Pubdate: Wed, 21 Jan 2004
Source: Palm Beach Post, The (FL)
ns/wednesday/opinion_04d04c84a54c129c0034.html
Copyright: 2004 The Palm Beach Post
Contact:  http://www.gopbi.com/partners/pbpost/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/333
Author: Alan R. Pavsner

LIMBAUGH RECORDS CASE JUST A POLITICAL CASE

Palm Beach County State Attorney Barry Krischer's wish to review Rush 
Limbaugh's medical records to fish for possible corroborating support of 
what at best is essentially a victimless crime is -- if not the 
quintessential example of misapplication of a state attorney's office's 
power -- a darn good one. Why should citizens have to concern themselves 
with the party affiliations or political leanings of state's attorneys? 
Because as Mr. Krischer demonstrates, they're capable of using their 
elected offices for perceived political gain.

Mr. Limbaugh may have proven himself to be a hypocrite in the abuse of 
prescription drugs, and caused himself obvious pain and embarrassment, but 
the state attorney's actions here are far more dangerous to the public. The 
ACLU, of all entities, recognizes it, having held its collective nose, and 
filed a friend of the court brief in support of Mr. Limbaugh's objection to 
having his medical records used for bait in a politically motivated, 
election-year gambit to gain some political traction for the state 
attorney's political party.

Alan R. Pavsner

Jupiter
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