RIOTOUS MAYHEM

KMGH-7: Rush Limbaugh Inciting Denver Violence

Is Rush Limbaugh attempting to incite riots during the upcoming Democrat Party convention?

That's the contention of Denver ABC affiliate KMGH-7, which claims the talk titan would like to see "massive riots" during the August event:

Rush Limbaugh Calling For Riots In Denver

Talk Show Host Wants America To See Actions Of 'Far Left'

DENVER -- Talk show host Rush Limbaugh is sparking controversy again after he made comments calling for riots in Denver during the Democratic National Convention this summer.

He said the riots would ensure a Democrat is not elected as president, and his listeners have a responsibility to make sure it happens.

"Riots in Denver, the Democrat Convention would see to it that we don't elect Democrats," Limbaugh said during Wednesday's radio broadcast. He then went on to say that's the best thing that could happen to the country.

Limbaugh cited Al Sharpton, saying the Barack Obama supporter threatened to superdelegates that "there's going to be trouble" if the presidency is taken from Obama.

Several callers called in to the radio show to denounce Limbaugh's comments, when he later stated, "I am not inspiring or inciting riots, I am dreaming of riots in Denver."

Limbaugh said with massive riots in Denver, which he called "Operation Chaos," the people on the far left would look bad.

"There won't be riots at our convention," Limbaugh said of the Republican National Convention. "We don't riot. We don't burn our cars. We don't burn down our houses. We don't kill our children. We don't do half the things the American left does."

The station is even running a poll accompanying its wild misuse of Limbaugh's rhetoric, with results so far predictably running against him:

Do you think Rush Limbaugh crossed the line when he hoped for riots during Denver's DNC convention?

Choice Votes Percentage of 127 Votes

Yes. 102 80%
No. 25 20%

Thanks for taking part in our survey. Check back later for completed results.

Note the key difference between the screaming story headline using the word "calling" and the poll, which substitutes that with a more subdued "hoping". Update: poll data now favoring Limbaugh.

Now, let's take a look at what El Rushbo actually said:

RUSH: Sinking Spring, Pennsylvania. This is Brian. Great to have you here, sir.

CALLER: Yes, thank you. I was calling to comment on -- on -- on first of all the gentleman that had called in earlier about your ego. I am a Republican, and I'm a very conservative Republican. However, I have to agree a little bit, Rush, that -- from a comment that you made a little while ago, that -- I do believe your ego is run away with you slightly.

RUSH: Well, first off, it was an e-mail. The guy didn't call actually, I read an e-mail from him that my ego was out of control.

CALLER: Understood. Well, I believe in ego. I believe it's a necessary for your occupation. I believe it's the engine that, you know, that needs to be fed to make you good at what you do. I'm in sales, and I believe that for myself. But your comment about wanting your Operation Chaos to go all the way, like back to 1968 with riots in the streets, turned over burning cars, and I believe you even said "literally."

RUSH: I did say literal riots. Al Sharpton has promised them!

CALLER: But you said, "That's what we want." That's not good for anybody, and hopefully you really don't want that, and most of us don't. I believe in your Operation Chaos. It showed great ingenuity, and it was and is a fantastic idea. However, riots and burning cars would make all Americans look bad. I believe our whole premise --

RUSH: To who? To who would it make all Americans look bad?

CALLER: To the world.

RUSH: Oh, screw it! Screw the world! You know, I can't --

CALLER: I think there's that ego again. (laughing)

RUSH: It will make...? Do you really think we ought to govern ourselves on the basis of what the world thinks of us?

CALLER: I believe that we need -- that our whole premise on working hard for our side is to bring all Americans together, Democrats, Republicans, and independents even, under one common goal that our forefathers designed for us.

RUSH: That's what we're trying to do. You don't bring them together. We don't bring people together. That's not how this country works. We defeat our political adversaries so that they're in the minority.

CALLER: I believe that, with -- with passion. But then also, I mean our -- our whole premise was our Constitution for our safety, you know, for our children's safety. And what would that show by riots and burning cars no matter what side did that? I just think, Rush, that that comment was a little out of line and maybe just not properly thought through. Because I don't believe that way, and I don't believe that most of us want that. Because people get hurt in those situations -- and we believe that our side as Republicans, we can do it better than the rest.

RUSH: As we would be demonstrating because there won't be riots at our convention.

CALLER: Actually they would be demonstrating as Americans --

RUSH: We don't riot.

CALLER: -- that they're more out of control.

RUSH: We don't burn our cars. We don't burn down our houses. We don't kill our children. We don't do half the things the American left does. We need the American left -- and this is another great thing about Operation Chaos; nothing to do with my ego. We need as many ignorant Americans to wake up and find out exactly who the modern-day Democrat Party is as dominated by the far left in this country. We need that to be seen. Now, I am not inspiring or inciting riots. I'm dreaming. (singing to the tune of White Christmas) "I'm dreaming of riots in Denver." Remember 1968? And which party did that? It was the radicals in that party, the anti-war radicals, the same bunch of clowns that are running around defining the Democrat Party today. What the world thinks of us? There was an analogy just this week about somebody in the world. I'm drawing a mental blank about this. But the fact is that the Democrat Party has members in it that have already said, "There will be riots," or something to that effect. Al Sharpton.


There you have it- was Rush really advocating violence, or making a point about the difference between Democrats and Republicans?

Of course, Rush knows damn well the mainstream media will misinterpret his words and probably went into this monologue expecting this outcome. Haven't we been through this enough to see it coming a mile away?

On today's show, Rush again addressed the topic, taking on a "seminar caller" who tried to put words in his mouth. Phony Soldiers II, here we come! Media Matters, where are you?


UPDATE: lib bloggers begin to jump on board the smear train. Meanwhile, the Denver Post clarifies Rush's stance.

KCNC-4 Denver, however, somewhat echoes KMGH's approach, running this AP story:

Limbaugh downplays ''dreaming of riots in Denver'' comment

DENVER (AP) Conservative talk show host Rush Limbaugh downplayed his ''dreaming of riots in Denver'' statement, saying Thursday that he wasn't calling for riots and was referring to warnings of trouble if superdelegates decide the nomination at the Democratic National Convention.

Limbaugh's comments on his syndicated show Wednesday prompted Mayor John Hickenlooper to say: ''Anyone who would call for riots in an American city has clearly lost their bearings.''

Limbaugh made his comment Wednesday to the tune of the holiday song, ''White Christmas,'' and said riots during the convention would ensure Democrats don't get elected.

Glenn Spagnuolo, an organizer with the protest group Re-create 68, mimicked a comment by state Rep. Douglas Bruce, R-Colorado Springs, by saying: ''We don't need another 5,000 illiterate Limbaugh listeners coming to Colorado.''


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