Limbaugh invented "racial component" to Hackett's decision to withdraw

[Algorem]

http://mediamatters.org/items/200602160001

...
During the February 14 broadcast of his nationally syndicated radio show, Rush Limbaugh invented a racial component to explain Iraq war veteran Paul Hackett's departure from the Ohio Democratic Senate primary race. While reporting on Hackett's decision to withdraw from the Democratic primary race against Rep. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) for the seat currently held by Sen. Mike DeWine (R-OH), Limbaugh asserted: "And don't forget, Sherrod Brown is black. There's a racial component here, too," adding that "the newspaper that I'm reading all this from is The New York Times, and they, of course, don't mention that." In fact, Brown is Caucasian -- a point on which Limbaugh was corrected later in the program.

Hackett is a Marine Corps veteran who re-enlisted in 2004 and served in Iraq, completing a tour of duty in early 2005. On August 2, 2005, he narrowly lost a special election to Republican Jean Schmidt for Ohio's 2nd Congressional District seat. Hackett announced on October 24, 2005, his intention to run for DeWine's Senate seat. But, citing discouragement from state and national Democratic leaders after Brown also entered the race, Hackett withdrew his candidacy on February 13, avoiding a potentially contentious primary with Brown, a seven-term congressman representing Ohio's 13th District.

After accusing the New York Times of neglecting to report that "Sherrod Brown is black," Limbaugh was later informed of his error. He said: "Sherrod Brown's a white guy? Then, I'm confusing him with somebody. ... Must be somebody in New York has got a similar name." Limbaugh may have been referring to Rep. Sherwood Boehlert (R-NY), who is also Caucasian.

Later in the broadcast -- after apparently being inundated with e-mails correcting his false assertion on Brown's ethnicity -- Limbaugh again corrected himself but declared: "I'm not gonna apologize, 'cause I don't think it's an insult to be black. But I did err. ... He is not black. He's one of these white European descendents in Ohio." Limbaugh opined that Hackett's withdrawal "really boils down to a matter of money" but was also because "they don't like military guys in the ... Democratic Party."...

[FreedomAngel82]

1. Tell that to the Band of Brothers

And he's the only rascists one. He just wanted to put that in there without checking his facts. I can't stand the asshole.

[Guaranteed]

2. HA ha! nt

[marmar]

3. Did he hear the name and assume he was black?

Limbaugh is such a vile, putred, racist, trough-feeding hog.

:(

[johnfunk]

4. Back on the hillbilly heroin, Rusty?

What an idiot.

[jedr]

5. he's good at that;

that's what cost him his beloved sports casting job.

[Cocoa]

6. damn New York Times

thank god we have Rush to set us straight.

[dsc]

7. I hate to say this

but it is remotely possible he did mix Sherrod Brown up with a black Ohio politician. Virgil Brown is a black Republican from Cuyahoga County. I think it is remote but that is a possibility.

[FreedomAngel82]

11. Their first names are so different though

And aren't they supposed to check their facts anyway? (ha!)

[AlCzervik]

8. him, has anyone told Sherrod he's black?

[oasis]

9. Limpwad was thinking about actor, Roscoe Lee Browne.

[KamaAina]

10. Man, that Oxy's a mean drug

How much hot air did the OxyMoron spew in the direction of New Orleans after Nagin said "chocolate city", I wonder?

Oh, and "they don't like military guys in the ... Democratic Party."?

Nope. Murtha, Kerry... can't stand 'em. :sarcasm: