Chad’s Morning Brief: In Defense of Rush Limbaugh & More
Here is your Morning Brief for the morning of March 5, 2012. Give us your feedback below and tune in to Lubbock’s First News with Chad Hasty for these and many more topics from 6-9 am.
1. In Defense of Rush Limbaugh
Friends, I can't believe it but we made it to the start of another week. And that's even with Rush Limbaugh said the word "slut" on radio last week. If you missed it, Limbaugh apologized over the weekend but even his apology didn't make the Liberals and those who hate him happy. Nothing will, and it's time that we recognize that fact.
This whole thing started because a Georgetown Law School student, and to some a Democratic activist, testified before Congress to lobby for the availability of birth control. She told members of Congress that it cost up to $3,000 a year for birth control and told stories about how girls couldn't afford contraception. Since Georgetown has Catholic roots, it's health care coverage doesn't cover birth control. She and other liberals want the United States Government to mandate birth control coverage free of charge.
Now, we all know that nothing is ever free. The costs would be spread to all of us, including those who don't believe in the pill.
Many have been quick to condemn Limbaugh for his words. I will not. Rush Limbaugh is a great talk show host and part of hosting a great show is the fact that you have to entertain your audience. That's what Rush was trying to do and his fans know it. He was informing by entertaining. It happens all the time in talk radio as it's just another tool that a host has of getting their point across. Should Rush have used a different word? No! He was making a joke and in the context of what he was saying... was he wrong? What do you call someone who wants to get paid to have sex?
Sorry folks, but many of the same people who are all of a sudden outraged by Limbaugh using the word "slut" have probably used it before when describing someone they knew much less about than what we know about Sandra Fluke. Don't believe me?
Have you ever been in a restaurant or dance club or even outside somewhere and seen a young woman provocatively dressed? How often have you heard a woman say out loud, or ladies how many times have you thought, "ugh what a slut!" or "she is dressed like a slut"? How many times have men said the same thing? Or maybe thought she might be "easy"? When I was a student at Texas Tech, I heard sorority girls called all kinds of names. Yes, including "slutty".
Now, I know what your thinking. But Chad, we don't have radio shows and Rush does! Plus she was a private citizen.
First, Sandra Fluke is not a private citizen. Before she went to testify before Congress she appeared on CurrentTV, and Ed Shultz's show to discuss the issue of contraception. According to her own Twitter account, she was named Planned Parenthood's Champion of the Week a few weeks ago. She was a known figure. Oh, and she went and testified before Congress that she wanted other people to pay her and others' birth control.
I'm sorry, but once you jump into the middle of ObamaCare and the battle for religious freedom, you surrender your private citizen label. If you are going to testify in front of Congress in favor of forcing the government to mandate to religious organizations that they must disregard their faith and beliefs, you had better be ready to be challenged and yes even mocked.
Those who listen to Rush Limbaugh and are fans of his understand that he was joking and trying to entertain. The liberal media and activists out there have taken this story and made it into the firestorm that it is. Why? To distract from the real issues at hand. High gas prices, record debt, Iran, unemployment, and the battle between religious freedom and ObamaCare. Many of the same liberals who are screaming about Rush Limbaugh are same ones who cheered Andrew Breitbart's death. Then you have the hypocrits. Which if you've called a woman a slut before without knowing her, and you are mad at Rush, you are a hypocrit. Though I'm not talking about you. I'm talking about the Bill Mahr's, Ed Schultz, and Keith Olbermann's of the world. They scream the loudest about Rush Limbaugh, yet call Republican women the same and even worse. Kirsten Powers has a great write-up about this in the Daily Beast, you should read it.
Finally, get over it. Rush Limbaugh will continue on and he will get advertisers back. Personally, I think all of the companies who pulled their ads made terrible decisions. Limbaugh will continue to be a force in American politics and the left will hate it. In fact, the left hates the power of talk radio and FOX News already. Embrace it. Stop trying to get them to like us. I hear people complain all the time that we are becoming a nation too hung up on being politically correct yet these same people are mad at Rush!
Friends, we must move on and fight. We must fight the real battles and not be distracted by the sideshow drama that the left comes up with. The left will try to use Fluke and this controversy to show that Republican's hate women. Let's fight them with this truth. Abortion kills newborn female (and male) babies. Which party is pro Abortion again? The Republicans or the Democrats? Which party is trying to kill religious freedom? Republicans or Democrats? The debate that we must be having is one on the economy and unemployment. If we battle on these issues, the Republicans will win. If we battle of Rush Limbaugh and who he called a slut, the Democrats will win. And they know it.
2. Mitt Romney Urged Obama to Embrace the Individual Mandate (link)
Well this is not good.
In July 2009, Mitt Romney wrote an op-ed in USA Today urging Barack Obama to use an individual mandate at the national level to control healthcare costs.
On the campaign trail now, Mitt Romney says the individual mandate is appropriate for Massachusetts, but not the nation. Repeatedly in debates, Romney has said he opposes a national individual mandate.
But back in 2009, as Barack Obama was formulating his healthcare vision for the country, Mitt Romney encouraged him publicly to use an individual mandate. In his op-ed, Governor Romney suggested that the federal government learn from Massachusetts how to make healthcare available for all. One of those things was “Using tax penalties, as we did, or tax credits, as others have proposed, encourages “free riders” to take responsibility for themselves rather than pass their medical costs on to others.”
This will come back to hurt Romney. If not now, then for sure during his battle against President Obama.
3. Deadline Coming (link)
The deadline for Municipal election filing is in just a few hours. Anyone else want to jump in?
In the City of Lubbock election, Tom Martin will run again for Mayor, and is challenged by Glen Robertson. In District 2, Councilman Floyd Price is currently running unopposed. In the District 4 race, current CouncilmanPaul R. Beane will face off against James Gerlt. In District 6, Randy Sanders is currently running unopposed for the seat currently held by Jim Gilbreath, who chose not to run for reelection.
In Lubbock ISD, there are some opponents for some Board of Trustees members. Gwen Reyna is running against incumbent Mario Ybarra for District 1 and Vernita Woods-Holmes is currently running unopposed for District 2. In the special election for District 3, recently appointed Trustee Mark Blankenship and Eddie Kirkpatrick have filed to run. Dan Pope is running unopposed for District 5, and Ruby Tanner has filed to run against incumbent Melissa Collier for the At-Large position.
I still think that the Mayoral election will be a big one to watch.
4. Romney wins Washington state caucuses. Super Tuesday Looms (link)
Mitt Romney won the Washington state caucuses and is gaining momentum heading into Super Tuesday. The candidates have been traveling all over, but the big prize looks to be Ohio. It could be very close and the polls are tightening in the state. If Romney wins Ohio, I think we will see things start to wrap up. If he loses then all bets are off. On Tuesday's show we will have Erick Erickson from RedState.com and GOP Strategist Matt Mackowiak on the show to discuss and break down Super Tuesday and what could happen going forward. You won't want to miss these two guests.
5. Dumb story of the morning (link)
The snacks cost too much, let's sue!
Joshua Thompson loves the movies.
But he hates the prices theaters charge for concessions like pop and candy.
This week, the 20-something security technician from Livonia decided to do something about it: He filed a class action in Wayne County Circuit Court against his local AMC theater in hopes of forcing theaters statewide to dial down snack prices.
"He got tired of being taken advantage of," said Thompson's lawyer, Kerry Morgan of Wyandotte. "It's hard to justify prices that are three- and four-times higher than anywhere else."
American Multi Cinema, which operates the AMC theater in Livonia, wouldn't comment on the suit. A staffer at the National Association of Theatre Owners in Washington, D.C., angrily hung up the phone when asked about industry snack pricing practices.
Although consumer experts predicted that the case will be dismissed, it struck a chord Friday with area moviegoers, who said they're tired of being soaked on movie munchies.
"The prices are ridiculous," Rebecca Motley, 55, a self-employed Southfield physician, said while leaving the AMC Star Southfield 20.
Motley said she and her office manager spent $5 each for morning movie tickets and $11 each for soft drinks and popcorn.
"When I was a kid, $1 could get you into the movies and buy you a pop and popcorn. But not anymore," Motley said. "I don't know how kids can go on their own to a movie anymore."
Timothy Fells, 29, part owner of a Redford Township gym, agreed with Motley.
"Movie concession prices are extremely high, and that's why I don't stop at the snack bar very often," he said while leaving the AMC theater in Southfield.
Thompson didn't want to be interviewed because he doesn't want any notoriety, Morgan said. But Thompson said in his lawsuit that he used to take his own pop and candy to the AMC in Livonia until the theater posted a sign banning the practice.
On Dec. 26, he paid $8 for a Coke and a package of Goobers chocolate-covered peanuts at the Livonia theater -- nearly three times the $2.73 he paid for the same items at a nearby fast-food restaurant and drug store, the suit said.
The suit accused AMC theaters of violating the Michigan Consumer Protection Act by charging grossly excessive prices for snacks.
The suit seeks refunds for customers who were overcharged, a civil penalty against the theater chain and any other relief Judge Kathleen Macdonald might grant.
While the people in the story have a point, it's your choice if you want to go to the movies or even buy their snacks. You don't have to eat there. But, yeah... it is pretty ridiculous what you have to pay now.
6. Good Brews Good News of the Day (link)
After a tornado, sometimes man's best friend is all you need.
Only Greg Cook's beloved dog Coco was home when a tornado tore through his home in Limestone County, Ala.
Cook rushed home after the winds had stopped to find his house and 50 others destroyed. While homes can be repaired, it was his chocolate Labrador that he feared he'd lost forever.
But like the rainbow at the end of the storm, there was some good news when Cook was reunited with Coco, who managed to survive the Category-5 tornado.
According to WAFF.com, Cook sifted through the debris and crawled through a window to find his dog soaking wet and shaking in a hallway.
"It was just such a relief, I was happy to see him," said Cook, who was in tears when they were reunited. "I love my dog, he's my best friend and I was just so happy to see him."
Coco is just one of the miracle survivors of the storm.
Don't you just want to give your dog a big ol' hug now?
Everyday, Good Brews Coffee & Tea Lounge brings you the Good News of the Day! Join Lubbock’s First News at Good Brews on Thursday March 8th from 7-9am. Good Brews is located inside the Kingsgate North Shopping Center at 82nd and Quaker.
Other Top Stories:
Guests Appearing on LFN Today:
Congressman Randy Neugebauer at 7:37am (@RandyNuegebauer on Twitter)
These and many more topics coming up on today’s edition of Lubbock’s First News with Chad Hasty. Tune in mornings 6-9am on News/Talk 790 KFYO, streaming online at kfyo.com, and now on your iPhone and Android device with the radioPup App. All guest interviews can be heard online in our podcast section after the show at kfyo.com.
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