Pubdate: Sun, 26 Oct 2003 Source: Times-Picayune, The (LA) Copyright: 2003 The Times-Picayune Contact: http://www.nola.com Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/848 Author: Ernest Thomas STOP MAKING EXCUSES FOR HYPOCRITICAL LIMBAUGH Re: "No ordinary drug addict" and "Yes, wealth has its benefits," Your Opinions, Oct. 22. Shame on both of these letter writers. Rush Limbaugh made a fortune selling himself as a pillar of virtue and morality. He is, in fact, a liar, a fraud and a criminal. Geoff Hughes and Ron Rickerfor feel compassion for Limbaugh because he's addicted to prescription medication, as opposed to those poor junkies who are trying to "escape reality." Let's face it. Mr. Limbaugh started out on pain killers trying to escape the reality of his bad back. Mr. Rickerfor sees the beauty and strength of a government that allows the rich to break the law with impunity. More power to 'em, right? And Mr. Hughes is willing to pardon Mr. Limbaugh because he was able to afford his habit. That sounds fair. Let's release every other person who's serving time for a drug habit that was well within their financial means. In fact, Mr. Limbaugh knowingly and willingly put a lot of money into the hands of drug dealers: people who illegally sell narcotics, sell drugs to school children and deal in illegal firearms, which are often used to commit crimes, even killing children and law enforcement personnel. Did I forget child pornography and prostitution? But that's OK with these letter writers, because Rush Limbaugh pays lots of taxes. For more than 15 years now, I've listened to Rush Limbaugh pound his fist on the table and scream that people who illegally use drugs should be put behind bars. If Mr. Limbaugh were truly a moral person, he would live up to his own standards, check himself into the nearest correctional facility and pay his own tab for the stay. Ernest Thomas Arabi - --- MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman