferleclaire.org... [5] http://www.lloydmarcus.com... [6] http://www.americanthinker.com... [7] http://en.wikipedia.org... [8] http://online.wsj.com... [9] http://www.rushlimbaugh.com...