Why Clear channel must NOT FIRE Rush Limbaugh
As notable advertisers started abandoning Rush Limbaugh’s show in droves following the Sandra Fluke comments, speculation began that maybe, just maybe, this would be the final hurrah for Rush Limbaugh.
This time he’d gone too far. This time there would be consequences. This time, Rush Limbaugh just might be driven off the air for good.
I’m here today to tell that event must NOT HAPPEN.
If Limbaugh were fired he’d immediately become a Martyr for the right, who would hold him up as the glowing example of a “True patriot” dragged through the mud and slaughtered at the hands of the “liberal media.”
Sure, you can point to the minimal fallout after Glenn Beck lost his Fox News show, but there are important differences.
Beck had only been on the air since 2009 and never quite had the presence that Limbaugh has amongst notable right wingers. Rush has been on the air over 25 years now. In that time he’s built a large audience and a large reputation.
Unlike Beck, Limbaugh’s removal would undoubtedly provoke a strong reaction from the right wing.
Not only would they blame the Left in a broad sense, they’d also specifically blame Sandra Fluke as being the “leftist feminazi” who was responsible for the fall of their hero. If Clear channel dumped Limbaugh, I have no doubt that Sandra Fluke would start to receive threats if not outright attempts on her life.
I wish I was exaggerating. I’m not.
Oh and you’d better believe they’d blame Obama and his buddies for having something to do with it. They are already shredding the President for the phone call he made to Fluke, I can only imagine what kind of hate they’d be spewing if they got it in their heads that Obama had a hand in knocking Limbaugh off his pedestal.
The firing of Rush Limbaugh would light up the right wing powder keg more so than the firing of Glenn Beck or even the death of Andrew Breitbart ever could.
It would be bad. Very bad. An extremely high profile incident like that in a political climate as charged as this one is a recipe for complete and utter disaster.
As much as I dislike Limbaugh, I do not want to see him become even more revered on the right wing than he already is.
For that reason, I think it wise to keep him on the air.