Hour 3: Limbaugh on AIG death threats: “deranged leftists” that “hate capitalists”

This hour of the Limbaugh Wire brought to you by the deranged leftists from the Democratic blogs
By Simon Maloy

Top of the final hour, Rush, done impugning the intelligence of people in danger of losing their lives, returned to smearing Barney Frank as a “McCarthyite” and saying the “Politburo” want the names of AIG bonus recipients. From there he played audio of Obama from the January 15, 2008, Democratic primary debate saying: “Well, I think what I was describing was how I view the presidency. Now, being president is not making sure that schedules are being run properly or the paperwork is being shuffled effectively.” Rush called Obama's description of an operating officer “ignorant” and “shallow,” adding for good measure that Obama's policies are “anti-capitalism.” This was capped off by some general ranting about “Ivy League” intellectuals like Geithner and Obama who have “contempt” for anyone who didn't go to Ivy League schools.

After the break, Rush offered his views on yet another “hilarious” story. This one wasn't about explorers imperiled by the elements, but rather about Jay Leno's upcoming free show for the unemployed in Detroit. As reported by the Detroit Free Press, Leno asked that eBay ban the sales of tickets to his show, saying: “There is nothing for sale here.” First, Rush mocked Leno for putting on this benefit in the first place, saying: “I'm sure you showing up doing a comedy show is going to help people put food on the table. I'm sure it's really going to inspire people to go out and get a job.” But Rush was also offended by Leno asking that the tickets be taken off eBay, accusing Leno of stifling the “free market” and “entrepreneurship,” and saying that Leno is taking food out of the mouths of Detroit's unemployed.

Another break, and Rush was back to mocking Leno, announcing that he was offering tomorrow's broadcast for free. Call it “free” all you want, but we certainly feel like we're paying a price.

Rush then aired some sound bites from the House Finance Committee's hearing with AIG CEO Edward Liddy. This could have been a time to offer some reasoned criticism of the government's role in the AIG bailout, but instead Rush spent most of the segment spitting and sputtering into the microphone as he mocked Barney Frank. At one point, he played a clip of Liddy explaining that AIG employees who received bonuses had become the target of death threats. According to Rush: “I'm sure these are deranged leftists from the Democrat blogs and so fourth. Well, they're the ones that hate capitalists.”

That left Rush to wrap up today's show with a plug for one of his advertisers and a final message for Jay Leno -- Rush loves him, but he's stripping people of their dignity.

That's it for today's Limbaugh Wire. We'll see you tomorrow. Be sure to check out the latest from Media Matters' Limbaugh surveillance program.

Highlights from Hour 3

Outrageous comments

LIMBAUGH: You want to hear something that I find hilarious and a little funny? It's about “The Chin,” the star of The Tonight Show, Jay Leno. Jay Leno announced on his program Monday night that he's going to - I think it was Monday night. I've got the Detroit Free Press here. Yes, on Monday night's Tonight Show, “The Chin” said that he loves Detroit, and he's going to go up there and he's going to do a show for the unemployed. In fact, you don't even have to be unemployed. You just have to be having hard times.

Jay, that's really great. That is fabulous. I'm sure you showing up doing a comedy show is going to help people put food on the table. I'm sure it's really going to inspire people to go out and get a job. If you're going to go out there, do a show for the unemployed -- great intentions, what a great guy, Jay Leno -- accomplishment: zero.

However, what's really funny about this, he was giving the tickets away. The tickets are free. Some people decided - they got tickets, and then they put them on eBay to sell them for like 200 bucks a piece -- four tickets, 800 bucks, or 800 bucks for a ticket. I don't know what the price was.

I scanned this story very hurriedly. It's either 200 or 400 bucks for a ticket or 800 bucks, and Leno heard about this. Leno heard that his free tickets to help the unemployed in Detroit were being sold and he threw a fit. He said, “I'm not worth 800 bucks.” Right? But he also said, “I don't want this. This is a free show. Nobody should be profiting off this.”

Jay, old buddy, old pal, you understand that you're doing a free concert for the unemployed, so some people who are unemployed end up getting tickets to your show and they wanted the money rather than to see you.

[...]

LIMBAUGH: OK, so Liddy says that -- did you hear the threats that he's receiving? From -- I'm sure these are deranged leftists from the Democrat blogs and so fourth. Well, they're the ones that hate capitalists.